Gone

43.

Stone rests on the french door frame and stares at her newly remodeled home, it's been a year since Austin asked her to replace him. A few days from now she'll be promoted as he officially retires.

"Stone, you ready?" Coon walks downstairs and to her, he'll be going with her to her uniform fitting.

"We finished the bed by the way," she thanks them as they make their way to the stairs.

"We'll start taking the dressers now," Stone thanks them once more and they nod.

"So what do you think of McAllister?" Coon who isn't helping with the moving of furniture asks her.

"Considering the fact that I'm dating him, I'm going to go with nothing bad. Why?" Suspicion creeps up on Amoura.

"Well you see we like him and Williams is still trying to get over that it's not him, but he's not your mate and wolves are very strict on the whole 'my mate is the only one' ordeal hence why Rows parents still won't talk to him." Stone gives an apologetic look before speaking up.

"Didn't we get past this at your wedding?" He gives her a look.

"Besides my mate rejected me when I was eighteen. So I think I'm good in that department." The smile on Coons' face melts off and he looks at her.

"That doesn't mean you don't hope for your mate," Stone gives a small smile.

"I didn't spend my childhood waiting for my mate so my life could be complete. Mate was never a high priority in my book. I never really thought about it until he told me we were mates."

Coon looks at Stone and asks how it was being rejected by him, "I grew up with the man. I would meet him in a clearing by our pack border every day since I was eight. My mate rejecting me isn't what hurt, him, who he was rejecting me is what hurt. I though I knew him and I was so wrong, so I left. He didn't want me, my parent's didn't want me so why was I still fighting to be there?"

"It's his loss, look at you now." Stone smiles.

"I wouldn't be here if he hasn't rejected me, so him not wanting a weak mate gave me the chance to grow,"Stone smiles sadly.

"That's what I like about Clive and I, it's also what made me hesitate. The whole mate thing doesn't apply, I don't have to love him or have to give him a chance, I get to choose," Coon smiles she's still the Stone he knew.

"You don't miss Heminsworth?" Amoura looks at him.

"Honestly, I haven't thought about him much, I'm not going to waste my life on a man who didn't want me. I may not have thought much of myself then, but I wasn't going to pint over a guy who didn't want me."

Coon smiles at Amoura, "well I'm glad I got to meet you," Stone tucks her legs under her.

"You would have met me anyways, my parents enlisted me before my eighteenth birthday so I couldn't undo it. The deadline for cancellation was long past when I came of age."

Coon looks at her as curiosity gets the best of him. "What's the full story there?" Stone shrugs.

"They said they did it to protect me, ironic really if you ask me. But here I am and now I don't want to go home."

"Sort of backfired." Stone nods at Coons words.

"So back to my question, why were you asking about McAllister?" Stone asks.

"Oh, I think he really wants you apart of his life." Coon covers as he tries to find a legit reason.

"So he's told me, but why are you bringing it up?" Amoura moves her legs for they were falling asleep.