7. I Will Make Them Pay

Divina

Silence filled the entire area as everyone froze.

Mate?

My brain struggled to process the word. My mate was Rowan?

Stupid hope burst inside me suddenly. With all my years on this earth, I still seem to forget that hope was one dangerous and stupid thing I shouldn’t toy with.

Despite how much I try not to have hope, I still always do, and it breaks me every time.

I wondered if the Moon Goddess had finally seen me. Maybe Rowan wasn’t as bad as he portrayed himself to be. He would help me out of this and stop the pack from sending me to the mines.

Rowan moved fast, and within seconds, he crossed the distance between us. My heart pounded so hard it hurt. He stopped right in front of me. His scent surrounded me completely. It was warm, powerful, and overwhelming.

I looked up at him with trembling hope as he stared down at me.

His jaw clenching should’ve diminished every freckle of hope, but no, I was still foolishly clinging to it so hard.

Disgust. Pure disgust reflected in his eyes. I started to break. No, no, please no.

His voice came out sharp, cold, and merciless. “You?”

One word. That was all it took to destroy me and send my hope packing its bags.

His face darkened. “You can’t be my mate.”

The way he said it sounded like an insult. A curse.

My chest tightened, making it hard for me to breathe.

Rowan laughed in the cruelest, most bitter way. “The Moon Goddess must be mad.”

The crowd remained silent, all stunned at what Rowan just said and still trying to wrap their heads around the mating bond existing between me and the future Alpha.

I shook my head slowly, already knowing what was coming next.

Rowan bent slightly, bringing his face closer to mine. His voice dropped low enough for only nearby people to hear. “You?”

Hatred burned in his eyes. “A wolfless Omega?”

Each word crushed me further.

“You’re weak.”

A stab at my heart.

“Pathetic.”

Another stab.

“Broken.”

Another. Then came the final blow that shattered me.

He raised his head, fiercely looking at the pack with determination and a no-going-back expression.

“I, Rowan Blackwood, future Alpha and Heir to the Throne, reject you, Divina Jade, as my mate.”

My world stopped, my vision blurred. Something in my heart shattered. I felt it—the bond. The newly formed connection was ripping, tearing through my soul like claws on flesh.

I thought I’d felt different kinds of pain, but this one was unlike anything I had ever known. It exploded through my body, making me scream my lungs out.

This time, I couldn’t hold back. Agony consumed me whole. It felt like something inside me was being ripped apart while still alive.

I collapsed fully onto the ground, trembling, crying, breaking.

The crowd watched. Some were horrified, but most were entertained.

Rowan stepped back like touching me disgusted him. His eyes searched the crowd and finally landed on someone—Shea. He walked to her, held her, and said, “This is my mate and your future Luna.”

The whole crowd cheered. Mother was elated. My sister feigned pity for me, looking all innocent like she was guilty of Rowan having chosen her over me.

His face found mine again. It was emotionless. “Take her away.”

His voice held finality. “To the mines.”

The guards stepped towards me.

Something changed in that moment. I looked up at the red moon above me and, between pain and despair, something inside me went silent.

My trembling stopped, my tears stopped gushing out of my eyes. Even the agony I felt seemed to retreat into something colder, darker.

I slowly pushed myself up. The guards hesitated, so did everyone else.

I rose to my feet. My body swayed, but I stayed standing.

Blood stained my lips. My face was wet with tears, but my eyes… my eyes had changed.

I looked at Rowan first, with fierceness in them. Then I turned to Bernard, Mother, and Shea. One by one, I memorized every face. Every expression, betrayal, and the cruelty they held.

When I finally spoke, my voice was quiet, filled with terrifying calm. “You all should laugh while you can.”

No one moved or spoke.

I continued. “One day…”

I looked straight into Bernard’s eyes. “You will beg.”

His smirk faltered.

I turned to Mother. “One day, you will regret that you didn't love me how you were supposed to.”

She stiffened.

Then Shea. “One day, I will make sure your beauty and arrogance will not save you.”

Her smile disappeared.

Finally, my eyes landed on Rowan. My rejected mate.

I held his gaze, cold and steady. No tears were evident in my eyes. “One day, all of you will look at me…” I paused.

The wind howled around us. The moon glowed overhead. And something deep inside me stirred. Revenge. I must have my revenge.

“…and wish you had never broken me.”

The guards grabbed my arms, and this time I didn’t resist.

The crowd burst into laughter, their mockery following.

“She’s gone mad!”

“Was that revenge she was trying to threaten us with?”

“From a wolfless Omega to an insane, still wolfless, and shameful Omega.”

“How laughable.”

I ignored them. As the guards dragged me away, I looked back one last time.

At every single face. Burning them into memory. Then I turned forward, toward darkness, towards hell.

I will make them pay. That was a promise.