One month later...

I haven't seen my dad as much lately because he's been at the pack house trying to find the rogues.

I also haven't seen Pierson much either. He hardly makes it to the class we share and I never see him around the school. When I do see him he just looks at me, but makes no attempt to talk to me. Graduation is around the corner and it can't get here fast enough.

Other than that life's been quiet.

Although, a couple of weeks ago I got some really good news. I got a letter in the mail telling me I've been accepted into one of the best pre-med schools in the country. I also have been accepted into a pre-med internship program over the summer.

I get to go to the continent of Africa and volunteer. I will be side by side with a licensed doctor there and will see first hand what it takes to become one. It sounds so exciting.

I don't know if I should take it though. I mean I should. It's just I was planning to go off to school if I didn't find my mate, but I found him.

Ugh, why am I so stupid. I know he doesn't want me, but I still have this foolish hope that he does.

I'm lying on my bed when my door burst opens and Em comes flying in like a mad woman.

"I have been patient with you Elena and now is enough. You are going to tell me why you have been avoiding me for weeks now and what has gotten into you," she yells all in one breath.

There goes my full name again. Her face is red and she looks like she's gonna kill me any second if I don't say the right thing.

"How did you get into my house?" I asked confused.

Her jaw drops open and she lets out a shrill scream before she grabs me off the bed and starts to shake me violently. Ouch.

Can you say drama queen?

"What has been up with you lately E?!?!?"

She yells as she continues to shake my brains around.

I grab her arms to stop her from her assault. She's right I have been avoiding her. I know if I tell her she'll think I'm dumb for pining over him.

She must see me swirling with emotions because her eyes turn soft. "You're not the same and I'm worried about you," she says in a softer tone.

I sigh and tell her to sit down. I have to tell her she's my best friend and she'll know what to do.

I take a deep breath. "I found my mate," I say in a low whisper.

Her eyes go wide at my confession. "Oh my gosh that's great!"

She jumps up excitedly until she sees my face and her smile turns upside down and she halts her jumping.

"That's great isn't it?"

I shake my head and my eyes fill with tears for what feels like the milliontenth time. Em sits back down on my bed and grabs my hand. She looks at me waiting for me to continue.

"It's Pierson Bryant Em," I tell her in a shaky voice.

Her hand covers her mouth and silence fills the room. After her shock she pulls me into a hug. "When did you find out? What did he say?"

I look at her sheepishly. "A month ago."

Oh no she's looking crazy again.

"You've been keeping this from me for a whole month!" Her eyes are filled with hurt.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to, but you know he loves Rachel. I wanted to see where his head was at first before I went and told you anything," I explain.

"And where is his head at?" She looks at me expectantly.

Here comes the tears. "He doesn't want me. He wants Rachel," I sob.

She gathers me in her comforting arms again. "That's impossible. Who wouldn't want to be your mate," she says into my hair.

"You're wonderful and I don't believe for one second he doesn't want you."

"He doesn't. What am I going to do?"

She doesn't say anything for a minute.

"I'll tell you what you're going to do. You're going to go to him and demand the real reason he doesn't want you. Mate bonds are strong. It's fate that chose you two to be together. You just don't let that go for anything."

"I also have some other news," I tell her.

I tell her about the internship this summer and if I do it I'm going straight off to pre-med school after and then medical school after that if I'm accepted.

"That's fanstastic it's what you always wanted," she smiles proudly.

"It is. It's just I always had this plan to not go if I found my mate. That I would be with him wherever he goes. We would be by each other's side."

I don't look her in the eyes when I say this. I know she doesn't approve. She's so independent and head strong, something I wish I was, but after my mom died I have just felt so alone. She doesn't know what my dad does to me, but she does know that we don't get along. I just don't want to bother her all the time with my problems.

I look up to see her reaction and to my surprise she has an understanding look on her face.

"I really believe you should take this experience E, but I also know that's not the only thing you want. I think you should talk to Pierson and give him one last ultimatum."

"What kind of ultimatum?"

"You need to talk to him, a real talk. Ask him one more time if Rachel is it for him. If so, you accept it and you're going away. And if it does happen to come down to that. Elena you walk away with your head held high and become someone you will be proud of." She say determinedly.

I nod my head. She's right, she's always right. "Ok. I'll do it. For me."

And I will. This is it.

One last chance.

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