Rejected

Zoe POV

Zack looked at me with pure hatred in his eyes.

“I don’t like you. Nobody likes you,” he said coldly. “I’ve known you since we were kids, and you are not fit to stand beside me as my Luna.”

The words hit me like a physical blow.

My mate. Zack Taylor. Alpha of the Blue Mountain Pack.The boy I had secretly loved since childhood.

And now he stood there, looking at me as if I were something disgusting.

“Why?” I whispered.

“Why?” He scoffed. “Because you’re worthless. You’re ugly. And most of all—you’re wolfless. I don’t need someone like you as my Luna.”

My chest tightened painfully.

Then he said the words that shattered my world.

“I, Zack Taylor, Alpha of the Blue Mountain Pack, reject you, Zoe Berry, as my mate and future Luna.”

My breath caught.

“If you don’t accept my rejection, I don’t want to see you again,” he continued harshly. “And you will not tell anyone about this bond. I refuse to let my pack know the Moon Goddess gave me a wolfless, worthless mate. As your Alpha, I forbid you from speaking about it.”

I stared at him, unable to move.

My heart felt like it was being crushed.

Should I accept his rejection?Should I make him feel the same pain I was feeling?

A thousand thoughts raced through my mind, but before I could speak, Zack turned and walked away.

Just like that.

Leaving me standing alone in the locker room, leaning against the cold metal lockers as tears streamed down my face.

I ran from the school, desperate to get away from everything.

As I reached the front gates, I saw my brother laughing with his friends—and with Zack.

For a moment our eyes met.

Then he looked away.

He ignored me completely.

That hurt even more.

“I’m sick of this pack,” I whispered through tears. “I’m sick of everyone treating me like I’m nothing. I want to leave. I want to disappear and never come back.”

Inside my mind, Celeste whimpered softly.

“I agree,” my wolf said sadly. “They don’t deserve us. I am a powerful wolf, even if they cannot sense me yet. If they choose to ignore us, then they are foolish and blind.”

Her words gave me just enough strength to keep moving.

I ran all the way home.

My parents had died years ago, leaving the house to my brother and me. But it had never felt like home since.

I packed a duffel bag with only the essentials.

Clothes. A few photos.The money my parents had saved for our future.

With that money, I could start a new life somewhere far away.

Before leaving, I paused at the front door.

Memories filled my mind.

Family dinners.Birthday parties.Laughing with Jessica in the backyard.

My chest tightened again.

“I’ll miss this place,” I whispered.

And then I closed the door.

For the last time.

For weeks, I wandered through the wolven territories, staying close to the human world but avoiding pack lands.

I had to be careful.

Packs didn’t like strangers crossing their borders.

And rogues were even worse.

Eventually, the money ran out.

My only option was to stay near the forest and hunt small animals to survive.

It wasn’t easy, but Celeste helped guide me.

Still, being alone in the wilderness was dangerous.

And one day, my luck ran out.

I was crouched near a stream, trying to catch a rabbit, when two men stepped out from the trees.

Rogues.

My stomach dropped.

“Well, look what we found,” one of them said with a disgusting grin. “A female rogue.”

His companion laughed.

“Aren’t we lucky today?”

They looked at me like predators studying their prey.

“I—I’m sorry,” I said quickly. “I didn’t mean to come into your territory. I’m just passing through.”

“Oh, you’re passing through?” the first rogue said mockingly.

“Why don’t you come spend some time with us?” the other added. “We’ll give you a very good time.”

My heart pounded.

I had to escape.

Slowly, I felt around the ground behind me and found a small rock.

While they were distracted arguing about who would “have me first,” I threw the rock deep into the forest.

“WHAT’S THAT?” I shouted, pointing behind them.

The two rogues turned.

That was my chance.

I ran.

“Damn it!” one of them yelled. “She fooled us! Chase her!”

Branches whipped against my face as I ran as fast as I could.

Celeste pushed her strength through me, helping my legs move faster.

But rogues were experienced hunters.

They were gaining on me.

One of them grabbed my shirt.

I stumbled.

Then they tackled me to the ground.

Pain exploded through my body as they kicked and punched me.

“Please!” I cried. “Stop! I didn’t do anything!”

They laughed.

“We can tell you don’t have a wolf,” one of them sneered. “You’re weak.”

His partner smacked his lips.

“How about you make us happy instead?”

Fear flooded my veins.

“Ken, hold her arms,” the other rogue ordered.

“No!” I screamed, struggling desperately. “Please let me go!”

“Let you go?” he laughed cruelly. “Sure. After we’re done with you.”

He leaned closer, his hands grabbing my shirt.

The fabric tore.

I screamed.

“NO!”

This couldn’t be happening.

Was this how I was going to die?

Broken and alone in the forest?

Then suddenly—

A deep, powerful growl echoed through the trees.

The rogues froze.

Heavy footsteps approached.

And then I saw it.

A massive red wolf stepped out from the forest.

Its golden eyes glowed with fury.

“Sh*t,” one rogue muttered.

“We crossed into Red Water territory.”

The wolf shifted into a tall, muscular man.

His aura radiated authority and danger.

“You’re right,” he said coldly. “You are in my territory now.”

The rogues trembled.

He glanced at them briefly.

Then his eyes fell on me.

For a moment, everything else faded away.

I was exhausted.

My body ached.

“P-please…” I whispered weakly. “Help me…”

Darkness swallowed me.

When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was the smell.

Disinfectant.

Medicine.

A hospital.

My eyes slowly opened.

White walls. Medical equipment.

Confusion washed over me as the memories came rushing back.

“How long was I out?” I asked weakly.

“Two days.”

The voice startled me.

I turned my head and nearly jumped out of bed.

A large, muscular man sat in a chair beside the bed, arms crossed.

“It’s good that you’re finally awake,” he said casually. “Now I can tell the Alpha and get back to my work instead of babysitting you.”

“Where… am I?” I asked.

“You’re in the hospital of the Red Water Pack.”

Red Water.

The name sounded familiar, but my mind was still foggy.

“Were you the one who helped me?” I asked.

He shook his head.

“I was one of the people who helped bring you here. But the one who found you was our Alpha.”

My heart skipped.

“You’re lucky,” he continued. “Our Alpha usually kills rogues on sight.”

“I wasn’t with them!” I said quickly. “They chased me. They were trying to hurt me.”

The man shrugged.

“Doesn’t matter. Our Alpha doesn’t tolerate rogues in his territory.”

Fear crept back into my chest.

“What will happen to me?”

“That depends on him,” the man replied.

He stood up and walked toward the door.

“The Alpha wants to see you. Get dressed and follow me.”

I slowly climbed out of bed and changed into the clothes left beside me.

My legs were shaky, but I forced myself to stand.

The man led me out of the hospital and across the pack grounds.

Soon we reached the packhouse.

It was enormous.

Far larger than the one in Blue Mountain.

Modern, elegant, and powerful—just like the pack that lived here.

My stomach twisted with nervousness.

Who was this Alpha?

And what would he do when he discovered the truth about me?

The man opened the doors.

“Come on,” he said.

“The Alpha is waiting.”