Chapter 3

"I, Violetta Crescent, reject you, Nolan Aristotle, as my mate," I announced, and his eyes widened alongside the fresh murmurs that erupted in the hall.

"What?!"

"I, Violetta Crescent, reject you, Nolan Aristotle, as my mate," I repeated more sternly and gracefully with my head held high without hesitation, and I saw his face scrunch up in pain.

The crowd went livid with noise and murmurs as many threw insults at me.

"Ungrateful slut"

"Descendants of a Grand Criminal"

"Worthless bitch"

"We're only doing you a favor." 

Those curses reached my ears, but I wasn't even paying attention to them. I wasn't a criminal because my parents weren't criminals, so I won't let their curses get to me anymore. I already regretted this much by not trusting them to the end of my past life, so now was my time to clear their names off the criminal list.

I watched as Nolan gripped his heart, struggling to keep his balance as the pain of rejection hit him in big waves. I could also feel the stinging sensation of having to reject my mate so abruptly, but this pain was little compared to what I faced in his hands. This was nothing compared to what I'll have to face again if I go through this damned wedding.

Nolan's pupils began to dilate, and his eyes glowed red as he glared at me.

"How dare you?" He growled and raised his hand to hit me. I shut my eyes tight, waiting for his hand to come down hard against my cheek, but it never came. Instead, I heard a low sigh followed by a greeting. "Hello, brother" 

I looked up to see an unfamiliar face glaring hard at Nolan with a playful smirk on his face. He just said brother, didn't he? Nolan has only one brother. Does that mean... Is he the Alpha's first son? Nolan's older stepbrother?

I couldn't hide my confusion as I stared at him and went back to Nolan.

"You shouldn't be doing this here, don't you think?" The guy said that, and I watched Nolan's jaw clench with irritation.

"What I do or do not do shouldn't be any of your problems, Theodore," he gritted, trying to pull his arm out, but the former didn't let go.

"As much as I'd love to see you get embarrassed and disgraced on your wedding day, I won't let that happen on my first day in Silvermoon Pack after so many years," he whispered aloud.

"Fucking let go of me, you bastard," he yelled, and the former effortlessly let go of his arm.

He shot me a wink as he made his way down from the podium. Strangely, I felt heat creep onto my face. Before I could recompose myself, Nolan grabbed my face hard, digging his fingers into my chin as his fury-filled eyes glared into mine. "This stunt you pulled here today won't go unpunished. Do you dare to reject me? Your mate? Your Alpha? I'll teach you a lesson that'll make you regret the day you ever made this stupid and dumb decision of yours," he said hoarsely, and I simply stared back at him, refusing to show any fear at his words.

The old Violetta would have squinted in fear and guilt for making her mate mad with fury, but she was long gone. He needed to realize that the new Violetta wouldn't take any more sh*t from him. I came back to make his life a living hell, to make him feel every single ounce of pain I felt till my last breath. So those flimsy threats meant absolutely nothing to me.

"Guards! Take her into her room and have her locked up without access to food or water until I say otherwise," he yelled, and two guards came running towards me. They grabbed my arms and tried to drag me out of the hall, but I stomped my foot so loudly that my heel broke.

"I have two perfectly healthy legs, you see. I can walk on my own unless you want to lift me into your arms." I mumbled as I tugged a strand of my hair behind my ears. I had just managed to escape a glaring bruise on my face from Nolan's potential slap, so I wouldn't let someone else hurt me without my permission.

I removed my shoes and, barefoot, only made my way into my room with the two guards on my tail.

As soon as I flung the door open and walked in, I watched them follow me right to the edge of my door.

"Are you going to come in with me? Perhaps share the room to make sure I don't disappear into thin air." I asked with a glint of sarcasm, and they bowed slightly as embarrassment tinted their faces.

"Then shoo," I said, slamming the door in their faces. Relief and excitement coursed through my veins as I jumped on my bed.

My first mission was accomplished, and I was proud of myself. This was only the beginning. The Pack respects prophecies a lot, and they have followed every darn one ever since the last war that broke out between the foxes, witches, and werewolves when they refused to obey the first absurd prophecy many years ago.

They wouldn't want history to repeat itself, so now that I am unwilling to continue being their puppet, I wonder what will become of them. The moon goddess has mentioned 'complete ruins'. Does that mean the pack will be destroyed?

I changed into a more comfy cloth and stayed in my room all day. It is already late into the night, but true to Nolan's command, nothing was brought to me. Neither food nor water. He'll let me starve, but I don't mind. I could always feed on the joy of having gotten him, and the elders were disheveled and distraught by my sudden outburst at the wedding.

"Athena!" I called out to my wolf, but she didn't reply. I haven't felt her since I woke up in that hall. She didn't stir as much, even while I was with our mate, Nolan.

"Athena?" I called out louder this time, but it was the same. She wouldn't react, and she wouldn't even talk to me. It didn't even seem like she was asleep; I always felt her, even if she was fast asleep, but not this time. It suddenly felt like I was devoid of anything within me.

According to what I learned from that venomous friend of mine, she must have been completely weak when all that happened. She must have been badly hurt, and I could only hope that she'd be okay very soon.

I have a lot of things to take care of here going forward, and I needed her with me. I couldn't possibly do this all alone. The moon goddess promised me divine strength to do whatever I wanted, but it was probably all a bluff without Athena. 

"There's only so little I can do without you, Athena; I hope you're okay," I whispered before forcing myself to sleep. I was still struggling to keep my eyes open when the door suddenly flung open.

I sat up in my bed quickly while staring at whoever just barged into my room. It could only be Nolan. The bastard disregards whatever is called privacy.

He looked furious as he shut the door behind him and walked up to me. I shifted back instinctively, the hair on my skin rising as I immediately knew what was coming next. It was the same as three years ago.

"What the hell are you doing in my room, Nolan?" 

"Nothing out of the question, Violetta; you'll find out soon enough.”