Chapter 3 : Did It Work?

It was common knowledge for wolves that a male wolf could only meet his destined partner after his mate turned seventeen, and vice versa. It was what also happened to Gunner, my brother, who had to wait for four months after his seventeenth birthday, since he was a few months older than Jade.

Adler turned seventeen almost a year ago. Though he was a bit disappointed, Adler believed the Moon Goddess saved the best for the last. Unfortunately, that didn’t seem to be the case.

“What…” Adler’s eyes were still wide. “Why can I still feel your aura? Why can I still smell you?”

That, I didn’t know.

This was the first time I rejected a mate. Nor did I know someone who had done this before. Wolves in general normally just accept their mate as it was the Moon Goddess’ blessing. And not once in my life have I heard about a story that rejected his or her destined partner. Adler was the first. We were the first that I know of. Thus, I didn’t really knew much about rejecting a mate.

“Perhaps it doesn’t take effect right away…” I was just as confused.

I could still smell Adler. So much that I could only smell nothing but him. I bet I could stand next to a fire and still smell nothing but his fragrance. It was that strong.

“Are you fucking with me right now?” He growled in anger. “You didn’t wholeheartedly reject me, didn’t you?”

A pang was sent straight on my chest.

“You heard me reject you, Adler. What else do you want me to do? Besides, I didn’t even want you to be my mate!” Out of annoyance, I ran my mouth forgetting about his drawbacks.

“What?” Rage filled his eyes, but even then, his wolf stopped him.

Wait…

Adler had a wolf. I didn’t have any. Which meant while we were connected, he wouldn’t be able to harm me in any way…. whilst I could say and do anything to him because there’d be no wolf inside me who could control me.

“My father told me rejection works if both party wants it…” He stepped forward, his eyes vivid. “Tell me the truth, did you not want to reject me?”

“Do you think you’re so likeable I wouldn’t?” I spat back. “You’re not even all that.”

“What did you say?” He scowled as he went forward. The veins in his neck were starting to go visible.

I sensed fear. I’ve seen that look on his face repeatedly. And all that happened right after were all frightening. I couldn’t help but flinch even with the little hope that he might not be able to hurt me since we were connected now.

But what would happened if the rejection worked? That would mean the leash I have on him wouldn’t stay that long.

I swallowed hard. “I rejected you, Adler. So if the rejection didn’t work, that’d be because we didn’t do it right.”

His jaw clenched. “Damn it…”

Adler stopped a few meters from me. With that close distance, I couldn’t look else where. The connection was too strong too handle, and I could see how he was dwelling against that by looking at his expression. He was denying me, and it was all over his face.

Once again, I felt a pinch in my chest. But like him, I could never accept it, too.

“What do we do now?” I pulled enough courage to ask.

“What do you think?” He threw me dagger look. “We’ll wait and see what happens. But I am warning you. Don’t you ever try to tell anyone about this. You understand?”

I didn’t know if I’d be surprised he managed to say that with his wolf holding him back, or be frustrated and hurt. Though wolfless, our connection was enough to make me feel hurt with his denial.

We both hated each other. I could expect nothing less given our standing, and gap. If I could choose to have him or not have anyone at all, I’ll pick the latter. He would too.

But why do I feel bitter?

I knew Adler would have done and said something worse, had it not been for his wolf. Perhaps frustrated and powerless against himself, Adler stepped backward and walked away. The smell lessen as he did.

I still couldn’t believe it. I stood where I was until I lost him. Dumbfounded. I looked down on my physique, afterwards, and ridiculed the effort of dolling up just to find out the wolf I wanted to look pretty for was that arrogant and jerk Adler.

I breathed hard, before I turned around and walk.

“Adler Salvatore…” I muttered under my breath.

Why him?

And why me? Out of all the female wolves in the pack, why did the Moon Goddess’, chose me for Adler, who was the future Alpha of this pack? Though I hate to admit, but he was right. I was weak. I was wolfless. Luna was not the position cut out for me and I knew that more than anybody else.

Adler was an ass for saying it straight to my face, but his remark wasn’t all wrong. How could I ever protect this pack, when I wasn’t even able to protect my mother? And most of all, how could someone like me, who couldn’t shift, be a Luna?

I killed my time on my way back thinking about that. I was a ball of curiosity. And absentmindedly, my feet brought me to the place I always go to whenever I was filled with thoughts.

Whenever I wanted to have a talk with my late mother.

“You think the rejection would work?” I asked as if someone was really there to answer me.

My eyes meandered at the pond. I looked down on my hand, and bit my lower lip. I was still baffled. But I was more calm now.

“Though I’d have an advantage if it wouldn’t. Both of us would eventually suffer for putting up with a loveless bond,” I added.

Of course. Wolves didn’t automatically feel love for their destined mate. But the connection, or bond, was the bridge. It’d make you feel something for your meant other half, whether or not you want it.

But I doubt the same thing would happen to me and Adler. Not that I romanticized having a thing with him. But our relationship was different. Not to mention our differences that I knew would greatly affect our mate tie

Adler was born to lead. He was born to be the Alpha of the Crest Moon pack. Though a certified asshole, he was undeniably on the pedestal.

While I was only born to be alone, and hated.

“Too much for a seventeeth birthday, I guess.” I heaved a deep breath.

‘Shrug it off. There’s still one more.’

I froze on my spot.