6. Rejection

"Thought I've warned you..." Alpha Roman said, each word laced with deliberate emphasis.

"Is this how you repay me after I let you stay in this pack? Do you have any idea what I've sacrificed for you? Everyone told me not to trust you, warned me about you—but I chose to ignore them."

He pointed his index finger at me as he spoke, his eyes full of disappointment.

After witnessing the sheer rage he showed earlier when I interrupted him, I now didn't dare to speak.

I kept my head down, pressing my toes firmly into the floor to keep every muscle of it running away from this room.

Alpha Roman was never a warm man. But from a young age, I'd been constantly reminded how lucky I was that he still allowed me to stay in his pack.

That constant reminder had shaped my thinking—I saw him as generous; someone I owed everything to. And because of that, I was too afraid to go against him.

I'd gotten used to being grateful for less. Even when his accusations had no basis whatsoever.

'What does he even mean by saying I "bewitched" Nyxon and Kaiden? That's insane—an outrageous lie.'

'And what about my mother? Was she really that horrible that every mistake she made has to be dumped on me too?'

'I didn't know anything—I didn't ask for this! So why do I have to carry her sins?'

'Is it not enough that I was abandoned? Now I'm constantly humiliated just because of what she did?'

'Maybe I'm not just unwanted… maybe I'm also cursed.'

My mind screamed in protest, bursting with angry thoughts about a mother I never even knew.

Tears rolled silently down my cheeks. Not from shame—but from a deep, bitter anger.

"Oh, please," Rue spat, her voice shrill. "No one's gonna buy that pitiful act. I'm sick of it! Those fake tears, like you're the victim and we're the villains—when the truth is, you're the monster here, Mina!"

I flinched at her words.

"Stop with that innocent girl act. It's disgusting!" she snapped again.

At that moment, I wished I could disappear from the face of the earth.

Alpha Roman moved to calm Rue, who was nearly hysterical, while Nyxon stood frozen in place, unmoving and unreadable.

I had never felt more powerless in my life.

I cursed the Moon Goddess harder than ever.

'How could she so carelessly thrust this fate onto me?'

I had never crossed any lines. I'd spent my whole life trying to be good—obedient. Careful. Quiet.

And yet...

"Now," Rue said sharply, "you're going to break whatever spell you put on them. Or else, you'll be dragged out to the center of the pack and judged! You manipulative witch!"

I looked at Rue, eyes wide, pleading.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Rue. I swear—I haven't done anything. Deep down, I know you don't believe it too... you know I'm not lying. Please, Rue," I begged.

*Spit*

Rue spat at my feet.

"Bullshit. There's no way the Moon Goddess gave you two mates. That defies fate. What are the odds of such an anomaly happening—not just to you, but to your mother too? Don't you think that's a little too convenient to be random?" Rue said, her voice thick with disgust, unable to accept my defense.

"But it's the truth, Rue. I didn't do anything..." I pleaded once more.

That was all I could say. Because I had nothing to prove it. No evidence to defend myself with.

Rue rolled her eyes dramatically, her expression full of mockery.

"Fine then. If you won't admit it, then Nyxon can just reject you. We're never going to have someone like you as Luna. You'd only bring disgrace to this pack—right, Dad?" she added, like it was the most casual thing in the world.

As if it were that simple.

Alpha Roman nodded in agreement.

"Yes, that's a wise suggestion. I don't want to trouble myself with having to explain anything to Alpha Wyatt of Shadowbrook about Nyxon's engagement to Elena."

My heart dropped hearing Alpha Roman mention arranging Nyxon's engagement to Elena, Alpha Wyatt's daughter.

I should've known better than to hope. With my status, I never stood a chance. I never really had a place in Nyxon's heart.

I looked at Nyxon, desperate to find even a flicker of the bond he once claimed to value so much.

But he looked away. He wouldn't meet my eyes.

"Well? What are you waiting for?! Nyxon, do it," Rue ordered.

There was clear hesitation on Nyxon's face. He muttered under his breath, annoyed.

"Can't we do this later? It doesn't have to be right now, does it?" he tried to argue.

SLAP!

Alpha Roman struck Nyxon across the face so hard that blood formed at the corner of his mouth.

I flinched. It was as if my cheek had taken the blow.

Nyxon stood frozen. He didn't fight back. Didn't say a word.

"Do it. Now."

The command was short and final.

Nyxon stepped forward, eyes darkened with anger and frustration as he closed the distance between us.

More tears spilled down my cheeks. My body trembled, already bracing for what was about to happen—for the bond that would soon be severed.

I'd heard the stories.

When a mate bond is broken, it's the lower-ranking mate who suffers the most.

Which meant, without question… that would be me.

Some even said the pain—both mental and physical—could be so unbearable that it drove people to madness... or worse, to their death.

I wasn't ready—but maybe my life was that cheap in the eyes of Alpha Roman's family.

"Mina Everyn, I, Nyxon Sawyer, do not want you. With Moon Goddess as my witness, I reject you as my mate."

Each word felt like a blade driven straight into my heart. The grief and sense of worthlessness consumed every part of me.

After he finished his sentence, I braced myself—waiting for the crucifying pain everyone always talked about.

One second. Then a minute passed.

Nothing happened.

I had closed my eyes and bowed my head, but now I looked up, confused.

Was I already so numb to pain that nothing could affect me anymore?

But then something unexpected happened.

Nyxon collapsed from where he stood, falling to the floor like something had knocked the air out of him. His eyes were vacant—dazed.

Alpha Roman stared at his son in disbelief. Then his gaze shifted sharply to me.

"Who are you? Why didn't the rejection work on you—and why did it bounce back onto him?" he asked, bewildered, stepping away from his shattered desk, suddenly needing support.

His question stunned me even more.

'What does this mean? What now?' I asked myself silently.

'Simple,' Thora answered inside me, her voice laced with smug satisfaction. 'It means we outrank him. He doesn't have the right to reject us. The Moon Goddess didn't accept his plea.'