My Second Chance
#32 The Cat Is Out Of The Bag

Clover's P.O.V

I walked on and on. Not resting till the pack house came to sight. I felt guilty for leaving Sapphire, but if that's what makes her happy, then so be it. Twigs snapped and leaves crunched under my feet as I neared the pack house. What would they say? I turned my back and betrayed them, would they take me back?

I turned away. I could lie to Sapphire that they didn't want to take me back. But where would 1 go? I couldn't return before 4 days. I sighed and sat down against the tree. I smelled a scent but was too tired to acknowledge it. The wind might have brought it here.

My eyes swept over the large mansion that had over 500 people leaving together. It was unusually quiet. They were all blissfully unaware about Sapphire's problem as she was forced to face alone. Guilt tugged at my heart. I left her to fend for herself. What if Graysen found her? What if those witches Sapphire told me about was really helping him? She would never get away. Sweat beaded on my forehead in terror at the images that flashed through my mind. I stood up abruptly. I had to be there for her, whether she like it or not.

"Glad to see you made your mind about whatever that was bothering you." I heard a familiar voice and my head snapped to the owner.

I couldn't describe how relieved I was to hear my childhood's friend's voice. Then again, I remembered the decision I made just a second ago. Great, now how do I get away?

"Why is the pack house so quiet?" I decided to ask a helpful question instead. "Something to do with you and Sapphire’s disappearance.” Cole shrugged. "Then why are you here?" I snapped. He raised his hands into a surrendering gesture. "I'm suppose to search this area.” He sighed. "Good. Thank you for the chat, if you would excuse me, I have to go." I mumbled and turned away. A hand soon caught my arm. "Whoa. We've searched for hours, I'm not gonna let you go." Cole muttered and tugged me towards the pack house. "Let go you moron.” I growled. "Clover, why the sudden hostileness?" He grumbled. "Wait." I said, stopping him in his tracks. He raised an eyebrow in question. "You are Cole... right?" I asked nervously and poking his cheek as I remembered what Sapphire had encountered at the forest the day before yesterday. He swatted my hand away. "No Clover. I'm actually Channing Tatum in disguise.” He snorted. "Really? That guy's body is s000 hot..." I sighed. He snorted again and pulled me to the pack house.

"Fuck off Cole.” I grumbled. "You gave us a hell lot of trouble young lady.” He waggled his finger at me playfully which I rolled my eyes at. "Clover?" I heard another familiar voice and I was at once engulfed into a hug. "Hands of me, Lawrence.” I snapped, pushing him back. Hurt flashed in his eyes. Well, you aren't the only one hurt pretty boy. My wolf howled in pain at the memory of being rejected. "You rejected me. What are you doing right now?" I growled and he looked down at his feet guiltily. "I never knew how much you meant to me Clover. Without you, I felt so empty. I'm really sorry. If you forgive me, I want you back as a mate. I'll stop all my player ways. Please, give me a chance Clover." He begged, his hand rubbing his neck, showing his embarrassment. My wolf howled in happiness. I still wanted to tease a little, hell, he deserved it. "I'll think about it." I nodded my face expressionless. "Thank you." He said happily and hugged me again. "Okay, too lovey dovey for me. Hands of her Lawrence. She has got to see the Alpha.” Cole pinched the bridge of his nose and Lawrence then recluntly released me.

"Bye Lawrence." I yelled as Cole continued to tug me forward. After a while of silence, he spoke. "You know. You can scream out your happiness.” Cole smirked. "What happiness?” I faked innocence. He gave me a flat look and I decided to let the happiness show. "Yes baby! Woo hoo! Take that haters!" I yelled and did an embarassing dance which I call a happy dance. "Okay. Too much happiness.” Cole chuckled. "I can't help it." I shrugged and he grinned at me.

Soon, I reached the large door to the Alpha's office.

"Prepare yourself. He hasn't exactly been the cheeriest." Cole warned. "I didn't even know there was a word like that." I snorted and he gave me a bored look. "Now isn't the time to make fun of my vocabulary... I wasn't joking when I said the Alpha isn't in a good mood.” Cole groaned. "Of course I know. You wouldn't think he would be cheery after all the things that happened, would you?" I smirked. "I see that Sapphire's fiery attitude had rubbed onto you.” Cole groaned in frustration. The mere mention of my friend was enough for my mood to go straight down into a ditch.

"By the way, where is she?" Cole asked quietly. “There's no need for you to know." I snapped. "You'll have to tell us eventually.” Cole tried to pry the answer out of me. Not gonna happen, buddy. "4 days." I said in monotone. "What?" He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. I smiled sadly and Cole sensed that it wasn't something I wanted to share. Ryder's P.O.V

"Where is Sapphire?" I growled, my eyes turning a shade darker. The redhead in front of me pressed her lips together. "Clover, please.. just tell is where she is.” Alex sighed. She seemed to think things over but ended up sighing. "I can't." She whispered. "You are not going to disrespect an Alpha like that.” I roared, my wolf surfacing. She flinched a little. "You're not my Alpha. I'm a rogue now." She said, her eyes suddenly gleaming with determination.

Jay is almost taking over completely now. "Ryder..." Cole nodded at me to calm down. I gripped the armrest and forced my frantic heartbeats to slow down. "Look. We need to know where she is." Cole said gently. "For what? I told you Cole. 4 days.” Clover growled. "4 days what?" My third in command asked exasperated. "I can tell you in 4 days." Clover snarled. I was taken aback by her hostileness. She was always the sweet and gentle type.. What happened? Our mate was what happened, Jay said proudly. I forced the picture of her beautiful lips, her little nose and her gorgeous eyes out of my mind... but didn't succeed.

"If you claim to be a rogue, you know what happens to rogues.” I smirked, approaching the matter in the other way. "You mean the torture you inflicted on rogues before you met Sapph? Sure I do.” She shrugged. "Aren't you scared?” Alex furrowed his eyebrows. "No. What I fear right now is Sapphire. Nothing in the world scares me more." She chuckled humourlessly...

"Look Clover. I'm dying inside tight now. Like literally, I can't live without my mate. I need a Luna and I fucking miss her. Like hell. don't care if it makes me sound weak or anything, I really miss her. I couldn't even sleep at night, not knowing where she is." I growled out, releasing all my anger and frustration into my words. "You? Dying?" She laughed as if it was the funniest thing in the world. "What?" I growled angrily. Confessing that he couldn't live without a certain blonde was okay, but being laughed at is another story. She stopped laughing and glared at me heatedly. "She is the one dying inside, you know why?" She took a step forward to me. "Please enlighten me." I said calmly while inside I was boiling like a volcano about to erupt. "She did this to protect the pack. She did this to protect you. And you say it's killing you. Honey, you got it all wrong. Don't you dare find another Luna just because she thinks she failed. She has never failed. Because if she stayed, you guys would be all dead in 4 days. She is the best and bravest person I've ever met. And you fucking idiot just couldn't give her a last kiss goodbye. You just couldn't even let her see your true feelings you held for her the last time you seen her. You bastard made her believe you hated her!" Clover screamed at me. I was rendered speechless. So was Alex and Cole. Something then clicked.

"Wait- How did you know she said she failed being a Luna? She told me this in a dream...” I muttered. "Think. You've a really nice head don't you? Use it!" She yelled at me. How did Lawrence even find this attractive? "Okay, calm down. You're going too far.” Cole reminded her and she took steady breaths, calming herself down.

"Unless... The dream was real... She set up a dream for me.” I widened my eyes. "Ding ding ding, we have a winner.” She mumbled. I glared at her which surprisingly just bought an eye roll from her. "But, you guys never mated. She doesn't possess that power." Alex stated in confusion. "Sapphire isn't normal.” She chuckled with a little humour and I couldn't help the little smile tugging at my lips. That statement was true to its core.

A knock on the door interrupted us and I granted the person permission to come in. My mother slipped in and closed the door behind her.

"Mum. What are you doing here?" I asked in confusion. She smiled sadly at me. "Clover dear, I think we should share the truth.” She nodded her head at Clover. Clover didn't look the least surprised at what my mother said. What secret? The curiosity was burning inside me. "Mrs Black, I'm sorry. I can't. We just have to wait 4 days. Just 4 days." Clover begged. "Call me Georgia. And I know dear. I've been counting down the days. But she can't face this alone. She'll end up a murderer to many innocent souls.” Mum said seriously. I furrowed my eyebrows at this. What the hell are they talking about? Clover sighed in surrender and nodded at my mother to start talking. She sunk into a seat and became ghostly pale. Obviously thinking what would Sapphire do to her.

We all turned or attention to my mother. The secret shocking us to the core.

"That's so stupid of me. I shouldn't let the maroon fur thing slide away that easily.” Alex cursed himself. I was still speechless, my mouth gaping open. "Honey, close your mouth. You'll catch flies.” My mother scolded. I snapped my head to her. "How long have you known this. Why didn't you tell me?" I growled. My actions did nothing to intimate her. "It wasn't my place to tell. But that girl is more foolish than I thought. I had to take matters to my own hands.” She said calmly. "So.. Sapphire, Ryder's mate, is a half demon?!" Cole asked, finally stepping out of what ever trance he was in. "And she will change to her full form in 4 days?!" Alec entered the conversation. "She will kill me for this. I failed the last thing I promised to her.” Clover sobbed, covering her face with her hands. "Clover." Cole took a step towards her. "You don't understand. That was the only thing I promised her. To keep her secret safe and I failed her. I'm such an awful friend.” She sobbed more loudly than before.

So all this time, she was doing this to protect us, she still loves us, Jay howled happily. I sighed in relief. So that dream... It was all real, Jay mumbled. I flinched at all the harsh words I've told her. How broken she looked. How real and beautiful her eyes were. I had flashbacks to where I had gawked at her amazing speed and strength. I felt so. guilty. She had this internal battle going for so long and I wasn't even there for her. I felt my heart clench. All the time I had spotted sadness in her eyes, but they were always gone in a flash. I should have known that something was bothering her. I pounded my fist on my desk hardly in frustration.

"It wasn't your fault honey. She was quite a stubborn girl. I had tried to tell her that telling you would make things easier, but instead she chose the hard way and broke her own heart in the process. She was quite determined to keep the secret." Mum shook her head, chuckling lightly. That's when I remembered. Sapphire requested to talk to my mum before dinner. She couldn't sleep that night. The fact that something was bothering her was always right in front of me, I just never saw it. She had been troubling about this for so long which frustrated me. And I had claimed that she didn't love me in the dream where I asked her why she wouldn't let us mate. I felt so guilty right now. How sad had she been?

"Ryder, how do you feel right now? About Sapphire being a half demon?" Mum asked carefully, testing the waters.

"Pride." It slipped right out of my mouth without my brain actually processing it.

My friend's faces were hilarious. But I didn't take a picture of it since nobody was in the mood to. Clover's eyes was filled with relief and happiness. My mother's eyes shone with excitement and curiosity.

"You don't care that it was her father who killed yours?" Alec asked bluntly. "No. It's not her fault, is it?" I said curtly. "I knew you loved her." Mum said with a wide smile on her face. "N.. no I don't." I stuttered. Damn, when did Ryder Black stutter. "Really?" Alec raised his eyebrow. Admit it admit it admit it, Jay said in a sing song voice. Jay, you can't sing to save your life, I smirked. Just like how you can't cook to save your life, he retorted. I remembered that it's was something I told Sapphire. The feelings for her was overwhelming me.

Instead of denying it once more, I settled down on all question. After all, there's nodded pointed hiding theirs truth anymore. "What does it feeling to love someone?” I asked softly. Mum smiled at the question. "It's like... you can't bear being away form them took long. Your heart will be yearning for them. When you miss them, you'll filled an empty pit in your stomach. You'll feel lonely. You'll get extremely possessive. You feel absolutely comfortable with that person. You'd even take a silver bullet for her.” Mum smiled, no doubt thinking about dad.

It's everything you feel, believe her now? Jay sighed. He was right, it wouldn't beat everything I felt the past two days, hell, it would beat what I felt the whole time I had been with her.

"Yeah." I cleared my throat. "Yeah what?" Cole asked, a evil glint in his eyes. Bastard, he just wants me to say it out loud. They wouldv'e heard even if I had whispered it in the next room. Clover's eyes were shining with hope. "I... I love her.” mumbled. "I can't hear you..." Clover teased, joining the game. I glared at her and got an innocent look back. "I said... I love her." I gritted my teeth. This was a big blow to my Alpha pride. Come on, would an Alpha want to admit that he couldn't live without a woman? "What was that?" Cole cupped a hand around his ear. "I said I love her goddamn you people!" I yelled. Cole snickered and Alec grinned. "Ooo... my baby fell in love!" Mum squealed and tackled me into a hug. "Mum..." I groaned. "Are you sure of yourself feelings?" Clover asked carefully. “No.. what I said was all a joke." I rolled my eyes sarcastically. "I'm serious.” Clover said glaring at me. I don't know why I suddenly took her seriously. "Yeah. I really do.” I mumbled. She leapt out of her seat. "Good. Let's go then." She clapped her hands.

"Go where?" Alec asked confused. She rolled her eyes like what she said was obvious. "Get Sapphire back of course. I'm not going to let her face this alone. How dangerous it is." She said in a duh tone. "Will she even want me there?" I gulped. "Sure. You haven't seen her bawl her eyes out yesterday. She misses you too much that it's unhealthy.” Clover muttered. "What happens during the Changing?" Cole asked. "Sapphire wasn't raised by demons, that's why she doesn't know anything about this. While the Changing, someone she loves, someone who us important to her must be by her side and distract her till it past. If there isn't, there won't be people to stop her destroying things. When she's Changing, the evil side of her comes out. Completely. She won't be the girl you guys know. She'll be completely different.” Mum explained slowly, letting the information to sink in.

"So... who's going to stay by her side?" I asked dumbly. Everybody looked at me with a flat look. "What?" I shrugged. "You are, dumbass." Cole groaned. "Why me? Will she even want the see me?" I furrowed my brows. "Believe me. She loves you more than you think.” Clover put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "But will see even see me?" I bit my lip anxiously. "Of course she'll be reluctant to let you enter her apartment but-" I interrupted her before she could continue. "She already has an apartment? How the hell did you guys find one so quickly?!" I growled. Clover started explaining their so called good luck. "Wait... Those aren't good luck, that's a trap!" I yelled in frustration. "What trap?" Clover frowned. "Clover! It's a trap set by Graysen!" I growled. "Of course. Think about it. Everything that happened was so... so... smooth.. Don't you think that there's something wrong?" I smashed my fist on the table, again, on the same spot, making it break. "Great. You'll have to get a new desk.” Cole muttered. "I don't fucking care about a new desk. We've to go save her!" I snarled. "It's fishy now hat I think about it...” Clover mumbled and I face palmed.

"What are we waiting for? Let's go!" Alec yelled. "All of us?" Cole asked. “I'll stay and look after the pack.” Mum said with a smile. "But... You are the one who knows most about demons. And what am I suppose to do while the Changing? And what if it's really a trap? What will 1 do?" I started panicking. "You'll save her and you'll know what to do when the time comes.” Mum reassured. "Okay, we don't have much time. It'll take a second for Graysen to get hold of her.” Clover said worriedly. I stopped walking to the door and faced her. "What do you mean?" I asked angrily. "Umm... Something about witches.. heh..." She faked a laugh. "Clover." I growled with my Alpha tone and she flinched. "Dude, leave it for the car. We got to get there quickly.” Alec sighed in exasperation.

I gave my mother a hug before leaving. "You'll do fine. I promise.” She whispered into my ear before pulling back. Hopefully this wouldn't be the last time I see her.

It won't and our mate will be fine, she's a demon for gods sake, Jay reassured. I couldn't help but feel the pride radiating of him.

Then I noticed, I didn't feel the least hatred for her. Instead I felt pride that I got an unusual mate, I felt disappointment that she didn't tell me, but I felt proud of her. She sacrificed her happiness to save me and the pack, even if she didn't know them well, she was still willing. She was one of the strongest let woman I've met.

I love her. And I won't let her go when I get my hands on her beautiful body.

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