Chapter Two

Chapter 2.

"Damn! What have I done?"

Gabriel's heart was crushed into a thousand bits.

He shouldn't have committed what he did, but he can't afford to lose another mate.

Not now!

Not ever!

He stood still watching Lilia run off, her hair swinging in different directions with tears flowing nonstop.

He glanced at his hand, he could see traces of her makeup and his heart bleeded the more. All he wanted to do at that moment was to run after her, stop her from leaving, and profess his undying love for her, but the guilt of his past held him captive.

He loves her!

Yes!

More than ever.

His inner wolf roars in hunger at the sight of her, just a touch makes his body tremble and his heart beat faster.

He yearns for her with all his heart, body, and soul.

"I shouldn't have done this," he muttered to himself in regret, his left hand tightened into a fist.

"I shouldn't have rejected my mate!"

His inner wolf howls in deep bitterness, an unbearable sadness that couldn't be described.

He knew that Lilia was his fated mate. He knew it right from the moment he set his eyes on her.

He tried all his best to avoid her, in fear that his past might repeat itself. He is the reason she attended the festival. He invited her to his pack only to end up disgracing and hitting her in front of his subjects.

"Shit!" Gabriel cursed out loud. He bit his lower lip so hard that blood trickled down.

Jackson appeared speechless. He knew this was going to happen, right from the day Gabriel informed him of Lilia's role in his life.

"You will be fine," Jackson whispered to Gabriel who walked back into the building.

With a heavy heart, Jackson scoffed. He glanced at the Gemma who looked dead confused and shocked. The act before him was indeed a big surprise, no one in the pack saw it coming.

"The festival is over," Jackson announced to the curious wolves. A loud grumble emitted from the crowd.

"We all watched what unfolded. The alpha is not in a good mood so each one of us should return to our abode and rest for the night."

"Is the Alpha alright?"

Selene, a red-haired Omega inquired, her sharp brown eyes not leaving Jackson.

"The alpha is fine. He will present himself by morning."

Selene's lips stretched in a grin.

"It's such a pity, the poor girl got embarrassed on a special night. I know that she is the Alpha's chosen mate." she giggled.

"Lucky girl" she smirked, "If I were in her shoes, I would thank the Moon goddess for saving me from the curse of death!"

Immediately, anger arose inside Jackson, irritation crept on his face.

"You gossip! Keep your mouth shut about any issue regarding the Alpha. If your father isn't a close friend of the late Alpha, I would plead to have your head cut off!"

At once, chills went through her spine, she stood still unable to gaze at Jackson.

"Get out of my sight!"

Jackson walked back into the room. He found Gabriel seated, his gaze fixed on the wall.

"I rejected my mate," Gabriel muttered with pain written in his voice.

"You did the right thing," Jackson commented.

Gabriel laughed.

"She hates me now."

"It's for her safety, I am sure she will understand when she knows your reason," Jackson replied.

Gabriel turned to him, "How long will I continue to face this? When will this curse end?"

"Only the Moon goddess has the answer to that, Alpha."

"Fuck!"

"Fuck everything! Fuck the moon goddess, Fuck this stupid curse!" Gabriel roared with rage.

"I didn't choose this life, it's not my fault everything occurred so why must I pay for the sins of my father?"

Silence.

Jackson didn't say a word but watched Gabriel.

The sound of shattered glass filled the air.

"Three mates! I have lost three mates to the hands of death because of this curse, and I can't afford to lose Lilia. If she dies, I will die along with her."

"You don't have to say much, Alpha."

"Then what?" Gabriel fired. "What the hell do you expect me to do? You saw me disgrace the lady my heart beats for just because I want her to leave.

All the mates I keep having, all of them die in their sleep the night we mate. I can't go through that anymore, not with Lilia."

Jackson walked closer to him, he placed a hand on his shoulder, his grip was firm but kind.

"We will find a solution. I assure you this. There should be a way out of this and as long as I live, I will get to the root of this." he assured. His words were buried in deep sincerity.

"There is no hope, Jackson. It is finished, I am done!"

Jackson smiled, "Even the sun knows when to give time for the moon to shine. You have to rest, Alpha, as long as you have me as your beta, this will surely be settled.

Gabriel nodded with doubt.

"What about Lilia? She won't want to see me. I will leave for the city by morning, I doubt If she will present herself at the office."

"Then, I will go to her place and speak to her."

"You shouldn't" Gabriel cut him.

"Why?"

He didn't respond. A lot of thoughts traveled through his mind.

"She will only believe it when it comes from me. I don't think this is the right time to reveal this to her."

Surprised at his response, a frown appeared on Jackson's face.

"It's best we inform her. Lilia is a gorgeous lady, male humans and wolves won't let her be until she is marked. And the faster you do that, the better it is for you not to lose her in the arms of another."

Rage and jealousy filled Gabriel. He hit the table so hard that they smashed into pieces, his eyes, hard and deadly.

"She is mine! Mine alone! No one will ever take her away from me! No mortal, no beast, no creature. I will never ever let her go even if it's the last thing I do on earth."

"She will always be mine even without us mating. If I can't have her, no one can!"