Rejecting The Beta

"It's so beautiful, isn't it?" I said in awe, looking at the beautiful forest before us.

"Yeah. But not more than you." Ace kissed my cheek.

I nudged his shoulder playfully.

"Stop joking!" I spoke in between our laughters.

Suddenly Ace became quiet.

"I will find my mate tomorrow," Ace sighed, "I hope it's you."

He stared at me intently.

"I hope that too," I said, "I love you, Ace."

That was it. He pulled me into a kiss. I put my hand around his neck and his hand instantly encircled my waist, pulling me closer. We had been best friends since we were two and I can't forget the day when he confessed his love for me. Our parents, though, are not happy with all this teen love as they believe that we need to remain pure for our mates. But, Ace and I disagree because we know that we are going to be mates. When one of us shifts, we can instantly tell that we are mates or not, identifying the scent and the sparks that will flow through our bodies after touching each other. And well, Ace is going to shift tomorrow on his 18th birthday.

"I promise you Jez, no matter what, whether you're my mate or not, I will always love you and for me you are already my mate," Ace said.

Tears escaped my eyes. I was actually a bit scared as to what will happen tomorrow, but right now, I felt loved and I knew that Ace will never leave me and I will never leave him.
---

"Jez! Jez! Wake up. It's ten already," my mom yelled (almost).

"Go away mom," I replied sleepily, putting the pillow over my head to avoid the sunlight coming through the curtains of my room.

"It's your best friend's birthday. Remember?"

Of course I remembered.

"I wished him already..." I paused and added, "at 12."

"Well, don't you wanna go and meet him? You know the mate thing?"

Mom actually knows how to wake me up. I sat up on my bed at the mention of 'mate'. Oh my god, what if he is not my mate? What if my sister is his mate? What if Lizzie (my enemy) is my mate? What if...I am not his mate?

A werewolf can smell his/her's mate scent only when they are at a distance of 10 metres or something. Well, that's what my mother told me. I can't bear to confront Ace. My hands were sweaty already by the mere thought of it?

"If you are done with your what ifs, go and get ready. The ceremony would be starting at noon," my mom snapped me out of my thoughts.

How did she know?

Seeing my puzzled look she replied, "I know you dear. Don't stress yourself already. The Moon Goddess will choose the best person for you."

"I don't know mom. I just...feel nervous... I know Ace is the best person for me."

I knew mom won't like it one bit but it's true. I want to be Ace's mate. Mates are lovers so why not lovers be mates?

Mom rolled her eyes and left the room.

I dressed up in a blue gown whose colour matched perfectly with my blue eyes. I tried making my hair but eventually, I had to go and take help from my mother. She made my messy brown hair look better by straightening them and putting on a bit of make up to cover my extremely sleepy face.

At 11:30, we left our house and started heading towards the Alpha's house.

"Hey Jez, everything will be alright," my elder brother Weylyn whispered in my ear. He knew about me and Ace.

"You know, when I shifted, I was so nervous about finding a good mate. But then, I found Mary and it was the best feeling ever.You just can't stay away from your mates," He continued.

"Yes, my mate is right!" Mary added.

"But guys, what if Ace is not my mate? I love him."

"Then, he's not the right person for you Jez and you need to accept that," my brother said.

"But-" I tried to reason that Ace was perfect for me but Mary cut me off.

"Look Jez, if you both are not mates then probably, Ace will find his mate and he will actually leave you," I gave her a horrified expression, "I mean you can still be friends but you can't be lovers. It's what the moon goddess has decided and you gotta accept that."

How could she tell me all this so easily? I will die if Ace ever leaves me.

Ace will leave you. But our mate will never leave us.

I flinched.

"Who's it?" I spoke out loud, looking around me.

"What happened?" My brother asked.

"I... just heard a voice in the back of my mind..." I spoke, confused and sounding like an idiot.

"It must be your wolf. She's growing fast. Usually, your wolves try to communicate with you few days before your 18th birthday but your birthday still has a month left." Mary explained.

"May be it's because of the beta blood," My brother said proudly.

"Oh! Here we are!" My father said.

We had reached the Alpha's house.
All other pack members will directly come for the ceremony but my dad being a beta and the alpha's right hand, is invited to welcome the werewolves of other packs. There were three packs who were invited. First and the most powerful The Dark Star Pack, second, the Lunar Pack and third, the Black Moon Pack. Ours was The Silver Waters Pack, the second most powerful werewolf pack in the whole world.

"Come on Marc, the guests are here!" Alpha Mason yelled.

(Alpha Mason was my dad's best friend too)

We entered the house from the back door (as the guests were heading towards the front door) and headed to the front door.

We all stood there silently till we heard the sounds of footsteps and soon came the handsome werewolves of all the three packs dressed up in black suits.

Well, Ace was the most handsome person for me.

"Hey beautiful!" Someone whispered behind my ear.

Ace.

"H-hey!" I stuttered.

"Nervous?" He asked.

"Very much." I replied.

"Don't worry. My wolf is communicating with me and soon I am going to shift and accept you as my mate." He said seriously.

"And..." he continued, "I'm gonna mark you as mine tonight."

I blushed.

"Ace! Come here." His father called out for him to stand in the front.

Ace winked at me and then went to stand beside his father.

After welcoming The Lunar Pack and The Black Moon Pack, the werewolves from The Dark Star Pack came to greet us.

"Hello dear Richard!" Alpha Mason greeted the Alpha of the other pack.

"Nice to meet you Mason," Alpha Richard spoke in a bold voice.

"This is my son, Ace." Aplha Mason introduced Ace to Alpha Richard.

"And this is my son, Blaise."

Ace and Blaise shook hands. My father greeted the beta of the other pack. But for some reason, the beta, Ethan had his eyes on me. He must be of Ace's age if not older and he made me feel quite uneasy. I tried to look anywhere but him. Even when we gave way for all of them to enter the house, Ethan stared at me with intense eyes. May be my brother noticed this and well, he introduced me to Ethan.

"Ethan, this is my beautiful sister, Jezebel," he then added, "You can call her Jez."

I glared at my brother. Not anyone can call me by my nickname...

"Nice to meet you, Jez," Ethan spoke in an extremely sexy voice which I hate to admit, made me shiver.

I just smiled and his gaze still
remained intense. I looked away.
---

The alphas and betas along with their families sat on the dining table. Ace sat beside me and Ethan just opposite to me which made it extremely difficult for me to concentrate on my food. His grey eyes gazing intently as if trying to read my mind. As I was trying to ignore Ethan's gaze, Ace slipped a hand beneath the table and kept it on my thigh. I gasped.

What was he doing?

I looked at him and he winked.

Surprisingly, Ethan's expression was changed. What I saw in his eyes was a mix of emotions...anger, fury, sadness... maybe I am overthinking. I just find him handsome. Shit! What did I just admit?

I slapped away Ace's hand when suddenly Ace's expression changed. His grey eyes turned pitch black and he stiffened, his grip on the spoon loosened and the spoon fell down on the floor with a clink.

"Ace..." I touched his shoulder but flinched back when something mived beneath my hand. His shoulder bones... And then I heard the sound of bones cracking.

"He's going to shift! Quick! Out in the lawn!" Alpha Mason yelled.

As Ace was placed on the green grass, he was writhing in pain and screaming. It was so painful to see my only love in so much agony. We were told that the first shift is always extremely painful but I had never seen a wolf having his first shift before...

"Oh no!" I gasped silently when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"He's going to be okay," I heard Ethan's husky voice.

I simply nodded. Was he trying to become my friend?

After few minutes, a big, grey wolf stood in front of us, staring at us, perplexed. Then, the wolf tried to stand up but thenfell down.

I moved forward, "Oh Ace!"

"Don't go near him." Ethan warned.

"But, he's-"

"He will take it as sign of danger and probably attack you." Ethan cut me off.

"I am his best friend, he won't attack me!" I countered.

"Still, I can't let you go." Ethan said.

"Why not? You can't control me. Okay?" I spat.

I marched forward towards my best friend's wolf but was stopped by Alpha Mason.

"Dear, I know you're worried but let me talk to him,"

I nodded and then Alpha Mason shifted in his big, brown, alpha wolf and Ace's attention snapped towards him.

"Honey, why don't you go inside and prepare tea for everyone? Ace will be alright." My mother said.

"Okay mom."

I wonder why everyone is trying to keep me away from Ace.
---

Ace had successfully shifted but we didn't get to meet him until the ceremony.

We all took our places as Alpha Mason gave his speech.

"I now, call my son, Ace Blackwood, to take the oath."

Ace, charming as ever, walked on the stage and his eyes locked with me for a second. Wasn't I his mate? He would've gone crazy by now if I was his mate. I saw a glint of sadness in his eyes that answered my question. I didn't wait even for a second. I just couldn't stop my tears. I left the ceremony and ran to the kitchen.

I gulped down huge amounts of water to calm myself down. And as I was breathing heavily and trying to stop my tears, I felt a presence behind me.

"Mate!" Someone growled behind me.

Definitely not Ace.

As I turned around, I was pinned to the tall fridge. I stared at the familiar face and green eyes full of nothing but lust.

I gulped.

"What the-?"

"I have waited for you so long." He said before pressing his lips on mine.