CHAPTER 3: THE REJECTED MATE

Chapter 3: The rejected mate

Selena's pov

(Few minutes earlier)

I couldn't believe that I was finally here, in the grand home of the alpha. The mansion was bigger and grander than any building I've ever seen in my life and my heart pounded heavily as the reality of what I was about to do dawned on me.

I was going to reject the alpha to his face and break our mating bond. Only then will I be completely free from the mad man.

Tahila, my wolf, whined in protest, thrashing inside of me at the thought of losing her mate but I clamped down her thoughts blaring into my head. I was doing this for the both of us and she'll thank me later by the time all of this is over.

I swallowed and timidly walked into the building, my heart climbing into my throat with each step.

One of the sentinels walked beside me, remorse and understanding etched on his face. "Nervous?" He asked.

I smiled and nodded.

"I'm Roy," he introduced, guiding me through the house to where I was supposed to meet the alpha.

"I'm Selena," I said, pleased to have somebody to converse with to take some pressure off my mind.

We finally entered what I assume was the throne room. It was a lavish room as big as a ballroom embellished in gold and quartz.

When his colleague left his voice dropped and his eyes hardened. "I know what you plan to do. For your own sake, don't do it."

I froze and looked at him but he only looked away and waited to be summoned.

My heart was pounding like crazy now and we heard the alpha's command, I thought I'd pass out from fear.

Tristan sat on his father's throne oozing power and ruthless confidence from his pores. He was a goodlooking man with long dark hair and wicked green eyes that seemed to gleam with malicious intent.

I fell on my knees before him and bowed my face to the ground, my entire body shaking with fear and when I got his permission to speak, I recited the rejection rite. The very words that would change my life forever.

"I, Selene Castellan, reject you, Tristan Morgenstein, as my mate."

There was silence throughout the room but in my head, my wolf was thrashing and whining within me, as if trying to break free.

Tristan sat up on the throne very slowly, his eyes drilling holes into my skull. "What did you just say, Selena?" He whispered.

His eyes were no longer gleaming with lustful fire. They were hardened, frozen blocks of ice.

"I- I said I rej–"

I had not finished my sentence before something slammed into me.

One moment, the alpha was sitted on his throne, the next, he was on top of me, choking the life from me.

I have never been choked before, never been hit even. This was a first for me and I struggled to grasp on to my life as Tristan tried to snuff it.

"I'll give you one last chance to take back your words, Selena," he growled low in my ear, "what. Did. You. Say."

I knew my life was hanging by a literal piece of thread and he could snuff it out in the blink of an eye.

Still, I choked out, "I can't– I can't accept the mating bond. I'm s- sor–"

A sharp blow to my face sent me flying into a potted plant and cracking my face against the vase.

I flinched as I felt blood drip down my face and when I tried to stand, the world started spinning.

I could hope that the alpha isn't always abusive. I could chuck it down to him acting out from the pain and humiliation of being rejected... But I'd only be deceiving myself.

"I'm sorry," I choked out, bowing my head before the alpha.

Better to suffer the abuse now and escape with my life than spend a lifetime of abuse with him in this gilded home.

Home.

I couldn't wait to get back home to my mother and Diane. She would heal my wounds and prepare a soothing broth for me and I would spend the rest of my life a spinster, with my cat Leticia, like I always wanted.

"Sorry?" The alpha chuckled hysterically. "You're sorry?!"

He looked at his sentinels in a, 'can you believe this bitch?' amused look.

He walked up to me, every trace of amusement gone from his eyes.

"I wanted to make you a queen. The fairest Luna this pack has ever known." His hand reached out and he grabbed fistfuls of my hair and tugged savagely until some of my strands came loose. "But I see now that you don't deserve to rule by my side, you stupid bitch."

He began dragging me along by my hair and tears spilled down my cheeks in pain as I tried to keep up with him.

"You think you can find a mate that is better than me? You really think that?" He growled angrily and I realized with my heart in my throat that he was leading me towards one of the fancy decorative torches hanging on a pillar.

"You think because you are sooo pretty, you're going to get yourself another mate? Is that it?"

"Alpha-" I whispered.

"My word is as good as law. My request is an order. I will show you the consequence of refusing the alpha's order!"

"No. No," i begged, "please, let me go." I was shaking with fear and crying profusely.

All my pleas fell on deaf ears and no matter how hard I thrashed, he wouldn't let me go. Infact, he gripped me even harder.

He grabbed one of the torches, and finally stopped and looked at me. His eyes were dark, soulless, bottomless orbs. "Your beauty has made you proud, Selena." He grinned a smile that sent goosebumps sprouting on my arm. "Well, let me fix that for you."

That was all the warning I got before he stabbed the fire on the left part of my face.