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 feltguilty for leaving Sapphire, but if that's what makes her happy, then sobe it. Twigs snapped and leaves crunched under my feet as I neared thepack house. What would they say? I turned my back and betrayedthem, would they take me back?

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

My eyes swept over the large mansion that had over 500 peopleleaving together. It was unusually quiet. They were all blissfully unawareabout Sapphire's problem as she was forced to face alone. Guilt tuggedat 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 atthe images that flashed through my mind. I stood up abruptly. I had tobe there for her, whether she like it or not.

"Glad to see you made your mind about whatever that was botheringyou." 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'svoice. 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 questioninstead. "Something to do with you and Sapphire’s disappearance.”Cole shrugged. "Then why are you here?" I snapped. He raised hishands into a surrendering gesture. "I'm suppose to search this area.” Hesighed. "Good. Thank you for the chat, if you would excuse me, I haveto 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." Colemuttered and tugged me towards the pack house. "Let go you moron.”I growled. "Clover, why the sudden hostileness?" He grumbled. "Wait." Isaid, stopping him in his tracks. He raised an eyebrow in question. "Youare Cole... right?" I asked nervously and poking his cheek as Iremembered what Sapphire had encountered at the forest the daybefore yesterday. He swatted my hand away. "No Clover. I'm actuallyChanning Tatum in disguise.” He snorted. "Really? That guy's body iss000 hot..." I sighed. He snorted again and pulled me to the packhouse.

"Fuck off Cole.” I grumbled. "You gave us a hell lot of trouble younglady.” 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 intoa hug. "Hands of me, Lawrence.” I snapped, pushing him back. Hurtflashed in his eyes. Well, you aren't the only one hurt pretty boy. Mywolf 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 hisfeet guiltily. "I never knew how much you meant to me Clover. Withoutyou, I felt so empty. I'm really sorry. If you forgive me, I want you backas 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. Mywolf howled in happiness. I still wanted to tease a little, hell, hedeserved it. "I'll think about it." I nodded my face expressionless. "Thankyou." He said happily and hugged me again. "Okay, too lovey dovey forme. Hands of her Lawrence. She has got to see the Alpha.” Colepinched the bridge of his nose and Lawrence then recluntly releasedme.

"Bye Lawrence." I yelled as Cole continued to tug me forward. After awhile of silence, he spoke. "You know. You can scream out yourhappiness.” Cole smirked. "What happiness?” I faked innocence. Hegave 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 dancewhich 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. "Ididn't even know there was a word like that." I snorted and he gave mea bored look. "Now isn't the time to make fun of my vocabulary... Iwasn't joking when I said the Alpha isn't in a good mood.” Colegroaned. "Of course I know. You wouldn't think he would be cheeryafter all the things that happened, would you?" I smirked. "I see thatSapphire's fiery attitude had rubbed onto you.” Cole groaned infrustration. The mere mention of my friend was enough for my mood togo straight down into a ditch.

"By the way, where is she?" Cole asked quietly. “There's no need for youto know." I snapped. "You'll have to tell us eventually.” Cole tried to prythe answer out of me. Not gonna happen, buddy. "4 days." I said inmonotone. "What?" He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. I smiledsadly 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. Theredhead in front of me pressed her lips together. "Clover, please.. justtell is where she is.” Alex sighed. She seemed to think things over butended up sighing. "I can't." She whispered. "You are not going todisrespect an Alpha like that.” I roared, my wolf surfacing. She flincheda little. "You're not my Alpha. I'm a rogue now." She said, her eyessuddenly gleaming with determination.

Jay is almost taking over completely now. "Ryder..." Cole nodded at meto calm down. I gripped the armrest and forced my frantic heartbeatsto 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?" Mythird in command asked exasperated. "I can tell you in 4 days." Cloversnarled. I was taken aback by her hostileness. She was always the sweetand gentle type.. What happened? Our mate was what happened, Jaysaid proudly. I forced the picture of her beautiful lips, her little nose andher gorgeous eyes out of my mind... but didn't succeed.

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

"Look Clover. I'm dying inside tight now. Like literally, I can't livewithout my mate. I need a Luna and I fucking miss her. Like hell. don'tcare if it makes me sound weak or anything, I really miss her. I couldn'teven sleep at night, not knowing where she is." I growled out, releasingall my anger and frustration into my words. "You? Dying?" She laughedas 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, butbeing laughed at is another story. She stopped laughing and glared atme heatedly. "She is the one dying inside, you know why?" She took astep forward to me. "Please enlighten me." I said calmly while inside Iwas boiling like a volcano about to erupt. "She did this to protect thepack. She did this to protect you. And you say it's killing you. Honey,you got it all wrong. Don't you dare replace another Luna just because shethinks she failed. She has never failed. Because if she stayed, you guyswould be all dead in 4 days. She is the best and bravest person I've evermet. 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 thelast time you seen her. You bastard made her believe you hated her!"Clover screamed at me. I was rendered speechless. So was Alex andCole. Something then clicked.

"Wait- How did you know she said she failed being a Luna? She told methis in a dream...” I muttered. "Think. You've a really nice head don'tyou? Use it!" She yelled at me. How did Lawrence even replace thisattractive? "Okay, calm down. You're going too far.” Cole reminded herand she took steady breaths, calming herself down.

"Unless... The dream was real... She set up a dream for me.” I widenedmy eyes. "Ding ding ding, we have a winner.” She mumbled. I glared ather which surprisingly just bought an eye roll from her. "But, you guysnever mated. She doesn't possess that power." Alex stated in confusion."Sapphire isn't normal.” She chuckled with a little humour and I couldn'thelp the little smile tugging at my lips. That statement was true to itscore.

A knock on the door interrupted us and I granted the personpermission to come in. My mother slipped in and closed the doorbehind her.

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

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

"That's so stupid of me. I shouldn't let the maroon fur thing slide awaythat easily.” Alex cursed himself. I was still speechless, my mouth gapingopen. "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'tyou tell me?" I growled. My actions did nothing to intimate her. "Itwasn't my place to tell. But that girl is more foolish than I thought. I hadto take matters to my own hands.” She said calmly. "So.. Sapphire,Ryder's mate, is a half demon?!" Cole asked, finally stepping out ofwhat ever trance he was in. "And she will change to her full form in 4days?!" Alec entered the conversation. "She will kill me for this. I failedthe last thing I promised to her.” Clover sobbed, covering her face withher hands. "Clover." Cole took a step towards her. "You don'tunderstand. That was the only thing I promised her. To keep her secretsafe and I failed her. I'm such an awful friend.” She sobbed more loudlythan before.

So all this time, she was doing this to protect us, she still loves us, Jayhowled happily. I sighed in relief. So that dream... It was all real, Jaymumbled. I flinched at all the harsh words I've told her. How brokenshe looked. How real and beautiful her eyes were. I had flashbacks towhere 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 eventhere for her. I felt my heart clench. All the time I had spotted sadnessin her eyes, but they were always gone in a flash. I should have knownthat something was bothering her. I pounded my fist on my desk hardlyin frustration.

"It wasn't your fault honey. She was quite a stubborn girl. I had tried totell her that telling you would make things easier, but instead she chosethe hard way and broke her own heart in the process. She was quitedetermined to keep the secret." Mum shook her head, chuckling lightly.That's when I remembered. Sapphire requested to talk to my mumbefore dinner. She couldn't sleep that night. The fact that somethingwas 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. AndI had claimed that she didn't love me in the dream where I asked herwhy she wouldn't let us mate. I felt so guilty right now. How sad hadshe been?

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

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

My friend's faces were hilarious. But I didn't take a picture of it sincenobody was in the mood to. Clover's eyes was filled with relief andhappiness. My mother's eyes shone with excitement and curiosity.

"You don't care that it was her father who killed yours?" Alec askedbluntly. "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'tsing to save your life, I smirked. Just like how you can't cook to saveyour life, he retorted. I remembered that it's was something I toldSapphire. The feelings for her was overwhelming me.

Instead of denying it once more, I settled down on all question. Afterall, there's nodded pointed hiding theirs truth anymore. "What does itfeeling 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 heartwill be yearning for them. When you miss them, you'll filled an emptypit in your stomach. You'll feel lonely. You'll get extremely possessive.You feel absolutely comfortable with that person. You'd even take asilver bullet for her.” Mum smiled, no doubt thinking about dad.

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

"Yeah." I cleared my throat. "Yeah what?" Cole asked, a evil glint in hiseyes. Bastard, he just wants me to say it out loud. They wouldv'e heardeven if I had whispered it in the next room. Clover's eyes were shiningwith 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. "Isaid... I love her." I gritted my teeth. This was a big blow to my Alphapride. Come on, would an Alpha want to admit that he couldn't livewithout a woman? "What was that?" Cole cupped a hand around hisear. "I said I love her goddamn you people!" I yelled. Cole snickered andAlec grinned. "Ooo... my baby fell in love!" Mum squealed and tackledme 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 eyessarcastically. "I'm serious.” Clover said glaring at me. I don't know why Isuddenly took her seriously. "Yeah. I really do.” I mumbled. She leaptout of her seat. "Good. Let's go then." She clapped her hands.

"Go where?" Alec asked confused. She rolled her eyes like what she saidwas obvious. "Get Sapphire back of course. I'm not going to let her facethis alone. How dangerous it is." She said in a duh tone. "Will she evenwant me there?" I gulped. "Sure. You haven't seen her bawl her eyes outyesterday. She misses you too much that it's unhealthy.” Clovermuttered. "What happens during the Changing?" Cole asked. "Sapphirewasn't raised by demons, that's why she doesn't know anything aboutthis. While the Changing, someone she loves, someone who usimportant to her must be by her side and distract her till it past. If thereisn't, there won't be people to stop her destroying things. When she'sChanging, the evil side of her comes out. Completely. She won't be thegirl you guys know. She'll be completely different.” Mum explainedslowly, letting the information to sink in.

"So... who's going to stay by her side?" I asked dumbly. Everybodylooked at me with a flat look. "What?" I shrugged. "You are, dumbass."Cole groaned. "Why me? Will she even want the see me?" I furrowedmy brows. "Believe me. She loves you more than you think.” Clover puta reassuring hand on my shoulder. "But will see even see me?" I bit mylip anxiously. "Of course she'll be reluctant to let you enter herapartment but-" I interrupted her before she could continue. "Shealready has an apartment? How the hell did you guys replace one soquickly?!" 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!" Igrowled. "Of course. Think about it. Everything that happened was so...so... smooth.. Don't you think that there's something wrong?" Ismashed 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 fuckingcare about a new desk. We've to go save her!" I snarled. "It's fishy nowhat 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 arethe one who knows most about demons. And what am I suppose to dowhile the Changing? And what if it's really a trap? What will 1 do?" Istarted panicking. "You'll save her and you'll know what to do when thetime comes.” Mum reassured. "Okay, we don't have much time. It'll takea second for Graysen to get hold of her.” Clover said worriedly. Istopped walking to the door and faced her. "What do you mean?" Iasked angrily. "Umm... Something about witches.. heh..." She faked alaugh. "Clover." I growled with my Alpha tone and she flinched. "Dude,leave it for the car. We got to get there quickly.” Alec sighed inexasperation.

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

It won't and our mate will be fine, she's a demon for gods sake, Jayreassured. 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 pridethat 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 thepack, even if she didn't know them well, she was still willing. She wasone 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 beautifulbody.