Chapter 29

I winched in agony as another white-hot surge rippled through me as the silver and the wolfbane began to take effect. How dare Libby do this to me! I fed her! I clothed her! I housed her! Okay, maybe I did hurt her parents and lie to her, but still!

I could feel and hear Rhea, my beautiful, poor wolf, curling up and howling in pain, distraught that our bond was being weakened by every passing minute. I couldn't bear the thought of losing her. Rhea was the only creature that fully understood me and now she would be gone forever! It's not like I could escape from here either. I was surrounded by thick, silver bars, the constant drip of wolfsbane that hung over me and the many, burly guards outside my cell. I wasn't as strong as I once was. I'd have no chance!

Closing my eyes, I thought back to Paul, to blot out the pain. Oh, how I loved Paul. He was meant to be mine! His fate would have never turned out the way it had if Christine had never shown up! What have I done to him? He's no longer the Paul I once knew and loved. I did that to him out of anger and jealousy. Why Julianne, why?
****

"Where are you off to this early, pet?" my mum asked over her glasses, as I sauntered into the kitchen, full of life with a big grin plastered on my face.
"I'm off to meet Paul!" I grinned smugly, as I chucked on my jacket and made my way to the back door. "Why do you ask?"
"Don't you think you're getting a bit too close to that boy?" my mum sighed, folding her newspaper away and looking at me in concern. "What are you going to do when it turns out that you won't be his mate and he falls for someone else?"
"Well, he won't!" I answered defiantly, pushing that thought firmly into the back of my mind. "We know it's going to happen! We can feel it! We are made for each other!"
"Oh, honey! I wish you would just be careful!" my mum continued shaking her head sadly. "Life doesn't always work out that way. Anyway, why are you meeting him so early? It's only half 7!"
"Mum, we are in love! It's going to happen!" I protested, feeling my anger start to surge. "Anyway, there's a new girl starting today and I want to be the first one to meet her and show her around!"
"Hmm. Well okay, pet," my mother sighed, giving up her fight. "Go and have fun. See you later. And remember, I love you!"

My eyes darted open. Oh, my poor mum! She died of cancer shortly after I joined my pack as a healer. I tried everything to save her, using all of my medical knowledge. But it was just too late. The cancer had ravaged her body and there was nothing I could do. I didn't have anyone else to turn to in grief so I turned to Paul. I never knew my father as he was never on the scene. My mum had always said that it was a silly little romance that didn't last long. As soon as my father found out about my mum's pregnancy, he fled for the hills, never to be seen again. Mum guessed that he went rogue, to try and prevent himself from being tracked. Not that I needed him. My mum gave me everything. I was her little girl. Paul and Christine helped me through the grief and I was honestly so grateful for them. Christine was my best friend. She was the new girl who had started at the school that fateful day and since then, we had been inseparable.
****


"Hey, beautiful!" Paul sang as I sashayed up the street and in through the school gates. "Look at you! You're looking fine this morning!"
"Ahh, shush, you big old softy," I playfully purred as I gently smacked him on the arm. "You're embarrassing me!"
"Oh, I'm embarrassing you, am I?" Paul murmured as he dragged me into his chest and wrapped his arms around me tightly before burying his nose in my flame-red hair. "Mmm, you smell delectable! You make the wolf in me feel hungry!"
"I can't wait to be your mate, officially. Then you can have me all day long," I purred teasingly, as I kissed him on the nose. "Come on. I heard there's a new girl starting today and I want to find her!"

Excitedly, I pulled Paul towards the entrance of the main entrance, hoping to catch a glimpse of this new girl. What would she be like? Would she be nice? Would she be pretty? Would she even want to be friends with this fiery redhead? As we piled in through the doors, my eyes fell on her straight away. God! She really was pretty. She was tall, slim and blonde. As she turned, she focused her bright blue eyes on me and gave me a small, nervous smile.

"Ahh. You must be the welcoming committee!" she laughed jokingly, as she held out her hand politely.
"Ah, yeah. Something like that," I smiled as I gazed over at Paul standing silently beside me.

But it was his expression that threw me. That's when I knew something wasn't quite right. Paul was standing beside me like a statue, his eyes fixated on this strange, new girl, frozen in time.
What was going on?
*****

I should have known from that very moment that it was Christine. But no. Silly little Julianne! I pushed any doubts firmly to the back of my mind. Paul loved me and we both knew we were to be mated. Maybe it was the shock of meeting a new wolf, who was just as beautiful as me. I didn't dwell on it as he seemed perfectly normal for the rest of the day, while we showed Christine around and got to know her properly. He seemed, perfectly besotted with me and didn't seem to care about showing me affection in front of this new chick, who just smiled politely and looked away. My mind began to drift once more as the memory of that fateful day reared its ugly head. A memory that I had buried deep within me for years.
****

"Happy birthday sweety!" my mum sang, as she swept into the room while carrying a large, chocolate cake, adorned with candles burning brightly. "I made it myself!"

"Oh, mum!" I gasped, delighted at the gesture. "It looks amazing! Thank you! This is the happiest day of my life. I'm finally sixteen and today is the day I will find out if I really am to be Paul's mate!"
"Wait? What?" my mum asked slowly, setting down the cake on the table. "You're going to find out today? I don't want you ruining your birthday. Can't it wait until tomorrow?"
"No, it really can't!" I gushed excitedly. "I've been waiting for this day for so long! I won't be long, mum. I promise. Then we can have some cake!"

A loud knock on the door told me that Paul was outside and excitedly, I rushed down the stairs with a loud clatter. I couldn't contain my excitement and need to get to him and as I wrenched open the door, I gasped in surprise. There he was, standing in all his glory, in a smart suit, holding a neatly wrapped present in one hand and holding birthday balloons in the other.

"Happy birthday, my princess," Paul whispered slowly, as he leaned forward to give me a birthday kiss and give me presents.

Smiling, I carried the gifts inside and put them down just inside the door and returned to Paul and looked at him, oddly. In silence, we both stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity, until I broke the silence and finally spoke.

"It's not going to happen, is it?" I whispered sadly, feeling my throat tighten and tears prick in my eyes. "We aren't going to be mates are we?"
"It seems not," Paul whispered, looking down at his shoes nervously before taking my hands and gazing into my eyes. "But it doesn't matter! We still have each other!"

Before I could say another word, our garden gate creaked open and as I glanced around Paul, I spied Christine walking up the path, carrying a large pink, present. My best friend would know what to do!

As soon as Paul turned around, the world seemed to slow in an instant. He collapsed to his knees, panting heavily, beads of sweat forming on his brow as he stared at Christine hungrily. Likewise, Christine had now dropped the present on the grass, as she clawed at her chest, struggling to breathe as she slowly moved towards Paul. Before I could stop it, they were both in each other's embrace, gazing up at each other in adornment.

That was when my life began crashing down around me. That's when I knew. I wasn't to be Paul's mate. It was Christine. It had always been her. My best friend was Paul's mate!