1: Rejected And Broken

JENNA

“No!” Jason growls, shaking his head.

I take another step forward and try to hold his hand but he quickly moves out of my reach.

“You can’t be my mate!” He yells again. “Y-you’re not even part of the pack.”

My lips part on a sob, and I start shaking my head in disbelief.

Jason has never said that to me. He was always the one reminding me I was part of the pack. That it was my home, even if I wasn't born into it.

“You’re my mate, Jason. Please.”

I whisper, desperately needing him to stop looking at me with the emotion I see on everyone else’s faces, never on his.

Jason’s face hardens and he doesn’t look like the boy I grew up with. He didn’t look like my best friend that I’ve known all my life. Not like my best friend that kissed me two weeks ago. Drunk and unfocused but we liked it. He wasn’t the boy I gave my virginity to because I was sure we were going to be mates.

He looked disgusted.

“No!” He snapped. “You’re not. You can’t be. I reject you as my mate.” He growls out, his voice cold.

“Jason, don't do this.” I cried, my body racking with sobs when he breathed in.

He shut his eyes tightly before fixing his unwavering gaze on me. Then he said the last words I ever thought would come out of his mouth.

“I, Jason Cade, future Alpha of Bluemoon Pack, reject you, Jenna Travis, as my mate and future luna.”

A searing pain hits me in my chest and I cry out loudly. My knees give out, and I fall to the floor. The cold from the hardwood does nothing to distract me from the pain I’m feeling in my chest.

I’m shaking and crying on the floor when I hear Jason’s retreating footsteps. It makes my sobs grow louder and my body shake some more as he leaves me there.

The world goes quiet around me, only the sound of my crying can be heard.

How did I get here? I cried in misery.

Up until thirty minutes ago, I was sure today was going to be the happiest day of my life.

I was turning eighteen and I was looking forward to meeting my mate. I knew it was going to be Jason. I’ve had a crush on him since before I knew what the meaning was.

And I was sure he liked me too.

We grew up together.

His mother and the luna had adopted me after my parents died. I was found by their pack borders with their dead bodies beside me. They didn’t know which pack they belonged to or if they were just rogues.

I was only a baby then and she took me in. She always wanted a daughter and took me as a blessing from the moon Goddess.

Jason was her only son. The future alpha of our pack.

The members of the pack hated me. They didn’t think I was worthy of being referred to as their alpha’s adoptive daughter.

I was just an outsider. A nobody that they pitied and took in.

The luna loved me like I was her child, and she never allowed them to bully. Though it never stopped them. Especially in school.

I was the odd one out. The freak who they found outside and brought in.

Jason never treated me like them. He treated me like a sister, but for the past few months, I’ve noticed how he treated me differently. Not like his little sister anymore, but someone different.

He was only a few months older than me. He turned eighteen before me.

Which means, he has known he was my mate all along.

It made what happened two weeks ago hurt more.

That thought made me cry harder. I cry until I have no more tears left to cry, until my voice is horse and broken.

“Jenna, what are you doing here?” I hear the luna’s voice over my shoulder. “We’ve been looking for you to come and cut your cake.”

I wanted to get up and run to her but my legs felt too weak. The pain of the rejection and the betrayal from the person I trusted most left me sitting on the dry floor.

“Jenna?” I felt a hand on my shoulder.

She tipped my head up and a horrified gasp left her lips. “Oh my God, Jenna what happened to you?”

I couldn’t speak, I threw my arms around her and hugged her, crying into her chest.

I wondered how I would tell her, her only son, her beloved son did this to me. I couldn’t bring myself to talk. Thinking of my mat rejecting me brought too much anguish to me.

She tried to make me talk but I didn’t budge. When she saw I wasn’t going to relent, she sighed and gave up.

We walked back into the house, where my party had been in full swing before I ran out. I'd perceived that sweet scent that had my wolf howling in joy. Going crazy in my head as a yearning we have never felt before consumed her.

It was the happiest I’ve ever felt when I saw Jason standing there. The moment my wolf recognised him, she wanted to run to him. I laughed in joy. Elated that my dreams were coming true.

But Jason had to rip my heart out of my chest and tear it to shreds.

The rest of the party goers watched us as we walked in. A few of them were looking at me curiously while others couldn’t hide their distaste. Seeing the luna holding me this close always pissed them off.

I hung my head low. I didn’t want them to see me cry.

“What do you think happened?”

“Maybe she found her mate and he didn’t want her.”

My hands trembled when I heard the whispered gossip.

“Who would want her? She is a freak.”

“Enough!” The luna stops in the middle of the room, her growl making all of them lower their heads in submission.

“Leave! The party is over.”

They scrambled out of the room, running for the door as soon as she gave that command.

The luna rarely ever yells. She was a sweetheart and beloved by everyone.

“Pay no attention to them. You’re beautiful and wonderful and anyone would be lucky to be—“

“They are right.” I cut her off. Tears roll down my face but I keep my voice strong. “No one wants me.”