Chapter 3

Vivian's POV

My heart raced as I joined the others, wincing when my gaze locked with Chloe's glare.

She pursed her lips before rushing closer to the same alpha who had saved me, standing in a corner and watching.

Many other girls joined her for some reason.

I stood aside, fumbling with my fingers as the priest began the ritual.

My mind wandered off, panic gripping me as I felt more and more doubt. Maybe this was a mistake. Staying home was less shameful than coming here only to not get a mate.

Then I saw the image of Chloe's victorious smile after locking me away, and I knew staying was the right choice. The only choice.

"Relax your minds. Let the bonds fully forge. Tonight, may the moon goddess bless you all with your other halves!" the priest announced.

Almost immediately, those who had stepped out began to shift, matching in pairs.

They all looked confused, but this was something I'd witnessed many times. For three years.

And now, the same empty feeling sat heavy in my chest. I felt nothing. No pull, no bond, and certainly not a mate.

Tears stung my eyes as my gaze lifted to Chloe, who was standing shamelessly in front of the alpha.

He wasn't looking at her though. His eyes were fixed across the room, on me.

I felt my throat close, too dry to swallow.

His feet shifted, taking cautious, doubtful steps towards me.

Chloe's eyes widened. She must have suspected the same thing as me.

The alpha kept moving towards me, shoving the newly mated couples out of his way.

And then I felt it. A tiny tug in my chest, drawing me towards him.

The bond grew in my chest with each step he took towards me, along with a flicker of hope I hadn't dared to allow to exist for years.

He came to a halt a few feet away from me, staring down at my chubby frame with a hardened expression I couldn't read.

"Alpha..."

His hand shot up, silencing me before a sentence could fully form. "What is the meaning of this?"

I stuttered, glancing around, confused. Chloe stood to the side, angry and confused all at once.

The murmurs began, but my attention couldn't shift from the man before me. "I think... I think you're my mate."

Unable to control it, the corner of my lip pulled up from the memory of how he'd defended me.

The smile froze on my face and shattered though, the moment he tilted his head back, laughing.

"You really are a funny one, girl. My mate? Is this some kind of joke?" He laughed again, loud enough to draw more eyes to us.

I gulped, trying to make sense of what was happening. "You can feel the bond too, right? Isn't that how it works? If we are bonded, then that makes you my mate."

His expression suddenly went solid, the amusement morphing to irritation. "If the word mate falls from your tongue again, I'll cut it off."

I took a cautious step back, my attention shifting towards a soft laugh coming from the side.

Chloe was laughing her heart out, not even seeming to care that she herself had not found a mate.

Tears stung my eyes, but I kept going, trying to salvage what was left of the situation.

I didn't wait three years for a mate just for him to treat me like this. "I didn't choose you. The moon goddess did."

"She chose wrong," he snapped. "Hold out your hand."

My body froze, eyes shifting slowly to his. "What?"

"You heard me," he repeated, pulling out a dagger. "I'm going to reject you. By blood we are bonded, and by blood it will break, right?"

I tugged my palm behind my dress, my lips parted in shock. "You can't!"

He seemed even more irritated now. "Hold out your hand. You don't want me as a mate, and I don't want someone like you either. Let's just end this and stop wasting my time."

My tongue swept over my lips, my next argument already brewing, but then Chloe's voice rose above all the other murmurs, mocking and clear.

"Yes, hold out your hand, Vivian. Even with the bond, you still hold on to a mate. You really are just an ugly pig!"

Her words caused the pack members present to laugh. Most of the attention had shifted to us completely.

The alpha clenched his jaw, his head tilting toward Chloe while something dangerous flashed in his eyes. For a second I almost thought he'd defend me again.

He didn't.

I felt the pitiful shame melt into anger, and my fist clenched before lashing out, presenting my palm to him. "Do it."

His expression shifted, shocked that I'd agreed so suddenly, but he made no attempt to persuade me to do otherwise.

My teeth sunk into the inside of my cheek, preparing for the pain as the tip of the dagger sunk into my palm.

He did the same to himself, leaving matching cuts on our palms before pressing them together.

I didn't know his name, but I spoke first regardless. If I was leaving without my mate, I might as well be the one to reject him. "I, Vivian Maxwell of the Ashmoon Pack, reject you as my mate."

I pulled my hand away right after, barely able to stand straight as the pain of the rejection smashed into me.

He grunted in pain but otherwise gave no indication that he and I were experiencing the same agony.

I turned, walking towards the sealed doors while forcing down my tears.

My knees felt weak, ready to buckle and give up on my useless fat body.

As I reached the door, Chloe's sharp, cutting voice called out. "You only ever go around embarrassing yourself. Did you really think you could mate the alpha heir with that body?"

My feet came to a solid halt as everything clicked into place.

The man behind me... was the future leader of this pack.