The Mate's Rejection

By nightfall, everything was ready for me to leave. I heard a knock at the door and thought —

THIS IS IT.

At the door stood several of the Alpha's wolves. They said they had to take me to him.

I didn't know why he wanted to see me. Maybe he was going to expel me in front of everyone.

That had to be it.

When I arrived, the place was in an uproar. Several young wolves were mid-transformation. I saw Silvana and Roberto standing beside Enzo.

I remembered that when I'd transformed, I was alone. I'd even called my mother, but she told me to stop being dramatic.

The moon was already high, and the howls of the newly transformed were deafening. I felt a pang of envy watching them.

Then I heard a howl that ripped a scream from my throat. Everyone turned to look at me. I saw my brother nuzzling against Julia — they really were mates.

Another wolf was circling Cintia. Must be her mate.

I locked eyes with the wolf that had made me cry out. I was breathless.

He came toward me, staring me down with his yellow eyes. He looked like he wanted to devour me alive. I felt the words trying to escape —

But something was holding them back.

I felt rooted to the ground when he howled, signaling the start of the hunt. Everyone ran, leaving only me and the councilors.

And those who already had mates.

Everyone was watching me, but no one came close.

I could see it in every pair of eyes. When the howls faded, I was still frozen in place.

I don't know how, but I couldn't stand up.

I saw Shadow watching me from a distance. He'd told me that whatever happened in my life, he couldn't change it.

Dawn broke, and I watched Alpha Raul and all the others walking toward me.

"Mine," Daniel said.

"Me — my —" The words wouldn't come out.

I saw the shock on everyone's faces. Even I was surprised, because I'd felt nothing the night before — only a restless stirring now. It was as if my weak wolf was fighting against the bond. The smile on Cintia's lips made it clear they already had something planned.

A man was dragged forward and thrown down beside me.

He looked at me with sadness in his eyes.

"I, Cintia Veiga, reject Gian Roberth, thereby breaking our bond as mates," she declared.

The man groaned in pain.

"I — Gian — Ro-Roberth — accept the rejection of — of Cintia Veiga," he managed.

I watched her writhe in pain as well. The man couldn't endure it and died within minutes.

They say the pain is far greater for the one rejected than for the one who rejects. If you're not an Alpha or Beta, you die because you lack the strength to survive it.

Cintia stood and smiled at me, positioning herself behind Alpha Daniel.

I already felt an enormous pain in my chest. I'd felt the death of that poor wolf.

"I, Daniel Lacret, reject you, Emma Oliver, as my mate, thereby breaking our bond as mates," he declared.

I braced for the pain, but it didn't come. I just felt — uncomfortable. I watched Daniel grimace and scream at me.

"ACCEPT IT, DAMN YOU!"

"With tears in my eyes, I repeated his words."

But contrary to what they expected, it was Daniel who was on the ground, convulsing in agony — not me.

Cintia charged at me full force, slamming my head into a rock.

I came to with my body being dragged across the ground like a dirty rag.

I looked around and saw the Alpha supporting Daniel. I felt every bump in the road punishing my broken body.

Daniel's eyes seemed to waver. Sometimes he looked at me with hatred, other times with something like pity. He looked at me differently. But he didn't help me.

I let my tears fall, streaking my dirt-covered face.

Everyone followed behind like a funeral procession — escorting the dead.

At the edge of the pack's territory, Cintia hurled me against a tree with everything she had.

She shifted back to her human form, flaunting her nudity.

"I told you, you little monster. I told you I'd throw you out like garbage," Cintia spat.

Everyone left, abandoning me there. After they were all gone, I felt Shadow lift me into his arms.

"Why didn't you help me?" I whispered.

"I couldn't, little one. But now things are different. When you find him, we'll both be free — you and me."

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