Tate refused to be deterred, "We haven't talked about the red moon ceremony" he insisted.
"and what are we going to say about it? There was obviously a mistake, we can't be mates" Ryan told him, he turned to walk away but Tate held on to him.
"The moon goddess doesn't make a mistake"
"Tate, we are both men, how can we be mates? We even hate each other. I think we should reject each other"
Tate stepped back shaking his head.
"Tate, you can't be serious. Look at me, do you see us being together. I am going to be beta, I am supposed to have a female werewolf by my side. We should reject each other and move on"
"And who are you going to move on with? My sister? She is suddenly single and now you want her?" for some reason Tate felt hurt.
"That isn't your business. Now, let's do this, I, Ryan reject Tate...." before Ryan could complete his statement, Tate had already turned around to leave.
Ryan sighed, why was Tate making this so difficult?
...
Jude looked at Tina who was holding on to him tightly.
"Jude, you can't just let go of me" she sobbed.
Jude tentatively stroked her hair.
"I am really sorry Tina, I don't know what to say to make the pain easier. It wasn't my intention to hurt you"
Tina sniffled, "But you did, Jude, I have known you for so long, you have been my entire world. How can I move on?"
Jude didn't know what to say. Tina was right about everything.
"Why did you accept her Jude? You should have rejected her, If I was the one, I would reject whosoever it was"
"She is my mate Tina" Jude said in a resigned tone.
Tina held him even tighter, crying into his shirt.
...
Eve came out of the bedroom with Luna Alice.
"I think you will do well tomorrow dear"
Eve looked down, "Thank you Luna"
"Darling, you can call me mother, we are family already" Luna Alice smiled at her reassuringly.
"Thank you mother" Eve said shyly.
Luna Rosa patted her shoulder and walked away.
Eve walked around looking for Jude. It was still surreal to her that he was her mate. She couldn't even think of him that way yet.
"Where is Jude?" she asked a guard.
"He rushed out with Tate and Ryan. I think something is wrong with Tina" the guard replied.
Eve's heart thudded, she rushed out of the house.
What was wrong with Tina? Oh goddess, could she have hurt herself?
Eve wouldn't forgive herself if anything happened to Tina.
She got to Tina's house, the door was open, she walked into the house and went to Tina's bedroom.
"Tina, are you okay...." she trailed off when she saw Tina and Jude in an intimate embrace.
Jude tried to push Tina way but she held on to him.
"What are you doing here?" she asked Eve.
"I...I...heard you were hurt, I wanted to check on you"
"Why?"
"We...we are friends"
"Eve, we were friends, now you are just the bitch that stole Jude"
Eve flinched at the hate in Tina's eyes.
"Tina that's enough" Jude snapped.
"I am sorry for disturbing you guys, I will leave" Eve fled the room.
Jude tried to follow her but Tina stopped him.
"Jude, we are still talking"
"Tina, we are done talking"
"Jude if you leave, I am going to kill himself" Tina threatened.
Jude gripped her shoulders. "The only reason I have entertained all of this is because of what we shared. I know you aren't going to kill yourself Tina. But I am done, I won't be doing this again. Once again, I am really sorry"
Jude ran after Eve who was walking away.
"Eve, wait" he told her.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Eve, that was nothing...Tate said she was going to kill herself and I just wanted to make sure she was okay. I and Tina are done"
"But why are you done? I do not understand it? She has been with you for five years. Five years Jude! Everyone calls you the perfect couple, how do you leave that and be with me? Don't you see how ridiculous it is?" Eve yelled, her pent up feelings coming to the surface.
"Because you are my mate, my soul mate given to me by the goddess, you are also my best friend, we have been friends since we were kids. As soon as I opened my eyes and saw you, I felt complete. Being with you make so much sense Eve" he told her calmly.
"Jude, what if you are making a mistake?"
Jude stepped closer to her, he tucked her hair behind her ear.
"Nothing has never felt more right to me Eve. Please be my mate, I know all of this is too soon for you"
He held her hand, "But I will be here for you, I promise. We will do this together" he told her.
Eve looked at him, he seemed so sure of this, why couldn't she be like him? Why was her heart filled with so much fear?
....
"Mom, he left, could this really be the end?" Tina asked her mother.
Cherry stroked her daughter's hair. "Tina my dear, it isn't the end, Five years isn't a joke, Jude will come back to you"
Tina sniffled, she didn't like this at all. Jude wasn't with her, and she and Eve would have to become enemies because Tina wouldn't lose.
... The next day
Eve stared at her reflection, she hid her shaking hands behind her.
"I will be fine, Jude will be there with me" she whispered to herself.
Today, she would be officially mated to Jude and sworn in as Luna.
She missed her friends, if Tina was here, she would be fussing over her dress, Tate would have a sarcastic remark on his tongue.
She bit her lips to stop herself from sobbing.