Once Upon a Mate

1

How dare he! How freaking dare he!

Now, I know I'm not Tommy's mate, obviously that's something we knew going into this... whatever the hell one would classify our relationship as.

I mean I was expecting to break up or part ways. It was only a matter of time before it happened. Honestly, even saying that sounds so stupid.

We willingly entered a relationship (for lack of a better word) knowing that it would end. But that's how it is in the werewolf world.

Only your true mate will put a stop to your searching and complete your soul. That wolf will put an end to all the heartache and suffering you've endured putting yourself out there.

But it's not like you turn sixteen and BAM! There's your mate, up front and center and you didn't even have to look very hard!

Sure it happens, but not often and certainly not in my case. And wolves like me, that have reached their twenties without finding their mates, we like companionship.

Someone we can go to dinner or the movies with. Someone who is there for you in the good times and the bad. I felt like I could tell Tommy anything and he would never judge me for any of it.

Obviously, I didn't know him as well as I thought for him to dump me because I wouldn't sleep with him! He knew I wanted to wait for my mate just as he always said he wanted to wait for his!

Angry tears stream down my face as I run in human form through the trees from the lake where he dumped me.

I should have known better. I never should have gotten involved with Tommy in any capacity, in the first place. I became too comfortable and stopped actively seeking my mate.

Granted, I'm only twenty-one and I still have many years left ahead of me. I just can't help feeling used.

Was that all he thought I was good for? A good time and some easy pleasure?

I feel like such an idiot. I have never been this hurt, this embarrassed before. I shouldn't be in tears of him! Especially when I knew it would end eventually.

But would it have hurt this much if he had told me he had found his mate?

"Kristi? Is that you?" My dad's voice echos through the house from the living room as I slam the screen door closed behind me.

Of course, he's home. Because I'm already embarrassed so why not add to it?

"Yeah," My voice is rough from crying, but I manage to squeak out my answer.

I probably look terrible too. I can feel the salt trails on my cheeks and I'm sure my eyes are red and my hair a mess from the run.

"What happened?" my dad's voice booms from across the room the minute he lays eyes on me before he strides closer, "Is it that boy? Did he hurt you? Doesn't matter, I'll kill him!"

"Daddy, no." I wrap my arms around him, pressing my head into his shoulder and inhaling the familiar old spice and sawdust scent that is my dad.

"He's a stupid wolf, but he isn't my mate anyway. I just want to leave it behind." my dad wraps his arms around me in a comforting hug.

That's what I love about my dad. He may look like a big bad wolf at six foot five, with his broad shoulders that leave him barrel-chested. But for one of the head warriors, he is a complete teddy bear for me and my mom.

"Well, as pissed as I am for whatever that boy did to make you cry, this came at a pretty good time," he pats my back and pulls away slightly to wipe my cheeks dry with his thumbs, "Your mother is going to visit your grandparents and uncle in her birth pack. It would be easy to add your name to the travel documents so you can get away for a few days,"

He looks at me silently for a minute as my mind races with my options. I can stay here and mope, feeling stupid for falling for the stupid wolf's charm or I can travel with my mom and see some of my family that I haven't seen in a few months.

Heck, I haven't been to my mom's birth pack in just over six years.

Before I can answer, my dad nods to himself, "Go take a hot bath, bug, and I'll link your mom to add your name. She's at the Alpha's office now." he leans down and presses a kiss to my forehead before shooing me towards the stairs.

My feet move slowly up the stairs and I try to find happiness about going to visit my family. Deep down, I know that I really am excited and happy, but right now all I can feel is the hurt that stupid Tommy has inflicted upon me.

I'm tired of wasting my tears on him.

Tired of wasting any energy at all on him when he deserves none of it. He is not my mate and now I thank the Moon Goddess for that. My heart aches for whoever is mated to that selfish pig.

But I can't erase the last year that he spent as my companion. As much as it hurts, I can't discredit all the good times that we'd had. All those good times playing in my head like some sort of movie montage just to rub salt in the wound created by the heartache.

So I'll allow myself today. I will mourn the loss of those good times before he broke my heart.

But tomorrow I leave him where he belongs, in the past, and I move on to what I actually deserve.