Chapter 3 Broken Pieces

Selene's POV

He didn't say anything at first, just sniffed the air around me and stared at me with harsh golden eyes as if he didn't just save my life.

Then he quickly let go of my hand like it was nothing.

"Why were they attacking you?" He said, his voice sharper than shattered glass.

"W-what?"

It was almost scary how quickly he changed, whatever softness I felt when he helped me to my feet earlier had vanished like mist.

"You're a wolfless wolf." He said plainly, more like a statement to himself. "I can sense it, your wolf is dormant, asleep within you."

I licked my dry lips, heart thumping wildly in panic. I didn't know what to say in reply so I just stood there, wringing my hands together.

"How can we be mates? You're neither wolf nor human, the weakest of the weak. Surely you've heard of what I am, haven't you?"

"A Bloodhound."

He nodded, eyeing me up and down with a look in his eyes that I was all too familiar with. Disgust.

"Exactly. As the leader of powerful wolves and being a powerful wolf myself, I can't have a weak mate much less a wolfless one. The Moon must have made a mistake." He said with a sneer.

My heart shattered with every harsh word from him. I let out a shaky breath, this cannot be happening, "B-but I...I felt it. The bond..."

"I don't care what you felt, omega." He said, raising his voice now. The crowd that had dispersed a while ago started to gather, whispering among themselves.

He turned his back at me and for a moment I caught a glimpse of a long jagged scar like faded claw marks that stretched from his neck, disappearing into his shirt. He ran a hand through his long hair, letting out a growl of frustration, as if he couldn't imagine being to me, maybe the gods were playing a prank.

Turning back to face me, his voice was even colder, "Let me make it clear to you, omega, you are not my mate. I only saved you out of pity, nothing else. I will not accept an incomplete wolf for a mate, even the dirt I step on has more purpose than you."

I really tried to hold it in but the lump in my throat grew even tighter until it couldn't anymore. Tears streamed down my cheeks until I was outright sobbing. My 'mate' drew back an inch, probably even more disgusted now.

"I..d-didn't ask to be this w-way."

"No one asks to be weak. But some of us fight not to be and you're not one of them."

And then he said it-the words that shattered something deep inside me.

"I, Apollo Lycanthorne, King of Rogues reject you as my mate."

It was probably the most painful thing I've ever felt; like being struck by lightning but instead of fire, it was cold, hard ice spreading throughout my chest. The bond that bloomed beautifully a moment ago was now dulled and painful, pulsing like crushed embers.

He turned and walked away without another glance and I just stood there, the bag of food stuff hanging limply in my trembling hands. Of course he left me there, in the middle of the town square, with tears dried on my cheeks and fruit stains on my robe. If I were him, I wouldn't hesitate to leave me either. Maybe I should have known. I had daydreamed so much that I forgot my place in this pack. The useless runt. It should be an honor that someone like him looked at someone like me, I should be grateful for that.

But for some reason, I couldn't accept his rejection. I just couldn't.

"Selene?!" A familiar voice rang from the crowd.

Oh no, not her. Anyone else but her.

Ashely walked up to me with a vicious smirk. Could this day get any worse?

"Oh my God, was that you? Stacey told me there was something juicy happening at the town square and I knew I just had to hurry down here."

Ashley laughed cruelly, stepping closer but I had bigger things to worry about. The sky was getting darker by now, Mother would surely skin me alive for coming home late.

"He rejected you, didn't he?"

I didn't answer. She stepped even closer until she was right up in my face and pulled my hair to look up at her.

"Of course he did." She said, pure hatred in her eyes, "Imagine a useless mutt like you mated to one of the most powerful wolves in the world, that would be the biggest joke of the century."

Shame and sadness burrowed into my chest like a double-edged knife and now my own sister was twisting it. I knew she hated me for soiling the family name but this just proved it again. Ashley despised me.

She let go of my hair and slapped me.

I gasped, stepping back as my loose dark hair strewn all over my face.

"Don't forget your place, dear sister. No one in their right minds would ever want to be related with the likes of you. Even the Moon herself has abandoned you."

My eyes were fixed on the ground, holding back tears.

"Never forget that."