The Rejected Luna’s Prince By Aurora Archer
Chapter 36 – Drinking Buddy
(Rachel)
I needed an explanation, I thought that I deserved one at the very least. I came back home only to find out that Caspien was mated. He didn’t have the decency to even text me about it.
I didn’t know what I felt—annoyed, angry, hurt? A bit of it all.
I didn’t think he would find his mate, he has been looking for a decade and has been to most packs in the area, and beyond. I thought that he wouldn’t find his, like I never found mine, it was the thing that bonded us.
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I don’t think I loved him, how can you love someone without really knowing them? But I did love being with him. The Alpha that didn’t open up to anyone, I felt that I knew him when we were intimate, and I felt special because of that.
It has been years and as far as I knew I was the only person he was consistently hooking up with. I had to admit it did make me feel good, being invited to his private quarters, knowing he would be there every time I came home. I could pretend that he was waiting for me. We weren’t fated, but I was as close to him as he let anyone get, and although he told me he was waiting for his mate to take a Luna, a small part of me hoped that he wouldn’t find her so that I could stay with him.
Jealously, that was it. Jealous that not only someone else was fated to that powerful gorgeous man, but at what they had. I wanted it, not even with him, but with my own mate.
I wanted my own damn mate and why didn’t I find him yet? I was the only one of my friends who wasn’t mated, and even in Europe, I had visited packs for events, on the pretense of fun, but I was looking for my mate.
Still nothing.
I walked to his private elevator, I wanted to have this conversation now. I took a shaky breath and pressed my finger to the scanner, hoping it would still work, but at least no one was around to see my embarra*s*sment. The scan was approved, didn’t even bother to take them off then. The elevator took a while to get there, and I was having second guesses with each passing second.
“Oh,” Caspien’s mom stepped out of the elevator looking me over, “Hi Rachel, I didn’t know you were back.” She gave me a small smile.
“Luna,” I nodded my head, “I just got in actually, I wanted to speak to Caspien, er Alpha Dracos if he was around.”
“I think he is, now might not be the best time-”
“I just need five minutes.” Grace looked at me sympathetically, I almost couldn’t stomach that.
“You know he found his mate,”
“I do,” I nodded once.
“Okay then,” She motioned me back into the elevator, following me.
“I don’t want to keep you from anything.”
“I was just heading to the library.” She pressed the button and stepped back standing next to me.
“Oh, at this hour?” I tried to cut the tension.
“Our grandson is a blessed wolf.” She smiled genuinely now and her eyes misted over in pride or adoration, or something that twisted my stomach further.
“Wow,” I tried to return the smile but my heart dipped. How long have they been mated if they already had a pup? From what I heard she only showed up here a month or so ago.
“It’s been a day,” She looked at me and her sympathetic smile was back.
“I can imagine,” We stood in silence before the doors finally opened to his office floor.
“You know where to go,” She held open the door, “I’ll send him down, I think his office is open.”
“Thank you, Luna.” I turned away not wanting to see the pity anymore. I didn’t think about the fact that everyone would pity me now, I couldn’t handle that.
—
Every minute felt like an eternity waiting in his office until the door opened behind me. I sat up a bit in my seat and he crossed the room standing behind his desk. My breath hitched at his familiar features: the fitted gray suit, the impossibly black hair, and the perfectly trimmed beard. I hated how I was reacting to him, and he didn’t belong to me anymore, he never did.
“Rachel,” He said, his voice devoid of emotion.
“Why didn’t you tell me the happy news?” I stood up, taking a step towards his desk.
“About what?” He raised an eyebrow.
“You found your mate,” I responded matching his dry tone.
“Yes, I did.”
“And I heard about it from others.”
“You did?”
“Of course I did, you’re not keeping her a secret are you?” I scoffed.
“No,” He frowned, “Of course not, but the situation has been interesting, unconventional as far as werewolves go.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I moved around the desk, f.orcing him to face me. I tried to study his passive face but I could never read him. We were together for years, and he didn’t think to tell me?
“I found my mate, everything changed-”
“Don’t give me that b.ullshit,” I almost shouted. I knew the mate blindness, that nothing mattered besides them the moment you scented them, laid eyes on them. I didn’t want to hear it from him.
“Rachel,” His voice lowered, I swear if he was about to pity me, him of all people, “I didn’t-“
The door burst open, and a beautiful girl walked into the room. She was striking in a natural way and I swallowed, this must be her. Of course, his mate would be someone so stunning. Long back hair that fell in natural waves I could never quite get perfect, no matter how hard I tried—green eyes that were a shade I had never seen in this world scanned my face as she bit on a full pink lip.
“I’m so sorry for interrupting.” I looked back up at Caspien but his eyes were fully focused on his mate.
My stomach curled and I felt hot tears prick my eyes. I had to get out of here, this was s.tupid, I don’t know what I expected from him. I felt so worthless, so small and insignificant.
I brushed past her knowing I couldn’t trust my voice, and pressed the door to the elevator a few times when I finally reached it.
It opened and a girl with ruby-red curls was leaning against the glass wall without a care in the world, her eyes met mine after a long moment. Who was she? Besides Caspien only his Beta and Gamma and parents had access to this elevator. I was gone for a few months but I felt like I missed so much.
“Hi,” She gave me a half-smile that seemed genuine, “I’m Cali.”
“Rachel,” I nodded once stepping in and pressing the bottom floor.
“Sorry, have to head up first if you don’t mind,” The girl shrugged.
“That’s fine,” I replied trying to keep my voice even, “Are you mated to-?” I left it open trying to make conversation and figure out who she was.
“Holden,” She gave me a smile accompanied by a faraway look, a mix of complete infatuation and adoration of the made bond. Pain prickled through me. Was I not worthy of a mate?
“Holden,” I repeated with a f*orc*ed smile, I was wondering when he was going to get his mate, he needed someone to tame him and by the look of her I bet she could, “He’s a lucky guy.”
“I think so too,” The door opened on Caspien’s floor and I tensed hoping no one else was waiting for it, she turned to me with a wink, “Nice meeting you, Rachel.”
“You too, Cali,”
I prayed to The Moon Goddess that I wouldn’t get stopped on Caspien’s office floor going down, and for once she answered my prayer.
____
“I haven’t seen you around here, and I was pretty sure I knew every attractive girl in this place.” A tall, dark brunette leaned on the bar next to me.
Arrogant, bad pickup lines, gross.
I turned back to my drink swirling it around.
“Not one to talk? How about I buy you another drink, yours is almost gone.”
Before I could protest, he motioned to the bartender, who set a shot of something clear in front of me faster than I thought possible.
“I-”
“Just call it penance for that pickup line,” He gave me a sheepish grin and I tried to smile back at him, downing the burning liquid.
“What the actual f*uc*k is that?” I almost spit it out, it burned like h*ell.
“The first words you spoke to me, I can’t wait to tell our grandchildren that story,” He took his shot without even a flinch.
I snorted but smiled at him.
“Caden,” He held out a hand and I placed mine in his.
“Rachel,”
“Nice name,” He flashed me a brilliant smile.
“Going to have to thank my parents for that one; I didn’t choose it,” I raised an eyebrow.
“So what I’m hearing is that you want me to meet your parents?” He matched my stare.
I shook my head once, “What do you want?”
“The same thing as you,” His eyes softened.
“Which is?”
“A distraction.”
I sighed. He was right, but he didn’t need to know that.
“Why do you think I need a distraction?”
He motioned to the bartender again, “Really?” He turned his attention to me, dark green eyes studying my face, “You have that look. If you were just sad you would go home, curl up, watch a bad movie, cry, whatever you do, I’m not judging.”
Another drink, thankfully not another of those shots, appeared before me and I nodded my thanks at the bartender.
“But you’re here, at a bar, alone. You want a distraction that you can’t give yourself. You want to numb the pain, or forget about it with alcohol or company.”
I took a sip and looked away from him, d.amn, he was f*****g right.
“You’re right,” I admitted, clutching the glass, “Thanks for the drink by the way.”
He gave me a two-finger salute and took a drink of his beer, “So, do you want to talk or want a drinking companion? Or I can just f*uc*k off,”
“No,” I shook my head, I did need a distraction, “I’ll give you the short version. Ex-type person found his mate, didn’t have the decency to even text me, his mate of course is beyond gorgeous, and her son is apparently a blessed wolf.”
His mouth opened and then closed, “Blessed wolfs don’t get their gifts until they’re eighteen, how old is this ex of yours?” He looked me over as if seeing me for the first time.
“Almost thirty, his mate looked early twenties I doubt her son is eighteen,” I crossed my arms.
He paused for a moment, “Who is your ex?”
“Ex-type person,” I corrected him.
“Sorry,” He gave me a small small, “Who is your ex-type person?”
“It doesn’t matter, really,” I sighed, taking another drink, “And it doesn’t matter that he found his mate,” I waved my hand.
“But it does to you,” He raised an eyebrow setting down his drink, his arm brushed mine and the contact felt nice.
“It does, for a lot of reasons. It f*uc*king hurts, but I can’t be mad.”
“You can be,” His green eyes were locked on mine, “For him not telling you at least.”
“You’re right, but the thing is, I don’t want to be mad.”
“No one does, but anger does help accomplish things.” There was a spark in his eyes, and I smiled back at him, leaning into where his arm was rested on the bar, wanting a bit of him warm touch.
“I’m not trying to accomplish anything. Besides wallow, I guess.” I tipped my glass forward.
“But you don’t have to do it alone anymore,” He shrugged, “Wallow step one complete. Find drinking buddy, you’ve accomplished that” He raised his glass to mine and I clinked mine to his.
“Where are you from, Rachel?”
“Crescent Moon. I live in Italy now, Milan.”
“Fancy,” He whistled, “To both.”
We were at a werewolf dive bar, technically out of the city limits. I didn’t want to have to deal with humans today or anyone that didn’t understand the complexities of the mate bond, or lack thereof. I guess I was looking for someone to talk to, someone who didn’t know me and wouldn’t judge me—someone to be with to feel wanted and needed, everything that I wasn’t feeling this evening.
“And you?”
“Originally from Red Stone.” Not too far from here, but not close either.
“Want to go to a table? Somewhere quieter to wallow,” He nudged me.
“Sure,” I actually enjoyed his company. After that horrible pickup line, things only got better.
“Then we can plan your ex-type person’s demise,” He winked.
I snorted, “I really doubt you could take him down. He is untouchable.” I sighed, to everyone except his beautiful mate with eyes so gorgeous they would haunt my dreams.
“Try me,” He put his hand on the small of my back and lead me to a corner.
_______________
My eyes opened against my will. I had to figure out what where that dull pounding was coming from. Gray light was trickling through the curtains in a room I didn’t recognize. The dull pounding was in me, it was me.
Confusion helped pull me from the fog for a moment.
Everything smelled like a.lcohol and, oh Goddess, s*e*x. My mouth tasted like cotton, and memories came crawling back. Some memories at least, there was a lot that I couldn’t piece together, and the memories I did have were fuzzy.
The last thing that I remembered was laughing with Caden, his arms wrapped around me outside the bar and my lipstick smeared on his face.
I turned over groaning as the throbbing that reminded me of all of my poor choices. He wasn’t in bed next to me.
I survey my surroundings, light walls, and floors, cabinesque. The edge of a thick rug, but I couldn’t lift my head to see how big it was, nor did I care. I couldn’t tell if this was a hotel or his house. I needed to find my clothes, and my phone and figure out where I was.
I reluctantly dragged myself up picking up pieces of my clothing that I could find strewn about the room, I had to steady myself a few times bending known made me lightheaded. Thankfully, my phone was in my pocket of the pants I was wearing. Besides some drunk texts to friends describing Caden and what I wanted to do to him, I didn’t do anything else incriminating.
I took a quick shower that helped a tiny bit with the tiredness and pulled back on my clothes that smelled like stale beer. I couldn’t wait to get home, and in fresh clothes and crawl in my bed. I hoped I wasn’t too far from my packhouse.
“Hello, sleeping beauty,” Caden walked in the door as I was pulling the towel off my hair. I jumped for some reason I wasn’t expecting to see him again, “I brought coffee,” He handed me a mug and I nodded in a silent thank you.
“Hows the head?” He flashed a smile, and I groaned over the mug.
“How are you not dead?”
He shrugged crossing his arms, his muscles flexed, and I had a few flashbacks of last night that sent something settle deep beneath my stomach.
“Where are we? I think I need to take a nap.”
“My bed is open to you any time of day or night,” He raised an eyebrow his voice low.
I swallowed, “Thank you for the offer, but I think I need to die in peace.” I also felt like I should apologize for last night to Caspien and his mate.
Regardless of what we were, he was still my Alpha, and I didn’t want to be on bad terms or have his mate mistake my intentions.
“Fine, I can drive you.” He helped me up off the bed.
“I can get a taxi it’s fine.” I waved it off. I didn’t think I could force conversation.
“I’ll arrange it then,” He pulled out his phone and led me from what I now a*s*sumed to be his room.
It opened to a large hallway and I followed him down a large open staircase. This wasn’t just his house, this looked more like a packhouse.
“Beta,” An omega nodded to him as we descended the stairs.
“Beta?” I asked him, my brows furrowing. I tried to wrack my memory for if he mentioned that last night. Was that something I was supposed to know?
He shrugged, “Nothing compared to your kinda Alpha ex, but-” His lips curved up in a playful half smile.
“What?”
“Alpha Dracos, I mean, talk about a complex. I almost couldn’t bring myself to sleep with you. I didn’t want you to compare us.” He nudged me, “I’m joking, of course. From the moment I saw you, I wanted you.”
I couldn’t pay attention to what he was saying after he mentioned Caspien. I didn’t remember saying who I was upset about, but then again, there were huge chunks that I didn’t remember. I rubbed the side of my face, frustrated with no one besides myself.
“Where are we?”
“Black Stone. Not too far away,” He winked, “Feel free to come back anytime.”
“I’ll think about it,” I tried to give him a smile but I was still trying to process everything with a pounding headache.
A taxi was waiting outside the packhouse, thankfully.
“Well, thanks for everything.” I handed him my coffee mug, and he pulled me in for a hug.
“Anytime, Rachel. Taxi is paid for.” He opened the door for me.
I laid my head back reeling from last night and this morning.
__
I dragged myself to my apartment at the packhouse and drank more water than I had in my life before slumping into bed.
When I woke up I felt a lot better, besides a deep feeling of embarra*s*sment but I couldn’t place. I got ready and reluctantly linked Caspien, asking if I could talk to him and his mate. He told me he would meet me in his office, and I headed out, wanting to get this behind me.
I took the pack elevator, having to get clearance from his secretary before I was allowed up, then I had to pass his security and another secretary before being allowed into the hallway of his office.
It was so strange, I was used to using his private elevator that opened right to the other side of the floor. I felt like such an outsider, a regular pack member, which I guess was.
I held my head high as I walked up to his door of his office. It was ajar, and he sounded pissed. Maybe this wasn’t a good time.
“How the h*ell did Alpha Jasper tell about Emmett being a blessed wolf?” He growled, the walls of his office shook, and my stomach tightened with fear. I had never heard him so angry.
“No one outside of us knew, and we just found out. Would your parents?” I heard Holden ask.
“Why the hell would they?” Caspien shot back, “Black Stone hates my dad and the feeling is mutual, and Willa’s parents wouldn’t have ties with them unless they let something slip.”
“Not that I know of.” Her voice was hard but cracked a bit, “They haven’t even told anyone from our pack where I am now; I doubt they would call everyone they knew about Emmett.” I heard a voice that must belong to his mate, to Willa.
“So then how the f*uc*k did they find out? I want every piece of footage from this packhouse scoured. No one is leaving until we find out who is spying on us. We definitely have a mole, its the only option.”
Black Stone. Caden. Shit.
I felt nauseous and it wasn’t from the hangover anymore. My head felt flushed, and a cold sweat prickled across my body. I took a deep breath and shut my eyes before pushing the door open.
“Um, that might have been my fault, actually.” I said looking at my feet.
When I looked up five pairs of eyes turned to me, and Caspien’s went pitch black. Anger rolled off of him, all directed towards me.