Fern's Perspective
Giovan's eyes hardened.
"You're not doing that little tree," he said to me.
Giovanni is my brother. I could feel our bond as fated mates, but I didn't want to accept it. Nuu-Chaah might have made a mistake pairing us.
"Eight years ago, I didn't blame nor resented you when you couldn't do anything to help me when Alpha Dylan exiled me...."
"Giovan, please. If we accept the bond as fated mates. Daddy will hate you even more! If he only threw you to the wall before, this time he might kill you—"
"Don't turn your back on me the way our parents did, Fern," Giovan begged. He looked in pain.
"We grew up together, Giovan. Half your life you were treating me like a sister."
"Do you want to know why Alpha Dylan and Luna Cherry agreed to kick me out of Starsmoon Pack?"
I shook my head and covered my ears.
"Your father saw the way I look at you. He said that's not how a brother looks at his younger sister. I never see you as my sister, since we were young, I know that we'll be fated mates, Fern!"
"I'll never see you as anything else, Giovan. I can't accept this." I shake my head, "I won't let a bond with you ruin me in the eyes of the members of Starsmoon Pack."
Giovan placed my heart over his chest. My eyes widened.
"Feel it, Fern! I want you to feel how strong our bond as fate mates!" He demanded.
Feeling his heartbeat, I pulled my hand from him and fell to the ground.
"Look me in the eye and tell me that you don't want that future and life with me, Fern. Tell me that you're willing to throw all of those away because you care more about what the pack members will say to you and see you for!"
I looked sternly at him.
"I, Fern Romano, daughter of the great Alpha of the Starsmoon pack reject Giovanni, an exiled shifter of the Starsmoon pack as my mate," I said.
"I, Giovanni Connor accept the Alpha's daughter's rejection," he answered.
As soon as our bonds were cut. Giovan fell on his knee, wincing in pain.
"I'm an important member with a high-ranking position in the pack now, Giovan. I-I can make them take you back to the pack," I said, but Giovan pushed my hands after I tried to help him.
"Your wolf isn't even in pain." Giovan bitterly smirks.
"Must be amazing to have protection from the Moon Goddess," Giovan mocked.
"Giovan, p-please. You're weak, at least let the Starsmoon pack look after you. Daddy will understand if you stay in the territory until you recover."
"Leave, Fern! You already rejected me. Why worry for me now?"
"Because you're my brother, Giovan!"
"No, Fern! I'm not, have you forgotten that I was a young rogue that Luna Cherry picked up and adopted? Oliver is your only brother!"
"It doesn't matter if we're not blood-related, Giovan. You're still my brother—" Giovan clamped dry leaves from the ground and threw it at me.
"Leave, Fern! I don't want to see you ahh fuck!" He shouted, grimacing in pain.
"I said leave!" He shouted again.
So I walked towards my car. But when I was about to turn on the engine, I heard Giovan in my head cursing and catching his breath as the pain continued to hurt and weaken him.
"Just drive home, Fern, and forget that you saw him," I whispered to my wolf when I recalled that Giovan told me that he was fighting with a group of rogues.
"Giovan was hurt from fighting with rogues. H-He was already weak when I saw him, and my rejection will weaken him even more, wolf!"
Giovan was pale, still writhing and lying on his back on the cold ground.
"Why are you here a-again?"
"Oh, shut up! I'll stay away like you want, but let me help you first," I said.
I swallowed hard and started to unconsciously hold my breath as I placed his head on my thighs.
I looked away as I broke his shirt, avoiding the temptation brought by his body.
"H-Huh?" When I lifted my hand from his wounds it was still bleeding.
"Why it isn't working?" I placed my healing hands on his wound only for my healing ability to fail me the second time around.
He started coughing blood. I felt his heartbeat getting weaker too.
"G-Giovan, oh my God!"
"I was blessed with special power from Nuu-Chah, just like my mom. but I don't know why it's not working!"
Giovan coughed blood again.
"Oh shi— w-what can I do? I-I can't just let you die like this here. Please, help me out, Giovan! Think of something!" I pleaded in fear.
Our eyes locked in.
"Except for that! I will do anything to save you, but not that."
"Taking back your rejection and accepting me as your fate is the only option you have, Fern." He coughed again, and by this time his heart was barely beating.
Giovan closed his eyes, fear struck my chest.
"Fine! Fine, Giovan, just stay with me!" I shouted with a shaking voice.
"I, F-Fern Romano, daughter of the great Alpha of the starsmoon pack take back my rejection of the mate bond with Giovanni. I'm now choosing to accept him as his mate," I said.
Giovan's eyes remained closed. His heart wasn't beating anymore and there was nothing on his pulse.
"G-Giovan? G-Giovanni? Open your eyes! I have already taken and accepted you as my fated mate. Y-You can't leave me like this now, y-you can't die!" I said, shaking him violently to wake him up.
I looked at his face again. Giovan's eyes fluttered open.
Giovan lifted himself, kissing my lips.
"Mine," his wolf growled, before he marked my neck, officially claiming me.