Chapter Two

~ Zora

I didn't think it was possible but I could feel my heart break. My wolf whimpered and whined and tried to get out but I forced it in. I felt the bond between my mate and I go slack and the power of severing our bond shift within me.

All I had to do was accept and it would be broken forever but I can't. "I won't!" I said, making up my mind. "I will never accept your rejection."

"You have to." I heard Alpha Scott say and I turned to see similar blue eyes. If looks could kill, Alpha Scott's eyes glared daggers at me. "If you don't, you will be charged with treason and will be taken to the Dungeons to live out the rest of your days." He said. Beside him, his wife smirked. I always knew the Spruells didn't like me as their son's choice but I never knew they'd stoop this low.

Would prison be that bad aside from the one my life will soon become when I return to the status of servanthood?

I was about to reply. To say that I don't mind. I'd rather go to prison than give up my bond to my mate but Tyler interrupted me.

"Father, perhaps we can give her a day to think about it." Tyler told his Dad. Alpha Scott directed his menacing look to his son but after a moment, his gaze softened.

"Fine." Alpha Scott said facing me and jabbing a finger in my direction. "You have till sundown the next day to make a choice and it better be what I want to hear." He growled. "Dismissed."

I was too stunned to reply. I watched as Alpha Scott, his wife, and his Beta exited the room leaving me with my mate, the lady, and the strange man who smelt like flowers. The lady got up and strolled to my mate's side and I watched in horror as their hands clasped together.

"Zora, this is my chosen mate, Emilia Lorenzo." I watched as my mate looked at her with adoration. "She is the Alpha of the Thornhill pack." He continued. "Immediately, after The Claiming, we are meant to be wed but we can't do that until you accept my rejection. Do you understand?"

I didn't bother to answer. My wolf had gone quiet since Tyler rejected me. I stumbled to my feet and slowly turned toward the door.

What would I tell Hailey? She'd be sitting among the pack members with our parents, waiting for me to be claimed by my mate. Waiting for hope. How was I supposed to face my parents who had thought marrying the future Alpha would better their lives? How can I look at myself in the mirror?

Nothing was making any sense anymore. I had no idea when I went down the stairs, or out of the pack house, or when I got a few feet away from the ceremony.

All I could feel was my body shaking violently. When I blinked, I saw my sister's worried face and then my parents' faces came into view.

"What happened?" My sister asked. "Why aren't you attending the ceremony?"

And I don't know what it was, maybe it was seeing my parents, both spotting whites in their hair and looking very worried and tired, or Hailey whose heart was about to break, but I lost strength in my legs and as I fell all I could see was darkness.

______________________________________

I woke up with a terrible headache. The kind that makes your eyes sting at the show of light. I squeezed my eyes shut and then blinked them open. Slowly, the living room of my home came into focus bringing along memories of my mate rejecting me.

In an instant, Hailey was by my side.

"She's awake!"

I heard the shuffling of feet and my parents' faces came into view. The way they looked at me now, I could tell. "You know," I said and my family nodded. I could see Hailey trying to hold back tears and smile for me.

"Yes, we do." She nodded. "Shortly after you collapsed, Tyler claimed another woman as his mate and we figured you got rejected by him."

"Tell me, Zora, did you do anything wrong? Did you two fight? What happened?" My father asked. "Perhaps I can beg the Spruells to take you back!"

"I didn't do anything wrong, Dad. He rejected me because he found someone else whom he and his family deem fit to call a Luna." I said, getting up to sit in an upright position and wincing as the pounding in my head increased.

Hailey sat beside me, rubbing my back in small circles. My Mom sat quietly in a chair, adjacent to the sofa I was sitting on while my father paced around. I wondered why she was staying away. I needed her right now to look beyond the disappointment and see her daughter. Why won't she even look at me?

"So what happens now?" My father said after a while of pacing.

"I don't know." I shrugged. I told them about the time I was given to accept Tyler's rejection and the consequences if I don't. My parents were stunned.

"Zora, you have to accept." My father said, "You've already brought shame to my doorstep. I can't have you sentenced to the Dungeons and shaming me more. The whole pack will laugh at us!"

"Seriously Dad! Back off!" Hailey shouted. "How could you say this when your daughter is at her lowest! It's not her fault he rejected her!"

"Did you do what I asked you to do when he started acting distant?" My Mom finally spoke and looked at me. Her expression reminded me of Luna Michelle at the office and that made my stomach roil.

"Yes, Mom. I did it and it still wasn't enough." The thought that I may have lost everything elicited a sob from me.

Hailey looked from me to our mother and back. "What did you do, Zora?"

The fact that my sister didn't know what I had done added to my guilt and I cried harder knowing fully well that she would have stopped me from doing it.

"Zora, answer me." My sister shook me. "What did you do?!"

"You had to believe that I tried my best to save our relationship." I sniffled "...and when he was acting distant, Mom suggested I do something to make him stay."

Alarm flashed through Hailey's eyes as understanding dawned on them. "Oh, my goddess, Zora! Tell me it's not what I'm thinking."

"It is!" I cried. "I wish I didn't but I've slept with Tyler already and he has taken my virginity."