Chapter Four

MY MATE REJECTED ME

My expression softened, and my lips twitched upwards into a delicate smile before slowly fading away.

“Thank you”, I faked a smile.

The maid placed the box on the bed and left my room quietly.

Several memories throbbed my mind while I stared closely at the wooden box. I think I’ve just been overthinking things or maybe Rowan sincerely intended to honor the sacred bond before the whole kingdom.

I think things will probably change after the royal banquet tonight, and I can’t wait to finally be in his arms.

My shaky hands hovered on the box for a few seconds, before I finally lifted the lid to open it. A beautiful silver gown embroidered with tiny moonstones that glowed more than the morning brightness.

The gown lay carefully inside the box, like it’s something very fragile and needs to be handled with care. I looked at the dress and it’s the most beautiful dress I’ve ever set my eyes on.

A burning tear gathered in my eyelids, I blinked repeatedly so it wouldn't drop on my worn dress. After trying so hard to hold my tears, it finally rolled down from my cheeks slowly because no one has ever gifted me something precious before.

I removed the dress from the box carefully, like it’s something fragile that should be handled carefully.

“Is this dress really for me?” I whispered rhetorically under my breath.

A few hours later, the Silvercrest palace was gleaming under thousands of enchanted lanterns, and soft music filled the grand ballroom. Crystal chandeliers hung perfectly on the ceiling radiating silver lights across the polished marble floors.

Every noble family, Alphas, Betas, Pack Elders, and military commanders in the Moonfang kingdom were already sitting gorgeously.

Even the neighboring rulers came to witness the future king of Moonfang kingdom’s destined mate. The moment I entered the ballroom, several eyes turned to look at me and for the first time in my life, no one laughed at me or even whispered.

The silver gown fit me perfectly, and my long black hair fell over my shoulders in a gentle wave. The moonstone necklace sat pretty on my neck and it glowed beautifully.

Suddenly, I began to hear whispers from several noblewomen saying, “is that really the Blackwood omega? Because I can’t even recognize her again”.

One of them responded, “she looks so beautiful, such that it’s difficult for anyone to recognize her easily”.

My face softened and a soft smile lingered on my lips, while I lowered my head to the polished marble floor.

Seraphina studied me carefully from where she stood across the ballroom, the smiley face she had on vanished when she heard several compliments about me.

She looked absolutely breathtaking in a crimson gown, and her long blonde hair is perfectly styled to suit her dress.

If I didn’t look at her carefully, I would have thought she is the future princess. Immediately the royal trumpet echoed through the palace signifying that the crown prince had arrived.

My heartbeat suddenly became unsteady and it pounded heavily against my chest, like it’s about to escape, but something is holding it back.

Everyone bowed the moment Rowan walked in briskly wearing a black ceremonial uniform trimmed with silver. He looked exactly like the future king because of how he carried himself. His charisma like; strength, confidence, untouchable ability, and manly physique.

His expression darkened the moment his gaze landed on me, like my presence is a threat to him. Just then my heart dropped and all the little hope in me shattered, that’s when I realized maybe he just sent the dress to me so I won’t have to show up in rags.

Height Priest Orion stepped forward to the high podium and announced, “welcome everyone to tonight's ceremony”. He paused for a second to stare at everyone in the ballroom before he continued, “we’re all gathered here tonight to celebrate the sacred bond blessed by the Moon Goddess”.

Before he could finish speaking, a thunderous applause filled the ballroom and I smiled while walking briskly towards the stage. I stopped right beside Rowan and offered a cheerful smile, instead his expression was still hardened while his face was fixed on the High Priest.

The High Priest continued, “the Moon Goddess united two souls for the future of Moonfang kingdom” and he raised both his hands.

“Let’s welcome the future Alpha king as he’ll present his chosen mate before the kingdom”, High Priest Orion stepped down from the stage.

My eyes brightened and warmth spread through me chasing all the heaviness I carried in my chest away, because the moment he’ll present me as his destined mate as come.

Rowan had barely walked to the stage when the ballroom erupted in cheers and shattered silence that lingered in it.

The easy expression I had on a few seconds ago vanished, and my heart pounded heavily while my fingers trembled terribly, like I have been caught doing something illegal.

Rowan got to the stage and he turned to look at Seraphina instead of me, I lowered my head gently.

The cheers and thunderous applause from the crowd faded, but replaced with confused whisperings from different corners across the ballroom.

Seraphina looked at me with disdain and rolled her eyes. She turned to Rowan and offered a cheerful smile, while he extended his hands to bring her to the stage to stand with him.

My knees weakened and it almost gave out beneath me, but I held myself to stand strong. My heart pounded fast and loud in such a way that I couldn’t control it from slamming against my chest heavily.

“No, this can’t be happening, not in front of everyone here” I gasped while I pressed my hands hard on my chest.

The High Priest expression changed and he stepped forward lividly, “your Highness”.

Rowan ignored him while he took a few steps to support Seraphina from staggering because of the long heels she wore. I stood there staring at him countless times so he'd notice and rewind from his choice, but he didn’t even act like I existed at all.

He held her hands, while he pulled her to himself and raised her hands high enough for everyone to see.

Suddenly, my chest started aching and my throat tightened such that I was unable to gulp properly.

He smiled brightly and announced, “my lords and ladies, this is the woman I have chosen”.

A cold wave hurried through my spine immediately, causing me to shiver and experience severe chest tightness. I couldn’t breathe properly and I had to press my palm hard on my chest to feel relieved.

“What!” Everyone in the ballroom gasped.

Seraphina smiled brightly at everyone in the room, then her gaze shifted to me. I watched her for a few seconds, there was no sign of regret from her then she let out a dry chuckle.

Everyone turned to look at me like a discarded thing, and I lowered my head to the well polished floor while hot tears lingered on my eyelids.

I really wish I didn’t even come out for this banquet, so he sent me a beautiful dress just so he can embarrass me this way? I see why I woke up this morning with a weird feeling.

Someone from the crowd yelled, “is he okay at all? The Goddess chose lady Lyra not her”.

“Rowan please you can’t do this to me”, I whispered beneath my breath, while my trembling fingers curled under the gown.

I raised my head gently and I caught Rowan’s gaze directly on me. He muttered in a calm voice, “I have fulfilled my duty”.

He raised his wrist showing the glowing silver mark on it, and he announced “I accepted the Moon Goddess’s choice”.

He paused to clear his throat before he added “but I refuse to give my heart to someone who’s not worth it”. He pulled Seraphina to himself again and declared, “my future queen is Seraphina Blackwood”.

The weight of the embarrassment fell on my legs and I couldn’t move, everyone seemed to fade away before me. The tears I’ve been preventing from dropping, finally dropped but I pretended like there’s something in my eyes and I wiped it away with my soft palms.

Questions flew from different directions of the ballroom and people strained their necks to look at Rowan if he’s serious. The royal elders stood up from their seats frowning and the High Priest expression faltered instantly.

“This is highly forbidden”, High Priest Orion snapped out.

Even one of the elders slammed his staff hard against the marble floor, “it’s impossible to reject the Goddess’s choice before the witnesses”.

Rowan smile brightly, while his hands were still on her waist, he stood still without even fluttering despite the murmurings that erupted from the crowd.

“Well, I just did,” he responded coldly and he seemed unmoved with what the elder said.

Suddenly, the silver mark on my wrist began to burn and the pain radiated to my arm. That’s when I realized, it’s because the sacred bond is wounded. Hot tears blurred my vision and it was about to roll down my cheeks, but I stopped it with the last strength in me.

I don’t want to give Rowan and Seraphina that idea that I’m crying because I’m rejected by my mate. Just as if the embarrassment wasn’t enough, I heard a cruel and cold laughter from several noblewomen.

“That weak omega actually thought she’ll be the future queen of this kingdom?” One of the noblewomen demanded, while covering her mouth to prevent the laughter from being too loud.

One of them added, “so embarrassing of her to think she’ll be chosen”.

My breath became uneven, and I felt a strange pressure spreading through my chest that made me unable to inhale properly.

I stared at the polished marble floor and mumbled “so this is actually where I belong, a weak, discarded, and forgotten omega chosen by fate”.

I shook my head slowly while several memories of what Seraphina told me the last time lingered on my mind.

High Priest Orion stood up and stepped forward a little to say, “your Highness, think about your decision carefully. There are terrible consequences attached if you reject the Goddess’s choice.

I turned to look at Rowan with my side eye , he didn’t even act like he’s scared of any consequences as the High Priest said. “I’m not scared of any consequences”.

My pulse stiffened, and a cold chill seeped into my body stealing the little strength in me from my knees.

All of a sudden, a dangerous gust of wind bursted into the ballroom and it made every candle flicker. The silver moon crest above the throne glowed brightly, and the enter palace trembled while several guests cried out in fear.

One of the elders fell to his knees and screamed “the Goddess is seriously angry”.

Another elder responded, “this is a divine wrath from the Goddess”.

The cold expression Rowan had on faltered for a brief second, then the palace door bursted open, and the Grand Royal Adviser walked in dressed in royal white robes.

He stopped somewhere close to the throne and he knelt with one knee, “your Majesty!”

The soft music that was still playing faded into silence and whispering died in different corners of the ballroom.

The adviser began to speak and his voice echoed in the silent hall, “the council of royal elders have agreed on a decision”. He paused and looked at Rowan, then he continued “since your Highness has publicly rejected the sacred bond, an impromptu judgment will take place tonight”.

My heart that was once stable, began to race faster again like I’m being pursued by an enemy. Everyone turned to look at the council, but no one, not even the High Priest, knew what the judgement would be.

The oldest Elder stood up slowly from where he sat, and his old eyes landed on Rowan first, then it shifted to me.

He spoke in a calm and gentle voice but it shook the whole kingdom, “there’s only one way left to protect the royal bloodline”.