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Chapter 1 — Rejected
"No!! You can't do that to me!"
As I listened in disbelief to what Elyon had just disclosed, a piercing ring resonated within my ears. It was all too surreal; we had made agreements about when this would happen, and now Elyon was backing out!
When I reflected on all the occasions when he assured me of his boundless love and the wonderful moments we spent together, I couldn't help but question if it was genuine. Or rather, was I merely a fleeting intermission in his life as he waited for his destined mate to arrive, with whom he would ultimately share his life?
“I’m truly sorry, Becca,” I heard him say with a tinge of agony in his tone. "But I can't possibly resist Xena. The mate pull is too intense; it simply overpowers my senses and drives me towards her. I'd rather confess it to you now than lead a double life behind your back." Elyon attempted to comfort me by taking me into his arms, but I pushed him away. The last thing I wanted was to be embraced by this cheater.
"Elyon," I whimpered through tear-filled eyes. "Please, tell me what I am supposed to do now?"
Feeling lost and unsure, I turned to the love of my life for answers. I mustered up all my courage to hide the tears that threatened to break free but failed miserably. The hollowness within me was excruciatingly agonizing; even breathing felt like an overwhelming challenge at this moment of deep despair.
"For many years, you've referred to me in front of the rest of our pack as your Luna," I pointed out to him. "As your mate, I have been faithful and supportive, always being at your side and performing my duties with pride. Everyone acknowledges my position as your would-be Luna. Elyon, what do you expect me to do now?" My voice was firm and demanding.
He had to fix the mess we ended up in because he was the one who didn't keep his part of our vows. Elyon gazed at me, and I could tell that he was struggling with an array of emotions too.
"We had sworn to reject our mates as soon as they arrived!" I reminded him. "You'll have to reject Xena; that's what you owe me."
At the moment, we were standing on the wooden platform that stretched out into the breathtakingly beautiful lake of the pack, the same one where we used to take a dip every day. This particular locale held significant sentimental value; it was here where we professed our love for each other and where we had sex for the first time. And today, I was rejected by him in this very spot that once held dear memories for both of us.
Elyon heaved a sigh of despair as he continued to stare at me. "I'm sorry, Becca, but I cannot do that right now. Even if I were inclined to do so, it is simply unfeasible as my parents have already arranged for us to be announced at tonight's pack gathering and Xena's family is already on their way here. Our union has been confirmed, and we are set to mark each other this evening in front of the entire pack."
Fear and jealousy alternated on my face. Elyon had previously decided that we would mark each other after his Alpha installation, which was scheduled for later this year. Ready to serve him in all his decisions, I joyfully agreed with my head in the clouds.
And now he would do all this with another she-wolf, even before he took the position.
This sudden change made me question the lack of urgency demonstrated by his parents in pushing him to announce me as his mate previously. Was their kindness towards me just a show all along? The realization hit hard, and tears uncontrollably streamed down my face. Marking another she-wolf would be the final nail in the coffin for what little hope remained inside me.
The harsh reality that I found myself facing was one where Elyon no longer belonged to me, and as such, my aspirations of becoming Luna for Moon Shine pack were now mere pipe dreams.
The mating ceremony would be starting in just a few short hours, which also spelled out an end to any affiliation I had with my pack. Staying in Moon Shine any longer felt impossible, as watching my ex on a daily basis being lovey-dovey with his fated would kill me.
Additionally, the treatment from other female wolves would render my life unendurable. Surely they would take pleasure in humiliating me through ridicule or fake empathy. For a moment, I pondered whether Elyon had taken even the slightest moment to consider my feelings and what my position in the pack would be after he marked someone else.
How was I supposed to present myself to the new Luna? Was it possible that the mate bond also made werewolves cold-hearted and self-centered?
"But we can still be together, Becca," I heard him say in a daze. "Even if I can't give you the Luna position anymore, we can still continue our relationship. We spent beautiful moments together, and my love for you hasn't faded away. You don't have to stop loving me just because of this."
My disbelief swelled as I gazed at him, fully baffled that he was even able to utter those words. This outright lack of respect left me stunned; this was the least I expected from him. The sound of a sharp slap and the blazing red on his cheeks made me realize that I had struck the future Alpha.
First came terror across his face, and then unfathomable anger.
"Remember, I'm still your Alpha, Becca," he growled. "After my mating ceremony, we'll have this conversation again. And then I want to see how you dare stand up to me. Remember how pliable and submissive you were always in my hands."
I slowly took a few steps back from Elyon before clumsily making my way back home.
I arrived home and found my mother waiting for me. "Becca, we are so sorry," she tried to console me as soon as I stepped inside. She held me tight in her arms. My relationship with Elyon had caused some discord within our family. While my parents tolerated it, they never approved of it, especially my mother, who spent much time warning me about the unbreakable nature of mate bonds and their irresistible pull. She predicted that neither Elyon nor I would be able to reject our mates.
My parents were fated mates and still very much in love. Although their love life sometimes made me uncomfortable enough to flee the house on occasions, they never had any reservations about it.
"Try to get over it, no matter how hard it may be. Now, focus on finding your own mate."
I doubted I'd ever recover from this betrayal. For years, Elyon and I had aligned our lives, and now that I was left alone, I felt out of control, my life was aimless. Elyon had prepared me for the Luna position, but now it seemed as though I had reverted to an ordinary pack wolf with no future prospects in sight.
I rushed into my bedroom for another bout of weeping. After a while, I sat up on my bed and stared at the walls, adorned with images of Elyon and me during happier times. Brimming with hurt, I snatched them all off before shredding them to pieces.
"You liar, cheater!" I yelled, devastated...
Chapter 2 — The Ceremony
"Becca, it's time to leave for the ceremony," I heard my mother say softly as she knocked on my bedroom door.
I let out a deep sigh of discomfort as I thought about the upcoming event. The mating ceremony of the future Alpha was a significant event, and no one could be absent without express permission from the Alpha. Unfortunately, I was not granted that privilege and had an obligation to attend. I wanted to avoid any risk of my family getting into trouble by deliberately staying away. Heartbreak was not an acceptable excuse for not showing up, and I was not ready to face the Alpha’s wrath. I put on a pair of simple skinny jeans featuring distressed fabric at both knees, paired with an elegant white top.
My parents were waiting for me in the sitting room. When my father saw my chosen outfit, it was clear that he did not approve of it. Before any harsh comments could be made by him, my mother pulled him aside and spoke to him privately, away from earshot. After successfully resolving this issue between them, we walked as a family towards the wide-open meeting space, which had been festively decorated.
Both my parents flanked me while tightly gripping each one of my hands protectively as we moved through crowds bustling excitedly around. My parents were the head warriors of the pack, but instead of sitting in our usual front seats, we took the back row today. I believe my parents deliberately aimed to send a message to Elyon's family with this.
As we sat comfortably in our seats, my father squeezed my hand encouragingly, while my mother draped her arm over my shoulders. Not long after, Elyon stepped onto the stage with Xena on his arm. He traversed through the audience, scanning every familiar face until eventually locating mine amidst all of them. I read regret in his eyes, but that was pointless at this moment since my life had already been shattered anyway.
"Breathe deeply through your nose and exhale gradually," I heard my father say from far away. "This is going to be terrible."
The sound of his words washed over me like a calming balm as I braced myself for what was to come. I never expected this impending ordeal to be easy, but with his reassuring presence at hand, I summoned all the courage within me to endure whatever discomfort may arise from this trying experience.
After the completion of the installation procedure, the eventful moment arrived when Elyon had to mark his mate. He hesitated at first, slightly shifting his eyes towards me. An impatient hint from his father, and a second later, Elyon's sharp fangs pierced into Xena's neck, solidifying my fate.
The agony I felt in the depths of my chest was almost intolerable, causing me to emit a heartrending cry, and tears welled up in my eyes anew. As if on cue, every head turned towards me with keen interest. Elyon himself took a step forward as though he wanted nothing else but to come over to offer me comfort during my distressful moment. But his father quickly intervened and directed him back into place next to Xena.
I turned around and ran towards the dense forest behind the packhouse at high speed. I dashed over fallen tree stumps and shallow streams of water as far as my feet could take me. Countless small animals halted their daily activities to gaze in amazement at me along the way. They were no doubt curious about what had caused such haste for me.
Eventually, my body succumbed to the incredible exertion, and I crumpled onto the sloping edge of a small waterfall. My muscles were spent and bruised from running through harsh terrain. With nothing left in me but despair, I sprawled out beside the flow of water before drifting off into unconsciousness.
When I opened my eyes once more, there was only one name occupying my thoughts.
Elyon!!
The man of my dreams, with whom I thought I would have a future filled with many lovable pups and would grow old together. But now he is claimed by someone else—from this day forth Xena will be the one lying in his arms, marking him as hers again when night falls. I never thought that this day would ever come; I was totally convinced that our love could overcome all obstacles, including broken mate bonds. Sadly, it seems not to be so.
Due to the overwhelming feeling of weariness, I fell asleep under the open sky once more. My tears were done, and there was no more left in me. Every inch of my body felt stiff from all the intense emotions that had ravaged it.
When I finally opened my eyes, it was already late in the evening. As soon as I looked around and cleared my blurry vision, it became obvious how warm and pleasant everything felt. Normally at this time of year, the air was quite chilly.
When I lifted my head, I noticed that I was lying next to a lively blaze of firewood. I felt a folded towel under my head, surely that allowed me comfort to be able to sleep soundly. Sitting up straight, I looked around me. There were no signs of any individual; only the dark forest loomed over and watched silently upon me.
"Wake up already?"
An unexpected resonant and masculine voice erupted behind me. Startled by the sudden sound, I swiftly spun around to face a towering young man with white-blond hair and bright blue orbs who had intruded upon my space.
"I, uh... I mean...," I faltered nervously, taken aback by the sudden appearance.
I wasn't sure if this meeting would be the end of my life. I had never seen such a peculiar stranger in our pack territory before. Judging from the scent, he was not a rogue, but could possibly be half-bred or human. Regardless of his origin, he left me questioning his intentions and whether I should tread carefully around him during our interaction.
"You are in violation," I conveyed to him after recovering from the shock. "You have trespassed onto private property and could be attacked or jailed if you stay here without proper permission."
The man lifted both of his arms above his head in a sign of surrender. "Listen, I mean no harm. I'm just camping, and I'll be gone in a few days," he explained, while his acutely observant gaze fixated upon me. "I was under the impression that these grounds were liberally granted for public use by our government." As I glanced upwards at him towering over me, I felt an inexplicable aura of genuineness emanating from the man.
"Zane Coovens, nice to meet you," he introduced himself.
I raised my hand to match his height, and as our hands touched, a powerful surge of electricity coursed through me.
"Becca," I responded kindly.
Chapter 3 — To War
"Would you mind if I sat next to you?" asked Zane, pointing to a spot in front of me on the grass.
"Of course not," I invited him.
My werewolf instincts had identified him as harmless, which played a major role in reducing my tension and anxiety while being around him.
"I sincerely don't mean to offend you, Becca, but you look awful. Your face is quite tearful and despondent, and your eyes are bloodshot," he observed carefully. "Such mental anguish can only arise from deep-seated sadness or emotional pain. Did a close family member suddenly die? Have you failed an exam? Or did a boyfriend break your heart?"
As he made his final assumption, I felt my complexion flush with embarrassment.
"Hmmm," he murmured thoughtfully, a faint smile gracing his lips. "I believe I'm on fire with my guessing. Which one is it?" He then chuckled in an easygoing way. "Just so you know, and this might come in handy somehow, I happen to be proficient in Tai Kwan Do. So if ever there's a need for me to go into battle on your behalf... well... consider it done!"
Of course, I understood that he was trying to change my emotional state.
However, the pain ran deep; in my mind's eye, I could still vividly see Elyon sinking his fangs into another woman's neck. That image alone brought forth new tears and caused me to break down with a fresh stream of sorrowful tears cascading down my face again. An uncontrollable choked sound escaped from deep within me as sobs wracked through my chest once more in response.
Zane wrapped his strong arms around me in a gentle embrace, drawing my body close to his as he tenderly stroked my hair. "This sounds like a formidable heartbreak," he spoke in a hushed tone into my hair.
As I nestled against Zane, I couldn't help but notice the air of familiarity that emanated from him. The warmth that enveloped me was so soothing. Wanting to immerse myself even more in this sensation, I pressed my head deeper into his sturdy chest and rested against it.
"You seem like a woman who is used to lying against a man's chest," he murmured. "Tell me, who broke your heart, beautiful lady?" His sympathetic approach was so attractive that even a slight smile appeared on my lips. My arms wrapped around his body in a tight, warm embrace, it felt as if I had known him for years.
As I unraveled the story, a torrent of words poured out without pause.
Meanwhile, Zane remained quiet and listened to my emotionally muffled voice while tenderly running his fingers through my long dark locks. Being that he was human and not privy to certain aspects of our werewolf culture, there were particular details that I chose not to disclose.
"Brutal!" he responded with a grimace etched on his face as he processed it all.
"In all honesty, I don't think you should return there any time soon. The mere thought of encountering your ex-lover every single day with his new wife in his arms is bound to stir up unwanted emotions and unpleasantness." We sat silently embraced in each other's arms, lost in our own thoughts for an indeterminate moment or two.
"I understand that you haven't known me too long," he started with an enchanting grin. "But I can assure you that I pose no threat. I'm not a serial killer or rapist. I even have several references if you need them." As I listened attentively, my curiosity was piqued.
"I am privileged to own a house that is spacious enough for the two of us."
I felt him looking at me attentively, waiting for a response. I glanced back at him, unbothered by his stare, still waiting for what was about to come. "I have a number of people who can attest to the fact that I am harmless. Additionally, I have a good reputation in the city where I live." This time it proved exceedingly difficult for me to hold back chortles; he went to such lengths to prove his good reputation to me. He looked somewhat surprised, witnessing how promptly my tears transformed into euphoric chuckles.
"Zane, please, make your point. It appears that a great deal of words is required for even the simplest point you want to make. It's rather comical."
"Well, let me elaborate on what I was just about to say," he tried again. "I am offering you to stay with me for a while until you figure out what you want to do further with your life. Rest assured that my house offers plenty of space and privacy, and since I work every day, you'll have ample time alone to think. I won't bother or distract you at all. What do you think about that?"
I stared directly at him with my mouth agape.
"Why would you take in a stranger? You don't know me at all. We just met an hour ago for the first time. What a risk you are taking!"
"Seriously, Becca?! What could you possibly do to me? I am many times stronger than you. It is clear as day to anyone who lays their eyes upon you, just how fragile you really are." He chuckled heartily at his own witticism while I found myself glaring back at him.
"Hey, are you insinuating that I'm weak?" I asked with feigned anger.
"Do you accept my proposal? It would really be better if you lay low for a while. Staying there may result in further emotional turmoil. Heartaches aren't easy to overcome," he stated with concern.
As I pondered the offer presented to me, it dawned on me that this was indeed a blessing in disguise. The options were limited, and there was no denying the fact that he had hit the nail right on its head: returning to Moon Shine simply wasn't an option for me anymore.
If truth be told, I didn't have a clue as to where else I could seek refuge after fleeing from the ceremony on a whim. Perhaps if things had gone differently, my parents would've come up with some alternative arrangement until matters cooled down. But it was too late to burden them after taking this drastic step. Sneaking a glance once again at Zane so close by amazed me at how good his presence felt. So without further ado, I made a far-reaching decision.
"Okay, I accept. When will we leave?"
"Now."
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