Reality Comes Crashing Down

***

The drive back was filled with comfortable silence as we held each other's hands. It was a great contrast from the previous day. Everything had shifted between us and the promise of the bright future ahead of us was all that seemed to count.

I had never been as happy as I was now as we cruised down the dried roads, steadily heading towards the pack. The sun had come out, almost as if ushering the new beginning that was upon us. In a few hours, I would watch the man I loved take his place as the Alpha of the BloodRose pack and would stand beside him, announced as the Luna of the pack.

Oh goddess, I can't wait!

"What has you so excited?"

Reed asked from beside me, a small but handsome smile all the same on his lips as he took me in from the driver's side. Part of me still couldn't believe that the incredibly handsome man before me was mine to have for the rest of our lives. My childhood crush had come to fruition and I didn't know how to truly react to the borderline miracle, especially in our world of mates.

"Just thinking about how excited Letty will be when we tell her. She's been rooting for us since we were kids."

Yet another reason why I loved my best friend was her understanding of my crush on her brother. Her hesitation, at first, had been due to the possibility of finding our mates and yet as the years went by, she had become our number one advocate, going as far as to set up failed dates for us.

Everyone in the pack had watched all these events unfold. It was why I knew that they would accept me wholeheartedly, especially considering that I had grown up around them. The prospect of becoming a Luna was scary for my introverted personality but it wasn't as daunting when it was my own pack and with the man I loved beside me.

"Oh yeah, she's gonna lose her shit. They're all going to be super happy for us. I just know it. Who would have thought that the ceremony you've been preparing the entire week would also be your Luna induction ceremony?"

Reed stated, clearly in awe as I was by how fate worked. It was all destined to be, indeed, and we both couldn't wait for the next chapter of our lives.

A meld of excitement and anxiety coursed through my veins as we made the final turning into our pack land. Although we had planned everything this morning after yet another mind blowing round of the best sex I'd ever had, literally, I couldn't help but indulge my fear.

Reed seemed to notice my shifted mood as he squeezed my hand in reassurance with an equally beautiful smile gracing his lips.

"Hey, its gonna be okay. Just as we discussed, we're gonna gather our families for a meeting and tell them before the ceremony. After that, we're gonna have the ceremony and you're going to stand beside me as I finally proclaim you as mine. Everything is going to be just fine, sweetheart."

Reed reassured, planting a chaste kiss on my hand before he brought the car to a stop in front of the pack house. His words had assuaged my fears somewhat, giving me the strength to step out of the car once he opened my door for me a few minutes later.

He had molded into a gentleman overnight and I did not hate the change at all.

"You ready?"

I nodded silently, keeping my hand in his once we turned to face the mansion that had been home and my own sleepover haven over the years.

"Guys! You're finally here!"

A voice we didn't expect to hear at all assailed us, pulling us to look away from each other and the at the approaching bundle of energy whose beautiful, raven black curls bounced as she bounded over to us. Despite her put together outfit of a white, floral sun dress and nude colored heels, Ana Leticia Steele still threw caution to the wind and engulfed us both in a warm hug that we welcomed whole heartedly.

"Holy shit, you're actually here! When did you arrive? I thought you would get here later tonight!"

Reed asked excitedly, disentangling our hold on each other to assess his little sister from head to toe. Although I felt bereft from the loss of his comforting touch, I didn't blame as I also excitedly held my best friend's hand.

"Victor and I wanted to surprise you guys! We arrived last night just before the storm. Good thing we did because we would have been just as stranded as you guys! I'm so glad you're here, though and safe!"

Letty exclaimed as she pulled us in for yet another hug that we welcomed as we chuckled at her crazy energy. That was Letty, alright. A bundle of excitement and the nicest person you would ever meet. She was also stunning to boot with her matching emerald green eyes shimmering just like her brother's did when he was excited.

"Same here! I missed you a lot, love."

I whispered, meaning it as I kept my tears at bay. Letty nodded in agreement as she wiped away her own spilling tears as she now disentangled from her brother and, instead, pulled me in for a long hug that I didn't realize I needed as much as when she engulfed me.

Her warm hugs will always be undefeated.

"We have a lot to catch up on! I can't wait to have girl talk before the ceremony."

I nodded, weirdly excited at the prospect whereas I would have adamantly refused the very prospect of Ana Leticia's crazy, TMI stories about her tussles with her mate.

"Where's Victor? I haven't seen that guy in a while."

Reed stated excitedly, his close relationship with his brother-in law warming each of our hearts. The two had hit it off almost instantly even after Reed threatened to hurt the Alpha if he ever made his sister cry. It was a whole thing that had made all of us sure that the two would not hit it off.

And yet they had become best buddies, almost.

"He was right behind me. We also came with his adoptive sister, Natalia Steele. None of you got the chance to meet her at our mating ceremony because she was visiting her mother in the Western territory but you finally get to meet my new friend. She is the sweetest!"

Letty's words seemed to fade into the background once I saw Reed's reaction, his eyes widening at the sight of the stunning brunette walking beside Victor that I instantly knew was his sister.

Oh goddess, no....Not like this....

It can't be...

Pain radiated through me as a silent realization came over me at the sight of Reed's transfixed gaze that never broke away from an equally stunned Natalia. All of us silently watched as the two approached each other slowly. It was a familiar scene that would have made me happy on other occasions.

Not this one, though....Nothing could ever make this alright...

I was watching the man I loved fall in love with someone else. A woman I could not compare with in any way because she was destined to be beside him. Letty's squeals of excitement sounded a mile away despite our close proximity. My ears were ringing as my heart slowly cracked open.

All of my fears had been confirmed in that singular moment. And it was the most painful and terrifying emotion I had ever experienced.

Is this what rejection feels like? Love? Because if it is, I don't want it.

You don't have a choice. Not anymore, at least...

My sub conscious whispered as I registered a new emotion, one that I had not anticipated at all.

It was Longing.

Desire.

Lust.

Completion.

It was overwhelming happiness that overshadowed my sadness. The damaged part of me came alive with these overwhelming emotions. It was rare for me to connect with my wolf's side and yet now, it was all I could feel. Although it was a shaky connection, I could somewhat feel her elation as she looked upon the painfully handsome man who had emerged into the scene with my Father by his side.

No...It can't be...

Two miracles had happened at once. Apart from Reed finding his other half, I too had met my mate.

A mate I had been sure I didn't have in the first place.

We stared at each other, everything else seeming to fade away. It was only us- amethyst eyes to honey gold depths- that were filled with the intensity of our meeting. My feet moved without command, my body pulled in by his mere presence.

I could not stop myself even as Letty called out to me. It was as if my body had a mind of its own as it met the approaching figure in the middle.

"It really is you. My Woman. MINE."

His voice was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard, his words spiking my heart rate but the organ threatened to jump out once he pulled me into his embrace. I disappeared in his large muscled arms that made everything in the world feel right despite all that had happened.

"Not enough..."

He muttered, picking me up into his arms easily. A small, surprised gasp escaped my lips at the sudden action but I was instantly glad for his initiative as I buried my head in his neck as he did mine. I wrapped my legs around his waist, throwing caution and fear to the wind.

All I knew was that he felt like home.

Like a fresh breath of air after being deprived for such a long time.

So why is my heart still in so much pain?

Why are my tears still falling?

Why does it feel like the sadness is about to consume me whole?

***