Rejected Mate and Following Fate

"What the hell was that." The vampire growls hauling my brother to his feet, seemingly irritated, and almost violently dusts him down. No one seems to know how to react and Leyanne, well she just chuckles and doesn't seem shocked at all. No hint of surprise, just an 'oh well' attitude and a pretty smug expression.

"It's called falling in love.... the wolf version anyway. Jasper just found his forever mate, and frankly, I do like a good bit of drama in the family. Well, isn't this another layer to add to a seriously strange story." Leyanne is almost cheery with the turn of events and Jasper is white and panic stricken and looks like he's about to throw up. Meanwhile Carmen is on her ass, outright staring his way with a devastated air of freak out all over her and doesn't seem to be able to respond in any kind of way at all.

"They imprinted?" Meadow is almost as speechless as me and quickly speeds over to help Carmen back to her feet. Deja Vue of a similar chaotic scene coming at me from months ago, being literally swept off my feet, and the pain in my heart intensifies with the lack of his being here. Colton would be happy to know Carmen found her someone.... God he would be happy to know my brother lives. He would be ecstatic on all counts and probably be smothering me half to death with joy and kisses. All of this, he should be here to share all these things with me. The truths, the possibility to an end to the war. Seeing Carmen finally get a chance to move on and heal. That the fates never forgot her at all.

"Carmen.... ?" Jasper whispers it affectionately, seems to be rolling her name around on his tongue, trying it out, familiarizing himself with what his heart will want from here on in. And despite openly staring at one another as if none of the rest of us are here, longing growing between them, neither is moving towards the other and it's a strange and strained atmosphere of pause. I can taste the apprehension from both sides, the disbelief, the severe lack of trust that life could show them a second of mercy. My brother must have been through hell too, and now I can feel it, free from my own overshadowing emotions. I can taste his lack of faith in fates, bonding, relying on wolves at all. He's scared to approach her, and she is the same.

"This is not our focus... we have something to do. The girl can wait." The vampire bites in, hauling Jasper to face him by his upper arm, obviously no concept of what imprinting really means for a wolf. I can see the struggle on my brothers face as logic cuts in, but his heart and needs are fully focused on the femme mere feet away. I know how it goes. After the initial shock wears off. The instant love and longing, the sudden infatuation as the thoughts and memories you were hit with open up and make you see the other as someone you've always known. Unravelling a sea of feelings you never knew were possible to have for someone who seconds before, was a complete stranger.

"Do you have any idea how much of a big deal imprinting is.... He can't fight it. Neither of them can and it's cruel to make them." Meadow's snappy attitude is aimed at the vampire I knows she's having a hard time ignoring. All her instincts from the second she saw them have her riled and she's been on high alert this whole time. She is looking for any excuse to attack and I know she's controlling it best she can. Her eyes have never stopped being amber this entire time.

"Maybe weak ones like you can't... but Jasper is one of us. He took the oath; he was initiated into our coven. He comes with me... the girl can wait!" Darrius commands, grinding out his words with a low rumbling growl that sends unease through everyone. His teeth becoming more visible as he snaps, and his eyes seem to deepen in color as his pupils constrict. Even Jasper lowers his head in a sign of respect that tells me Darrius is not someone to disobey. Submissive immediately and I can tell this Darrius character, he's not as reasonable and steady as he seems to make out. There's a darkness around him, a cold aura, and a severe lack of any kind of compassion.

"Can I just talk to her, for a second? ... My heads full of..... I need to just touch her, just once." Jasper tries to keep control by I know only too well how strong the pull is to bring you together. The urge and instant love of the bond and he's struggling. I remember needing to be by Colton's side, feeding from his presence and aching to have him touch me.

"Get out of the way." Carmen's voice breaks into the tension, that bitch tone I'm starting to be fond of, and the vampire is physically pushed sideways as she storms face on to my brother without hesitation. No fear in her anyway. The shock and anger on Darrius' scowling mouth only calmed by Leyanne's touch. She shakes her head to tell the vampire it's hopeless to intervene. Seems Carmen has pulled herself together and she marches right to him to get her first proper look at her fate.

Jasper doesn't hesitate either but pulls her forward to him and presses his nose to hers while he lassos her in his arms, bringing her to him like it's the most natural thing in the world. Seeing this, the fluid way they come together, makes my heart soften. The instant way they mold, that they weren't strangers seconds ago and suddenly she's the only thing he wants in this moment. Eyes locking and both faces soften to an expression I see on my mates face every time he looks at me. That level of love and need can never be hidden.

I don't want to think about tall the ins and outs of this. I mean she's my mate's ex-lover... and he's my brother. So, he's now going to make love to the girl who bedded his brother-in-law? God, this is intense. I'm not sure I want to keep thinking about it. Does this mean, she becomes my sister?

This is the last thing I expected to happen, ever. Although now that it has, I'm sort of not mad about it. Jasper's been alone for a decade, living with these god-awful creatures and Carmen's been an untethered boat on a stormy sea for a long time. They're sort of perfect for each other and I guess the fates knew that all along. They should have bonded so many years ago, when they first turned, but were pulled apart so everything else in this story could play out.

This also means one very important thing – her love for Colton, it's gone. In the blink of an eye, her emotions, her heartbreak, all her sorrow and pain ... A band aid is applied. It all just goes away, and her heart is filled instantly with the love for the wolf the fates found worthy of her.

and not slow and natural love. Carmen imprinted, she was worthy of that rarity and the fates clearly have other plans for her. I hope she sees

her throat. All her previous dislike of Carmen seems to wash away on the witnessing of this new

his fingers at his minion holding the door open. His dark bad mood, and aura of iciness, thankfully goes with him and I shudder outwardly. I don't like him. He isn't

into the nearest SUV, clearly done with our presence. Jasper ignores

to go with him for now. I don't want to leave you when I just found you." There's no denying the utter infatuation in his tone, the intense focus on his mate, and Carmen seems limp in his embrace,

glancing at one another in question. Carmen may not be our best friend in any kind of way, but she belongs with us, with her pack, and not running after my brother into some vampire world she's not accustomed to, to see some high lord. There's no telling

do what she needs of me. I won't let her down and break my word. Find me when you

on my brother's lips. As though she knows longer will make her weak, she pushes him away and quickly removes herself before the emotions caused by the bond take away her will power. Jasper looks instantly lost without her in his arms, and then questions what

coming

rifle through Carmen's memories to pinpoint everything he doesn't yet understand. It's only just happened, and it

for support and smile his way with a soft hint of pride. Jasper's eyes completely burn to instant amber fire, his sweet expression dropping to furious glaring and a growl erupts from his throat,

reliable Jasper, to instantly enraged and crazed makes me jump and step away in shock. His whole aura turning deadly and he seems to grow with sudden

have seen this coming, given the fact Santos slayed everyone he loved and all this time his despisal has clearly grown. I never gave it a second

a piercing gaze. Seemingly searching his memories for the truth

I took every Santo from this earth and made them suffer." His fury overtakes his gentle demeanor of a moment ago, a side to him I've never seen, and I'm fueled by his own pulsating rage. It feeds my own internal temper and my need to protect my people engulfs me. Forgetting what he is to me when faced with this

I won't stand aside and let you try. Your mate is Santo... does that not tell you what the fates want? Are you going to deny that and destroy her along with them. Cast aside your own sister and cause more sorrow in our lives?" Tears mist my eyes, but my anger holds them at bay, spitting at him in fury. The Luna in me showing face and I march to him, squaring up, eyes glowing brightly and warn him with the snarl in

Santo blood.... no matter whose that is or what it does to me in the end." He casts a look Carmen's way again, loaded with meaning and I catch her crumbling despair and

sentence he rejects the bond and makes it clear that she is no mate that he will

and in the absence of MY mate.... I'm their queen and I will die to protect them. Every. Last. One. I won't cower because my brother dares to stand against them, I'm clear on where my loyalty lies and it's not in revenge and misguided hate." My venom outshines

my red, claws elongated in both of our human hands. We both pant in heavy breaths, neither willing to back down or relent, stubborn and headstrong

us in a rather casual manner, pushing him back

and his minions together... this is not the way. The sins of few should not be carried by the many.... Santo is not a dirty word, Jasper." Leyanne is the voice of reason and her tone is patient, as though explaining to a child. Wisdom and maturity shining through and for a second, I forget I don't trust her and find a new appreciation for her. Jasper throws an angry stare at Carmen, unable to stop himself being drawn to her at every opportunity

the war, my goal has always been to return to the Santo lands and finish what was started. I've been biding my time and if I have to take down my mate and end myself in