CHAPTER 2 ~ REJECTION

HEIDI’S POV

The pack members quickly moved out of my way, leaving a wide and clear path toward the wooden stage, like how Moses parted the Red Sea… was it red? I don’t actually remember. Anyways, keeping my head held high and my shoulders pulled back, I listened to the loud whispers of the people around me. They called me a runt and a wolfless freak, but choosing to ignore their voices completely, I walked up the three wooden steps to stand in the center of the platform. Stopping exactly five feet away from Derek, I took in his expensive black suit and perfectly styled hair. He glared at me with pure hatred, but I met his eyes without flinching or looking away, simply waiting for him to speak.

"I cannot believe the fates paired me with the weakest member of our entire territory," Derek announced into the microphone, his voice carrying a tone of extreme arrogance. "You do not have a wolf, Heidi. You clean our floors, and you cook our food because that is the only value you provide to this pack. A true Alpha requires a powerful Luna to stand beside him and produce strong heirs. You are physically incapable of fulfilling that role. You are a disgrace to our kind."

Crossing my arms over my chest and staring directly into his eyes, I felt absolutely no sadness. "You are wasting my time, Derek. State your intentions so I can go back to my room and read a book. I have no desire to stand here and listen to you complain."

The crowd gasped loudly, as nobody ever spoke to the future Alpha with that level of blatant disrespect. Stepping forward, Erwin placed a hand on Derek's shoulder.

"Do not let her provoke you, my son," Erwin said in a low, warning tone. "She is trying to make you angry. Proceed with the formal decree and remove her from your life right now. The pack is waiting."

Nodding and straightening his posture, Derek grabbed the microphone tightly with his right hand and cleared his throat. "I, Derek, the future Alpha of this pack, officially reject you, Heidi Artemis, as my destined mate and my future Luna. I sever the bond between us right now, and I banish you from ever seeking a place by my side."

A very sharp pain pierced the center of my chest when he spoke the formal words. Pressing a hand against my sternum, I waited until the ache disappeared a few seconds later, signaling the complete break of our mate bond. Uncrossing my arms, I took a step closer and forcefully pulled the microphone away from his hand. Derek looked shocked by the physical action, but did not attempt to stop me.

"I, Heidi Artemis, proudly and happily accept your rejection," I spoke clearly into the microphone, my voice echoing across the quiet clearing to reach every single person present. "I want to thank you for rejecting me today, Derek. I always knew we were mates, and the idea of spending the rest of my life with you was something I dreaded. I also want to mention a very specific reason why I am grateful for this rejection. When I washed your laundry last week, I saw the extremely small size of your undergarments. I have absolutely no desire to be mated to a man with such a disappointingly small cock. My mistake. Cocks are for real men. You qualify for something far less impressive, and that is… a dick.”

The absolute silence in the clearing lasted for ten full seconds before several pack members started laughing out loud. In the crowd, my foster parents, Robert and Susan, covered their faces with their hands in embarrassment. Erwin’s face turned bright red as he clenched his fists at his sides. Opening his mouth, Derek failed to produce any words; his chest just heaved up and down while he struggled to process the public insult, looking completely humiliated.

"You are a disgusting and insolent girl!" Derek finally yelled, grabbing the microphone back from my hand and looking frantically into the crowd to find someone to help him regain his dignity. "Naomi, come up to the stage right now!"

Practically running up the wooden stairs in her tight red dress, Naomi pushed past me to stand directly next to Derek. He immediately wrapped an arm tightly around her waist, pulling her body against his side to glare at me while holding her.

"I officially claim Naomi as my chosen mate and the future Luna of this pack," Derek shouted into the microphone, trying to sound authoritative and powerful again. "She possesses a strong wolf, and she understands the duties of leadership. She will bring honor to my name."

Smiling brightly and kissing Derek on the cheek, Naomi turned her head to give me a very smug look. Rolling my eyes, I turned my back to them and started walking toward the wooden stairs, completely uncaring about their new relationship. Leaving the area to go back to the basement was my only goal.

"Stop right there, Heidi," Erwin commanded loudly. "You will remain on the stage to witness the official transfer of power. I will not tolerate any more disrespect from you today. Stand by the stairs and stay quiet."

Stopping at the top of the stairs, I watched as Erwin moved to the center of the stage to take the microphone from his son. He adjusted his suit jacket, looking proudly at the crowd.

"I now present to you, Alpha Derek…" Erwin started to say, but he immediately stopped speaking.

A sudden and extreme shift in the air pressure caused my ears to ring loudly, while the physical force of a massive energy field pushed down on my shoulders. Bending my knees slightly to maintain my balance, my gaze dropped to the crowd below the stage. The weaker wolves and the omegas fell to their knees in the dirt. Nearby, Robert and Susan collapsed onto the ground, clutching their heads, as several pack elders grabbed their chests and struggled to breathe. The air turned freezing cold, and the birds in the trees stopped making noise.

The crowd physically parted, moving away from the back of the clearing in absolute terror. Through the open path walked a very tall and heavily muscled man, wearing dark jeans and a black button-down shirt that stretched tightly across his broad chest. Messy dark hair framed a sharp jawline covered in a dark shadow of facial hair, and he carried an aura so heavy it literally forced the wolves around him to look down at the dirt.

Loud thudding sounds echoed from his heavy boots as he walked up the wooden stairs to the stage. Staring at his massive frame as he passed, I realized he didn't even glance in my direction.

Stumbling backward, Erwin dropped the microphone onto the floor, sending a loud screeching noise tearing through the speakers. He raised his shaking hands in the air, staring at the dark-haired man with wide, terrified eyes. Meanwhile, Derek pushed Naomi behind his back and stepped rapidly away from the center of the stage, leaving both men looking completely panicked.

Ignoring Erwin and Derek completely, the large man walked directly to the carved wooden chair positioned at the back of the stage, a seat belonging strictly to the Alpha of the pack. Sitting down, he leaned back comfortably and crossed his right ankle over his left knee. Reaching into his shirt pocket, he pulled out a silver lighter and a cigarette, placing it between his lips. After igniting the lighter and inhaling deeply, he blew a stream of gray smoke into the air and rested his hands on the armrests of the chair.

Finally turning his head, he looked directly at Erwin. Though his facial expression showed no emotion at all, his eyes promised extreme violence.

"You look incredibly surprised to see me, Erwin," the man said in a deep, gravelly voice that carried easily across the silent clearing without the need for a microphone. "Did you really think I would let your pathetic son take my rightful place?"