Page 7 of Resisting Fate

If she had ripped out of my heart, it would have felt better than the words she just spoke. My heart breaks even further as I hear the gut wrenching sobs all the way from her room, thanks to my shifter hearing.

I did that.

I caused my mate so much pain that she can barely look at me without remembering all the horrible things I said.

There's nothing I can do to take back the past. I have no one to blame but myself.

I’m not the same person I was a year ago.

So much has changed within the pack and within me since Penelope and Ryker found out they were mates.

I always thought that I was above it all. I was made to think that I was better than anyone else who wasn’t at the top of the pack.

Seeing Hailey die changed me.

Watching the life drain out of my mate, and thinking I would never get a chance to redeem myself to her, really scared me.

Fate doesn’t get it wrong.

A lot of people would love a chance at meeting their mate, and here I was throwing it away.

I have to find a way to my mate’s heart.

There is no way I could live without her.

I just need to find a way to show her that.

~

I reluctantly head home to change into clothes for the celebration. Honestly, it feels weird to be in human form after spending all that time as my wolf so that I could remain close to Hailey. When I arrive at the party, everyone is just starting to show up. Laughter is heard all around. The pack is definitely more peaceful than it used to be, and the energy is more relaxed when we all gather together.

I look around until my eyes land on my mate. She is fake smiling with Ryker, and I know he can tell since he keeps looking at her concerned. Whatever he said to her causes her to shaker her head.

Ashley stops in front of me before I can step any closer to my mate.

She runs a hand down my chest, and I grab it and push it away before she can go any further.

“What the fuck do you think you are doing?” I snap angrily.

“Oh, come on. You know you miss me,” she says, trying to sound seductive. Whatever she is trying to do does nothing for me.

“I don’t. You were a mistake. Don’t touch me again,” I growl out before pulling away.

“Oh please, like that newbie wolf is good enough for you,” she shouts.

The room quiets down at her words, and I still and turn around.

“That’s where you are wrong. I’m not good enough for her, but I won’t stop trying to be worth anything she is willing to give me. You aren’t anything special. Something most of the pack can agree on. Get off your high horse. You think you are above everyone, but you are not. You are just another wolf and pack member like the rest of us,” I spit out angrily.

“You used to think you were better than everyone too,” she says, smirking at me like she’s digging me into a hole.

I nod my head in agreement. “Yeah, I did, and you know what I learned? Every single one of the higher wolves were complete scum. There was never anything special about them. All they wanted was status, power, and ranking. Where did that get them? They betrayed the pack. Those lesser wolves we were always taught were weaker than us saved our lives. We only have a pack today because of them. Things are changing, Ash. You either learn to grow with it or get out. No one is better than anyone else. We are all a pack, and we are all equal.”

She doesn’t reply to my words. Instead, she just stomps out of the room in a huff.

Ryker claps me on the back, looking proud.

“You did good,” he says, grinning.

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