The Rejection

Aria’s POV

I jump up despite the sharp ache in my wrist, my still attention fixed on the wine bottle because I brought it sixty-five hundred dollars which will be, wasted in seconds. “Please, Vanessa. Don’t.”

The moment the words leave my mouth, I regret them because I should never have begged for love from someone who had never wanted to give it to me.

A sharp pop fills the room as Vanessa uncorks the bottle and I squeeze my eyes shut, but nothing can prepare me for the icy liquid pouring over my head and soaking my clothes.

She empties every last drop before hurling the bottle at me. It strikes my stomach, making me double over as it rolls across the floor. “Look at you!” she mocks.

“You probably spent every penny you had on this pathetic little performance.”

Kieran ignores my trembling figure and turns to me. “Let me tell her what i came here to say,” he tells Vanessa.

He approaches and crouches in front of me. I lift my head, my hair dripping wine onto my face. “We're done, Aria,” he says coldly.

“Stop wasting your time on me. Vanessa is the woman I want.”

My chest tightens. “Kieran, please...”

“Don't pretend you didn't know where you stood because I never loved you, and nothing has changed.” His eyes move toward Vanessa.

“My father wouldn't allow me to reject my fated mate without finding another and now I have.”

Four years of loving a man who had been waiting for someone else. Kieran rises to his feet, looking down at me without the slightest trace of affection. “I, Kieran Blackwell, reject you, Aria, as my mate.”

Pain explodes through my chest and It feels as if my heart is being torn apart by invisible claws and I wailed like a child before I could stop myself.

An hour later, I find myself wandering through unfamiliar woods, with no idea how far I've strayed from campus.

Dark trees surround me, and the narrow path under my feet is barely visible. Insects chirp in the distance while tears continue running down my cheeks. How can I possibly have any tears left?

One question keeps tormenting me. Why Vanessa? Of all the women Kieran could have chosen, why did it have to be her?

My foot catches on a protruding root, sending me stumbling forward but I manage to steady myself before falling flat on my face.

Turning around, I glare at the thick root twisting out of the earth. “Are you serious right now?” I mutter angrily to myself as I kick it in great anger. “Why does everything have to hurt me tonight?”

Another kick follows. “I haven't done anything to deserve this!”

My voice breaks as fresh tears gather in my eyes. “Can't I catch a break for once?”

A sudden rustling sound comes from the trees and I freeze.

The woods fall silent, and the hairs on my arms rise. I slowly scan the darkness, searching for movement between the trunks because rogues often prey on vulnerable wolves, especially omegas like me and without a strong wolf to defend myself, I would be an easy target.

I was now afraid for my life especially because I was lonely in the middle of nowhere, I turn and hurry toward the path leading back to my dormitory then I hear footsteps.

Whatever is following me seems determined to match my pace. “Shit!”

I break into a run, my soaked hair whipping against my back. Before I can get very far, something emerges from the darkness directly ahead of me, I collide with it and stumble backward.

A menacing growl tears through the night and my eyes widen as I make out the enormous wolf standing in my path.

Every instinct screams at me to flee, but terror has rendered my legs useless. I know I cannot fight a rogue, and running seems pointless when I'm barely able to stand, so I retreat one trembling step but a heavy impact sounds behind me and I spin around just in time to see another wolf charging out of the trees.

My dorm is too far away for anyone to hear me, and nobody even knows I'm out here.

Earlier tonight, my mate decided I wasn't worth keeping. Now, it seems the Moon Goddess has decided to finish what he started.

I have been rejected, humiliated and about to die alone in the woods, what a miserable ending but if this is where my life ends, I refuse to surrender without a fight.

I clench my shaking fists and prepare myself for the inevitable.

Suddenly, a powerful crash shakes the ground and a furious snarl erupts nearby, followed by a blur of movement overhead and a sickening crack. I squeeze my eyes shut, waiting for the pain but when nothing happens, I cautiously open them.

A man stands a short distance away, gripping one rogue by the throat with a single hand. The wolf struggles desperately, but his hold doesn't weaken then another sharp crack echoes through the woods and my breath catches because I recognize that face anywhere Asher Blackwell, kieran's older half-brother and the college most celebrated hockey captain. He is the last person I ever expected to encounter in the middle of nowhere.

For years, I'd heard people talk about him. Some admired his talent on the ice, while others couldn't stop swooning over his looks but my interest had always been different because he was Kieran's brother and now, he'd just saved my life.

Asher releases the rogue and turns toward me, his face is unreadable as he gestures toward the path. “Leave. Now.”

His commanding voice snaps me out of my shock. “I... thank you,” I stammer, nodding frantically.

“Thank you for saving me.”

He doesn't respond. Instead, he turns toward the second rogue, which is struggling to rise near the trees but I don't wait around to see what happens.

I run as fast as my exhausted legs will carry me, looking over my shoulder only once.

Asher has already seized the other wolf then another crack splits the darkness behind me, I turn away and kept running.