Chapter 6: Confrontation and Rejection

My mood was spoilt and this was as a result of that frustrating discussion I had with Alpha Sylvester. It nearly caused me, my usual dip in the stream but I refused to be sorrowful. So I discarded my clothes and into the stream I walked, splashing, determined not to permit myself any depressing thought. My wolf was laughing as we had fun splashing around in the water.

'Hope you have started your chores?' The voice permeated my consciousness, making me stop my thrashing in the water and look around but seeing no one, I realised that Alpha Sylvester had spoken to me through mind - link. The fun went out of my bath and I stepped out of the stream, down cast.

'Cheer up. It is not all bad', wolf Milly said.

I ignored her. Afterall, she was happy to have that God forsaken Alpha as her mate but I was not going to accept that except there was something in it for me - some way I could use it to my own advantage and work my vengeance on him. But how could my wolf and I have contrary feelings concerning the same person Were we not supposed to be one?

I was so deep in thought that I did not see my friend, Samantha until she was upon me.

'Happy birthday, dear friend. When I didn't see you in the quarters, I knew you'd be here, your most favourite place'.

'Thanks alot for your best wishes, Samantha' I said. 'And yes, I came for a dip'.

'You look sad', she observed, 'What is the problem?'

'Nothing', I said, trying to inject cheerfulness into my voice.

'You are not a good liar', she said. 'Spill'.

'I saw my wolf today', I blurted for want of something to say.

'And that made you sad?' she asked incredulous.

'No, it did not', I said quickly. 'I am just not used to it yet'.

'But of course, you're not. But you will soon be though. It is such a joyous occasion. Cheer up. Things are far better than you are imagining', she said sounding uncannily like my wolf.

I made an effort to smile, trying not to recall the mate I have been cursed with because that was what he was - a curse, but it came off as a grimace, which she quickly smoothened out and replaced with a smile.

'I recall when I came into my own wolf...', Samantha started.

It was a story she never stopped telling anyone who would care to listen.

Samantha was two years older than me but you wouldn't know it from the way we related to each other. On her eighteenth birthday, she had been running round in the open air, happy to be eighteen, when suddenly, she fell on all fours and a piercing pain shot through her as she screamed in confusion, not knowing what was happening. She felt as though her whole body was being ripped apart and she twisted in anguish. This attracted other more experienced wolves, who came to try to ease her pain. 'Take in air', they advised 'now release it'. She kept taking in air and releasing it, howling and growling from the pain she felt. It felt like she was dying. Then all of a sudden the pain ceased and she found she was moving on all fours. She looked at her limbs and they were not hers at all and then she realised what had happened. She had transformed. She was filled with joy. She felt free and strong and able to take on anything and anyone. She felt able to conquer and she leapt into the forest and kept moving all around, flaunting her wolf. The people who had gathered to help her with the experience laughed, happy for her for getting her wolf and being able to transform. Not all werewolves could do that. After that first experience, however, transforming became less painful but more pleasurable and exhilarating. Two years later however, she was yet to find her mate.

'Do you know who your mate is?' she asked, the question I had been dreading.

'Who needs a mate?' I asked, feigning nonchalance. 'You have not found your mate yet, I am not in a hurry'.

That topic was too distasteful to me and definitely not what I wished to talk about on the day that was supposed to be the happiest day of my life as a werewolf but which was fast turning into a nightmare.

'Go ahead to the stream', I said too brightly. 'I have chores. We shall see later at the party', and I hurried off, because I could no longer hold back the tears that were already stinging my eyes. I felt her eyes follow me. She must have wondered why I did not offer to wait for her so that we could get back together like I normally did. But I just did not want to break down before her and I did not want any show of pity which would most definitely cause me to shed more tears.

I wanted to start my chores when I had the mind link again.

'Come and see me right away'. It was Alpha Sylvester.

What did he want now? I wondered.

I scurried to the throne room. And as soon as I got there, he dismissed the officials he had been speaking with which surprised me, making me suspicious.

'Yes?' I asked wondering what was so important or private that he wanted to speak to her about that he had to dismiss those men.

'I feel that you have something to ask me!' he said without preamble.

'I do? What about?' I asked confused.

'Don't tell me you have not found out yet that I am your mate?' he asked leeringly.

'My wha...', I started, then my eyes grew very round as what he had said sunk and the implication dawned on me. 'You mean you knew I was your mate all this while , yet you never once told me or even gave me a clue? I asked, shocked again at his callousness. He knew of my birthday and of this and had kept it to himself, treating me like dirt.

I had wanted to hide this information from him, for how long before he smelled it, I did not know but for as long as possible had been my plan, but now that he knew, I was going to have to make the best of it.

'Well, now you know, what are you going to do about it? Are you going to call off your engagement to Cathania and claim me?' I asked hating to ask but having no choice because I needed to prepare a great defense against that. His next words showed me I needn't have bothered being afraid.

'Hell, no', he laughed mirthlessly. 'Look at you and then at me. I am a very powerful Alpha who is feared and respected by all and you think that I will stoop so low as to accept a lowly, weak maid like you, as my Luna? I'll be a laughing stock', he said looking at me condescendingly.

I could not take my eyes from him as I absorbed his every word.

'I could take you as my sex slave if you are that desperate to be with me, and If I want', he further said and I felt my heart sink to the bottom of my stomach.

Oh no, moon goddess, let him not want because I definitely do not want that, I prayed silently but not giving anything away.

'But I do not want!' he said and I offered silent thanks to the goddess for hearing my prayers. I was so relieved his next words rolled off me. 'I cannot forgive you enough for your crimes to want to be with you in such an intimate manner.

So, I, Sylvester Falcon Merryweather, Alpha of the Moon Ville pack reject you, Millicent O'Brien Harry as my mate'.

I clutched my heart. The pain was piercing. I didn't know why I should feel such pain, afterall, I had no feelings for him, and I could feel my wolf reeling and wringing from the force of the pain of his rejection.

I straightened and looked him straight in the eye.

'And I, Millicent O'Brien Harry accept your rejection, Sylvester Falcon Merryweather wholeheartedly'.

Sylvester's eyes were round as saucers. It was clear he had not expected that response from me and I laughed inwardly. He may have thought that I would go down on my knees and beg, being an orphan with no where to go and all.

'I exile you from this pack. You have just today to stay here. And that is because you still have to do your chores at my engagement party. After that, I do not want to see you here anymore!' he thundered.

'Your command shall be gladly followed!' I said, very pleased to see the shock reflected on Sylvester's face. He could not have given me a better birthday gift than his rejection but it was clear that my wolf Milly did not agree with that but I couldn't care less.