My Rejected Heart, Soccerluv4 * [book recommendations based on other books txt] 📗

and aggressive. I shrunk back from him, his voice causing my body to cower in fear.
His eyes softened and he leaned in, encompassing my body with his arms.
“Arianna, I’m sorry. I know you want to help, but I can’t let you. It’s unsafe. Please, for me, just stay home,” he murmured against my head.
Little drops of tears slid down my cheeks, wetting his shirt. I nodded mutely, defeated.
“Be careful,” I whispered back, wrapping my arms around him tightly before pulling away and placing a soft kiss on his lips.
“I’ll be back soon,”
I watched him walk out the door, before slumping into a seat. All I could think about was Zane.
Yeah, we hadn’t been friends for long, but we were still friends. Remembering all those times when he hung out with me, making cookies and watching reruns on TV, I couldn’t help but smile a little. He’d been the only one that stuck by my side through all the times I’d been hurt. The little things he did for me, like promising to be a couple to make Drew jealous. I couldn’t let someone like him get hurt because of me. Deep down inside though, I knew he was gonna be okay, I just knew it.
But the pack wouldn’t be if I was here. It was all my fault that the rogue was after them. He wanted me, not them, but they were suffering his punishment. That fucking prick of a wolf was seriously gonna pay for hurting the ones I loved.
Somehow I had to fix this.
*********
The wind whipped around, rustling the branches high atop the trees. My breath was labored, panting heavily for gasps of air as I came to a stop. My feet ached and my skin bit against the harsh cold. Looking around me, the moon illuminated the darkened meadow. A meadow once beautiful in the daylight looked haunting at dusk. My breathing hitched, staring into the shadows that the trees cast upon the tall grass. The frosty air swirled around, giving off its own warning to any trespassers. I squinted my eyes, looking at the darkness among the trees, as a large black wolf emerged, his blue-grey eyes staring at me. He came close, rubbing his fur against my legs. The warmth of his body helped the cold against my skin. His tail wrapped around my legs, pushing me towards him. Suddenly, he ran off, casting one last glance at me. I watched him go, yearning for him to come back.
“No, please,” I wept.
“Please don’t leave me Drew,”
“I’m sorry,” I fell to the ground, my sobs wracking my body in thrashes. I dropped my hands to the ground, when I felt something wet against the palms. Looking down at my hands, light from the milky white moon shining on them, I saw the drips of blood, running down my palms to my wrists, and slipping underneath my jacket. I stared, horrified. I looked down, noticing the blood was not only by me, but dripped in a line. My eyes followed the trail, and as I looked up, I saw Him, standing by the majestic black wolf. The wolf lay in the grass, blood oozing out of a large gash in his neck.
“No,” I whispered.
“NO!” I screamed.
He laughed, his smile taunting his handsome features.
“You shouldn’t have stayed Arianna. It’s all your fault.”
My eyes blurred his image in front of me, but his tauntingly sick smile stayed plastered in my mind.
Four little words still stuck in my head:
‘It’s all my fault,”

******************

My eyes snapped open, as I tried to calm my heart. What the hell had just happened?
My dream was so vivid, so sinister. I looked over to my left, seeing Drew’s sleeping form. His soft snore put a smile to my face. He looked so angelic, so innocent. A tear slid down my cheek, and I quickly wiped it away. He didn’t deserve this, he didn’t need me. I was just complicating things.
I had to do something. I had to find a way to keep this pack safe. I was luna and this pack’s responsibility would have to come first, even before my mate. As I looked across the room to the window, I caught a glimpse of the moon, bright and taunting. My breath froze and small Goosebumps rose on my arms. His howling cackle filled my thoughts, causing a slight tremor to go through me. I glanced at Drew again, before I slid back into the bed.
I’d made my decision. I was going to protect this pack no matter what, even if it meant leaving everything behind.

Chapter 19

Pushing my food around my plate, I thought silently at the past few events that had been happening. Zane was still missing, I rarely saw Drew anymore because of his constant work at protecting the pack, and I just felt like crap. All this was my fault, no matter what Drew said.
“Hey sweetheart,” Drew kissed my head from behind and slid into the seat next to me. I smiled at him, though it was pretty forced on my account.
Drew sighed, before he grabbed my hands and forced me to face him.
“Baby, I’m really sorry for all of this. I know I’ve been neglecting you, and I should’ve at least let you stay with me. I’m so sorry, I just—“
I just smiled at him and kissed his cheek.
“It’s not your fault Drew. You’re doing the best you can,”
“But it’s not enough Ari. That bastard is still out there with Zane and I can’t even track him! And you’re his next target. If I wasn’t so stupid in focusing on my work, I would’ve remembered to protect you!”
Closing his eyes, Drew rested his head on my neck and inhaled deeply. I could see him relax visibly, his eyes now a more liquid bluish grey than a smoldering dark grey. Cupping his face in my hands, I gave him a slow kiss, wrapping my arms around his neck as he deepened it.
“Ehem, Alpha?”
Pulling away, we saw one of Drew’s enforcers, Dean, looking away with a blush on his face.
Drew grunted annoyingly, and sat back in his seat.
“Yes Dean?”
“Some of our trackers found something and they want you to look at it,”
Smiling lightly, I pushed Drew up. Go I told him through our mindlink.
You sure? He questioned back. I nodded my head.
I faced my breakfast again, but still void of any appetite, I picked it up and put my dishes away.
I walked up to mine and Drew’s room and shut the door. After everything that’s been happening, I was physically and emotionally drained. Deciding a nap would be good for me, I snuggled up into the sheets and closed my eyes.
Picking up a purple orchid, I smiled at it before skipping back to mommy.
“Mommy, mommy look at what I found!”
“It’s a beautiful flower Arianna, just like you,” she smiled at me and picked me up.
“Can I keep it mommy?”
“Of course you can sweetheart,”
Walking back towards our home, I smiled at the flower in my hand and looked back at mommy. She smiled down at me, kissing me on the cheek and tucking my hair behind my ear.
******

“Hey sweety, how you feeling?” Sitting on the edge of my bed, mommy brought in some soup and an extra blanket. I hated being sick, but mommy always took good care of me.
“I still feel a little tired,” I frowned, as another wave of coughs hit me.
“Drink this, it’ll make you feel better” Giving me a reassuring smile, she kissed my forehead and stood up.
“Mommy, I hate being sick,” My eyes welled with tears.
“Oh baby, it’s gonna be okay. I promise,” she cooed, wrapping her arms around me in a comforting hug.
Pulling away, she looked over at my window sill, where my flower sat in its pot.
“You remember this flower, don’t you?” I nodded my head.
“Well this flower is a special flower. It gives you strength,”
“Really?” I asked in wonder, staring at the blooming vibrant orchid.
“It does, and it will help you get better,” she whispered.
“Why mommy?”
“Because, the flower is like you. It’s filled with light, and no matter how bad times get, the flower is always up and standing. It’s proud, and makes you smile. Keep it with you, and you’ll always remember how strong you are. It’s your light.”
Smiling at me, she got up and walked towards the door. I snuggled into my blankets, her thoughts on my mind. My eyes grew droopy and soon I was fast asleep. Just before leaving, she stopped and turned towards me.
“Your strength is the light you shine against the dark” she whispered to the air, unbeknownst to the fact that I heard what she said.
That phrase echoed into my mind as I drifted off, her words as soothing as a blanket. But I didn’t know how important those words meant, till they were the only thing I had to hang on to.
My head pounded as I woke up from my dream. I remembered that day vividly. My mother had said those words as if she knew some kind of warning would involve me in it.
Those words, so little, yet so powerful to me. After she’d passed away, I always hung on to those words. They gave me comfort; they showed me that I could be strong if I wished. My dad, the pack, and the feeling of loneliness gave me no choice but to accept those words as a mantra.
I didn’t know why I dreamt of my mom, but this dream was so vivid to me, almost as if somebody was projecting it into my brain. I felt like I wasn’t in control, like somebody telepathically sent me it.
A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. Sighing, I got up and answered. A guard stood there and bowed at me.
“Hello Luna, Drew has called you down to his office”
I nodded, and he gestured for me to walk ahead. I smiled politely and walked down towards his office. When I got there, there was some faint noises coming. It kinda sounded like arguing.
Knocking swiftly on the door, the guard announced our presence to the people inside.
“Come in” I head Drew’s anxious voice. Why was he so nervous?
Upon entering, I saw three men who looked like trackers.
“What’s this about?” I asked to Drew.
“Ari, our trackers found something...unusual at the edge of our territory. They want me to go verify it, but I think it’s best if you come along,”
Looking at his eyes, I could see the hopefulness in them. I was momentarily stunned. Was this the same Drew that, maybe a few days ago, would’ve practically yanked his hair out in anger at the idea of me leaving the house? What made him change his mind?
“Okay,” I said.
He nodded towards the trackers, who walked out the door to lead us.
I don’t want you moving an inch from my side. This is dangerous. Just stay by my side and don’t move anywhere unless told to.
And ladies and gentlemen, the protective mate is back. Rolling my eyes, I nodded back.
Does it look like I want to be rogue snack?
I replied back, snarkily.
I saw him flinch from my side and tense.