Chapter 3 Mate Rejection

RAINE

The next day...

Alpha Markus's meeting room was usually reserved for important decisions about territory, war, or internal Pack policies. But this morning, the wooden walls echoed not with strategy... but with anger.

I sat on the long bench, my hands trembling even though I tried to hold them steady. Beside me, Killian stood calm, cold as usual. At the far end of the room, Alpha Markus stood with his back to us, his body tense, breathing heavily. Several elders sat with stiff faces. And my mother... stood behind me, her eyes swollen from crying.

The scent of tension filled the room.

"How could this happen?" Alpha Markus's voice finally broke the silence, heavy and shaking the floor. He turned around, his red eyes locking onto us. "How could... a future Alpha and his half sister make love in the middle of the Pack's field, under the full moon, like... savage beasts?!"

The elders avoided his gaze. But I could feel their whispers since earlier.

The gossip had spread fast.

"They did it in the field."

"Maybe that girl is a seductress..."

Killian remained silent, sitting upright, his eyes staring straight ahead.

"Can't you find a girl out there, huh?!" Alpha Markus snapped loudly at his son, shocking everyone. "Out of thousands of females you could choose, why your half sister? Are you crazy?! Do you think other Packs won't gossip about this?! This will become psychological warfare for our enemies! They will mock us for having a future Alpha who scandals with his half sister!"

Alpha Markus pointed at me, full of rage. "And you, Raine! Are you really destined to be a whore in this Pack?! Crawling on the ground like a woman without honor!"

The room fell into a deadly silence.

My mother, who had been biting her lip to hold back tears, finally dropped to her knees before Alpha Markus. "Forgive her... Forgive my daughter, Alpha," she whispered hoarsely. "She doesn't know... it's instinct, not intent. They can't control it."

But Alpha Markus didn't even glance at his own wife. His eyes burned, red like embers ready to consume anyone who dared approach.

"I have claimed Raine as my Luna in the future." Suddenly Killian said this.

Everyone turned to look at Killian.

"We are Fated Mates, bound by instinct. What fault is it of mine if my wolf's instinct finds a bond in her? We're not full siblings, only half. Isn't this possible?"

Alpha Markus stared at his son like he had just crossed the limit of his patience.

CRASH!

A metal vase shattered against the wall. Its shards rained down on the floor.

"I don't care if you have a bond from the Moon Goddess! I will not allow this Pack to be led by a Luna who is the daughter of my enemy!!"

I gritted my teeth, clenching my fists. "Then..." I whispered coldly, "I would never want to be the Luna of a son who killed my father."

The room fell silent again. Some elders bowed their heads. Others closed their eyes as if that sentence pierced the very core of tradition and honor.

"What did you say?!" Alpha Markus roared. His Alpha aura exploded, shaking the entire room.

But before he could explode further, an old elder - Elder Marlo, one of the oldest advisors - stood up.

"Alpha Markus..." he said gently. "You know the consequences of rejecting a bond from the Moon Goddess? It could curse the Alpha's heir, and even affect the entire Pack. Be careful..."

Alpha Markus responded sharply, "I don't believe in fate mocking my honor."

"But Markus, if this bond is forcibly broken..."

"I'd rather be cursed than see the blood of a traitor sitting beside my child on this throne!"

"I will proceed with an arranged mate for Killian immediately!"

Everyone fell silent again.

Alpha Markus let out a harsh breath. Then he said, "Killian, reject her. Now!"

Killian was silent for a moment. I hoped he would really reject me.

And... my hope was granted.

"I, Killian Knight, future Alpha of Pack Shadowfang, reject Raine Bittley as my mate."

I didn't cry. I didn't scream. I didn't beg. I just... smiled faintly, because I never expected to be his mate anyway.

Finally, it was all over.

But that freedom only lasted a moment before the pain hit my body.

My left chest felt crushed. My breath caught. My legs wobbled. My knees gave way and I fell to my knees on the cold marble floor, biting my lip hard to keep from screaming.

The burning sensation... was unbearable!

"RAINE!!" my mother screamed in panic, rushing to me. She hugged me, her body trembling as she tried to steady my erratic breathing. "Hold on, Raine... This will pass... I'm here..."

My body kept trembling. The pain didn't stop. But I didn't want to show my weakness in front of them. Not in front of Alpha Markus. Not in front of Killian.

Yet through my blurred vision, I caught a faint smile on Alpha Markus's face. He smiled. He stood arrogantly, looking at me like a winner.

"Just as I suspected," he murmured. "The Moon Goddess only punishes the weaker party in the bond. So, it's only her who feels it. Killian is fine. The Pack is safe."

Alpha Markus turned to the elders with a triumphant look. "No curse. No destruction."

Some elders nodded slowly, though not all seemed convinced.

Killian remained silent. Not moving an inch. His face was as blank as a stone statue.