Chapter Two

Everett's POV. 

The night of the mating ceremony finally arrived. I stood in my room, staring at myself in the mirror. 

My reflection, weighing over two hundred and fifty pounds, stared back at me.

“Miss, the zipper won't close. Suck your stomach in” The maid snapped me out of my thoughts and I pressed, sucking in air for seconds. 

She groaned as she dragged the zipper up until it worked. 

“Thank you,” I muttered. 

Downstairs, my parents were with Lissa. I watched as Mom helped her with her dress, smiling like she was the best thing that had ever happened to her. 

“You need to look extremely good, sweetheart. You will definitely make us proud” 

I walked down the stairs, careful not to trip over my dress. The moment I reached the bottom of the stairs, Mom turned, her eyes scanning me with disgust. 

She didn't compliment me, Dad said nothing either. In fact, I heard Lissa laugh. 

“I'll wait in the car” I headed outside. 

I had barely reached for the door when Mom's voice rang across the room. 

“No,” she said sharply. “You should walk. Burn some calories or something. You need to keep fit for the ceremony” 

The moment Mom spoke, my eyes flicked to Dad, searching for something I knew I wouldn't find; disapproval. 

He didn't care. His face was expressionless, maybe he supported it too. 

I didn't argue. “Alright” 

Mom looked surprised but before she could ask questions, I walked out of the house and walked towards the pack grounds where the ceremony was being held. 

I was already halfway through the road when the ringtone of my phone filled the air. Celine's name flashed across the screen, making my lips spread with a smile. 

“Hey, bestie.” I called. “How is your Mom?” 

Celine huffed. “Much better. I'm sorry I can't make it” 

I smiled. “No, it's fine” 

She had called earlier in the morning and had told me her mother had fallen into an emergency and she had been with her in the hospital, but thankfully, she had been stabilized. 

“Keep your chin up!” Celine sounded stern. “And be yourself over there!” 

“Yes ma'am” I replied with the same energy and the call ended.

Moments later, I arrived at the pack grounds. It was crowded with people from all corners of the pack. Mated wolves, unmated, parents, and even well-wishers. 

Every corner was filled with young girls with their parents by their side and the hurt settled deep in my chest, I was alone. 

Music filled the atmosphere with a kind of calmness I couldn't explain. The sour mood which had been caused by my family suddenly disappeared, replaced by the determination to enjoy this celebration. 

My eyes scanned the room. I looked everywhere for Cassian, but couldn't find him. 

“He'd soon be here” I said to myself. 

When my gaze returned to the entrance, my family arrived. Mom and Dad stood beside Lissa who looked elegantly dressed, hair packed in a bun, face glowing under the evening lights. 

My sister was everything I wasn't. Cherished by our parents, beautiful and elegant with a slim figure, adored by the whole pack, and praised for every little deed. 

They stood opposite where I was standing and for a moment, I just looked around. 

Suddenly, someone's voice rose. 

“It's starting! The full moon is finally coming out!” He said. 

My whole body shook with excitement. 

It's time. The time everyone had been waiting for, the time when mates would find each other, claim each other and fill the whole air with their romantic howls.  

I stared at the moon, waiting for the signs, for my wolf to finally sense our mate. From the corner of my eyes, I could see people going around hugging each other, their wolves squealing happily. 

Minutes passed, and that was when the unease set in. A strong scent filled my nose, and my wolf stirred excitedly inside me. 

Mate. 

Across the room, my gaze fell on Cassian. My breath hitched. I felt the connection instantly. 

He's my mate. It was hard to believe, but this was definitely an answered prayer. 

Cassian walked to me and my breath hitched. A smile spread on my lips and I waited eagerly for him to reach me. 

He did, but there was no smile on his face, no excitement that matched mine. 

“You are my mate, Cassian,” I said in a broken, excited voice. 

The room suddenly fell silent, the music stopped. The Alpha heir was choosing his mate, of course, it should. 

“I can't accept you as my mate” Cassian shook his head, face laced with disgust. 

I stood frozen. No, he didn't mean that. 

“Cassian…..” I called. 

“You can't expect me to get tied up to a bloated cow like you, Everett. That's way beneath me” 

His words sank in deep and my knees buckled. A bloated cow? 

When someone called me that, he almost punched them in the face and now? 

“A real Luna will have to sit beside me when I become Alpha. Not someone like you” 

His words pierced deeper than a blade. Reality crashed on me hard. 

For a moment, I thought about all the times we had spent together and how he had always defended me. 

“You like me, Cassian,” I said without thinking. 

Cassian laughed before the whole pack's laughter followed. My cheeks flushed red from the humiliation and I stood frozen in disbelief. 

“Stop being delusional. You took my pity for liking a fatty like you?” 

Air rushed to my lungs. I muttered devastatingly. “Pity?” 

Cassian didn't respond. He straightened his posture and looked me in the eye. 

“I, Cassian Harrington rejects you, Everett Meadow, as my mate”

A searing pain shot across my chest, burning like fire. My knees gave out completely and I fell to the floor, hands clutching my chest. Tears stung my eyes as the realization crashed down on me. 

Cassian rejected me. He wants the bond severed. 

The only wish I'd ever made to the moon goddess had turned out like this, what more could possibly go wrong?