Chapter 2 Accept the Rejection

Seeing our destination, my heart began to race. The king took me to the prison. He stepped out of the car and took my hand, leading me into the confines of the cell. We continued walking toward the dungeons.

The smell of blood and filth filled my nostrils. Oh, Moon Goddess. Ethan had been in that dark, filthy place for months. How could he survive? I felt my eyes burn, realizing that my life was better than his.

"You have five minutes," Duncan said.

The man released my hand in front of a cell. I turned my head as the guard opened the door. The room was dim, but I could see with my wolf eyes. My chest ached when I saw someone standing sluggishly against the wall with his hands and feet chained.

His distinctive scent filled my nostrils, mingling with the odors of feces, urine, and blood. I bit my lip, holding back tears. The king must not know I was crying. I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of knowing he had made me and my partner suffer.

"Ethan?" I stood before him. "It's me."

The man's breathing was very weak. His heartbeat was barely audible. The king wasn't joking. Ethan was dying. I didn't see any wounds from torture. The smell of blood must have been from his old wounds when he was dragged to prison. I also didn't smell wolfsbane. What happened?

'Cari,' Ethan said through the mind link. 'Can you hear me?'

'Oh, Ethan!! Yes, I can hear you!' I replied happily.

'Thank you for your service and sacrifice for me and the Blood River Pack. You have paid your debt in full,' he said.

'Ethan, why are you-' I sobbed.

'I forgive you,' Ethan continued. 'Forget the Blood River Pack. They're fine without you. Serve that jerk and make sure he doesn't disturb the peace of my pack again.'

'Why do you sound like you're dumping me?'

'Because that's what I'm doing,' he replied heartlessly. 'I, Ethan Darkwood, Alpha of the Blood River Pack, reject you, Carissa Moss, as my mate and Luna of the Blood River Pack.'

I barely believe my ears. Ethan, my Alpha and true mate, was rejecting me. He chose to die without a mate rather than remember me as his life partner. My whole body trembled as I held back my tears and anger. Was my debt to him that great?

'Don't be silent. Quickly accept my rejection!' Ethan urged.

'No,' I refused.

'Cari, accept my rejection. I refuse to die as your mate. Besides, the Blood River Pack needs an Alpha and Luna after months of struggling on their own. If you want my forgiveness, accept my rejection,' he commanded.

'I don't believe it. After all these years together, you don't love me. What's lacking? What does she have that I don't?'

'Everything,' he replied cruelly.

That answer was like a sharp sword piercing my heart. We had been together for four years after discovering we were true mates. We married and led the herd with great struggle after his father passed away, but he loved another woman.

'You forgive me? Ridiculous. Debt of sin? I'm not guilty. It was not I who chose you as my true mate. The Moon Goddess decreed us as lovers. You can reject me if you love her more.' I glared at him.

'You didn't do that because you needed me as Luna to strengthen your position in our pack. Rejecting me and choosing your lover would only weaken your authority, and your people wouldn't like that. Fine, I don't want a jerk for a mate like you either.'

'Don't act so righteous. I did all that because I was protecting my love. You threatened her with the bonds of destiny. Otherwise, I would have rejected you that night!' Ethan argued.

'I have the right to defend my partner! I am your destined mate, not her!' I protested.

'I don't have much time. Reject me quickly. I'm disgusted to see you in front of me with your new mate, especially since he looks impatient to have fun with you,' he sneered.

'I don't regret marrying you. Our time together was the best time of my life. It's a shame you chose her instead.' I clenched my fists. 'I, Carissa Moss, accept your rejection, Ethan Darkwood, as my mate.'

'Ugh!' Ethan and I grimaced in pain at the same time.

'You must reject me as your Alpha and Blood River as your pack,' he commanded.

I smirked. 'I was born in the Blood River Pack, and I will die as part of that pack, too.'

I felt excruciating pain in my chest. I knelt, unable to bear the pain. My chest felt extremely hot, but I clenched my fists on the floor and bit my other hand. I shouldn't scream or cry.

As if the pain wasn't enough, Ethan's mark on the curve of my neck felt excruciating. I turned to him. Ethan drooped lifelessly before me. My lips trembled violently, and I couldn't hold back my tears. My love, my life, my soul, and my Alpha was gone.

Memories of us playing together run through my mind. It all started with my admiration for Alpha's eldest son. Even though he liked another girl, I prayed to the Moon Goddess to make him my mate.

The Goddess answered my prayer on my twenty-first birthday. I was thrilled, and our wedding was a grand affair. I thought he loved me, too, until I saw him and his ex-girlfriend talking alone in the forest.

I didn't know what happened, but when I opened my eyes, I was in the king's chamber. The pain in my chest confused me. What happened? I turned toward the bright light from the window. Someone was standing there, with their back to me.

"Are you awake?" The brown-haired man turned around.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Ethan will be cremated tonight," he replied.

Hearing that, the events in the dungeon played in my head. My eyes burned. Oh, Goddess. Ethan was gone. He rejected and expelled me from our pack. I couldn't believe he had abandoned me in a foreign place.

How cruel. Ethan didn't care about everything I had done to protect our pack. I had to give my body and humiliate myself for his safety and that of our people. My position in the palace was even lower than that of a servant.

If only Ethan knew how many times I had tried to rebel, but it was all in vain. I couldn't fight the kingdom's powerful and numerous warriors. If only the king weren't interested in me, he and I would have been dead long ago.

Duncan let someone in when there was a knock at the door. "What is it?" he asked.

"Her Majesty the Queen is not in her room. We have searched, but she is nowhere to be found in the palace," the door guard reported.

"Call the servants. Help Carissa get ready and bring her breakfast," the king ordered. He approached me. "I'll be right back."

"I-" I said.

"Don't leave the room." Duncan kissed my lips.

I watched him walk out of the room. After the door closed, I sat down. Since he had called the servants, I couldn't let my emotions get the better of me. The servants would report everything to him.

The women came in carrying many items. They helped me bathe, dress, and put on makeup. I was relieved to be fully clothed. That meant I wouldn't have to serve the king in bed. My clothes were black, the color of death and mourning, to announce that I was a widow.