REJECTED

“I, Ethan Pierce, reject Naya as my mate.”

The words burned through me as he squeezed my hands, his expression twisted with pure disgust.

Ethan—my best friend since childhood, the boy I had loved silently for years, the only person who made me feel safe after my parents died—was rejecting me. And he did it in front of everyone. The crowd gasped, but a few girls burst into cruel laughter, tossing words like “cursed,” “worthless,” “rejected” at me as if my pain were entertainment.

I wished the earth would swallow me whole.

After five years of living like a slave, I thought I had already endured the worst life could give… but nothing compared to this humiliation. Tears streamed down my face as I begged Ethan to reconsider. I told him the Moon Goddess never makes mistakes, that she chose us for a reason.

But he looked at me like I was dirt.

“I can’t accept you as my Luna, Naya. You’re a nobody who can’t even shift. A slave shouldn’t be considered.” Ethan’s voice was cold—sharp enough to slice through whatever was left of my heart.

I knew instantly I would become the pack’s new joke.

Then, under the glowing night sky, the Moon Goddess herself appeared—summoning Ethan, warning him that if he refused me, she would curse him with everlasting weakness unless he married me. Relief washed over me, but only briefly. Because the truth hit just as fast:

Our union wouldn’t be built on love.

Maybe the Moon Goddess was simply saving me from the streets, or maybe her reasons were beyond my understanding. But I knew one thing for certain: Ethan didn’t love me. And loving him while knowing he didn’t feel the same only crushed me more.

Since he’d been forced into the marriage, he had no choice but to accept the Moon Goddess’s command. Our wedding was held on the next full moon, with only a few people and family members present as witnesses.

The day of the wedding arrived. I wore a simple outfit, nothing close to a proper wedding dress. I couldn’t afford something elegant, so I searched through my mother’s old wardrobe and chose one of her best white clothes to use instead. I knew Ethan would hate me even more for what he’d see as an embarrassment, but I had no other choice. It was the only best white cloth I had.

When I stepped out as his bride, his few friends immediately began mocking me. Ethan lowered his head in disappointment.

Their laughter echoed around us, sharp and cruel, but I kept walking, pretending their words didn’t pierce through me. My hands trembled slightly as I reached Ethan’s side, yet I forced myself to stay still. He didn’t spare me a glance. To him, I was already a mistake—now a public embarrassment.

The ceremony was short, painfully quiet except for the whispers and snickers from his friends. Even the priest seemed uncomfortable, rushing through the vows as if he couldn’t wait for it to end. When it was time for Ethan to take my hand, he hesitated before finally touching me, his grip cold and reluctant.

I swallowed hard, holding back the sting in my chest. This was supposed to be the happiest day of a woman’s life, but for me, it felt like a punishment. Still, I lifted my chin and stood tall. If this was the fate the Moon Goddess chose for me, then I would endure it—no matter how much he wished I wasn’t the one standing beside him.

After the wedding, everyone returned to their homes. I followed Ethan back to his house, where his family stood waiting. They positioned themselves as though they intended to welcome me, but their faces told a different story. Disgust. Disappointment. Resentment. The moment I stepped inside, a heavy wave of regret washed over me.

They lined the hallway near Ethan’s room, and just as I began to climb the stairs, they blocked my path.

“Is this your plan?” his mother, Myra Pierce, demanded.

I remembered her well. She and my mother had once been close—back when Ethan and I were still children. I could still picture my mother gifting her pieces of jewelry, laughing as though nothing could ever come between them.

“What do you mean, Mother—”

“Don’t you dare call me ‘Mother,’ you good-for-nothing slave!” Myra snapped, her voice thundering through the house.

“ I am not your mother. You’ve destroyed my family’s life! Why didn’t you reject my son? He doesn’t love you—he will never love you, Naya!”

“You can’t even shift into a full wolf,” his father added harshly. “You have no idea what it means to be complete—and you think you deserve to be part of this family?”

He had always been strict, always distant. Truthfully, he had never liked me, not even for a moment.

“You should have stayed where you belong, in the street.” Myra hissed. “You should have stayed far away from my son. Far away from this house.”

“You’re nothing but a burden,” his father added. “A weakling with no wolf and no worth.”

I swallowed hard, blinking away the burning in my eyes. I refused to cry—not in front of them. Not tonight.

Ethan’s younger sister, Lila, crossed her arms and scoffed. “She doesn’t even look like a werewolf. How embarrassing.”

“That’s enough!” I suddenly shouted, mustering the last bit of courage I had. Tears streamed down my cheeks, betraying the strength I tried to show. In that moment, I realized just how helpless I truly was. Raising my voice wouldn’t change anything. Deep down, I knew my life was about to go from bad to worse—that Ethan and his family were determined to make my existence in their home a living hell.

I followed Ethan into our matrimonial room, but he didn’t utter a single word. I tried speaking to him, yet he deliberately ignored me. It was our wedding night—of all nights—I thought we should at least share some closeness. Instead, Ethan simply freshened up and walked out.

I sat there feeling completely abandoned. Why marry someone who can’t even look at me? I wondered miserably.

I went to the bathroom to freshen up, trying to calm myself after the long, stressful day. I took off my mother’s white dress—her favorite—and placed it gently on the bed. I held it for a moment, remembering her, then laid it down carefully.

After washing up, I felt tired, both in my body and in my heart. I decided to rest for a while. The room was quiet, and I slowly began to fall asleep.

Suddenly, the door opened, and I woke up. Ethan walked in with another woman. I froze in shock, confused and hurt.

“Ethan?” I whispered, not believing what I was seeing.

He didn’t care. He didn’t even try to explain. Instead, he looked at me with annoyance and said, “Get out. This room isn’t for you. Go sleep in the guest room—or anywhere else you want.”

His words hit me hard. On our wedding night, my own husband was chasing me away from our bed… because of another woman.

I stood up slowly, my hands shaking, my mother’s dress still lying on the bed where I placed it with so much care. Before I could even leave the room completely, Ethan picked up my mother's white, and matched on it continuously, and even went as fas as tearing it into two. I tried to push him away but i wasn't strong enough. Holding back tears, I walked out of the room, realizing that this marriage was already turning into a nightmare.

I wiped my tears and swore to myself—everyone who had a hand in my suffering, everyone who mocked my pain, everyone who killed my parents… I would return it all, ten folds.