Chapter 2 Her Rejection

I stood frozen in the center of the great hall, my heart pounding so loudly it drowned out the silence that had followed Xander's declaration. The weight of a hundred stares pressed down on me, each one filled with amusement, disgust, or pity.

And then, like a dam breaking, the laughter started.

It began as a single cruel chuckle from the Beta's table, then spread like wildfire, a roaring wave of mockery crashing over me. Warriors smirked, pack members whispered behind their hands, and the she-wolves sneered, their eyes gleaming with malice.

"She thought she could actually be Queen."

"Pathetic little omega."

"The Alpha King himself rejected her in front of everyone. Serves her right."

Heat burned my cheeks, humiliation clawing at my throat like a vise. I wanted to disappear. I wanted the ground to swallow me whole. My hands clenched at my sides as I forced my trembling legs to hold me upright.

Someone stepped closer-a tall, red-haired she-wolf named Camilla. She was the Beta's daughter, cruel and arrogant, always finding ways to make my life miserable. Now, she had the perfect opportunity.

"Poor little Raven," she cooed mockingly, tilting her head as if she actually felt sorry for me. "You actually thought you were worthy of a mate?"

I kept my head high, refusing to let them see me break.

Camilla smirked. "What was it like?" she continued, her voice loud enough for the entire hall to hear. "Feeling the mate bond with someone so powerful-only to have him throw you away like garbage?"

Laughter erupted again. I could barely breathe.

"She should be grateful he's taking her with him," another voice said. "If she stays here, she'll just bring more shame to our pack."

Camilla leaned in closer, lowering her voice so only I could hear. "You think leaving with him will change anything?" she whispered, her breath warm against my ear. "He'll break you, Raven. He'll make you beg for death."

I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood.

I wouldn't let them see me cry. I wouldn't give them that satisfaction.

For years, I had endured their cruelty. I had survived it. But this... this was different. This wasn't just their hatred-it was his. The one person in the world who was supposed to cherish me, protect me, had looked at me like I was nothing.

Like I was a mistake.

No.

A sharp, cold realization settled deep in my bones. I wasn't going to wait for Xander to reject me in front of the entire kingdom. I wasn't going to stand there like a helpless fool while he ripped my dignity away.

I would do it first.

I would reject him before he had the chance.

A calmness settled over me, pushing away the pain, the shame. If he didn't want me, then I didn't want him either.

I turned on my heel, ignoring the lingering laughter, and walked out of the hall. My heart thundered in my chest, but my steps remained steady. I knew exactly where he would be.

I found Xander on the balcony overlooking the training grounds, his broad shoulders rigid, his hands resting on the railing. He stood alone, bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight, an untouchable force of dominance and power.

He didn't turn as I approached.

I took a deep breath, bracing myself. "Alpha King Xander."

His head tilted slightly, but he still didn't look at me. "What do you want?" he said coldly,

My pulse pounded in my ears. "I came to reject you."

The words felt foreign on my tongue, yet saying them filled me with a strange sense of power. I had been a victim my entire life, but not tonight. Tonight, I would take control.

Xander finally turned, his silver eyes locking onto mine. A slow smirk curled his lips, but there was no amusement in it-only something dark, dangerous.

"You?" he mused. "Rejecting me?"

I lifted my chin. "Yes." I clenched my fists, gathering my courage. "I, Raven Roman, reject you, Alpha King Darius Xander Black, as my mate."

The bond inside me shuddered, as if recoiling in agony. A sharp, invisible pain lanced through my chest, but I refused to let it show.

Xander didn't react. He simply watched me, his expression unreadable. And then, to my utter shock-

He laughed.

A low, cruel chuckle that sent a chill down my spine.

"You don't accept it?" I asked, my voice wavering. "But you-you said you were going to reject me."

His smirk widened, something wicked flashing in his eyes. "I changed my mind."

I took a step back, but he moved faster, closing the distance between us in an instant. His large hand wrapped around my wrist, holding me in place.

"You think you have a say in this, little omega?" he murmured, his voice a deadly whisper. "You think you can walk away from me?"

My breath hitched.

"I'm taking you with me," he continued, his grip tightening just enough to make my pulse hammer. "I'm going to make you beg for death, I'll make your life a living hell. You'll hate the Moon Goddess for this mistake, trust me,"

My stomach twisted.

"I'll make sure you regret the day you were born."

I stared up at him, my heart thundering against my ribs. His words were laced with venom, yet beneath the cruelty, I saw something else-something fierce.

I had expected rejection. I had prepared myself for it. But this?

This was a nightmare I hadn't seen coming.

Xander leaned in, his breath warm against my ear. "Welcome to your new reality, mate."

The last thing I saw before the world spun around me was the wicked gleam in his silver eyes.