CHAPTER 2 - REJECTED

   He tightened his grip on me, drawing me closer to him, and tenderly kissed the top of my head. The suddenness of the gesture left me stunned and confused. Had he just kissed me? I attempted to pull back, hoping to catch his reaction as he did so, but I found myself unable to. The embrace was so warm and comforting, causing me to doubt that it was indeed him holding me.

      "Are you alright?" he inquired, concern coloring his voice. I nodded my head to indicate that I was unharmed. "I'm relieved to hear that. Rest assured, you are safe with me," he reassured, pressing another gentle kiss on my forehead.

     He sighed softly, pressing my body tightly against his. "Finally. Finally, I have found what is rightfully mine. My mate," he murmured, his hand tenderly running through my hair.

    He was my mate. And I belonged to him. However, not everyone was pleased by this bond.

     "Hey, what on earth do you think you're doing?" an angry voice interrupted us from behind. "Let go of him, you freak!"

     I turned my head to see a man standing nearby. With his blond hair, blue eyes, and attire mirroring that of Axford, it was clear he was a beta. He appeared furious and disgusted, emitting an intense aura of hatred towards me. I could sense the hostility in his very being.

     He reached out to snatch me away from Axford, but as soon as he drew near us, a piercing scream of pain escaped his lips, causing him to jerk back abruptly. His body convulsed and writhed, as if he were being subjected to a powerful electric shock. He collapsed heavily onto the rough ground, seemingly at the mercy of an invisible force.

      Gasps echoed through the surrounding space, including my own, as we witnessed the event. Axford, however, seemed more astonished than startled as his gaze locked onto mine.

      Wait, what had just happened? The beta had been affected by Axford's aura.

     Axford possessed an aura so potent that it repelled anyone who tried to approach or harm him. It was a manifestation of his dominance and authority as an Alpha, an innate weapon and shield. I had heard rumours of its curse-like nature, only to be broken by his destined mate.

     Yet, somehow, I remained unaffected by it. I was able to touch him, to embrace him without any signs of repulsion.

    Because I was his mate.

     And he was mine.

     Axford looked down at me, his eyes widening with shock. It was as though he comprehended the significance of what had just occurred, what it meant for us. Understanding dawned upon him, that we were bound to each other by the moon goddess herself.

    He effortlessly lifted me into his arms, cradling me against his broad chest. With a gentle touch, he raised my chin, compelling me to meet his intense gaze. His eyes were profound and enigmatic, reminiscent of the vast night sky. They were brimming with a captivating blend of curiosity and awe, akin to a child discovering the wonders of the world. Yet, they held something more, something that quickened my pulse.

     Desire.

      Leaning in, his breath grazed my ear, sending a shiver down my spine and a blush to my cheeks. He whispered, his words enigmatic and mischievous.

     "Who are you?"

     Suddenly, chaos erupted in the hall. The werewolf congregation, initially stunned and silenced by our unexpected connection, erupted in anger and disbelief. They struggled to comprehend what they had just witnessed, and the implications it held for them.

     The notion that Axford had identified me as his mate was met with vehement resistance.

     "No! This cannot be happening!" a female voice shrieked, her tone filled with indignation. "He cannot be mated to her! She is an outcast, cursed with muteness and bad luck! And as a matter of fact, she is a maidservant. Can you not see that?"

      "She is unworthy of him!" another voice chimed in, echoing the sentiment. "She is not only mute, but also a subjugator! She must be using some sort of magic or cunning trickery to ensnare him! She aims to steal him away from us!"

     "She is a liar! A cheat! A promiscuous woman!" a third voice added, venom lacing her words. "She has lured and bedded numerous males in this hall! She has toyed with their hearts and seduced them with her manipulative aura! How can she possibly be the mate of a respected Alpha like Axford?"

     Envious accusations and insults were hurled my way, and while their reactions brought a twisted sense of satisfaction, Veronica's indignation was particularly gratifying.

     Tears welled up in my eyes, hurt and fear gnawing at me, as their words struck deep. All I had sought was to find my mate.

     And indeed, I had found him. But would he still accept me amidst these damning judgments?

     Searching for answers, I peered up at him, hoping to discern his intentions in his penetrating gaze. Yet, the once warm and affectionate eyes now held only frigidity.

      Coldness.

     He stared me with curiousity, as if a veil had been drawn over the feelings that had once resided within him. It was as though he no longer cared for me, as if any emotions he had once felt had vanished into thin air.

    He leaned down, his warm breath tickling my ear, causing a shiver to course through my body. Tears welled up in my eyes, a mix of fear and confusion enveloping me more.

     "Who are you, for the last time?" His voice was harsh, demanding answers.

    "Oh, Goddamnit!" Veronica's voice rang out, dripping with triumph. "Axford Cariño, this is my dirty mute maid, Elletra, I used to talk about on social media. She is very lazy and dumb. She can't speak! She has never spoken a word in her life." Veronica relished this moment, finally able to assert herself against me.

      Axford's brows furrowed with disgust as he pulled away from me, his icy eyes expressing utter detachment. Panic seized me, and I instinctively reached out, gripping onto his leg, pleading with desperate eyes. "Is this truly what the moon goddess has in store for me? A mate unable to speak? How can this be? No! I cannot accept this. I will not settle for a mute mate."

     Veronica's voice soared once more. "You don't have to! You can find someone better, I know this must be hard for you, but if you need anyone to talk to, you have my number," she shouted.

     Axford closed his eyes, clenching his fist as he trembled. "I, Alpha Axford Halfclaw, hereby reject you, Elletra, as my mate. Whether you embrace or deny this rejection is entirely up to you." With a cold and distant gaze, he shot me one final look before turning his back and walking away.

     Having forcibly freed his leg from my grip, he left the field, trailed by his burly guards. And there I lay, crumpled and vulnerable on the frigid ground. Helpless and hopeless. The scent of danger was thick in the air, intertwining with my despair.

     As Axford vanished from sight, the other werewolves closed in on me, their menacing presence growing by the second. I shifted backward, dragging my body along the cold floor, knowing there was no way for me to stand and flee. Veronica's voice filled the space once more, taunting and mocking.

    "Oh, my my, dirty maid. Had you only listened and gone home, none of this would have transpired. Now, I believe you are ready to face your downfall," laughter erupted from Veronica and her female comrades, as they reveled in this spectacle, reveling in my imminent demise.

     With Axford's departure, panic and desperation washed over me in a tumultuous wave. I understood the grave peril I was in. I knew I needed to escape, to hide, to survive. I couldn't allow these werewolves to exploit my vulnerable state.

     The male werewolves, once lusting after me, now saw me as easy prey. They viewed me as a defenseless female, lacking a mate to protect and shield me. Their advances grew bolder, their red and bloody eyes bearing down on me, their menacing fangs dripping with anticipation.

     Inside, I screamed, pleading for someone to hear, to rescue me from this nightmare. I longed for a savior to emerge, someone who would embrace and defend me. But the only person capable of helping had departed, unbothered by my plight.

     Just as the male werewolves were about to pounce, a glimmer of silver caught my eye. My gaze darted towards several werewolves in gas masks, brandishing guns. They were the security guards of the convention, the protectors responsible for maintaining order and ensuring safety. I guess.

     And then, from a distance, I heard my father's commanding voice pierce through the chaos. "No one is to approach Elletra, She belongs to any of you," he declared, stepping out of the shadows. With a smirk on his face as he approached, he locked eyes with me. Did my father just come to my rescue? But before I could rise to my feet, a sudden dizziness surged through me, and fell back to the floor and then, everything went blank.