THE REJECTION

Mara.

The murmurs surrounding the pack was high, but it couldn’t compare to the numbness I felt.

“What is the meaning of this, Alpha Dresden?” One of the Elders asked.

“It's exactly as I said, end the marriage between me and Mara and let me marry Bella,” Dresden said.

It felt like I was being suffocated from the inside out. This couldn't be happening. Not now.

“Mara is your mate. You cannot marry anyone else.” The Elder said adamantly.

The Alpha turned around, and I gasped as his dark orbs met mine. Slowly, his lips curled into a smile.

“Good thing she's here. Now I can deal with this,” he said, his eyes solely focused on mine.

What was he planning?

My heart sank with unease, but nothing could have prepared me for what happened next.

“Mara Reid, I, Dresden Wade, reject you as my mate.” He declared, pointing at me.

It was like thunder, striking my insides. In an instant, the bond broke and pain sprouted through my body. I held back a whimper as I stumbled across the floor.

Noise filled my ear as shouting ensued. The pack was still in uproar and I felt stares all around me.

“Alpha Dresden! What is the meaning of this?” The Elder shouted.

“It is exactly what it is.” Dresden turned to face the crowd. “From the beginning, I wanted nothing to do with this woman. I would have rejected her as my mate if it wasn’t announced. No matter what happens, I can’t and will never see myself with her.” He proudly announced.

“Besides,” he said, pulling Bella against him, “How can I marry somebody else when the woman I love is here?”

The uproar slowly turned quiet. The Eders whispered among themselves before turning to him.

“Is this your decision Alpha Dresden? Don’t you fear the consequences of this?” The Head Elder spoke.

Alpha Dresden shook his head before turning to Bella. A tear slipped from my eye as I saw the look he gave her. A look he'd never given me.

Affection. Love.

“No consequences matter when I get to be with the woman I love,” he said proudly.

The murmurs die down. Looking around, the initial shock and horror had faded, I even watched them give sympathetic looks, not at me, but toward them.

“Very well,” the Head elder said wearily, “Since the mate bond has been broken, there’s nothing we can do anyways. You are free to marry whoever you want.”

“And on that note,” Dresden smirked. Smiling at Bella, he raised her hand before looking at the pack.

“I am formally announcing our engagement. I'm happy to say the mating ceremony will be held two weeks from now.”

The pack cheered and suddenly the atmosphere changed into one of joy. I stared incredulously.

What about me? I wanted to cry out, but nobody was looking at me. I'd done my best to fulfill the duties of a Luna, borne his abuse with a smile on my face and tried to gain their favor. Yet none of the pack members even spared a glance my way.

I forced myself to stand through the pain, stumbling out of the hall. Nobody looked at me as I left. My pain, along with my existence it seemed, was forgotten.

I left the pack hall alone to lick my wounds.

….

The humiliation I suffered from the public rejection was nothing compared to the aftermath.

With the announcement, it was like every preparation or ceremony I'd gone through hadn’t existed. In a flash, the entire pack had moved on, ignoring the fact that I was once his mate. The next two days felt like hell. At best, I got pitying looks, and at most I was jeered upon.

I once overheard some of the pack members speaking about it, sharing how they were surprised that Dresden and Bella weren’t mates from the start. How I was unexpected and this was the only way to set things right. I smiled wryly.

Yes, who was I to get in the way of a love match?

It didn’t matter what I thought, or that I was the one who was betrayed. It didn’t matter that swallowing down the constant pain he gave me meant nothing. It didn't matter. It didn't matter

Dresden was going to have his happy ending with the mate he wanted and I was nothing more than a laughing stock with a broken heart.

I cried every night for the past several days. I watched him care for her and pamper her. Even when I tried to avoid them, they were all people talked about. In the end, I locked myself in my room but the pain remained.

Could I continue living this way?

As I hid, isolated from everyone, I made up my mind. The pain and humiliation and heartbreak felt unending.

I was going to leave the Grey pack.

By midnight, everything was set up and I was ready.

It wasn’t like I had any family here in the first place. I was an orphan brought up and raised by the pack, this same pack that had abandoned me.

There was nothing to lose.

With that, I left.

I ran through the forest for hours on end, trying not to cry throughout. The sky was completely dark when I finally stopped. I didn't know where I was but I was sure it was far away from my past. Exhausted, I laid against a tree. I was close to falling asleep only to hear a growl.

I turned alert instantly, standing up when my heart dropped. Five wolves burst out of the shadows, all focused on me.

Rogues.

I looked around to find a way out, but everywhere was surrounded.

Fear filled me.

What could I do? I couldn't outrun them in my form and I couldn't fight all of them.

They were going to kill me.

As one lunged, I closed my eyes, preparing for pain when a loud growl suddenly burst. I was pushed to the floor and opened my eyes to find a man battling all of them.

Who was he?

I remained in shock while they were beaten off. It wasn't until I saw their limp bodies on the floor that I could finally relax.

I had come so close to dying…

Before I knew it, I burst into tears. Crunching sounds neared me before I felt a hand on my shoulder.

“Hey, don't cry. You have nothing to worry about.” He murmured. “I'm the future Alpha of the Crescent pack. you're safe with me.”

I couldn't understand it but somehow, being near him made me feel… safe.

“Can you look at me?” He asked gently. Swallowing thickly, I looked up to face my savior.

The world stopped.

Suddenly, the hollow place where my mate bond was was replaced with something else.

Mate.

It had to be my imagination, but I knew it wasn't when he gasped.

This was real. He was my second chance mate.

He looked at me with something like awe while I trailed his features. He was handsome,with his black hair and emerald eyes shining against the light. I couldn’t believe it.

“Where did you come from?” He breathed out.

“Somewhere I never want to be anymore,” I said. Unwittingly, a tear fell down my cheeks. He followed it and looked back at me with so much compassion that I wanted to cry again.

Just as quickly, he raised his hand towards me.

“Come with me, to my pack.” He offered, his gaze littered, making my heart skip.

He looked and sounded nothing like Dresden. He felt like a charming prince.

Maybe this was fate. Maybe this was who I was really meant to be with.

With that, my mind was set. Hope sprung anew in me as I reached out and took his hand. His grip was gentle, not harsh or painful.

“Yes.”