53.

**Noah**



With aunt Ari holding both our hands, leading us through the halls to the gardens you can feel the anger emanating from my brother and I. Everyone accepted Caleb with open arms like he did no wrong. Like his father did no wrong.

Emma was the one who surprised us the most, she had the audacity to accept her 'dear cousin's' apology, wasn't our mother hers too. Isn't she grieving the loss of the woman who raised her? How can she be so gullible?

I looked over aunt Ari's head to see a deep scowl marred on Jonah's face, his anger was affecting his wolf but he was trying to control it.

'Calm down brother' I said to him.

'Don't tell me to calm down Noah. That little fucker is here. In the castle. He had a hand in destroying our fucking pack and killing mom and you're telling me to calm the fuck down' he basically shouted at me. Pain, anger, and disappointment flowed through our link, I winced as it all came in waves to me.

I bent my head in shame, shame in feeling like I disappointed mom by not taking out Caleb or even hurting him a bit but I backed down because of what Emma said. Jonah backed down reluctantly not wanting to hurt our little sister.

'Beauty is right, you know. ' I finally said to him, he glanced across to me then closed himself off from me completely.

Sighing in defeat, I turn around in search of Mason, he was lagging behind with a confused look on his face.

'You okay, Mase?' I asked him. He looked up and gave me a weak smile.

'I sense my mate but something is off about her. She seems reluctant?' He said with a frown now on his face.

'That's great that she's near, don't worry she's probably a headstrong wolf you know how those are' I teased him. He snorted in response but gave me a weak laugh.

We reached the gardens, Arabella left us by the gates, and went in with Rayan. Aunt Ari was elated when she found who she was looking for; on a bench near the azaleas sat a curvy brown haired girl with hazel brown eyes that got lighter as sunlight shone on her face. Her skin was flawless, you can see how smooth and creamy her skin was even from our distance.

Her smile widens when she saw Arabella, and what a beautiful smile it was. "Auntie Ari," she squealed rushing to the queen to hold her tightly.

"Oh, my sweet Ariana. You've gotten so gorgeous. Dimitri has his hands full now" Arabella said holding the vampire princess at arm's length giving her a look over.

I won't mind having her as mine. If only I can.

"Oh shush auntie. You know mama and I have him wrapped around our fingers" she teased which brought a giggle from Queen Rayan.

Her eyes met mine and I saw a faint blush cover her face, a teasing smirk graced my face that made her blush more prominent.

"Mate!" I heard a voice breathed out next to me.

Coming out at the trance I was in with the fair princess, it was Mason who utter that word I wish I can say also.

Looking between him and Ariana the look was evident. The vampire princess was Mason's mate.



**********************************

**Ariana**

I groaned mentally staring at the blond-haired wolf that's my beloved. He was all the way perfect. Shaggy blond hair. Lovely blue eyes I know I would get lost in. I can tell his body was fit by the way his shirt was tight around his biceps and that five o'clock shadow made him look rugged yet playful. But I don't want this.

I promised myself I won't be another statistic among my friends even worse end up like uncle Damian.

I don't want my beloved. Thinking those words brought pain to my chest, those blue eyes held adoration and awe already. For me. His mate.

The dark-haired twin with the calm aura around him was a bit put off, the teasing smirk he gave me moments before turned to a frown of regret. Having a meaningless relationship with him would have been ideal, the hurt I saw with my friends and family finding their mates was what I wanted to avoid.

"Oh," I heard auntie said.

"Ariana this is Mason. Beta to Prince Michael and behind him are the twin Deltas to the prince Noah...." She said motioning to the twin that caught my eye "... And Jonah" she continued motioning to his brother.

Jonah looked like he didn't want to be here, I can definitely relate to him.

Mason approached us and took my hand, the jolt of pleasure that ran through my body made me gasp out loud. He felt it too as he closed his eyes and released a shaky sigh.

"Hello, Ariana. I've been......" He began to say. His voice was so deep and husky I was surprised I was still standing. But reality came back in full force. I couldn't prolong this. To avoid future pain I need to do this.

Pulling my hand out of his hold I stepped away from him, confusion filled his eyes, I glanced at my mother.

Her shoulders were slumped, a tear escaped her eyes and rolled down her cheek she shook her head for me not to do it. She knew my opinion on soulmates and tried to convince me to change my thinking but I wouldn't budge.

I couldn't. I wanted to protect myself.

"I, Ariana ..." I began to say. My eyes began to tear up, the words didn't want to come out and what's even worse I can hear how fast Mason's heart began to beat. He was dreading what I was going to say, I was hurting too but it would be best for me. For us.

"I, Ariana hereby reject you, Mason, as my beloved, my soulmate," I finally said. Tears blurred my vision.

"Ariana, what are you doing? Please tell me this is one of your jokes," my aunt yelled at me.

"I'm sorry Mason. I can't... I just can't do this" I cried. He stood still not moving, not talking. He didn't even respond to me.

Seeing him like this was killing me, I had to leave, I ran out of the garden with a quick glance to Noah. His eyes said it all shock, sadness, and anger.

The pain of rejecting my beloved began to put a toll on me, my running became slower, I reached the hallway to the guest rooms and slumped down outside the room I know was mine.

No one told me of this pain by rejecting your soul mate, at least it's the only pain I rather go through now than in the future.


********************************************


**Mason**

'What have we done wrong? Is it because we are wolves?' My wolf asked. His pain and mine doubled trying to wrap around what just occurred.

Our mate rejected us.

Though I didn't voice it out loud I always wanted to find my mate. Someone to call my own, someone who would love me as much as I love them. Ariana was to be the one. I didn't care she was a vampire all I cared about was the fact that she was mine.

She will always be the mate I want.

I didn't know how long I was standing there but it must be long because in front of me was my best friend. Her eyes were full of worry and love. My sweet Emma. She has always been by my side since we were kids. I confided in her as I would to my mother if she was alive.

"Masey" she called out to me. The pain and worry in her voice broke me.

"Emmy" I whispered to her, my voice broke trying to tell her what happened.

As always she said nothing and just held me.

'Is this how I'm to live Emmy?' I asked her over our link. She pulled away.

"Don't you dare Mason Carmichael," she said sternly. I smiled sadly at her usage of my middle name when she's frustrated with me.

"Everything would be okay. You have a family that loves you and would stick by you. I would always be there for you Masey. Ariana is..... She's probably confused. I'm sure she would realize her mistake and come back to you" she said with all the confidence she can muster.

By her words I know she meant them to be comforting to me but they made me angry.

"A mistake huh. I want what you have Emma. What my father had. I want to be in love with the woman who sees me as hers and only hers every time she looks at me. I want someone to call my own Emma. Do you think I would survive the rest of my life standing by your side while you revel in the love Michael has for you while my own mate thinks I'm a mistake?" I shouted at her. She flinched at my words that's when I realized everyone was in the garden.

I stepped away from her, as Michael came behind her. Looking at him and the others I saw it in all of their eyes.

Pity.

But Emma's was different. She felt my sadness. She was always able to mimic my emotions from a scraped knee to heartache, we didn't know why.

"You're not a mistake," she whispered.

"Then what am I? A letdown? A hindrance? Can you tell me why my mate rejected me after I spoke four words? Four words, Emmy," I calmly asked tilting my head to the side viewing her expression.

'This is our life now. Alone.' My wolf said.

I had no one, no one to love me for the man I am.

My mother has died. My father captured and I have no idea if I will ever see him again.

One of my best friends hates me. My other friend is deep in love with her mate. Something I longed for.

Shit.

The tears flowed harder down my cheek. I didn't care who saw, my heart was no more.

"Masey" Emma called out, her voice broke trying to call me again.

I looked at my only friend who loved me like her own blood brother, her eyes pleaded for me to stay with her because she knew I would run.

I wouldn't but I do need to be away from the palace for some time.

"I promise, not this time," I said to her before shifting into my wolf, running away from the gardens into the woods. I let my wolf take over, he released a howl that carried every emotion we were both feeling.

An inkling of hope left.

Maybe just maybe our mate would come back to us.

'For now, we need to be alone,' I said to my wolf as we hid in the secluded part of the woods but stayed within castle grounds.

She will come back to us.

Maybe.