The Forsaken Mate's Second Chance Alpha

The Death of a Good Friend

Emma's POV

"Are you done partying?" my best friend Ava asks through the phone as I step outside the club, escaping the noise inside.

"Yeah," I reply, popping the 'p' as the tiled floor beneath my black heels wobbles. The alcohol must be really messing with my brain.

"Alright then. Wait for me," she responds, and I find a pillar to lean my weight on inside the portico.

"About that, are you sure you want to drive here so late? It's midnight and the roads are empty. It's not safe for you to pick me up. I can stay in Stacy's house," I say.

"No way. I don't trust Stacy at all. She might try to hook you up with her guy friends and let them take advantage of you," she argues back, her voice heavy with concern.

"But everyone knows that I am mated. They know Michael will have their heads if they try anything with me," I reply, running my fingers over the mark that rests on my neck.

Michael is the son of the Alpha of this city, the Moonshadow pack, and also Ava's elder brother. He is in line to become the next Alpha and one of the reasons I am at the club partying my ass off is because I am mated to him. My 18th birthday passed four days ago, and I had a smooth shift under the moonlight.

"Still I don't want to take any risk. Michael will kill me if I let you stay with Stacy. I need to make sure you are safe," she says, and I smile.

"He won't do that to you but I am still glad that you care for me this much. It must be really tiring to pick up and escort my drunk ass every single day." Ava has been a great friend and had been there to pick me up after every party I had this week. She did not complain for once and I did not have to worry about returning safely to the pack. But it can also put her in danger as the clubs I go to are away from the pack. So I tried to stop her from coming but then she ended up driving up to my location and waited for me until I came out. She was stubborn and wouldn't listen.

My ears catch the sound of tires rolling, and I see Ava's black mercedes stop before the cobblestone driveway of Heather's Club. That was fast. I did not expect her to reach this place so quickly.

The door opens, and Ava steps out wearing a white hoodie with denims. I wave my hand like a little child, "Helloooo."

She walks up to me, "Wow, it looks like the alcohol did quite the number on you. How many?" I press my lips in a grim line, and show her five fingers. She tilts her head, "Five shots?"

I shake my head, "Glasses. Full."

"Oh Goddess," she mutters and shakes her head in disappointment.

"In my defense, they challenged me to drink. You know I don't back off from a challenge!" I raise my fist in the air and yell.

A sigh leaves her lips, "Alright, let's get you inside the car." She steps beside me, places my right arm over her shoulder and wraps her arm over my back to carry me. I realize how important her help is because I can barely walk, the driveway path oscillating like a pendulum beneath me.

"He won't do that to you, but I'm still glad that you care for me this much. It must be really tiring to pick up and escort my drunk ass every single day." Ava has been a great friend and has been there to pick me up after every party I've had this week. She hasn't complained once, and I haven't had to worry about returning safely to the pack. But it can also put her in danger as the clubs I go to are away from the pack. So I've tried to stop her from coming, but then she ends up driving up to my location and waiting for me until I come out. She's stubborn and wouldn't listen.

My ears catch the sound of tires rolling, and I see Ava's black Mercedes stop before the cobblestone driveway of Heather's Club. That was fast. I didn't expect her to reach this place so quickly.

The door opens, and Ava steps out wearing a white hoodie with jeans. I wave my hand like a little child, "Helloooo."

She walks up to me, "Wow, it looks like the alcohol did quite the number on you. How many?" I press my lips in a grim line and show her five fingers. She tilts her head, "Five shots?"

I shake my head, "Glasses. Full." "Oh Goddess," she mutters and shakes her head in disappointment.

"In my defense, they challenged me to drink. You know I don't back off from a challenge!" I raise my fist in the air and yell.

A sigh leaves her lips, "Alright, let's get you inside the car." She steps beside me, places my right arm over her shoulder, and wraps her arm around my back to carry me. I realize how important her help is because I can barely walk, the driveway path oscillating like a pendulum beneath me.

She manages to get me inside the passenger's seat. The scent of car freshener hits my nose–smells like roses. My friend slides into the driver's seat and starts the car. A few minutes later, we hit the silent, isolated road.

"So, do you enjoy this week?" she asks while her eyes are on the road.

"It is a blast," I chuckle.

"Uncle Smith does not hold back when it comes to parties. Though if I were in his place, I would throw as many parties as I can too. Since you get your wolf and even your mate on the same day."

"Yeah."

The day I shift, not only do I meet my lovely wolf named Accalia, but I also get to know my mate. Just after I shift, I let my wolf wander around the packhouse to get familiar with it. That's when Accalia sniffs a strong scent–it smells like lemons and grass. She runs around the packhouse, looking for the source of the scent until a huge wolf pounces on her and pins her to the ground. I recognize him. He is Michael, my crush, my fated mate. His wolf, Rolf, growls and licks Accalia's muzzle affectionately. I giggle inside Accalia, wondering what Michael is thinking.

When my dad learns of it, he says that now he has more of a reason to party. Since Michael is in line to be the future Alpha of this pack, it means that once he marks me, I'll be his Luna.

The rest of the pack is also glad to hear the news, and I have been getting gifts and blessings from the elders of the pack. Since my dad is the Beta of this pack and my wolf also is of Beta rank, everyone is looking forward to our wedding. Michael had marked me the day he learned that I was his mate because he wanted to claim me as his.

"You know, I feel like I have the best life. I have the perfect family, my crush is my mate, and I have you, Ava. The perfect friend. I just want it to be like this forever," I declare, and turn to see Ava. My brows furrow when a dark look crosses her face.

"You never know. It can all be taken away from you," she replies, and I groan as my head starts to spin. What is she talking about?

Her strange words turn me alert to my surroundings, and I realize that the road we are on does not lead back to the pack. I don't know where it leads to.

"Ava, where are we going?" I struggle to make out the words as I feel nauseous. I shouldn't have drunk so much.

My friend does not respond, and she takes a turn, entering a clearing surrounded by thick trees. She stops the car and gets out. I hear the door on my side open, "Get out of the car." It's her voice, but I can't make out her face anymore as my eyelids feel like someone had put bricks on them.

"Ava..."

My wrist is grabbed, and I am dragged out of the car. My eyes feel heavy to the point that everything turns blurry and then darkness swallows me. I force my muscles to move until I sit upright, and a throbbing pain clutches my head. I look around to check where I am. My mind turns alert when I find the same forest that I saw in my dream around me. What the hell?! Was it not a dream then?

The strong stench of blood hits my nose, and when I turn my gaze to my right, a scream leaves my lips. My best friend Ava's body lies in a pool of blood, her lifeless eyes staring back at me.