Chapter 5 - Rejection

Marly POV

                  Tears filled my eyes, as I looked at the dress and shoes.  They were destroyed.  The shoes were marked up, and the dress was torn in various places of the dress.  I looked at it in despair wondering if I would be able to salvage any of it.  I worked all night on the dress and was finally satisfied enough to get a couple hours of sleep.

                  I had to pack a bag as I would not be coming back to change for the ceremony.  Secretly I packed some extra items, as I knew I would not be coming back at all.  Anything of mine would be sent to the pack house, tomorrow once I had been named Maxwell’s Luna.

                  The day flew by, with all the details coming together perfectly.  I made sure every detail was perfection, before I quickly went to the common washroom to change.  I heard the various guests arriving throughout the day, catching glimpses of the Alphas and Lunas from other packs who were here to celebrate Maxwell.

                   I slipped the dress on over my curves.  It was snug in all the right places.  I had been able to salvage the dress to give it a slit up my right leg, reaching mid-thigh.  The top had been altered to come up to the neck, and drape in the back, leaving my back exposed.  My hips were accentuated with my tight waist.  I had managed to clean up my heels, so that they matched my black dress.  Thinking of the night to follow, I went with no underwear underneath the dress.  I wanted to show Maxwell I was deserving of him.

                    I quickly pulled my hair up in a bun, with tendrils of hair framing my face.  I put on a sparse amount of make-up.  Mostly because I did not have a lot and rarely wore it.  Taking one last look, I was satisfied with what I saw.  I looked like a Luna.  And I was ready to claim my spot beside Maxwell.

                   When I exited the washroom, I could hear the festivities were well underway.  I slipped into the kitchen, where the chef turned and exclaimed, “Ms. Marly, you are beautiful,” she said as she moved to give me a quick hug.  “You have worked hard this week, girl.  Go and enjoy the party,” she suggested, giving me a gentle nudge.

                    Her words gave me confidence to move forward and out the door.  I noticed people staring at me, and I tried to ignore them.  I knew I looked different, but hopefully in a good way.  I saw Maxwell’s Beta, who took a second look at me, before nodding appreciatively.  It still gave me the creeps, so I looked away.

                    I had not spotted Maxwell yet, but that was okay.  I kept to the back of the room, wanting to enter gracefully, when my name was called to come forward.  Before I knew it a hush fell across the room as Alpha Luke and his Luna entered the room and took the stage.  The Alpha started by thanking everyone and inviting them to take a seat so the ceremony could begin.

                    From the corner of the stage, Maxwell was invited to stand with his parents. He went up the stairs, commanding the attention of the room.  Standing there in his tuxedo, ready to take his oath to protect the Red Pines Pack, I could not have been prouder.  I held my breath, as he took his oath and repeated the words his father stated.  As he finished, my heart started to race.

                     “And now, Maxwell would like to invite his Luna up to the stage,” Alpha Luke stated.  I started to discreetly move towards the aisle, readying myself for the call.  “And I would like to invite Cassie Bent to the stage, as the Luna for the Red Pines Pack,” I heard Maxwell say.  My footsteps faltered.  What?  How can this be?  Maxwell is my mate.  There must be a mistake.

                     I see Cassie scream and rise from her seat, as everyone started to clap and cheer for her.  “Wait,” I whispered as I could not stop my steps from moving forward.  I saw Maxwell frown at seeing me in the aisle, moving closer, but it did not deter me.  I had to understand what was happening. 

                     I saw the Alpha catch Maxwell’s stare and his look of happiness turned to a frown.  He must have said something to his guards through their mind-link, as the next thing I knew I was being dragged screaming from the room.  I could not contain the panic that was overcoming me at this gregarious error taking place.

                     Before I could do any more damage, I was removed from the room and dragged to a meeting room.  I was locked inside, as I stormed around, raging to be released.  The guards stood outside, preventing me from leaving.  Tears had formed in my eyes, and before I knew it was wiping away the tears dripping down my cheeks.

                     After an hour, I heard the door open, and watched as Maxwell and his father entered the room, shutting the door behind them.  “Marly, you have to know this cannot work,” the Alpha started to say, when I cut him off.  “We are fated mates.  We are taught that fated mates are stronger together,” I said, wanting to remind him of the facts.

                     “That is true; however, in this case, it is not possible.  Your sister, Cassie, is a strong warrior and of Gamma blood.  She can easily take on the role of Luna and protect the pack along side Maxwell.  You are an Omega.  You are nothing,” he reminded me.  My heart went cold.  “I am not nothing.  And I will be stronger when Maxwell marks me,” I stated coldly.

                     “That is not true, and we all know it,” the Alpha replied.  Maxwell stepped forward, a look of confliction in his eyes.  “Please do not do this, Maxwell.  We can be together.  I promise I will be strong,” I pleaded with the man in front of me.  But Maxwell simply frowned, looking at me in disgust.

                      “You will never be strong enough to be my mate, Marly.  You do not even have a wolf. Cassie is the better choice.  I would; however, be willing to offer you a place as my mistress,” he said casually.  His father said nothing, seemingly okay with this suggestion.  “What?  You want me to be your mistress?!?” I exclaimed. 

                      “Of course.  Our pups would be stronger and would be raised by Cassie.  You would get the best of both worlds,” Maxwell stated as a matter of fact.  Shaking my head, I take a step away from Maxwell.  “Absolutely not,” I started to say when the Alpha cut me off.  “Do not be hasty in your decision, Marly.  You can think about it,” he suggested, as if offering me an excellent deal.

                       “I do not need time,” I replied, when Maxwell stepped forward.  “Regardless, we are wasting time, and I need to get back to my party,” Maxwell stated.  “I, Maxwell Sampson, Alpha of the Red Pines Pack, reject you, Marly Bent, Omega as my mate and Luna.  You are too weak to be either,” he said with finality.

                       I fell to my knees, the pain in my chest at the bond breaking devastating me.  “Accept the rejection, Marly,” the Alpha said to me.  I could not breathe.  I could not do anything.  The pain was dragging me down, and I heard my wolf, Layla howl in the back of my mind.

                       Crying on my hands and knees on the floor, I am drawn away from my pain when a hand grasps my hair and drags my head up to look at Maxwell.  The Alpha is holding my hair, “accept the rejection,” he commanded.  I had no choice, “I Marly Bent, Omega, accept your rejection, Alpha Maxwell Sampson.”.

                      I fell to the ground as the pain took over my body.  I was left on the floor, with my last thought before passing out, “I need to escape.”.