The rejection

The bond had just started to feel right in my chest when Adrian’s face changed.

One second he was staring at me like he was struggling to breathe. The next time he looked at me like I was poisonous.

Two omegas were walking by carrying baskets of herbs. The air smelled like pine and fresh earth. Everything felt normal.

Except my world had just been turned upside down.

   

“Adrian “ I whispered, my voice shaking even though I tried to stand up. “You feel it too.”

He didn’t answer at first. His jaw got tight. His eyes, the deep brown I had always admired from afar turned cold.

“Stop talking “ he said under his breath.

I blinked. “You’re my mate.”

One of the warriors dropped the spear he was holding. The sound echoed louder than it should have.

Adrian stepped back from me like I had touched him with fire. “Don’t say that again.”

My heart started to pound. “You felt it. I know you did. The bond—”

“Enough!” he snapped.

Everyone was staring now.

One of the elders who had been walking by stopped. His sharp eyes moved from Adrian to me. Back again.

Adrian’s voice rose, strong and clear the voice of an Alpha who was used to being obeyed.

“There is no bond “ he said. “This Omega is confused.”

My throat went dry. “Adrian…”

He looked at me then. For a moment I saw fear there. Not anger. Not disgust.

Fear.

“Same-sex bonds are forbidden “ one of the elders said quietly. His voice carried. “They are a curse.”

The word cut deeper than any blade.

Curse.

I felt the pull in my chest again warm and real. The Moon Goddess does not make mistakes. I knew that.

“You are lying,” I said softly, not to the elder, not to the warriors.

To Adrian.

His eyes hardened.

“I reject you.”

The words fell like stones.

My breath left me. I could not feel my fingers.

“I, Adrian Foster reject Austin Gray as my mate.”

The bond snapped.

It did not break gently. It tore.

Pain exploded through my chest. I. Fell to my knees. It felt like someone had reached inside me. Ripped something out with bare hands. I clawed at my shirt, at my skin, trying to breathe.

Someone laughed nervously.

“See?” a warrior muttered. “It was nothing.”

Adrian was not looking at them. He was looking at me like he wanted to look but could not.

“You have shamed this pack “ he said loudly. “You dared to claim something ”

“I didn’t choose it “ I choked. “You know I didn’t.”

His face flickered again for a second.

Then it was gone.

“If word spreads “ one of the elders said, “the Blood Kingdom will mock us.”

Adrian straightened. “It won’t spread.”

My heart stopped.

“Guards “ he ordered. “Take him.”

Two warriors stepped forward. I tried to stand. My legs were weak. They grabbed my arms anyway.

“Adrian “ I said, forcing his name out even though my throat burned. “Please.”

He did not come closer.

He did not even whisper sorry.

“Execute him “ he said.

The world went silent.

I thought I had misheard.

The warriors froze. “Alpha Adrian?”

“He will not leave this territory alive “ Adrian said. “No one must know.”

The elder nodded slowly. “It is for the good of the bloodline.”

For the good of the bloodline.

I started laughing.

It sounded broken to my own ears.

“I believed in you “ I said quietly.

Adrian’s eyes flashed. “Take him away.”

They dragged me across the ground. My knees scraped against gravel. I did not fight at first. I was too shocked.

When we reached the path leading toward the forest something inside me screamed.

I twisted suddenly shoving one of the warriors hard. He was not expecting it. He stumbled back. I elbowed the one and ran.

“After him!”

Branches scratched my face as I rushed into the trees. My chest burned. The broken bond felt like a wound that would not stop bleeding.

Behind me, I heard paws hitting the ground. Some of them shifted.

I shifted too.

The change hurt more than it ever had before. My wolf whined in pain as we ran. The forest blurred around me. I did not think. I only ran.

I knew these woods better than most of them. As an Omega, I was sent here often to gather herbs and firewood. I knew the hidden dips in the ground the paths between rocks.

“Cut him off!” someone shouted in the distance.

I veered left or right. I leaped over a tree and nearly collapsed when my injured leg hit the ground wrong. One of the warriors had kicked me earlier. I could feel the blood running down my side.

I kept running.

I did not want to die.

Not like this.

Not because I loved the person.

The edge of the pack territory was close. I could smell it. The faint shift in the air marked where our lands ended and the wider kingdom began.

If I crossed it they would need permission to follow. It would buy me time.

A howl rose behind me.

They were gaining.

My lungs felt like they were tearing apart. My wolf stumbled again. I forced myself forward.

A little more.

A little—

I burst through the final line of trees and crossed the invisible border.

I did not stop until my legs gave out.

I shifted back into my form without meaning to. The pain from the rejection hit me then. I fell onto the ground gasping.

For a moment I thought I had made it.

Then I heard horses.

Familiar like it was from my pack.

Different scent. Different energy.

Stronger.

I lifted my head slowly.

A group of warriors in uniforms stood a few feet away. Their horses were tall and restless. The men looked calm. Their eyes were sharp.

At the front of them sat a man I recognized immediately.

Alpha Derek Foster.

The dangerous wolf in the kingdom and the ruling Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack.

Adrian’s older brother.

My heart dropped into my stomach.

He looked down at me like I was something he had found by accident on the road.

“Interesting “ he said softly.

His voice was deep and controlled. Not loud like Adrian’s. Not emotional.

Controlled.

One of his warriors. Stepped closer to me. He grabbed my arm. Pulled me up roughly. I cried out. My body was too weak to fight

“Name “ Derek said.

I swallowed. My lips were dry. “Austin Gray.”

His eyes flickered slightly. “From Blood Moon Pack.”

It was not a question.

“Yes.”

He studied my face for a moment. His gaze moved to the mark on my neck that had started forming earlier when the bond first snapped into place.

His jaw tightened a little.

“Why are you bleeding here?” he asked.

I almost laughed again.

“Your brother ordered my execution “ I said.

The warriors around him stiffened.

Derek did not look surprised.

“For what crime?” he asked calmly.

I hesitated.

It did not matter anymore did it?

“I was his mate.”

Silence.

The wind moved through the trees. One of the horses snorted.

Derek’s eyes darkened. “Explain.”

“He rejected me “ I said. My voice sounded tired to me. “In front of everyone. Then he ordered them to kill me before anyone could talk.”

One of the warriors holding me tightened his grip. “Alpha this is forbidden.”

“I know what is forbidden “ Derek said without looking at him.

His gaze never left mine.

“Same-sex mates,” one of the men muttered. “It brings weakness.”

“Does it?” Derek asked quietly.

No one answered.

I could not stand anymore. My knees buckled. The warrior forced me upright again.

“Please “ I whispered, not even sure who I was begging. “Just let me go.”

“Go where?” Derek asked.

I had no answer.

He looked at the blood soaking through my torn shirt. “He truly meant to kill you.”

“Yes.”

“Did you force the bond?”

I felt insulted.

“How can anyone force the Moon Goddess?” I said weakly.

Something flickered in his eyes again.

Then slowly he dismounted from his horse.

He walked toward me step by step until he was standing in front of me. He was taller, than Adrian. Broader. His presence pressed down on me like a weight.

He suddenly grabbed my chin. Lifted my face.

I was frozen in shock.

His fingers felt warm. His grip was firm, but not too tight.

“You don’t smell like someone who is lying “ he said.

“I’m too tired to make things up “ I replied.

For a moment, I thought I saw something like anger on his face. It wasn’t directed at me.

Behind us, I heard distant howling

The fighters.

They had arrived at the border.

One of Derek’s fighters turned around. “The leader Blood Moon wolves are coming.”

Derek didn’t let go of me. “How many are they?”

“Five. More are, behind them.”

D

erek kept looking at me. “If I give them my brother’s problem, it will go away.”

My heart was beating weakly.

“And if you don’t?” I asked.

His thumb touched the mark on my neck. I felt a sting.

“Then I will get involved in his scandal.”

The howling grew louder.

I shut my eyes, feeling hopeless.