Chapter 5: Rejected Again

Amanda's POV 

“No! You belong to me!” Duncan yelled, his voice cutting through the air. His eyes were pale, lids barely open, a sign that he was still suffering from the weakness my rejection caused. 

I sat there, too stunned to speak and too weak to even move. How could the alpha king be my mate? Why would the moon goddess choose to do such a thing to me? 

An ordinary alpha couldn’t accept an omega as his Luna, how much more the alpha king. Shifting into a sacred white wolf should have given me some courage but it didn’t. 

He held Duncan’s gaze in an obvious challenge but of course Duncan knew more than to be stubborn or try to fight the alpha king. Even the guards stepped aside, heads bowed in reverence and unable to meet his gaze. 

“She doesn’t belong to you…” he said, his voice firm but ironically as soothing as a balm. “She’s my mate.” He stated, leaving no room for arguments. 

Duncan’s face twisted in a scowl caused solely by the words he couldn’t say, no one dared to go against the alpha king. What was even more satisfying was how helpless he looked at the thought of me slipping away from his grasp after his desperate attempt to stop me from escaping. 

My eyes shifted from him to the king who stood at my side, his eyes searching and gaze filled with unspoken tension. 

He stretched his hand towards me. “Shall we?” He asked. I watched him, my mind reeling with uncertainty but anything was better than staying at the Moonstone pack with Duncan and Kattie. 

I took his hands and pulled myself up, forcing my legs to hold me while Duncan watched us keenly, jaw tight and fury written all over his face like he expected me to refuse.

My knees gave out before I was fully upright. I hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the air from my lungs. 

The river. I could still feel it cold in my bones and heavy in my limbs like it had soaked into my muscles and refused to let go. 

I wasn’t steady yet, not after that fall into the water and the ground reminded me of that fast.

“Can’t you see how weak she is? You don’t need her, my king.” Duncan said, his voice cracking. “The alpha king deserves someone worth more than a wolf-less omega, someone that can actually produce strong heirs for the throne.” He added, like he didn’t see me shift earlier. 

I knew he was doing all that just so the alpha king would reject me. 

“King Ambrose?” Duncan pressed on. 

But with one swoop, I was lifted off the ground and into the strong arms of the King. My pulse quickened, my heart ramming against my chest as he walked away, completely ignoring Duncan and his claims. 

He walked through a narrow path while I stayed still, too scared to talk or make a sound.  

At the foot of the path, a landscape of buildings both old and new, trees and fields unwinded. I didn’t need anyone to tell me that we’d reached the Alpha King’s territory. 

“I can walk.” I muttered, my voice barely louder than a whisper. 

He immediately dropped me to the ground like he couldn’t wait to do so. 

We walked into one of the buildings, tall walls, long ceiling to floor windows through what I believed was the back exit because there was no one in sight. 

I followed him closely until the hallway led to a bigger hallway with doors I believed had rooms behind them. 

A young maid ran up to him immediately, her head bowed and glued to the ground. “Your majesty.” She said, her voice breathless. 

He turned to me, his gaze so piercing I quivered under its scrutiny and then he returned to the maid. “Provide a dress for her and bring her to the throne room immediately.” He ordered and she flinched as his words. 

Someone flinched just from the sound of his voice. 

That alone set off a thousand warning bells in my head and I wondered, with a twist in my stomach, if I'd walked straight into the lion’s den. 

I followed the maid to one of the rooms and as soon as the door closed behind us, she hurried off to a wardrobe at the far end of the room and pulled out a black sundress. 

“Quick, we can’t keep him waiting.” She ordered, her voice dripping with panic. 

I was exhausted but I had no other choice and I couldn’t wait to get it all over with and at least get some rest after the series of unfortunate events I’d been through in just one day. 

I put on the dress as quickly as I could, it was a bit loose but not nearly as bad as the old dresses I owned while I slaved away at Duncan’s pack, blinded by a one sided affection.

The maid led me to the throne room, her footsteps clicking away on the floorboards while I struggled to keep up with her pace. 

King Ambrose was seated in his mighty throne when we got there, a few guards behind him and a man perhaps over twenty standing at his side. 

It felt like I had been summoned for an execution. 

The maid bowed and left after successfully delivering me and I’d never felt so alone. 

“What’s your name?” The king asked, his voice firm. 

I took a deep breath shaking away the nerves I got from the weight of his gaze. “Amanda..” I paused, clearing my throat. “Amanda Patrick.” I replied. 

“And you’re from the Moonstone pack?” He continued. 

I nodded in agreement. 

He let out a growl, exchanging a quick glance with the man at his side before continuing. 

“Amanda, I have no use for you. I am the alpha king and we both know I can’t have a wolf less omega as my Luna, that’ll be an insult to the throne.” He pointed out. 

Where have I heard this before? That’s right, from Duncan. 

My lips parted but I couldn’t find the right words to say. I couldn’t even protest to the fact that he called me wolf less because my wolf has been quiet and it was almost like I imagined the whole thing. 

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t reach her. 

“I wasn’t looking for a mate, but for the fact that the moon goddess has fated us together then I have no other choice but to keep you here.” He pressed on. “It’ll be a wise choice if you bring whatever expectations you have to nought, you are not my Luna.” 

Was I about to be subjected to the same life I just escaped? The same life of waiting o

n a man that would never see me. 

What did I ever do to deserve this from the moon goddess?