My Second Chance Mate Is My Ex's Father

ARIA'S POV

I was getting marked today.

That was the only thought ringing in my head. Today, I was turning nineteen and I would be marked by my childhood sweetheart, Jayden.

We've been friends for as long as I can remember and we were inseparable. His father was the Alpha of our pack, Bloodrise Pack. It was the most powerful, high-ranking werewolf pack nestled in a beautiful forest region.

And I was the pack Beta's youngest daughter. I was my father's princess, doted on by my parents and my older sister, Elira who was one of the pack healers. I idolized my sister, I wanted to be her, so last year, when I turned eighteen, I decided to work at the pack hospital.

Four years ago, Elira had found her mate, Kayden, who was a warrior and he had marked her instantly. I'd always wanted a love like theirs and I was determined to find my mate.

Jayden and I found out we were mates on my eighteenth birthday. We trained side by side, sparred until the sun went down, and shared our first kiss under the old moon tree when I was sixteen.

He’d whispered then, “I hope it’s you, Aria. I hope you'll be my fated mate.” And I wanted nothing else.

And when the Moon Goddess finally revealed us as mates on my eighteenth birthday, I cried from joy and he held me tight, crying too.

But joy feels like a cruel joke now.

My parents had hosted a big birthday party for me. Jayden and I had informed them of his plans to mark me and seal the mate bond today so the entire pack was invited to watch the next Alpha mark his Luna.

To say I was excited was an understatement.

I had been waiting for this day all my life. Hell, I dreamt about it. And the fact that my mate was my first love made me even happier.

The celebration was in full swing. Pack members danced around bonfires, their howls echoing across the forest, laughter and music filling the night. I stood by the long tables, barely tasting the food in my mouth.

My dress, silver silk and laced at the back, itched against my skin, my auburn hair tied up in a messy bun and I had minimal make-up on my face. I wore my mother's necklace, the one my father had given to her on the day of their mating ceremony.

I saw her walking towards me and I couldn't help but smile at her. My mother, Beatrice Thorne, was mine and Elira’s confidant. She was mated when she was 17 and she had been with my father ever since.

Their love story was epic.

She got close to me and held my hand, caressing my cheek with her other hand.

“You look so beautiful my princess.” She said, smiling softly.

“Thank you mum.” I replied. She nodded and kissed my cheek.

“I can't believe you're getting marked today, Aria. It feels like just yesterday you were born. Now, I have to give you out.” I forced a smile.

“I'm not far away, mum. I'll visit you every day if that's what you want.” At my comment, we both laughed. Then, she looked around.

“Where’s Jayden, princess?” she asked, placing a hand on my shoulder. “You should be with him.”

“He said he needed air,” I replied, swallowing the strange lump in my throat.

She smiled. “Men always get nervous before a big announcement. Go find him, sweetheart.”

I forced a nod, but the restlessness I felt only worsened. Even Raine, my wolf, had gone quiet in the back of my mind. She was alert, like she sensed something was wrong too.

I slipped away from the crowd and entered the quieter halls of the pack house, and headed to the Alpha's mansion.

The Alpha had offered his pack house for my birthday party. And, I've been here so many times, I didn't really need permission to be here. What's good was the Alpha and my father were away on business now.

He scared me.

The deeper I walked, the louder the silence became. I followed the pull of mine and Jayden's bond, that familiar heat in my chest guiding me to his door.

That’s when I heard it.

A soft moan. Then another.

From his room.

The moans became louder, faster, breathless.

I froze.

My heart pounded as I stepped closer, my hands trembling as I pushed the door open just enough to see through the crack.

My world shattered.

There he was. Jayden, my mate, my first love, on top of another woman. They were having sex. Flash of black hair, her voice.

Layla.

His so-called “cousin.” He had introduced Layla to me three days ago, saying she was his distant cousin. And now…

His hands gripped her hips, his lips on her throat. Her legs were wrapped around him, nails digging into his back. She screamed his name and my heart shattered.

I choked on my breath, then a sob followed.

Then, he turned around and saw me, jumping off Layla and his eyes widened in horror.

“Aria, baby, please wait!”

Layla smirked lazily, sitting up not bothering to cover herself.

“Oh… hey.”

Time stopped.

I felt Raine scream in my chest. The mate bond snapped like it knew it was about to break. Every instinct in me screamed to run, but my legs wouldn’t move. He cheated on me with his cousin.

“You’re sleeping with your cousin?”

“We’re not actually cousins,” Layla said with a shrug. “Just… close family friends. You know how packs are.”

Jayden stepped towards me, still naked, reaching for me. “Aria, I didn’t mean…this wasn’t supposed to happen…”

“You’re lying.” My voice cracked. “You knew exactly what you were doing.”

“I was drunk,” he said. “We were talking and…”

“I don’t care.” I snapped, feeling my wolf trying to claw out of me. Raine rose in me, full of rage.

“He betrayed the bond. Break it.”

“I, Aria Thorne of Bloodrise Pack,” I said, my voice louder now, stronger, “reject you, Jayden Tyrone, as my mate.” The moment the words left my mouth, I felt it.

The bond snapped.

Not just broken, it vanished. It broke like someone had ripped it from my soul with claws.

Jayden stumbled back, feeling the bond snap. He felt the same pain too. “No…Aria, please… listen to me.” I turned around and ran.

I didn’t look back. I ran like my life depended on it, out of the pack house and back to the party.

I searched for my mother in the crowd but she wasn't there. Then, I walked towards the podium, grabbing the mic and turning to the crowd.

At that moment, I saw Jayden and Layla walk into the party, his eyes pleading with me not to do what I intended to do.

But, he had made his choice.

“Hello everyone. I'm very grateful for your wishes and your love and support. But, it is with deep regret that I tell you that the mating ceremony will not take place. I have rejected Jayden as my fated mate. I'm really sorry for the inconvenience.” Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

I stepped down, sighting my sister, mother and Kayden looking at me with confusion. I walked straight to the exit and bolted out of there, my mind in a haze.

ARIA'S POV

The cool night air bit into my skin as I ran blindly into the forest, the trees blurry through my vision. My lungs burned, my legs ached, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t.

Raine was in agony, the bond I had broken had weakened her. And it had weakened me.

All I could think about was the image of Jayden’s arms wrapped around another girl, his so-called cousin. The girl I had welcomed with open arms.

Their cruel betrayal shattered the mate bond I had once dreamed of for so long.

I collapsed by the trunk of an old pine tree, the bark rough against my back as I sank to the forest floor. I clutched my chest, gasping. I couldn't breathe, not with the pain I felt from the loss of the mate bond.

A sob escaped my lips, then another. I buried my face in my hands and let the pain consume me. All the dreams we had, all the promises, gone in the blink of an eye.

It hurt so badly.

And I had done the unthinkable.

I rejected him, he broke our bond but I severed it. The moment I did, something inside me cracked open and the pain was unlike anything I’d ever known. But worse than that was the shame. The humiliation of loving someone who could throw me away so easily.

By the time I walked back into the house, my gown was damp with dew, my eyes swollen from crying. The porch lights spilled warmth over the steps, a cruel contrast to the emptiness in my chest.

When I opened the door, three worried eyes turned toward me. I felt terrible. I ran out without saying anything to them, without explaining anything to them. My mother pulled me into her arms and I broke down and cried again.

She patted my back, comforting me. When my sobs had died down, she led me to the couch and sat down beside me. Kayden handed me a glass of water which I took and sipped.

“What happened, Aria?” My sister's voice rang in my ears.

“We were worried about you all through the night.”

“Jayden… he cheated on me. He broke our bond, Elira.” I heard my mother gasp.

My sister saw red.

“That bastard!”Elira growled. “I’m going over there right now and I'm going to claw his lying face…”

“No, you’re not,” our mother snapped, holding me tighter. “Let your father handle this.”

“What?” Elira replied. “Mum, that's…”

“Your father will handle it, Elira.” My mother's voice resonated in the room. My sister let her anger cool down and sat next to me, holding my face in her hands.

“Listen to me, Peach. He wasn't worth it. You don't doubt yourself for anything. Do you understand me?” She asked and I nodded.

“I got you, Peach. You'll be alright.” She pulled me close and I was enveloped in her warmth.

“When will Dad be back, Mum?” she asked. My mother looked at her and then me.

“He said he'll be back by tomorrow with the Alpha, Elira.” She replied softly, and I swear I could feel her anger.

I hadn't seen Alpha Lucien in years. Which was weird seeing that I was his son's girlfriend. After Jayden’s mum died, he had buried himself in work, neglecting his son and focusing more on our pack.

I put the thoughts of Jayden at the back of my mind, excusing myself from the living room, seeking the solitude of my room.

After I had showered and changed out of my dirty clothes, I used a towel to blow-dry my hair and then collapsed on my bed. I brought out my phone and scrolled through, reliving the memories Jayden and I had.

Our pictures filled my phone, and the tears threatened to spill again. I didn't let them fall. Instead, I took out my sim card and smashed my phone to pieces.

I made a mental note to replace it the next day.

Then, I closed my eyes, wishing sleep would take me. After a few minutes, it did.

Later that evening, I sat curled up on the sofa with a blanket, eating ice cream and watching a movie, knees hugged to my chest. I’d changed into fresh clothes, but I still felt like I was missing a part of me.

Elira flopped down beside me, her arm wrapping around my shoulders.

“There’s a party tonight at The Den,” she said gently. “Everyone’ll be there. Even Jayden probably won’t show his face after what he did. Come with me?”

I gave her a glance. “You think I want to be anywhere near people right now?”

“It’ll distract you. You can just dance, drink, pretend the world doesn't suck for a few hours.”

I didn’t answer. She sighed and kissed my forehead.

“If you change your mind, Peach, you know where to find me.” I gave her a nod, watching her walk away, but her words remained with me.

A few hours later, I found myself standing in front of the mirror, staring at the reflection of someone I barely recognized. I had slipped into a short, dark red dress that hugged my curves and exposed just enough skin to make a statement.

My curls fell in waves down my shoulders and past my waist, and a touch of lip gloss gave me a shine I didn’t feel inside.

Maybe if I looked dangerous, I’d stop feeling so broken.

The music was already shaking the walls by the time I stepped into The Den, the pack’s underground nightclub. Dim lights flashed blue and purple across the crowd, and the scent of sweat, alcohol, and the stench of sex filled the air.

I pushed my way to the bar, ordered a glass of whiskey and downed it too fast. The burn settled in my belly, but it didn’t warm the cold inside me.

I looked around the alcove for my sister and caught sight of her and Kayden practically eating their faces out and I turned around, not wanting to partake in their public display of affection.

I was down to my fifth glass of whiskey and I was already feeling tipsy. I scanned the room again and my eyes landed on a man.

Everything about him screamed danger. I couldn't get over his eyes; they stared right at me from across the room and I could swear they saw through me. I felt a foreign pull towards him.

Who the hell was that?