Reject Me

I stumbled back and grabbed the railing with both hands to keep myself from falling to my knees. Lance was my mate, and he… he cheated on me. He didn't wait for me. And now, he was staring at me as if he didn't feel the pull between us.

My eyes filled with tears. “Lance… you…” I wasn't sure what I wanted to say. I could barely think. I could only feel the pain burning through every nerve within me.

He sighed, grabbed his pants, and hurriedly put them on. I didn't move from where I stood, as if my body would shatter into pieces if I took a step. He murmured something to whoever was in that room with him in a soft, lover's voice before stepping out of the room and closing the door behind him.

“Why are you here?” he strained through his teeth.

I flinched, my fingers clenching on the railing. “You… cheated on me,” I breathed, feeling more and more nauseous.

He grabbed my arms, his nails digging into my skin. “I asked you a question!” he snarled. “Who told you I was here?!”

“N-no one!” I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. “My wolf… She led me—”

“Lies.” His cold voice slid like a dagger into my chest. “You're spying on me, Kara? Will you run to my father and report on me?”

“What?!” My body began to rattle. “I-I would never! Lance… you're my mate, and you—"

“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” he spat, as if he were disgusted with the mere thought of having me as his destined one.

My wolf howled in my head. I knew what I felt, and she knew it, too. How could he deny something so obvious? “Lance…” I put my hand in the place of his heart. “Can't you sense the pull?”

He jerked my hand away. “Don't touch me.”

My eyes widened in pure dread. Who was that man before me? What had happened to the Lance I'd fallen in love with? How could he hurt me this way? My mind and heart were desperate to find an explanation. There had to be a reason…

“Lance… You're not yourself…” My eyes stubbornly studied his expression. “If you were poisoned again, I can—”

He laughed, the sound bone-chilling. “You would do anything for me, right?” he purred, grabbing the railing on both sides, caging me. “Even now, knowing I've just fucked another, you would drop to your knees and suck my dick if I told you to, wouldn't you?”

That felt like a slap. “How can you even say that?” I whispered. My wolf howled again, sending another surge of pain through me. “I'm your girlfriend… your mate…”

He grabbed my chin, forcing me to look into his eyes as he snarled, “I was merciful. I let you be my little toy for a while, but this mate thing?” A cruel smile stretched across his face. “You went a little overboard with it.”

“Overboard? A… toy?” It might have hurt less had he sent a bullet straight through my heart. I ground my teeth. “I'm not lying about the bond. We are destined mates!”

A soft female laugh sounded behind Lance's back, and he whirled around, blocking my view. “I thought I told you to stay inside,” he hissed.

“Oh, come on, Lance,” the woman crooned. “I don't want to miss all the fun.”

My stomach churned. I knew that voice. I knew it all too well. A moment ago, I'd thought Lance couldn't hurt me more. He'd just proven me wrong. “Delphina?” I croaked, my gaze shifting to Lance. “You were with… my cousin?”

She sidestepped him and gave me a sweet smile. “Hello, Kara. What were you and my mate talking about?”

“Your… mate?” A humorless laugh escaped me.

Then again, perhaps I shouldn't be surprised. Everyone in the pack all but worshipped Delphina. She was my uncle's, Beta Demir's daughter. With her mesmerizing light-blue eyes and onyx hair, she certainly was the most beautiful she-wolf in the Blue Moon Pack, or perhaps in all of Altheris Kingdom. I'd foolishly believed that Lance was immune to her charm, that he would have never touched or sided with someone so vicious, lying, and hell-bent on turning my life into hell.

Delphina smoothed the skirt of her red gown. “Aren't you going to congratulate us, Kara? Lance turned out to be my destined one.”

My knees buckled, and once again, I grabbed the railing to support myself. “No,” I whispered. “You can't be his mate…” My gaze shifted to Lance.

“So, you think you're fit to become my Luna?” Lance stepped closer, a menacing grin twisting his mouth. “A pathetic weakling like you? A wolf who risks breaking into pieces because her body is too fragile to transform?”

My heart all but stopped. I could hear those words from everyone else, but not him. He'd been the only one who had always defended me, who encouraged me to train harder. And now, he repeated the remarks that had been hurting me for years.

Delphina snickered. “Poor little Kara, surprised that Lance no longer falls for your petty tricks?”

“It's not a trick,” I gritted out. “The mate bond is real!”

She snorted. “Oh, please! Moon Goddess would have never given you an Alpha as a mate.” Then she leaned over me, crooning, “Lance would have only torn you apart with that glamorous cock of his.”

“Enough, Delphina,” Lance growled.

“I'm only stating the facts.” She innocently fluttered her eyelashes.

I felt sick. I desperately needed to wake up from this nightmare but couldn't. My wolf wanted me to cry and beg, but I would never give them that satisfaction. Ignoring the sting in my heart, I lifted my chin.

“If you made your choice, reject me.” My wolf cried, the piercing sound radiating through my eardrums. Still, I managed, “Just do it. Set me free.”

Something shifted in Lance's gaze then. It was no longer annoyance or iciness; it was pure rage. “You want me to reject you?” he hissed. “I will grant your wish then.”

He grabbed my wrist and started pulling me to the stairs. I could barely match his pace in my five-inch heels. “Where are we going?” I choked out, all but stumbling on the steps. “Lance, where are you taking me?”

He didn't answer, only strode faster, dragging me onto the main deck. I looked around and saw all the ball's guests gathering around us. My stomach roiled. Had Lance called them over through the mind-link?!

Chuckling darkly, he stopped in the center of the deck and turned to the crowd. “Listen up!” His voice boomed. “Kara knocked on my door, claiming that I'm her mate!” Then he glanced at me, smiling coldly. “As you can see… my wolf doesn't share that opinion.”

Everyone burst into laughter, and my insides twisted. “Lance… don't do this here… not in front of everyone.” I stared into his eyes, looking for a sliver of kindness. I found none.

This time I was willing to beg. He had betrayed me. He'd broken my heart. Humiliating me by rejecting me in front of everyone was too much.

“Wasn't this what you wanted?” he tossed icily before turning to the gathered crowd.

“What a shameless bitch!” someone growled. “This airwaste wants to become a Luna?!”

Lance held up his hand, silencing those around us. “But I feel merciful tonight,” he went on. “So I'm willing to play Kara's game and pretend there is a bond between us.”

I lifted my head to face him and saw a menacing grin spreading across his face. He glanced at someone standing behind me and snapped his fingers. Before I could react, his two friends, Raden and Malyn, grabbed my arms, holding me in place as Lance inched toward me. “I, Lance Thornfield, the future Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack, reject you, Kara Ashford, as my mate and Luna.”

For a second, I saw it—the golden thread joining our hearts. It was beautiful, so bright, so elegant, so… perfect.

And then it snapped, the torn end hitting me like a fiery whip. A raspy scream tore through my throat as the pain forced me to my knees. I wanted to curl up and become invisible, but Raden and Malyn still held my arms, allowing everyone to see me shatter.

“She keeps pretending even now! Such a great actress!” Malyn mocked.

The crowd began to chant Lance's name as if he had just conquered half of the continent. No one cared that the agony I felt was real. I coughed out blood, but no one cared about that either. Pushing through the pain, I ground my teeth and met Lance's stare. It had taken him less than thirty minutes to destroy everything between us, to crush all my love for him and plant a seed of hatred. That hatred already began to bloom…

I forced more air to my lungs, and the agony within me gave way to rage. I lifted my head, my eyes burning. “I, Kara Ashford, accept your—”

Lance snapped his fingers again, and Raden clamped his large hand over my mouth. Was he serious?! Why the hell wouldn't he let me complete the rejection?! Why couldn't he set me free?!

I tried to scream, but the burly bastard only shifted his hand, covering my nose as well, choking me. Something flickered in Lance's eyes—pity, perhaps guilt. But then he pivoted toward the guests, bowing theatrically as he finished his performance. I watched him stride back to his room, to Delphina. My muffled screams blended in with laughter and repeated insults as others slowly left the deck.

Then the crowd was gone, too, and only my wardens and I remained. Naively, I thought they would let me go… until I saw wicked sparks in their eyes. “The ball's over, little liar. Time for a nice cold bath,” Raden crooned as he and Malyn grabbed my arms and legs and lifted me over the top rail.

“No!” Sheer panic exploded within me.

They laughed, staring at me, their eyes saturated with menace. And then I was falling. A shriek tore through my throat and died a second later, swallowed by the depths of freezing water.