I Reject Your Rejection

DANIELLA

The kiss was the messiest one I had ever had. Our noses bumped against each other awkwardly when he tried to deepen the kiss. One of his hands fisted in my hair while the other hauled me close to him until there was no space left between us.

I tried to break off the kiss when my lips started to hurt. But pushing him away was like trying to move a mountain. He kissed me until my lips started to tingle, leaving my mind blank.

Finally, Levi pulled away when he needed to breathe. His chest was heaving as he stared down at me with furious possession. It was like he was pleased with himself for claiming me in front of everyone present in the graduation party.

And that pissed me off.

My palm struck his cheek the next second, echoing through the air like a gunshot.

Everyone gasped in shock, watching Levi's head snap to the side. The anger slowly faded from my eyes when I realized what I had done. I stumbled, my heart hammering in my chest so much I thought it would burst.

Oh, my God. Did I just hit—

My thought was cut off when another slap came crashing on my cheek out of nowhere. Pain exploded at the side of my face, causing me to stumble from the impact.

My vision turned blurry with tears as I turned around to see Arielle glaring at me. Her friends circled me.

“You tramp,” she snarled, her voice brimming with malicious intent. “How dare you hit my boyfriend?!”

I cradled my cheek, unable to react. Everyone was watching us with gasps filled with shock and terror. The wolves bristled with contempt and hostility, furious at me for publicly humiliating their newly coronated Alpha, while the vampires watched the scene with something between interest and amusement.

But my mind spiraled with several disturbing thoughts. Because the Dark Prince, Levi Alexander Vance, just called me his mate. Right in front of everyone.

Just when I was about to speak, Levi let out a low growl that rumbled deep in his chest.

All the werewolves froze at the sound.

I held my breath, waiting for Levi to explode. His jaw was clenched tight, and a low grumble vibrated deep in his chest. I thought for sure he was going to lash out at Ariella for hitting me. He looked furious enough to tear the whole school apart.

Instead, he looked straight at me.

His eyes turned cold and distant. “I, Levi Alexander Vance,” he whispered, his voice cutting through the silent crowd, “reject you, as my mate.”

The words hit me harder than any slap ever could. I stood there completely stunned, unable to move or speak as the mating bond inside me began to fracture.

The air left my lungs as a sharp, tearing pain ripped through my chest. The mating bond was cracking, and it felt like my soul was being torn in half. I dropped to my knees, clutching my stomach as the agony washed over me.

“Daniella!” Zoey immediately rushed to me with wide, panicked eyes. “Are you alright? Talk to me!”

Through the haze of pain, a terrifying memory flashed in my mind. Back in college, I had taken a course in supernatural history, so I knew a thing or two about werewolves. My professor once mentioned that rejected mates normally died within one year of being tossed away because their hearts couldn't withstand the loss of the mating bond.

Is that what was happening right now? Was I really dying?

My heart twisted with panic. I didn't want to die. I still had dreams I wanted to fulfill. After living dirt-poor for so many years, I finally had the chance to upgrade my life after getting a college degree. I wanted to support my parents and take care of my siblings.

“Levi, please,” I choked out, looking up at him with tear-filled eyes. “You can't do this. I'll die! Rejected mates only have a year left to live. My life is in danger!”

Levi didn't even blink. He looked down at me as if I were a piece of gum stuck on the bottom of his shoe. “I don't care,” he said, his voice ice-cold. “You are nothing to me.”

Next to him, Ariella smirked with victory. She looked absolutely thrilled by his firm declaration, crossing her arms and looking down at me like she had just gotten rid of an inconvenience.

Seeing her smug face changed something inside me. The deep despair and pain suddenly snapped. It melted away, turning into a hot, roaring fire of pure anger.

I forced myself up to my feet, ignoring the pain in my chest. I wiped the tears from my face and glared right back at Levi.

“I reject your rejection,” I spat out, each word ringing clear across the terrace.

Levi froze.

“What did you just say?”

His low, dangerously calm voice sent a chill down my spine, but I raised my head higher instead.

“You heard me the first time,” I said, ignoring Zoey's frantic hand tug at my side. “I said I reject your rejection.”

Levi looked completely stunned, his jaw dropping slightly. No one ever rejected an Alpha's rejection.

But I didn't care. Not about him or anyone else. This was my life and I was going to fight for it. If this wolf thought that my human life was insignificant just because I wasn't the one he wanted to marry, then he was clearly out of his freaking mind.

"You will not get rid of me that easily, Levi," I told him, my voice steady and fierce. “I am your mate, and I will remain that way for as long as I deem fit because I have no plans to die because of a selfish, inconsiderate, furry mutt.”

Then, I turned my glare directly onto Ariella. "And as for you, you should go find another male to bother. Because this Alpha is mine.”