Chapter 2 Rejected and Claimed

Aria rubbed her palms nervously as Kael walked towards her, she kept batting her lashes constantly, eyes everywhere but his face.

"Look at me." He spoke, his voice firm yet soft. She finally met his gaze and her knees buckled harder. She gulped down nothing as a cold sensation brushed her skin.

He watched her, studied her and when he realized who she truly was, his wolf snarled.

"An omega!"

"You're the wolfless omega girl." He mumbled, his hands tucked behind him as he stared at her.

"ye–yes." she stammered.

He smiled, but it vanished as fast as it came. Taking his gaze back to the silent gathering, he took in a sharp breath and cracked his neck once.

Aria tried to stay composed but the doubt in her heart couldn't go away. She looked at Lynn and the bright smile on her face gave her some worth of reassurance. She forced a smile out and exhaled to calm her nerves.

"Alpha?" Beta Tharren called in a soft tone wondering why his Alpha refused to speak.

Keal gave no response, he turned to Aria, his lips curved into a cunning smile as he reached for her hands.

"The moon goddess has chosen." He said in a dry tone, some gasped and murmured while some remained quiet waiting for the storm yet to come.

"Is she your fated mate?" Beta Tharren asked in surprise.

"Yes." Kael answered his gaze fixed on her white palm. This time around many gasped.

"She's an omega."

"We won't accept her."

"The moon goddess must have made a mistake!"

They said with loud voices. Aria bit her lip hard as she tried to keep her composure. Their words were hurting but she refused to show it.

"You hear, don't you?"

She blinked as he brought his lips to her ears and whispered,sending shivers down her spine.

"I-" she opened her mouth to speak but then his next words made her mute immediately

"They're right." He said, the once flattened smile on his face turned into a devilish one. His grip tightened on her hand as she tried to pull away.

"I cannot accept a wolfless omega as my mate." His voice got louder as he faced them.

"What are you doing Alpha?" Beta Tharren stepped closer quickly but Kael stopped him with a hand raised.

"I am doing what any good Alpha would do Beta Tharren. Love, don't get your hopes up, I do not accept you!" Silence sliced through the pack as he declared letting go of her hand dramatically.

Her feet wobbled as she took a step back, she looked at him clearly but all she saw was disgust.

Her chest burned with a hotness she couldn't understand, his words echoed in her ears and her eyes swelled with tears.

The spark she once felt died and then pain took over.

Cold wrapped around her suddenly causing her to whimper and shiver. She had never felt that amount pain in her life, her thoughts were scattered, her heart shattered and worse the one who caused her pain had no remorse in his eyes.

"Are you sure you want to do this Alpha, the moon goddess chose her. At least give it time." Beta Tharren, being the reasonable one among them said slowly as he stood in front of him.

He glanced at Aria, her had already resolve collapsed even before she reached the ground, she was weak but she still stood even with her head bowed and confusion evident in her eyes.

"There's nothing to think about Beta Tharren,I have made my decision, I might as well do it properly then." Kael uttered arrogantly and turned to Aria once again.

His brows folded as he frowned at the weak creature in front of him. A dry scoff escaped his lips irritated by how Aria had become.

"Aria." He called in a commanding tone forcing her to meet his gaze once more. "I, Alpha Kael of the western pack, reject you as my mate."

It was all it took to break Aria to pieces. The words slammed into her chest like a physical blow.

The weak wolf inside her whimpered brokenly, she wasn't even sure if it came from her mind or tore through her throat.

Her knees finally gave out and she crashed to the floor. The bond she once felt splintered like glass. She felt it rupture.

Her vision blurred with tears as her fingers dug into the mud, she felt her heart reap out of her chest as pain hit again, this time more painful.

A burning rip tore through her stomach, up to her chest, up to her lungs until she couldn't breath.

"You hurt her." Kael's wolf rumbled sadly through their bond, Kael looked away too fast. Too sharply. As if he couldn't bear what he did.

He flinched as the weakened bond tugged him one last time before it finally, painfully snapped.

The last thread broke. Aria felt it. He did too but he turned his back on her anyway because walking away was easier than facing the ruin he caused.

Aria body shook as she pressed her hand to her chest, begging her heart to stop bleeding, begging the world to stop spinning long enough for her to breathe.

"You've always been a coward."

Kael halted in his step as a voice ripped through the crowd. He turned to the direction it came from and his fist clenched to see it was from his brother.

"I am an Alpha and I won't be stuck with an omega." He said but Cain scoffed. His gaze locked on Aria and something inside him broke.

Strange yet his wolf pushed, so fast he had to go to her. In seconds,he found himself beside her, hovering her before finally cradling her in his arms.

The pack went in uproar as they gasped in shock of what he did.

"Cain!" Kael thundered angrily.

"Alpha Cain, what are you doing?" Beta Tharren asked in a low voice as Cain carried Aria and walked towards the door.

With her blurry vision, Aria could only see the shifting glow in his eyes. It was the last thing she saw until her eyes finally gave out.

"If you don't want her-." Cain eyes finally glowed gold as he stared at her, He couldn't understand why he felt so much pain watching her suffer but staring at her made his wolf growled softly in delight.

"Then I claim her." the words vibrated through the earth. Kael's jaw clenched, Nostrils flaring as the weight of those words hurt him.

"You can't." He snapped, voice tight.

Cains lips lifted into a dangerous smirk "watch me." then he lowered his forehead to Aria's, letting his power wash over her in a warm, steady pulse.

Her wolf whimpered, leaning into him.

Kael's wolf roared inside him, but it was too late.