Rejected Before the Pack

Chapter 2

Damian stopped in front of her. He opens his eyes. His face twisted in disgust.

“The fuck?” he muttered to himself but it was loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Why her?”

As soon as he spat out these words the whole room froze. Then their faces curved with mixed reactions. They began to access her, some of them began laughing.

“What do you mean “why her?” ’ She’s your mate isn't she?” The young wolf who had stepped forward approached them. He wanted to get closer to take a deeper sniff. His eyes raked around Anais' body. His eyes deepened in desire.

“There are so many ladies in the hall but the moon goddess had to choose the ugliest of them all.” Damian snapped, crossing his hands over his chest. His tone rose with each sentence showing his dissatisfaction and disgust for her.

There was collective laughter around.

“Thats right. Of all the girls it had to be her. It should've been me. I'm prettier.” one of the girls said. Her straight nose was pointed to the sky.

Anais but her lips. Her eyes dropped to the floor. The girl who spoke was Damian’s ex-girlfriend. She had always been jealous of her appearance.

‘Why her? Why did the moon goddess choose now of all times just for her to be embarrassed?’

“It could have been anyone. Look at Fiona. She is slim and tall, just my type. I do not want some short fat bimbo.” Damian scoffed.

The people around her laughed. Heels sounded. Fiona sashayed forward, moving her hips exaggeratedly.

“Oh come on Damian. My sister might be blonde but she's not as dumb as the rumors. And she's not fat.” Fiona stopped and let her eyes roam around Anais's body for effect. “She'plus-sized.”

Fiona said the last part with a smile. She seemed to be speaking up for Anais but everyone knew better.

They all burst out laughing at her words. Even Damian chuckled with his fist to his mouth.

“ I would have been too good for you. You need someone who wouldn't steal your spotlight. Someone who can stand behind you without so much attention.” Fiona continued.

“But her scent… her scent is unique. Don't you like it?” the man from earlier spoke up. He wanted to gauge Damain’s feelings for Anais.

In his head, if Damian rejects Anais he would ask her out immediately, pretending to be on her side. Then he would be able to mate with a woman with such a unique smell.

It wasn't only this wolf who had this idea. Other young men step forward.

“Fuck no! What kind of scent is that? It doesn't even smell like flowers or fruit like others. It's disgusting…” Damian spat.

Anais didn't lift her head. At this point she felt numb to everything. She had expected this.

She knew it was too good to be true when she found out that Damian was her mate. She knew she wouldn't be good enough just like the others had said.

Damian was a beta. He deserves someone beautiful and fit. Not someone who could barely keep her back straight.

The tears slipped. It fell on her chest. The tears were sinking into her clothes.

No one noticed.

“Not only is it weird. She's also shameless. I don't like girls like her.” Damian added mercilessly.

“She’s so embarrassing.” someone in the crowd said and they all giggled.

“Really? But I saw you guys kissing….” The young man had his hand on his jaw as if he were contemplating. His eyes were fixed on Damian.

Damian froze for a second. Then he cleared his throat to hide his embarrassment.

“At that time it was a dare. I dared him to kiss her. Damian cannot possibly kiss Anais on his own.” Fiona spoke up before anyone could. Her voice was loud and proud.

Damian flashes her a grateful smile. “Yes, that's true. She said no one would believe I could kiss her voluntarily.” he said and everyone laughed.

The wolves who had shown interest in Anais began to step back.

“Eww. That's disgusting. Poor Damian. How can you dare someone like that?” one of Fiona’s friends playfully slapped Fiona’s arm.

Fiona put on an innocent face. “My sister is still a virgin and no wolf seemed interested in her. I thought maybe her first kiss could be given to someone handsome.” she shrugged.

The other laughed. “Someone she could only dream about.” another one added.

Fiona chuckled. She didn't make any attempt to stop them.

Anais but her lips. She remembered that night. The night Fiona had begged her to attend her friend's birthday party.

Damian did kiss her but very briefly. When he pulled away, he wiped his mouth so much before leaving the room.

At that time Fiona had said he didn't like kissing random girls and she believed.

They were right. Damian wasn't someone she was allowed to dream of.

Her grip on her clothes tightened. Anais wanted to leave the room but there were people around her. Her legs refused to work.

“But Damian—”

“Thats enough,” Damian said quickly, as if scared that someone would ship them together.

“I, Damian Blackwood, reject this bond,” he said without hesitation.

Anais's head snapped up. Her eyes were wide in disbelief. The other men who had remained thinking they had a chance stepped back.

No one wanted a rejected log of wood.

“How could you…” she whispered as more tears slipped from her eyes. Her voice broke. She knew he wouldn't like her, but she didn't expect him to reject the bond so quickly and so openly.

“I'm sorry Anais. It's nothing personal. But I cannot spend my life with a girl like you.” Damian said but there was no apology in his eyes. Instead, he looked relieved.

“I—” Anais began, her voice caught in her throat as pain shot up from the left part of her chest.

It started small. Like a needle. Then it grew. In a second she felt like a knife was being drilled into her chest.

She doubles over.

Everyone jumped back like she was some disease. Anais held the table for support with one hand while the other tried to cover her chest. Sobs escaped her lips as she tried to catch her breath.

Fiona smirked secretly, seeing her state.

“Oh my gosh, she's so pathetic.” someone chuckled, the voice loud.

“I know right. thinkshink she could seduce anyone just because her scent is differenThe the wowerehere bolder now. They reveled in her misfortune.

Anais knew that she wasn't well-liked in the pack but she didn't realise until tonight the extent of the dislike.

There were heavy footsteps. The crowd parted again.

“Anais.” someone roared her name.

Anais struggles to raise her head. “Dad—”

Slap!

Everyone gasped.

“Can't you do anything but disgrace our family?” Anais' father roared at her.

Anais's hand slowly rose to her face. She caressed the place that stung. Tears made her vision blurry. This wasn't the first time she was hit, but today it felt more painful.

She opened her mouth to say something, then she stopped and changed her mind to say this instead;

“I'm sorry, Father,” she whispered.

“You are sorry? Why can't you be like your sister? “ he questioned her. Grabbing her arms and pulling her to stand firm.

Anais was a bit dizzy, she stumbled, earning more glare from the people around her. “Stop pretending to be pitiful. You can never do anything right. Look at you! Are you happy with yourself?”

Her mother spat next. She looked at Anais like she was some trash she had picked up by the side of the road.

“No mum. I didn't mean for this to happen.” Anais cried.

She clenched her fist.

‘It wasn't her fault. None of this was what she wanted to happen. She didn't want the man she loved to reject her in front of everyone.’ Anais thought. She wanted to scream this out but she knew her place.

“You didn't mean but it still happened. I don't want to see you until tomorrow. Get out of this place.” her mother pointed at the exit.

Anais had her head to the floor. She knew that if she looked at her parents she was only going to see that one expression that they always showed her. The one expression she only uses to receive.

Disgust.

Anais nodded.

She pushed herself off the table. Her legs are shaking. People, especially the women, jumped away as soon as she was close. Like she was contaminated.

When she was almost at the door, someone stuck out his leg. She didn't see it on time. She stumbled, falling face-first when she couldn't catch herself.

She closes her eyes to receive the ground.

She fell, but contrary to the hard ground she expected, she fell on something mildly softer and less painful.

Wait, she was still standing.

Anais opened her eyes slowly only to be met with a gold button.

She had fallen on someone.

She blushed in shame. Just when she thought the night couldn't get worse.

Judging by the button, it seemed this person was a high class. She raised her head quickly, her eyes wide in panic only to be met with dark orbs staring right back at her.

His strong scent wafted into her nose, overpowering hers.

It was Lucero

She couldn't move. She held her breath.

His eyes scanned her face, then down to her body. Anais fa elt cold shiver everywhere his eyes touched. Then his thin lips moved.

“Are you okay?” He asked.

It took a second to realize he was asking her.

HER!!

“W-what?” Anais stuttered. She wanted to step back but his arms kept her in place. His dark eyes were deep and filled with…worry?

Why does he look worried about me?

“You whore!!”

A scream snapped her awake.

“How dare you!!”

Everyone turned to the voice which continued after that outburst.

“You are not satisfied with the disgrace but here you are already jumping into the arms of another man. What kind of girl are you?”

Anais turned around to see her mother screaming at her. The rest of them were watching her with hostility. They looked like they were one step away from pouncing on her.

Anais stepped back in fright but his strong large hand kept her still.

Then—

“Who do you think you are talking to like that?” the voice thundered from above her. She wasn't close to him but she could feel the pressure. Her knees almost buckled.

This must be the power of an alpha.