☽ Chapter 43: A Friendship Rekindle ☾

?Chapter 43 – A Friendship Rekindle?

I smile as I watch the wolves of Blood Moon, Hidden Claws, and my Silver Crystal Crescent mingle in the field outside of the pack house. Ariven and Dominic man the grill, the smell of burgers, steaks, sausages, and other delicious barbecue-worthy meats wafting in the breeze. Amberle is doing her best to get Lace drunk by the bonfire while some wolves sneak off into the night. I chuckle, realizing we may have to shuffle the packs around if my hunch is correct and some have found their mates. “Gemmy.” A voice calls out softly, and I turn to see Mika standing beside the table I sit at, a small smile on his lips and his hands holding two cans of cola. “You think I can sit and talk with you for a bit? I brought you a drink.” I chuckle, motioning for him to take the seat across from me and see a relieved look cross his face as he slides the cola in front of me and quickly sits before I could change my mind. “What do you want to talk about?” I ask, cracking open the can and taking a gulp. “I’m sorry.” He blurts out, catching my attention. I stay silent, waiting for him to elaborate. “I am sorry for not standing up for you when my parents were killed. I am sorry for standing by while Bastian abused you, and for abusing you as well. Most of all, I am sorry for rejecting you. I hurt you, and even when you came to help, I treated you like shit a few times.” Shame and regret are coming off him in small waves. I can see his apology is sincere. “To be honest, I regret the moment I rejected you. But Bastian scared the hell out of me. If we could go back in time to that day when my parents were killed, I would change everything.” Mika continues, his fingers playing with the can of cola in his hands as he looks down. I sigh, reaching out and taking his hand in mine, causing the wolf before me to snap his head up in surprise. “Unfortunately, we cannot go back in time. If things had been different and I had grown up with my father in Northern Snow, we would have met last year when I was twenty. But the Blakes fucked that up for both of us and changed our fates.” He nods sadly, a small smile on his lips as he takes in my words. “I am happy with how my life is now and I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world, considering Ariven and I are expecting a pup and I have a pack of my own, a family that loves me, and friends who mean the world to me.” I smile looking at the crowd of wolves that are celebrating our victory in our first battle with Prince Coro. “Our past made us the better version of ourselves, and one day you’ll have a second-chance mate. For now, know that you can always call me when you need a friend.” I continue, feeling happy to end the pain and suffering caused by our past that is clouded by pain because of the Blakes. Ariven was right, I needed this trip to confront my past and move on. “We’re friends?” I chuckle at Mika’s meek question and nod, standing from my chair as I spot Ariven giving me a questioning gaze. “Yes, Mika, we are friends. You make a great Beta for Lace, but we both know that this won’t last long. Trust me when I say your next mate will be kicking your ass in no time.” With those final words, I give my friend a smile before walking over to Ariven who promptly wraps an arm around me and pulls me into a hug, his scent enveloping me. “You okay, darling?” He asks, his free hand running through my hair. “Yes.” I answer, leaning into my mate and enjoying the sparks that ignite from our contact. “Safe to say you’re still mine.” He chuckles. I smile, turning my head to nip at the mark I left on his neck. “I’ll always be yours. Nothing will ever change that, Ariven.”