"I just have a request before you reject me"

Jose was confused about this. Why would she think that he will reject her? Was she rejected before? Her single sentence propped a thousand questions in his brain.

"Can you not touch anyone until you mark and break the bond completely?. It's painful", she said bringing him back to reality.

But this again confused him even more. His wolf Ulf was stirring in his mind. He is angry at hearing his mate talking about rejection. How can she casually mention him having another woman? Aren't she jealous?

Jose looked at the girl with confusion and anger all over face. Her face not showing a glimpse of jealousy or sadness made him wonder about her life.

Before he could utter a word, Leela pulled his mate behind. Ulf rushed to take over. I want to kill her with all my might for her to take my mate away. But looking at her shielding my mate from me made me sad.

My mate tapped her shoulder, "I'm fine Leela. I can handle it" she assured her

Her voice rang like a melody in my ears. My mood calmed a bit. Ulf purred in my mind on hearing our mate

"I won't hurt her", I tried to reason with Leela the bride of my friend.

But she doesn't seem to back down. I looked at Leo her groom my best friend helplessly who is standing stunned by his bride's action. I don't want to kill his mate. Understanding my look he walked towards her. One stare from her, he stopped at his track and shook his head towards me pleading.

"What do you smell ? Leela questioned me.

"What?"

"Her smell" she said again.

"Leela", my mate tried to stop her.

"Resha I can't let anyone hurt you again"

She said while looking at a group of people standing behind Leo. I don't know who they are. But their nervousness once Leela looked at them made me realize they are related somehow.

"Tell me her smell, I'll leave"

"Rose and Jasmine, just , and her" I said with my looks fixed at her. She blushed a little but concealed it quickly.

Leela looked at me for a few seconds. Her anger subsided. Her lips curved into a smile.

"He is true Resha" she beamed at my mate. She hugged my mate so tight I clenched my first in jealousy.

"I'm sorry for that before. You can have her now", she bowed to me and started to go away. She took her stunned groom and the gathered crowd to the hall.

Once again I'm alone with my mate which made me smile.

"So are you rejecting me?"

Her question made my smile vanish.

"Do you want to reject me that bad?" I moved forward reducing our distance.

"Don't you want to?"

"Why would I?"

"I don't know"

"I love you"

Her eyes widened with shock. Her emotionless face finally showed some.

And I'm happy about that.

"Wish you were here".

She looked at the portrait of a girl in her teens in her hand. Her dazzling smile and black curly hair complemented her dusky skin. The sweet memories of being with her best friend flooded into her mind. The Little girl's sweet voice rang in her ears. Her grip tightened around the frame. Tears welled up in her eyes.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

A sudden knock at the door brought her back to reality. She recognized her mom's smell.

"Come in mom", her voice trembled.

The door opened slowly. A slender figure peeped through it. An elegant woman in her forties walked in with a worried look.

"Leez, why are you crying?"

On seeing her mom she tightly wrapped her hands around her slender waist. Matilda was distressed at her daughter's pitiful sight. Matilda couldn't think of anything that led her daughter Leela to such a state who was in happy spirit a few minutes ago. She rubbed her back trying to calm her a bit.

Her eyes caught the portrait that Leela was holding. The color drained from her face. She understood her daughter's pain. Matilda embraced Leela to ease her pain which worked cause Leela's pain faded. Leela released her mom to wipe away her tears. Matilda sat near Leela with her hands holding Leela's hand.

"Mom I miss her", she leaned on Matilda's shoulder.

"I know Leez", she gently patted Leela on the back.

"She is alive mom"

"What?" Matilda's eyes widened at Leela's statement.

"I know it sounds crazy mom, but I can feel her".

"I feel her presence everywhere".

"I felt her at my wedding".

Matilda was too stunned to speak. Her words stuck at her throat. They all witnessed her die in the hands of Alpha. There is no way a person could be alive after all that.

"Maybe you missed her", Matilda tried to reason with Leela.

Leela shook her head, "I don't think so mom. She is not dead. I felt her yesterday just like how I felt her presence at every event of my life".

"What do you mean by your every event?", her voice was shaking at this point.

"My first shift, graduation, my every award function, lastly at my wedding yesterday", Leela let out a sigh.

"She was there in everything mom, I know".

Matilda was worried about her daughter. She can understand her daughter's distress, but there is no way the girl will be alive. Even if she is how can she enter the pack territory without being noticed by anyone, unless she is a ghost. She shivered at the thought of being around a ghost.

"Not a ghost mom", Leela chuckled at her mom's reaction.

"I couldn't explain how, but I felt her presence, That's all I can say for", Leela shrugged her shoulders.

Matilda was trying to find the right words, but her mind went blank after all.

"Mom", Leela shook Matilda's shoulder who is staring at the portrait. Coming back to reality Matilda smiled back at her daughter.

"Mom I know you are worried about me, but I'm not crazy. I know what I felt and I believe she is alive. I miss her dearly. Wish I could see her, see her being happy that's all I want", Leela placed the portrait in her suitcase with all her other belongings.

"I know Leez. I wish that too", Matilda let out a sigh.

"Now wash your face and get ready. We will be leaving in no time", Matilda patted her head.

"Mom I'm not a child",Leela fake pouted.

She chuckled at her, "You are my child Leez", she hugged her gently before leaving for her room.

Leela looked at the girl, "Wish you were here", she whispered before closing her suitcase and walked out the room dragging it with a smile like nothing happened.

"Leela?", Leo yelled as he raced towards her.

Leela ran to the sound of her husband's voice. "Leo!", she squeals when she sees him, her heels making loud noises as she ran to him.

"Were you crying?", Leo asked as he hugged her.

"Is it that obvious?", she buried her face in his chest.

He lifted her chin, "I can feel your pain".

Leo went to fetch his friends from the airport. He must have felt her emotions through their bond, which made him rush to her immediately. The thought shocked her to the core.

"Did you just come back halfway?", she questioned him.

"I was almost there", he scratched his head.

"But your friends…"

"My mate in pain is my priority than anything in this world", he cut off her in the middle.

Leo lifted her in bridal style to her room. He gently placed her on the bed. He sat down hugging her and asked, "now tell me, who has hurt my darling. I will skin him alive and hang him for the eagles to feed", he growled in anger.

She chuckled at his anger and stroked his raging chest. He gently stroked her hair as she rested her head on his shoulder. His anger slowly dissipated. Sensing his emotions returning to normal, she said, "My friend's memory made me cry. Don't be afraid, no one can hurt the Luna of the Silver Moon Pack".

Hearing this, his expression softens. His wife has already mentioned the importance of her friend in her life. In their seven-year romance, Leela talked about her the most. He knows how sad her loss is for Leela.

He stroked Leela's hair, "My love, I know how great your loss is. I can't fill the void she left, but I can give you more pleasant memories to live on".

Holding her cheeks in his hands, he looked into Leela's eyes, "You don't know dear, I rushed towards you the instant I felt your pain. All I could think of was that nothing should happen to you. Don't you dare to cry alone anymore. My shoulders are for you to lean on. I will be here for you. This is for you. Don't you understand?", he asked as he wiped the tears from her cheek.

Leela nodded yes with tears in her eyes. They were facing each other. He stares into her eyes and smiles. His two hands grab her left hand and he places her open palm on his heart, and he holds it there. His eyes exude love, protection, security, safety, patience, and respect. She smiles and he lets go of her hand, with one hand he runs his fingers through her hair. He leaned in to crash on her lips

But was interrupted by his buzzing phone. On looking at the caller ID he suddenly realized his friends are still at the airport. He looked at Leela sheepishly.

"Your friends right?"

He scratched his head and nodded.

"You..."

He cut off her with a small peck on the lips and jumped off the bed. "Be good. I'll be back", he smiled at her and left as she nodded in response.

Leela sighed and walked to the washroom to freshen up before leaving for the Silver Moon Pack.