Some extras + Short stories from the universe of Destiny's Tethers, from the Evergreen Wilds and beyond. Reading the first story might provide some context.
A/N: It's taken a while to work on this chapter, but I hope it turned out okay.
(I apologise in advance)
Marisa Chen
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......
Getting rejected by your mate hurts.
Losing your mate even before you've met them is in some cases, worse.
The feeling came abruptly. It had arrived late one night, a few weeks before the Challenge. As per Luna Olwen's instructions, the now Gamma Marisa was working on minor adjustments to the wolfsbane antidote; ever the perfectionist, she couldn't put off what she wanted to do for the next day, needing to finish it now.
As she went to the medicinal cabinet in search of a particular vial, her heart suddenly seized up. Her hand gripped the edge of the table in front of her as grief and sadness, at such an intensity she'd never experienced in her life, penetrated her very core.
Her wolf, Maybelle, released a mournful howl, as a single tear made its way down Marisa's cheek, before many more followed.
Our mate...Maybelle whimpered, shrinking into a ball. He's gone.
After that one night of sobbing herself to sleep, Marisa had to push on. With the Challenge looming in the distance, the Luna's Gamma shoved the grief over her mate's death behind her as she worked tirelessly on the wolfsbane antidote. As rogues attacked the Moon River Pack, Marisa comforted the crying and frightened children as they hid in the underground shelters.
But after that was over, and the Moon River Pack was established as the Silver Arrow Pack's successor, everything gradually caught up to her.
Every time she saw pack members with their mates and children, their smiles began their gradual chip away at Marisa's heart.
As she witnessed Jessie throw a chunk of cake into Delta Lincoln's face at their wedding, everyone around witnessing the playful altercation with laughter, Marisa felt like she had been stabbed.
She felt bad. Jessie was her best friend, and she should have been happy for her - and she was - but it still pained her to see her get to experience something she never could.
Marisa told no one that she knew her mate had died. It's not like it mattered. She hadn't managed to meet her mate, didn't know how he looked like or what his name was or what his interests were. Maybe if they had met he'd reject her, and this was the Moon Goddess' way of saving her from the heartbreak.
But was she really better off not knowing?
Maybelle never stated it aloud since the day it happened, but Marisa could feel her wolf's pain as well.
Even when Marisa was trying to convince herself she was fine, Maybelle wasn't. The first she'd met the Luna's young child, a part of herself was reminded that this could never happen with her and her fated.
