CHAPTER 2 - REJECTING MY MATE

I entered the ward room, my heart pounding in my chest. Indrane lay there, lifeless, her once vibrant spirit extinguished. A pang of sorrow gripped my soul as I looked over my shoulder to find Alpha Chester, his arms crossed over his chest, a stoic expression etched upon his face. It was as if his presence alone weighed down the room.

I approached Alpha Chester, my voice trembling. "I don't know what's going to happen to me after this, but I hope I can save the baby and her mother," I whispered, my voice barely audible. I desperately sought reassurance from the man who held my fate in his hands.

Alpha Chester nodded solemnly and spoke with a gravelly voice. "Move on, Reign. Be quick," he ordered, his words cutting through the air like a sharpened blade. His tone held an authority that made time stand still. He showed no sign of pity.

Taking a deep breath, I walked towards the bed where Indrane lay. Tears welled up in my eyes, flowing down my cheeks in a torrent of raw emotion. Leaning over, I gently grasped Indrane's lifeless hand, the touch of her cold skin sending shivers down my spine.

Closing my eyes, I focused my thoughts, summoning every ounce of inner energy. It surged through me, a steady current that flowed from the depths of my being. The room fell into silence as everyone watched with bated breath, their eyes transfixed on the miraculous scene unfolding before them. One thing was certain! I could never be the same by the end of this.

Passing my energy to two dying souls proved to be an arduous task. I fought to remain steady, to channel every last bit of strength within me. It was a grueling process, one that seemed to stretch out endlessly, as if time itself had become my adversary.

The hour hung heavy with anticipation as Indrane's body lay weak, nearly lifeless. Then, an unexpected sound echoed through the room—a sneeze, the first sign of life returning to her fragile vessel.

Joy erupted, a chorus of triumphant cheers reverberating off the walls, "OMG! She just sneezed."

"She is coming back alive... wow!"

But as the commotion swelled around me, I began to feel a dizzying sensation coursing through my body. The energy that had sustained me suddenly faded, leaving nothing but a hollow emptiness.

Darkness closed in, and I collapsed onto the cold, unforgiving floor, my consciousness slipping away.

When I awoke, time had lost its meaning. My surroundings melded into focus, and I found myself in my own room, lying on my bed. Every muscle ached, and I felt an overwhelming weakness seep into my bones, rendering my body immobile.

Desperate for answers, I called out to a passing maid, who hurried to my side, bowing respectfully, "You are finally awake! I was afraid something would happen to you."

"What happened?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper. My voice was hoarse and I could feel the pain in my throat.

"You have been laying here for the past three days. We all thought you wouldn't wake up because you weren't even.... breathing." She said and I could see the concern etched in her eyes.

My eyes widened, shock reverberating through my being. "Three days? How?" I repeated, my disbelief evident. The maid nodded gently, her eyes filled with warmth and understanding.

"You collapsed after healing Luna Indrane and Luna Indrane has been doing quite well. Strong, healthy, kicking... It was as though nothing ever happened to her," She continued, her voice filled with a mix of joy and pride.

My brows knit in confusion at the address given to Indrane. Why would she be addressed as Luna?

My confusion spilled out, and I questioned the maid. "Hey, Hold on! Why would you address Indrane as Luna?"

"Oh, lest I forget, Luna Indrane delivered a beautiful male pup yesterday, and Alpha Chester will be announcing her as the new Luna of the pack and will be declaring the little cutie pup as the heir. The ceremony will begin very soon, I really can't wait because alot of people will be attending." She said and I could sense the joy in her voice.

What is she talking about? I wanted to agree that she was only pulling my legs, but no maid had such confidence. My heart clenched, a sense of betrayal flooding my senses. How could this be? I struggled to process the news, my hands shaking uncontrollably.

I had sacrificed everything, poured every ounce of my being into saving Indrane and her child, only to be cast aside? I almost lost my life in the process and before I could even be acknowledged, things had already started to change.

Defiance surged within me as tears stained my face. "That's not possible," I choked out, my voice trembling with hurt and anger.

"It is, My lady... And that being said, I have been promoted as the head maid here by Luna Indrane herself, so I won't be working for you any longer and all your maids have been transferred to her quarter, so new maids will be transferred to you very soon." she said, spinning on her heels and walked out of the room.

Now, I understood Indrane's game.

I tried to rise from my bed, but my body still too weak to respond. It served as a painful reminder of the toll I had paid for my selflessness. The frustration swelled inside me, gnawing at my soul.

I had to see Alpha Chester and I had to confront him about this apparent betrayal. Ignoring the maid's warnings of my inability to walk, I pushed myself up, tears welling up in my eyes. I didn't care about my weakened state; all I cared about was the truth. Chester won't do this to me, would he?

I closed my eyes, reaching deep within myself, searching for any trace of inner energy that remained. I gathered what little strength I could muster, directing it towards my weak legs. But to my dismay, nothing happened. My reserves were depleted, my inner energy extinguished.

I sat on the edge of the bed for what felt like hours, my mind racing with conflicting emotions. Finally, a glimmer of strength flickered within me. It was faint, but it was enough to propel me forward, to push me out of the confines of my chamber.

As I made my way to Alpha Chester's room, my heart pounded in my chest, anticipation mixing with the fear that gnawed at my insides. But when I arrived, he was nowhere to be found.

I set off for the grand hall, where the ceremony was said to be taking place. Each step felt like an eternity, the weight of anticipation dragging me down. When I reached the entrance, my eyes were met with a sight that shattered my soul into a million shattered pieces.

There, upon the altar, stood Alpha Chester and Indrane, their bodies intertwined in a lover's embrace, "I, Alpha Chester Blackthorn, declare you, Indrane Singh as my fated mate and my Luna," and with that, they sealed their proclamation with a kiss, each touch chipping away at my fragile heart.

I fought to stifle my tears, but they flowed freely down my cheeks, betraying the pain that consumed me. With determination fueled by heartache, I began to walk down the aisle, my steps steady, my gaze fixed on Alpha Chester and the woman who had stolen my everything.

As I approached him, I could see the confusion etched across his face and his audience, but I was past caring about his reaction.

"Reign, you're awake? What are you doing here?" He asked, and I could sense both the concern and annoyance in his voice.

Tears streaming down my face, I mustered the strength to speak, my voice trembling with hurt and anger.

"Oh, you didn't want me awake? I sacrificed everything to save Indrane, and now you give my position away? How could you, Chester?" I whispered, my words laced with disbelief.

Alpha Chester nodded, his expression hardening. "You no longer deserve that position, Reign. You got that title because you are worthy of it, but now... you're not worthy anymore. You're now weaker even than a human."

"Exactly my point!" I heard the voice from the crowd, and I turned around to meet the cold gaze of Luna Avrilla, "You now has no power and everyone knows there's no way you can regain your energy, so you're now technically useless, not only to yourself but also, to everyone in this pack."

"Oh wow!" I chuckled, pain eating my heart down as I stared at those two. I didn't know what to say but I wanted to speak. Now I was starting to guess that Alpha Chester and his whole family were envying me for having such abilities and they wanted me to lose it at all costs. "None of you deserved me, especially you, Alpha Chester... but I loved you regardless. We never acted like couples, but here I was protecting your pack as though my life depended on it. And now it's over. I'm done."

Chester frowned, slowly releasing his grip on Indrane and walked down from the altar closer to me, "What are you talking about? Can we talk about this after the end of this ceremony?" He said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I, Reign Synedge, reject you, Alpha Chester Blackthorn as my fated mate and my husband. Now, there's no bond between us." I declared, not caring about the reaction of the crowd.

Chester's expression suddenly turned to amusement and at once, he bursted out, laughing, "Right! You've finally done what you wanted to do... Now, get out of here and never come back."