Chapter 2: Rejected

Hannah

My heart skipped as realization hit me: Eamon was my mate. My luck had finally changed.

I held my breath, waiting for him to notice me—for him to feel the same electric pull I was feeling. It was as if the world slowed down around us. I saw his nose flare slightly, sensing something. His golden eyes flickered, scanning the crowd. He was searching. My pulse quickened as I stood there, frozen, willing him to find me.

This was the moment I had been waiting for. Eamon would see me, his mate, and be amazed, just as I was. Everything would finally fall into place.

His gaze swept across the people gathered, inching closer and closer. And then—his eyes met mine. A smile began to bloom on my face, but it froze halfway. His gaze slid past me, uninterested and cold, as if I were invisible.

My hands dropped limply to my sides as the weight of his indifference crushed me. I glanced around nervously, wondering if anyone else had noticed our brief and one-sided exchange.

What was that?

He saw me. I’m sure of it. So why didn’t he react? Doubt clawed at me. Was there something wrong? I tried to rationalize. Maybe he didn’t recognize me? Or maybe… maybe he’s blind?

A soft touch on my arm startled me. “Earth to Hannah,” Maya teased, her green eyes twinkling with amusement. “Why so serious, Red? You’ve got that crazy look on your face again. What’s going on? Have you tasted freedom and gone mad from it?”

I forced a weak laugh, brushing off the nickname she’d given me as a child. “It’s nothing. Just… a lot on my mind.”

“Oh yeah?” she teased. “Like what? World domination?” She grinned, nudging me playfully.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” I muttered. But after a moment, I hesitated. “Actually, Maya… do you think the Alpha Prince could be blind?”

Maya blinked, as she threw her head back in laughter, the twinkling sound of it did nothing to alleviate my curiosity, she soon stopped, startled as she realized I wasn't joking. “What? Why would you think that?”

“Well, he looked at me—right at me—but… he just looked away. Like I wasn’t even there,” I said, my voice trembling with disbelief.

Her teasing demeanor melted into indignation. “He what? That arrogant—”

“Yeah, I know. Even after realizing I was his mate, Maya.”

“You are his what!” She whispered, the disapproving glance from the adults around, pushed us towards the corner as she caught herself, lowering her voice. “How dare he ignore you? Who does he think he is?”

Her fierce loyalty gave me a spark of courage. I straightened up, determination replacing doubt. “I will go and talk to him. I need to understand why he acted that way.”

Maya grabbed my arm, worry flashing in her eyes. “Are you sure, Red? What if he—?”

“Better now than never,” I said, cutting her off. “I have to know.”

Ignoring her protests, I marched toward him. The crowd parted reluctantly as I moved, their whispers buzzing like angry wasps in my ears. I ignored them all, focusing solely on him. My heart hammered in my chest, each step bringing me closer to the truth.

Finally, I stood before him. He turned to face me, his expression unreadable, but the slight downturn of his lips made me stumble. He was irritated. My courage wavered. Words failed me. All I could manage was a single, trembling word.

“Mate.”

The hall fell silent as gasps rippled through the crowd, and whispers followed, this I had expected. What I hadn't expected was Eamon's complete lack of interest in my words, his golden eyes stared at me coldly, and he said one word that shattered me.

“No.”

It felt like the ground beneath me gave way. My voice quivered as I whispered, “What? What do you mean?”

He crossed his arms, his tone harsh and unyielding. “I mean I do not want you as my mate. I already have one.”

As if on cue, he reached out, taking the hand of a girl I hadn’t noticed before. She stepped forward, radiant and perfect. Her dark, glossy hair shimmered under the light—everything that I was not, and her silver eyes sparkled as she clung to him.

“This is Vivian,” he said, his voice softening in a way it never had for me. “My chosen mate.”

The pain that went through me was unbearable. I stared at her, at the way he looked at her with so much affection—and affection I had foolishly believed was meant for me.

He turned back to the crowd, speaking as if I weren’t even there. “Vivian saved my life. I owe her everything. She is my mate in every way that matters.”

“No,” I whispered, the word slipping out without thought. My eyes pooled with unshed tears blurring my vision. “You can’t do this. You’re my mate. The goddess chose you for me. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

He turned to me then, his golden eyes flashing with irritation. “No, it doesn’t. Vivian is my mate. You are nothing to me.”

The finality in his tone was a slap to the face. My knees felt weak, but I couldn’t let this end like this. “Eamon, please,” I begged. “We’re fated mates. I've waited and prayed for you. You can’t just reject me.”

He sighed, exasperated as if I were a nuisance. “Very well, if you insist.” He straightened, his voice echoing through the hall. “I, Alpha Prince Eamon, son of Alpha Rowan of the Red Crescent Pack, reject you…”

He paused, his brow furrowing. “What’s your name again?”

The crowd burst into laughter, and my humiliation deepened.

It is only now his face finally shows an emotion, flushed red as if he only just realized he didn't know the name of his mate. Before I could answer Someone shouted, “Hannah Welsh!”

He nodded curtly. “I, Alpha Prince Eamon, son of Alpha Rowan, reject you, Hannah Welsh, as my mate from this day forward.”

The words pierced me like a blade. My chest tightened, and my breath came in short gasps as the full weight of the rejection hit me. Pain rippled through my body.

I didn’t wait to hear the rest. I couldn't bare to face those mocking gazes. I turned and fled, the crowd’s laughter and whispers chasing me.

One thought echoed in my mind as I ran.

Eamon had rejected me.

It was over. Everyone I had ever loved had abandoned me.