Chapter 3 Rejection

CHAPTER 3

LUNA MOONCREST

With no further hesitation, I finally retired to bed as it dawned on me that the pack's annual gathering was an avenue for destined mates to find each other and mark themselves as mates.

I would definitely be lucky enough to find my mate there just like the others.

***

As early as the following morning the next day, I stood up and began to make preparations for the annual pack meeting.

A feeling of excitement washed over me, leaving me totally expectant for a great day ahead.

There was no doubt that I would be lucky enough also to locate my mate just like everyone else.

I made sure to put on my most beautiful dress and look my absolute best in anticipation for what was coming.

As soon as I was done, I peered around the entire surrounding of the pack house and gently snuck out when I had confirmed that the coast was clear enough and there was no one watching me.

I succeeded in leaving the pack house to the pack's communal area where the gathering was scheduled to hold.

I was lucky enough to be one of the first people to get there.

I hid myself at a secluded spot where it would be difficult for anyone to find out that I was in attendance.

I was doing this just because of the fear of being caught by those demons I took as relatives.

It felt so good staying away from them for a while.

The meeting started in no time, and a good number of people began to troop in one after the other.

I suddenly felt a strong attraction pulling me towards the center of attraction.

I could feel something urging me to take a step forward and claim my mate.

I was staring at him eyeball to eyeball. He could also see me, but he chose to remain on his seat and keep shooting repeated glances at me.

After a while, I saw him blink his eyes at me and gestured to me to come join him, with a snap of his finger.

I dashed out of my current hiding place at once, not minding if anyone saw me.

At this point, I knew this attraction was never ordinary; I knew he was my mate and I was determined to let him understand that we were meant for each other.

I wrapped my arms around him the moment I finally made it to where he was sitting. A blush of smiles covered my face. I couldn't just shake off the happiness I felt by finally having my mate wrapped in my arms.

Unfortunately, I never knew I was causing an unnecessary scene.

Ryder Blackthorn was the beta of the pack, and he was my mate!

Apart from being very close to the Alpha of the pack, I never expected him to be the mate I had been hoping to see all this while.

Nonetheless, I was still fulfilled enough that I finally got to see him.

"I've been waiting for the day I would find my mate all this while, I never knew it was going to be you." I screamed happily, curling my hands up around his neck.

"What do you mean, woman? Will you let go of me this minute?!" He sprawled aggressively as he struggled to get my hands off him.

"What's going on here? Even if you realized that I was your mate, do you think this is the right way to go about it?"

"Oh, I'm really sorry about..." I was still on the verge of saying something to express how sorry I was when I heard a familiar voice behind me.

"What does she want, darling?" Turning around, I saw Delia glaring furiously at me as she locked hands with Ryder. "Hey, sister. Aren't you tired of fooling yourself everywhere you go? Why do you keep doing this?"

To my greatest surprise, Ryder received her hands and planted a warm kiss on her forehead.

He clearly did this on purpose just to get back at me. But I really couldn't place my hands around the drama playing out before me.

I fixed my daze on them helplessly, my mouth wide open as I could no longer hold the shock. "You are my mate, Ryder. What are you doing with her?"

"Of course I know I am your mate. I knew about it all this while, but I can definitely have nothing to do with someone like you." Those words cut through my veins strongly, leaving me in total awe.

As if that was not enough, he placed both hands on either side of Delia's cheek and cuddled her ears frantically.

They both burst out in laughter as they turned an aggressive glare at me.

"I guess it's high time I did this." Ryder announced, now rising to his feet. He faced the whole crowd and held on firmly to Delia's hand.

"I, Ryder Blackthorn hereby reject you Luna Mooncrest as my fated mate. Instead, I have decided to choose Delia as my mate."

The hall divided as soon as he made those statements. I could literally see all faces turning to me and making mockery of the fact that I had just been rejected by my mate publicly.

"I guess you lost once again, sister. You should know by now that you are nothing less than a failure. You disgust me!" Delia spat viciously at me, her voice spewing so much hatred for me.

I was literally struggling to fight back tears from bursting out of my eyes. This rejection right here was unbearable and disgraceful.

How was I even supposed to face this crowd right now?

I finally managed to raise my head and stare into Delia's eyes. That was when the endless stream of tears flew out freely.

"Why are you doing this to me, Delia? I loved you just the way someone would love her own sister. Why have you chosen to frustrate me in this manner?"

"Oh, you are so pathetic! In case you have forgotten in a hurry, I never frustrated you, instead you did that yourself. I mean, what other frustration is greater than that of the beta rejecting his mate before the public? You should hide your face in shame."

She was right after all. I lowered my head quietly as different thoughts kept flooding my mind.