A very sick Joke

SELENA’S POV

The night cool breeze hit my skin as I walked blindly down the almost deserted streets, my mind reeling from the rejection I had just suffered. We were laughing and chatting over dinner moments ago, and now I was alone on the streets with his words replaying in my head.

"You're just the spoiled daughter of the Beta, Selena. You don't have any speciality or have enough knowledge to assist me in ruling this pack. "

I sat there, mouth opened wide in shock before I regained myself and realised what he said was actually true.

"I can learn," I started, struggling with words. "I can train, Caius. If you want power, then I shall be powerful."

But he shook his head, his gold eyes unreadable. "There’s no need for that. I already have someone I want as my Luna.."

“What?” I stared at him in shock.

That could only mean one thing, he had all thai planned out. He had made this decision a long time ago and used this facade of a dinner to break things off with me.

“Yes, she is more powerful and has the qualities of a good leader.”

“That’s enough.” I got up, anger seething in me. "I, Selena, accept your rejection."

There was a searing pain in my heart, as if claws ripped my heart apart from within. But I'd not let him witness me break. I'd turned on my heel and walked out, which was why I ended up alone on the streets..

If I knew it would end up like this, I wouldn't have come back. I wouldn't have rejected the offer from the Moon Goddess and start afresh where I'd never recall Caius and how he'd left me in tatters. But now it's too late, anyway. I had set my mind. I had pleaded for this second chance, and now I would just have to toughen up over it.

*****************************

The harsh taste of the alcohol burned down my throat as I swallowed once more, and it continued all the way to my chest while i sat on the stool in front of the bartender

"Another one?" The bartender glanced up at me, his hand drawing along the bar in front of me.

I pushed my cup to me. "Make it stronger."

His face dropped, not to put the liquid gold into my cup.

"Bad night?"

I smiled. "Something like that."

I spun the glass and sat in the chair, staring up at the ceiling before downing the whiskey down my throat. Blazing fire travelled down through my chest but never reached the cold and hollow space inside.

I fell off the bar and onto the dance floor, stumbling. If I couldn't drink myself to death, I'd carry myself to death in stupid forgetfulness. Music boomed in the bar, pounding within me as I dissolved into rhythm. I felt arms wrapped around my waist, but I didn't care. I just wanted to forget about the rejection and let loose.

But the hurt simmers hot within, smouldering like a fresh wound. Clubbing and dancing were never sufficed to make up for Caius's venomous barbs.

After drinking a whole bottle, which was more than I could handle, I decided to go home and sleep the terrible night away. As I stumbled out of the bar, I started to make my way to the sideline to find a cab home when I heard my name.

"Selena?" A familiar voice called, and i turned to meet an old friend from the pack, Daniel walking toward me. "I never expected to see you here, and why are you so drunk?"

I crossed my arms, skin bare. "What do you want, Daniel?"

He stumbled over to me, smelling of booze. "Come on, I'll walk you home. You don't have to be out here alone."

"I'm fine," I snarled, trying to step back.

His arm flashed out, his hand closing around my wrist when I attempted to retreat. "Don't even think about it. It's not safe for someone like you, a little thing like you, to be out walking around drunk."

My werewolf Aya growled in confusion. ‘Something's not right, Selena. He has dark intentions.’

I shivered with fear. I fought to break free, but Daniel's fingers only tightened. "Let go."

"Just be a good girl and come with me.” He let out a growl. "I'm doing this for your own good."

Aya cursed in my head. ‘Fall back.’

My fear accelerated as I struggled to escape from his hold. "Let me go. I don’t want to go with you."

He refused to let go and continued to drag me toward his car, but he yanked away from me by a strong force that had me stumbling to the ground. I looked up to see who my saviour was, and my eyes widened;

Lucian.

Daniel didn’t even attempt to fight back because he knew he was at great disadvantage going against one of the most powerful werewolf in the pack, so scurried to his feet and ran towards his car after furiously apologising.

I was there, my head in this space of feeling disconnected from what was happening. I should have been scared, but the only thing I could feel was this kind of warmth wrapped around me. A tug at my core that I hadn't even realized was happening. I was trying to breathe, and before I could even attempt to get caught up on it, Aya's voice yelled in my mind, soft but firm.

Mate.

My heart pounded with fear as Lucian's eyes edged slowly to mine. No glint of gold in them, and for the first time ever, no fury in their depths, a certain something soft instead. There was a thick tension as we stared at each other.

No.

That was impossible.

Lucian. My ex-mate’s brother, who I had come back to destroy, was my second-chance mate.

His gaze met mine as he came towards me. "Selena—"

I stood up immediately and stepped away from him. "No, please don’t."

The Moon goddess must be playing a very sick joke with me.