CHAPTER 3

"My mate!"

I don't know what hurts me more. The fact that my mate had sex with my sister right in front of me, or the fact that he probably knew I was his mate for a year.

As far as I remember, he was 18 last year, which means he knew I was his mate, but he still decided to ignore that bond and pursue my sister.

Thinking about it, all his possessive, protective, and attentive behavior towards me suddenly made sense. It was as if all the pieces of the puzzle had finally fallen into place.

I thought it was just guilt.

And now he’s rejecting me? Why? Because I’m an omega, or because of my sister? I couldn’t help but shudder at the thought.

I was the most hated wolf in the pack. No one likes me because I'm a lantern. And now, without a mate, rejected by a potential alpha, I'm sure everyone will hate me more than ever.

And I know my father will kill me. Even the council leader wouldn't mind if my pack said I was killed in a vicious attack because I'm a female wolf without a mate.

They always call me weak, and maybe they're right.

"Can you stop feeling sorry for yourself and get it over with? I'm also grieving the loss of my partner. With your sad attitude like this, what should I do? Mourn my own loss or comfort you?" My conscience screamed. However, for the first time, I didn't feel disturbed, I actually felt comforted.

My conscience was right. Now is not the time to mourn and hate myself for what I don't have. It's time to take action.

As if they sensed me from inside the room, the door opened, and did I mention that I was leaning against the door? Yes, that's right. And sadly, it made my situation worse by almost falling flat on the floor, if not for the door handle I grabbed at the last second.

"What are you doing here, bitch?" my sister asked.

But this time I wouldn't take her insults. That was the last straw with that group. The place was full of them all, and most importantly, their dirty alpha.

I don't know if it was a response to the heartache of feeling rejected, or because I felt betrayed on a deep level, but I was hit by a surge of energy throughout my body. A rage I had never felt before.

"I didn't come here to talk to you, bitch. So get out of my way, because if I have to get rid of you myself, it's going to hurt." I responded to my sister for the first time, and the shock was evident.

Well, even I was impressed with what I had just said.

My moment of happiness was interrupted when I saw her hand about to slap me. But before she could reach me, I kicked her in the stomach. And I have to say, from the way his face contorted, it must have been very painful.

Add to that how much pain she was in after having such hot sex with Brandon, and she must have been in terrible shape. It reminded me of Brandon.

Then my eyes met my partner's, looking at me with an apologetic gaze. I wanted to smash his face, but I chose not to because I didn't want to dirty my hands.

It was clear from his expression that he understood I knew he was my partner and had been cheating for some time.

"How could you?" I asked the question that had been stuck in my throat since I saw him having sex with my sister.

"Alexis, you..." Brittany started again. But I had no patience for her chatter at that moment.

"Shut up!" I yelled back, cutting him off as his eyes filled with horror.

I turned my gaze back to Brandon. His eyes were as big as soccer balls. Maybe because this was the first time he had seen me respond to him like that. Did he really think I would take this betrayal calmly?

"For a year now, you've known that I'm your partner, right? But you went after my sister and slept with her even though you knew I was here?" I yelled.

"Wow, you're talking like you want him to have sex with you!" My conscience screamed, making me roll my eyes.

"Is he your partner?" My sister asked in horror, questioning Brandon with disbelief.

"Alexis, I can explain. Calm down. This isn't what I want, but I'm the future alpha of this pack and I need a strong Luna, not..."

"Not a lantern like me who can't even turn into a wolf and is just a weakling. Right? So, that's what this is all about." I added.

"Listen, this doesn't mean I'm rejecting you or kicking you out of the group. You can still stay with us, and I'll treat you as my partner. I'll fulfill all my responsibilities, but you have to understand that, as the alpha, I need a strong luna." Brandon said, as I stared at him with wide eyes.

Is he really the man I fell in love with all those years ago?

How could he think in such a twisted way? So he needed a strong luna for his pack and his mate, and that must be my sister. Then what would I be?

Just a friend for sex? A baby-making machine, a wish-granting machine?

"Wow, you're really a demanding male, Brandon," I commented, unable to believe this was the same man I had fallen in love with. The man I’d loved for years and wanted to marry.

It’s true that knowing what someone really thinks can turn you from love to hate.

“He’s insulting both of us, and you’re just going to stand there and take it? If it were me, I’d kill him right now.” My conscience said, making me sigh again.

As if that were possible. Could I really kill someone who was still alive? Especially an alpha?

Mocking my thoughts, I looked at Brittany with a smug smile on my face and then at Brandon, who seemed to be waiting for my answer with a weak smile.

He expected me to humble myself, just as he accepted every violation from the group and this humiliating proposal simply because I was a Lantern.

"All right, I'm on your side." My conscience decided.

"You know, your offer is tempting..." I began, making Brandon smile even wider while Brittany's smile grew even more smug.

"However, the fact that you expect your partner to accept everyone's intimidation, as well as become your baby-making machine, is enough to disgust me. Guess what? I may be a Lantern, but I'm not a slut like my sister. Even though I'm not a beta, I still have my dignity." I shouted, staring at Brandon.

His face paled and his smile faded instantly. Brittany was also shocked by my words, but that wasn't the most important part yet.

"I..." I continued in a firm voice. "I, Alexis, daughter of the moon goddess, reject Brandon Sterling as my lawful partner because I cannot live with someone who wants nothing but my body, someone who wants nothing from me except my body. I declare my soul free, and I reject the bond of partnership with the alpha of the Black Mist group, and with this, I reject my position as the luna of the Black Mist group and as Brandon Sterling's partner."

I took a breath before continuing. "I, Alexis, also reject my bond with the Black Mist group from this day forward, and will live my life as a free soul until I decide otherwise." In the end, my eyes widened as I felt excruciating pain throughout my body as the group bond began to break, but the shock in Brandon's eyes acted like a painkiller, easing my suffering.

I’m sure, even in his worst dreams, Brandon never imagined he’d be rejected like this.

Then he clenched his jaw and fists, clearly feeling the pain of the broken bond.

I also suffer, the pain of seeing all my fantasies about finding a partner shattered. However, the pain of rejecting the bond with my partner and my group is nothing compared to the pain I have endured all this time. Today, I not only reject that bond, but also all those relationships.

Today, I promise myself not to let others influence me in the future.

I went up to my room, packed my things, and put Mark's gift in my pocket before heading downstairs.

Most of the group members were in the corridor, perhaps having heard and sensed my rejection of the group and Brandon through their mental connection.

I turned to my family, including my tearful mother, my father staring at me with a hostile expression, and my sister looking defiant.

I smiled before saying, "I am not a disgrace to our pack or family. You are all a disgrace to the werewolf species. You can't even appreciate the pack's only lantern, while out there they are treated like children of the moon goddess. You are a disgrace to humanity, and the worst of all is your alpha, who, even though he knew I was his mate a year ago, still had sex with another female wolf. The sacred bond created by the moon goddess was meant to help us find true love, but our alpha doesn't think that way. An alpha who can't even accept his mate, how will he know how to lead this pack?" I scoffed before leaving the house.

Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably as all the pain began to pour out of me.

"Shh... don't cry. I'm still here." My conscience said, and I couldn't help but laugh at her fake attempt to comfort me.

Now we'll see how I can survive in the real world alone.