Chapter 2 Love You More

• Still in a state of euphoria, I say goodbye to the she-wolves at the daycare center around ten o'clock. Few make any effort to answer my greeting, but I don't care about that either.
• Right now, all I am thinking of is my date with my mate. Two hours ago, many of the pack left for the cave in a massive run. From the loud howls, I conclude that the animal sacrifice made to the Moon Goddess was accepted by her. And then preparations are made for the mate hunt and Jasper watches to make sure the rules are properly read out by his Beta. It begins with a ten-minute head start for the she-wolves after which their mates start looking for them. Then the forest turns into one big feast of mating wolves, the cries of ecstasy increasing the sex drive of the couples.
• The moment the first cries are heard, I know that Jasper is coming back to the packhouse to find me. Many she-wolves have tried to seduce and mate with them in hopes of giving birth to his heir, but my faithful mate consistently refuses. This makes me feel so proud of him. I participated in the first year of our mating, but when it turned out that I was not pregnant the following year and my wolf had not emerged either, the Elders decided that it was better if I stayed behind. Besides, I was hard to participate in the run or the hunt with no wolf.
• In high spirits, I now enter the packhouse, but as I make my way to the elevator, I hear some voices behind a closed door. It's our entertainment room where unmated pack members often watch movies or play indoor games. But the voices I hear there belong to the Alpha family. I sharpen my were-hearing and hear Jasper's mother grumbling, but I can't really understand what she's talking about. But then I hear my name and I walk closer. "We have a lousy human Luna. If she had only given birth to a pup, we could still tolerate the fact that she can't shift," my mother-in-law complains in dismay. "Now she eats our food but is worth zero. She only costs us money but brings in nothing".
• "If only we could find a way to get rid of her, then Jasper could have a second chance mate. Better yet, a chosen mate. Then we wouldn't have to wait too long for a pup, the successor to our Alpha," I hear Louise, Jasper's sister added. "An infertile Luna. Bah!" she lets out disgusted. "Why didn't her parents push her to death at birth? She's a nobody!"
• Tears come to my eyes as I listen to the harsh words.
• I knew the Alpha family was not happy with me, but that they loathed me so much that they even wanted me dead is heartbreaking. The pain going through my heart almost chokes me from lack of breath. Slowly I walk to the elevator that will take me to the apartment. Thick tears are streaming down my cheeks now. Walking into our apartment, I go to the bedroom and throw myself on the bed. I feel myself falling into a pitch-dark pit I cannot crawl out of. The tears keep coming, I hold my chest tightly now and try to clear my mind. But this time it doesn't work. Hearing this raw rejection this time almost made me lose my mind.
• And then I know: I have to get out of here. I need to free Jasper to find the Luna he needs.
• His family is right, I am not of any help to the pack. Everyone here hates me, there is no point in irritating them any longer with my presence. Jasper and the pack need pups to continue the bloodline, to ensure the survival of Storm Forest. And I can't give them that. Jasper loves me, but I cannot be selfish. Tonight I still want to be with my mate and then it's time to go. I know he won't let me, so I have to find a way to leave without him being able to stop me. And I already know how.
• I get up from the bed and walk into the bathroom again.
• This time I stand in the shower until I regain my senses. The cruel words of my in-laws will not spoil the evening with my mate. When I got back into the bedroom, I put on the dress Jasper had prepared for me and placed the necklace around my neck. Once I get my makeup in order, I check the result in the mirror. No matter what everyone in the pack says of me, no one can deny that I possess a distinct beauty. My features are striking; shiny long black hair, almond-shaped large gray eyes and thick eyebrows in a lightly tanned face. Many spend thousands of dollars in beauty salons to have all these. Mine are all natural.
• I feel two hands on my shoulders and from the sparks that run through me, I know that Jasper has arrived. "You are so gorgeous. I thank the Moon Goddess for pairing me up with you, Rain," he whispers in my ear. "You are so pure of heart. No one can be like you and you are mine". I look in the mirror and I see the sincerity in his eyes. Happily, I stare at him. "Not you, but I am the lucky one here. So many she-wolves dream of mating with you, but you chose me. I love you, Jasper".
• Slowly he turns me to face him so I can look him in his amazing blue eyes.
• "I love you more, Rain." He takes my hand and places it on his heart. "Without you, breathing is not possible for me. You are the reason my heart beats, my mate". He slightly bends over and his lips brush over mine before he kisses them tenderly. And when I part my lips and offer him access to my mouth, he deepens the kiss. A shiver of pleasure runs down my spine and I lean closer to him.
• "Come, let's go. Otherwise, we won't get out of this room tonight," Jasper whispers to me. And then I notice that he has already changed and is dressed in a nice tuxedo. "My mate!" I exclaim. "You're so handsome!"
• And with our arms around each other, we step out of the apartment toward the packhouse exit. ...