Chapter 5; Rejection

The moment Selene stepped into the pack’s borders, the harsh words cut through the  air.

“ There she comes. ”

“ Luna Selene, ” one of them said, his voice hard. “ By Alpha Rylan’s orders, you're under arrest. ”

Fear grazed her skin as two warriors grabbed her arms roughly. And tying them behind her back.

Selene’s breath hitched.

“ What? ” she whispered , stunned.

Before she could reply, they seized her arms.

A rush of fear shot through her. “ Wait, what is this about? ” She struggled against their grip, but they held her firmly.

“ You’ll find out soon enough, ” the second warrior said grimly.

Her mind swirling. Was this because she left the pack without permission? Had Rylan returned and found her missing?

Why is she been held against her wish?

Fear nearly crippled her. She could barely move her legs.

 On their way, other warriors and pack members whispered, watching with wide eyes.

The look of surprise spread through their faces. Some pointed at her, shaking their heads in pity.

The sympathetic gaze made her stomach twist in agony.

By the time she was shoved inside, her legs wobbled with fear.

The sight before her froze her in place.

Elders. What are they doing here? 

Rylan, her mate, pinned a cold gaze on her. She swallowed hard.

The council of Elders stood, exuding power and influence, their robes heavy, their eyes darker than the night itself.

Rylan’s back was turned towards her. And slowly he turned facing her. Her heart leaped in fear. As his eyes pierced through her, burning with rage.

She swallowed hard, her throat dry. “What have I done? Tell them to untie me.”

Rylan’s response was a deafening roar.

“ Silence! ”

The sheer force of it made her shiver.

His rage was a force, creaking in the air like lightning before a storm.

Her lips parted in shock. “ Rylan, what’s going on? ”

“ Where were you? ” His voice was cold, devoid of any warmth.

Selene wavered. “ I — I went to see a friend. ”

Rylan’s eyes narrowed. His jaw tightened. also his voice dropped, dangerously quiet.

“ Let me guess, ” he sneered. “ You went to see that fool, Kieran. After I advised you not to. ”

Selene’s breath hitched.

She couldn’t deny it.

But before she could explain, Rylan’s voice thundered through the chamber.

“ I know everything. ”

He took slow dangerous steps towards her, looming. And then he clenched her jaw with his large hand, his fingers digging into her skin.

“ I know about your secret meeting, ” he continued, his voice sharp as a blade. “ I know about the blood bond. ”

Selene froze

A blood bond?

Her lips parted in disbelief. “ What … What are you talking about? ”

Rylan lifted his hand.

And in his palm,  a vial filled with blood.

Selene’s knees nearly gave out.

Her blood.

How?

“ This, ” Rylan showed her, shaking the vial. “ This is proof of your treason and betrayal. ”

Selene shook her head frantically. “ No, no that’s not true! Rylan, I would never — ”

“ lies! ” His voice cracked like a wipe.

She was shattered.

This wasn’t happening to her. What is going on?

Then, a voice cut through the chaos.

“ I saw her. ”

Selene turned sharply.

A young maid stepped forward, her hands clasped in front of her, eyes filled with false sincerity.

“ I followed her last night.She was with Alpha Kieran, ” the maid said, voice thick with lies. “ I heard them talking about how they would join forces with the rogues. About how they would — ” she swallowed — “ kill you, Alpha. ”

Selene’s entire body went cold.

She staggered back.

The room spun.

“ No, ” she blurted in defence, shaking her head violently. “ That’s not true! I never — never said that! ”

The maid’s expression remained pitiful, her voice soft. “ I wish it wasn’t true, Luna. But I heard it with my own ears. ”

Selene turned to Rylan, her eyes hopeless. “ You can’t believe this. I went to see Kieran because I was trying to help the pack! To stop the rogue attacks ”

Rylan scoffed.

“ You were trying to help the pack? ” He laughed, a bitter, humorless sound. “ By sleeping with Kieran? ”

Selene’s stomach dropped.

“ What? ” she screamed .

His golden eyes darkened.

“ I saw it, ” he growled. “ I saw the visions. You and Kieran — together. You’ve been with him behind my back. ”

Selene’s breath came in short gasps.

This was agony.

How could Rylan believe this?

She seized his arm, desperate. “ Rylan, hear me! Someone is lying to you, someone is manipulating you! ”

His hand jerked away from hers like she was a plague.

The rejection in his eyes shattered something inside her.

“ You disgust me, ” he said coldly.

Tears burned her eyes.

“ No, ” she replied . “ Rylan, please. You have to investigate this … ”

His voice boomed. “ Enough! ” His breathing was ragged, his body pulsing with rage.

Then  his next words were a blade to her heart, piercing through and leaving nothing but pain.

“ I, Alpha Rylan of the Nightfang Pack, reject you, Selene, as my mate. ”

A sharp, searing pain tore through Selene’s chest.

Her bond with Rylan severed.

In deep agony, she shattered the air with a deafening scream. Her chest burned her with intensity. 

Panic throbbed through her and her eyes rolled back. A terrible ache pounded in her head.

Her heart shattered into a tiny million pieces.

Suddenly, she felt nothing. Not even the bond that once held them as mates could be felt.

How could Rylan believe them without giving her a listening ear.

Out of love and duty for her pack, she did this. And now the world spoke against her.

The man she loves treated her like scum..like a criminal.

Betrayed.

Broken.

Shattered.

Her mate stood, watching her with a venomous glare

Then, Elder Vulcan’s voice crawled through the room. “ That’s not enough. ”

Silence fell.

Selene’s teary eyes danced around in confusion.

Not enough?

What more could they take from her?

What other punishment could be greater than losing her mate?

Vulcan’s lips curled into a cruel smile.

His coming words were cold as ice slammed into her body.

“ She must die. ”