Chapter 2: The Rejection

Aurora scrambled to cover up the moment she heard Arielle's voice, but her expression remained indifferent, no guilt. no shame. She looked at Arielle as if her presence was nothing more than a mere inconvenience.

“I guess it’s not a secret anymore.” She muttered with a bored roll of her eyes.

Arnold rose lazily, from the tangled sheets, his movements unhurried, he buttoned his shirt with deliberate ease, before adjusting his pants. He threw glances at her with a smirk that was anything but remorseful.

Aurora rose, stretching as though this confrontation were nothing more than a performance she had been waiting for. She began circling Arielle slowly with a cruel smirk which tugged at her lips. Then she spoke, her voice dripping with mockery.

"It hurts, doesn’t it? Having your heart shattered by the very man you thought was yours,” Aurora chuckled softly.. “Look at you , Luna Arielle, crying like a weak pup. You spent years chasing the wrong man; Arnold never loved you, you fool!”

Arielle raised her eyes, staring at them both, as tears kept on streaming down her face. Her heart felt like it was tearing apart, stand by strand.

“Arnold…” Arielle whispered. “How could you do this to me? She muttered. “After everything we’ve been through… after all we've shared, and the promises we made?”

“Oh, come on, Ari. Spare me the drama,” He scoffed, narrowing his eyes with disdain. “Did you really believe I'd waste my life chained to you? Don't be pathetic.”

Arielle’s lips quivered, but no words came out. Her eyes darted to Aurora, who ambled leisurely around the room, completely unbothered, before looking back at Arnold, searching desperately for any flicker of regret.

“I gave you everything,” She whispered her voice trembling. "My loyalty. My heart. My future. I trusted you, Arnold.”

Arnold chuckled darkly, as he moved closer, cutting in harshly.

“You still don't get it, do you, Arielle?” He sneered. I never loved you. Not once. You were nothing but an obligation, a burden handed over to me by my father. “Did you truly believe you were my choice? You’ve always been a shadow, Arielle. Weak. A pale imitation of what a Luna should be.”

Arielle's lips parted in disbelief. The words struck her harder than claws.

How has my life taken such a devastating turn? How could my fated mate do this to me? Did our years together truly mean nothing? She whispered to herself.

Arnold wrapped his hands around Aurora’s waist and pulled her close.

“Do you think id ever pick someone like you as my Luna? Don't be ridiculous Arielle, you're just not what a real Alpha needs. Aurora is. She is my true Mate. She is Beautiful. Sexy. Strong. She is just everything I need.”

Aurora’s lips curled into a satisfied smile as her gaze fell on the letter Arielle had dropped. She bent down, picked it up, and unfolded it with practiced ease. Her eyes scanned through what was written in it, taking in every word—The official seal of the council recognizing her and Arnold’s bond as valid.

Aurora let out a mocking click with her tongue. “Oh dear. You think this piece of paper from the council was going to get you a ring?” She waved the latter in Arielle's face. “How adorable. But let me make this clear; even the Moon Goddess can't make Arnold mate with trash.”

Arielle’s hands balled into fists, rage trembling through her body. “You vile, stinking witch,” she spat. "No matter how much perfume you drown in, the stench of desperation still clings on you. Disgusting bitch!”

"You're both—monsters.”

Aurora’s eyes filled with sudden rage. Her wolf surged beneath her skin and with a swift but brutal movement, she struck Arielle across the face with her wolf powers.

Arielle's body slammed hard against the dresser, she cried out in pain as she crumbled to the floor, clutching the left side of her body. Gritting her teeth, she tried to summon her wolf, to push through the pain and fight back.

But nothing came.

Why now? She thought, panicking. Her wolf Aria was silent.

Aurora walked toward her, putting her fingers tangling in Arielle's hair. She yanked her head back until her neck strained, forcing Arielle to look into her malicious eyes.

Arielle gasped in pain coming from her scalp as she met Aurora’s wicked gaze.

“Still think you can challenge me huh? don’t be proposterous.” Aurora hissed, her voice cold and venomous. “Speak out of turn again, and I will cut out that pretty tongue of yours and feed it to the dogs.”

Arnold stood motionless, hands buried in his pockets, smiling as though the whole scene was entertaining.

Aurora released Arielle’s hair with a shove and In a deliberate flair, Aurora walked to the candle burning by the night stand. She held the letter over the flame until it caught fire, and watched as the edges of the letter blackened and curled.

“Alright, enough of this drama,” Arnold snapped. "Let’s cut to the chase—I don’t want to be with you, Arielle. So let’s end this already shall we?”

He stepped forward his tone cold and final.

“I, Arnold Ashford, the future Alpha of the Moon Titan pack, reject you, Arielle Mooncrest, as my mate and Luna.”

These words tore through her like a blade.

Aria, her wolf, howled in agony,a sound only Arielle could feel reverberating in her soul. Her heart felt like it was being torn apart.

"No…” Arielle whispered.

"Accept it” Arnold growled, seizing her chin up in a bruising grip. His voice devoid of compassion. "Say the words.”

"I—I can’t.”

Arielle shook her head, tears streaming down her face.

His grip tightened cruelly. “Accept it.” He roared, his eyes burned with hatred and disgust.

“I…Arielle accepts your rejection,” she gasped, the words ripping through her soul, the pain was excruciating like a thousand blades piercing her heart.

The sacred bond— the invisible thread which tied her to her mate, broke violently. A bond severed. A tearing scream ripped through her chest. Her knees buckled to the ground.

Silence fell, but was broken by her sobs.

“You traitors,” she hissed, staggering to her feet, cradling her bruised side. “You won’t get away with this. I’ll expose you—every lie, every betrayal. The pack will know what you are.”

She turned to leave, taking each shaky step filled with pain. But before she could reach the door, Aurora grabbed a heavy glass vase and smashed it across Arielle’s head, which knocked her off her feet.

Arielle's eyes fluttered, her vision blurred fading in and out, as blood trickled from her scalp.

Aurora knelt beside her, pressing her fingers on Arielle’s throat. “She is still breathing,” she murmured, glancing at Arnold.

“Good. We need her alive for the full moon ritual.”

Before Arielle could react, the doors opened, and two guards entered. Arielle’s foggy eyes widened—she recognized them, men who once swore loyalty to her parents. Yet now, their faces were stone, their loyalty stolen.

Arielle's heart raced as they carried her from the ground, unsure of what Arnold was planning.

“Take her to the garden.” Arnold commanded.”

Arielle tried to speak but her lips only formed a whisper. "Why…?” Her voice trailed off.

Then darkness claimed her.