His Rejected Mate.

I looked at myself in the reflection of my mirror. My chest swelled with excitement, and I couldn't help but smoothen down my dress as a wave of nervousness washed over me.

"Okay, you got this!" I assured myself. One hour left until my twentieth birthday, the day I get to know my mate.

"Little shine, it's almost time" Mother called from the living room in a calm voice.

I walked out of my room and headed to the living room where she was, each step I took heavy on the floorboards.

"Hi, Mother," I say once I get to her. She stood with her back to me at the dinner table, and she turned to face me with a smile on her face.

"It will all work out!" She assured, sounding almost like it was for her, not me.

"What if it doesn't, w-what if it turns out like last time?" I asked, looking down at my feet with apprehension.

"Little shine, I have told you many times that you will feel your wolf. The moon goddess has a reason for everything," she says, a small smile playing on her lips. Her eyes were soft but I could see the worry far beyond that.

"What reason does she have for keeping my wolf dormant? I am the only person mom, the only one in this pack without a wolf!" I say, feeling my heart break.

Everyone makes fun of me for that, they whisper, behind my back. Some were bold enough to spill their vile words to my face. I got used to hearing them but that doesn't stop the pain.

That changes today, because I will get my mate. The perfect person that was designed by the moon goddess for me.

My person.

"I need to go, Mother. Will you be joining me?" I say to her silently praying she would. I don't want to do this alone.

"No little shine, today is very special. It is something you need to do alone" She said as she held my hands in hers. She squeezed it lovingly. "I will await you here for the good news".

I kiss her on her cheek and walk out the door. I felt nervous and scared but carried myself along.

Walking the lonely path that led to my house, I am met halfway with Clarisse.

"Ruthni!" She screams running towards me, excitement emitting from her.

"You might be more excited than I am," I tell her as she wraps her hands around me.

I'm grateful for a lot of things and one of them is Clarisse, she has been a good friend to me. My only friend. She was there with me while I wallowed in self-pity about not feeling my wolf. And here she is again, being there for me on this special day.

We arrive at the moonstone just in the center of the pack. The spot where the moon goddess blesses you with the scent of your fated person.

I situate myself right in front of it and wait patiently. My heart beats loudly in my chest threatening to break free. My nervousness spikes up, and my hands begin to sweat. My senses are heightened, and I can feel every movement around me, including Clarisse, who stays far away but close enough.

The time arrives, and the skies above clear up to announce its presence. The atmosphere changes and a chilly feeling fills me. There wasn't a sound heard; everything was standing still.

I sniff the air. Nothing!

I wait a while and try again, harder this time inhaling the night's air and holding my breath before releasing.

Still nothing.

My body tenses and quivers as I feel waves of pain surge through me. I can feel the burn at the back of my eyes as tears swell up and threaten to spill.

"I can't smell him," I say, barely above a whisper.

The realization hit like a punch to the chest, stealing my breath. I feel the constraints of my heart tightening, it physically aches, and I fall to my knees, clutching my chest with my hands.

It hurts.

I let out a loud cry, and I'm sobbing; the tears spill out in multitudes, and I do not attempt to stop them. Clarisse rushes to me and holds my back trying to comfort me.

I don't need to tell her what just happened; she says words to me, but I can't register them as the last few minutes replay over and over in my head.

No scent.

I can't smell my mate.

******

I jolt up suddenly, and I'm staring at my reflection; it takes a minute to realize where I am.

My eyes feel heavy and dry.

Slowly, I get down from the bed and make my way out of the room; I hear voices coming from the kitchen. I see Clarisse first and as if on cue, she turns in my direction.

How did she always do that?

"Hey Ruthni, how do you feel now?" She asks as I get closer.

I don't answer. I should have but I don't.

I watched her silently; her eyes held so many emotions. Sadness, pity, and something else I couldn't place my mind on.

I knew she brought me home, but did I want to be here?

Why me?

The moon goddess decided to expunge me completely. First, I don't feel my wolf, and now I can't smell my mate.

The pain of the memory courses through me, and the tears threaten to build, but I hold them back.

I refuse to accept this.

I need to do something. Anything.

I turned around, paying no mind to my mother, who calmly watched me; she always knew when something was wrong.

Explaining how I felt was never of concern because she always knew. I twist the handle of the door and step out.

My feet carry me along the deserted path. I'm stuck with the wind and my wandering thoughts.

Why can't I just be like everyone else?

Why would the moon goddess do this to me?

Only me!

They occupy my mind in multiples and only when I'm face to face with an alpha do they disperse.

"What do you need?" He asks, using his body as a shield between me and the door.

An alpha is easy to spot; their heavy bodies, the confidence they exude, their ever-brooding aura, and their authoritative voice are always easy to pick up on.

"I need to speak with Alpha Hert!" I respond looking him squarely in the eye.

I had come all this way and I wasn't going to leave without some answers.

I have never been to the packhouse before. The home of the head Alpha.

The Alpha is supposed to be the wisest man in the pack, one of the qualities he needs to possess before becoming Alpha.

If anyone was going to have some answers for me, it was him.

The Alpha at the door watches with a stern face, his features contorting to appear tough. I stand my ground, matching his stance, but the sweatdrop rolling down my face becomes an indication of my inner turmoil.

He quietly steps aside for me to enter. I release a breath I don't know I was holding.

The moment my feet cross the threshold of the packhouse, I feel my pulse quicken.

The hair on the back of my neck stands and the air shifts. I hear a muffled voice, but as I scan the room, I realize I'm the only one standing in the main room. The guard alpha had long gone to fetch the head Alpha.

And then I hear it as clear as day, the voice sharp but calm.

"Mate".

I've heard stories before, of how it is to feel your wolf, the thrill you experience the first time you understand that you are two beings in one.

The joy of being a werewolf.

I am feeling that joy now.

My heartbeats escalate, my mouth lifts in a wide grin and my eyes water a bit.

The joy I feel rushes through me; I feel it up to my fingertips, and I can't steady myself.

"Hello," I say softly to myself, anticipating a response.

"Hi" The voice is soft, almost frail.

"What's your name?" My voice was low not wanting to attract attention. It was quiet for a few seconds before she responded.

"My name is Rudina. Our mate is close!" She says drawing my attention back to what she had first said.

Here? Why would he be in the packhouse?

Before my thoughts could spiral out of control, the Alpha walked in.

He is a large man, his figure towering over me with ease. He has bright silver hair tied back in a bun. He walks past the big table stationed in the middle of the room and strides with confidence over to me, the guard alpha on his trail.

He gestures for me to sit and I follow with no hesitation. I've never seen the Alpha before, only ever heard of him from stories my mother told me. His aura is domineering and I can feel my wolf cower slightly.

I can feel her. My heart still tugs on that rush and I'm smiling again.

The Alpha clears his throat and looks directly at me after he's seated; before he can say anything, I rise to greet him properly, mentally slapping myself for not doing that first.

"Good day, Alpha," I say, prostrating before sitting down.

He looked at me for what felt like an hour before voicing out "What is your name?"

I jump slightly in my seat. His voice was a rich baritone, gravelly and commanding.

"I am Ruthni, Alpha"

He studied me with a straight face. "And what do you need?" He spoke each word carrying the weight of unspoken authority as if the very air around him held its breath to listen.

"Um...Alpha, I initially came to speak to you regarding myself. I turned eighteen two years ago, but there was no trace of my wolf, and today I turned twenty, but I couldn't smell my mate." I rushed the words, speaking with the obvious hint of fear. He tried to speak but I cut him off.

"But now, the questions have changed." He was puzzled if the look on his face said anything about it, but I wasn't sure because he was hard to read.

"I can hear my wolf now!...the moment I stepped foot into this house, I heard her, and she said our mate is here." He watched me, adjusting himself on the armchair he sat on; he placed his hands on his knees and scrutinized me with his piercing gaze.

He is not a fan of talking. Got it.

" Is there a chance there are other people in the packhouse at this moment?" The question was direct.

The Alpha signaled for the alpha I had met at the door, spoke to him silently, and before I knew it, it was just the two of us left in the room.

"It can't be the alpha I met earlier because I felt my wolf after he had left the room and it can't be you because well, you're Alpha and a little too old for me"

I laughed trying to ease the tension that filled the air. I watched as he raised his eyebrows at me probably wondering if I was sane.

Heck, I wondered that as well.

Who am I to make such a bold joke with the Alpha, I'd be lucky if I stayed alive long enough to meet my wolf.

When I received no response, I shifted slightly on the seat and was about to excuse myself when he stood up abruptly startling me in the process, my heart leaping up in my chest.

"Follow me" Was all he said before turning around and exiting the room.

I hurried to follow suit. Alpha had long legs, and he strutted with such ease and precision, paying no mind to me. He led us down a long dim hallway with no windows, only lanterns that hung sparingly on the walls

Just now I noticed the sources of light gradually reduced as we moved forward.

Maybe this was a bad idea.

Dear moon goddess, is this how I'm meant to go?

Were we headed to the dungeon? Was it the joke I made?

As we went further, I began to take note of the surroundings, possibly planning an escape route if necessary.

"Mate" My wolf repeated. We were close, I could slowly feel it. My heartbeats escalated, and the silence all around me started to close in. All that was heard were footsteps and what was two...no, three heartbeats.

I could smell him now. A blissful scent of oakwood and something else...spice? Cinnamon? It was a wild combination that blended greatly together. The hair on my skin stands, I become jittery from nerves, and my breathing becomes labored. The air I need surrounds me, but my lungs treat it like a stranger they refuse to embrace.

Then I see light coming from what looks like an open space just around a corner.

The Alpha swiftly turns the corner, but my feet become heavy, and my pace slows.

I join just a minute later and I see him. In what looks like a room, it feels like a prison with bars that restrict from the front. He sits on a chair, his back to us with a book in his hand.

Noticing our presence, he stands, drops the book neatly on the table before him, and turns.

Time stops, or it seems to slow down, I'm not sure which, but I do know that at this moment, nothing else matters, and all my eyes can focus on is him. His raven black hair shines under the light, he's tall...like really tall and his eyes a marvelous rich shade of grey. His thick scent that invades my nostrils soothing my nerves from within.

"Someone is here to see you Exol. I'll leave you guys to talk" Alpha walks away after saying that leaving the two of us alone.

Exol, a lovely name.

"Hi Exol, I'm Ruthni," I say, stretching out my hands to shake him when I realize we are on opposite sides of the metal bars..."C-can I come in?"

"No" That's all he says. One word in that heavy velvety voice of his.

Oh goddess, his voice.

"Okay if that's what you want!" I say, a small smile playing on my lips. I tried my best to reel my excitement in, I wanted to make a good first impression. "But you do know who I am right?"

"I know who you are Ruthni. You're my mate. The person the moon goddess has tied me with. The perfect bond" He says passively.

That was odd. Being with your mate should make you happy...that's what I read in my books and judging from my still overbearing heart, I was happy.

Something didn't feel right. I can feel the bond being established but something was hindering it.

He retreated to his seat and leaned against it with his hands on his back. He looked at me for the first time that afternoon in my eyes before uttering...

"A bond I intend to break"

His eyes were cold and hollow. Revealing no emotion behind them.

"A bond I intend to break"

The statement plays over in my head. Maybe I heard wrong, or I'm confused, or he misspoke, but he clearly did not just say he wanted to break our bond.

Right?

"What did you say, Exol?" I ask for clarification because clearly, I heard wrong.

His stance doesn't break, his gaze doesn't falter, and his speech is clear when he repeats himself, " I intend to break this bond".

No. No. No.

He goes to sit on his bed just at the corner of the room by the window, the only source of light here. He's casual in his actions...too casual.

"Why?" I ask softly, not understanding what's happening.

He turns to me, the look in his eyes bare, hardened and for a second flashed to red before returning to grey. "I don't want you," he says, his voice sharp.

"Why?" I ask again, the strings of my heart slowly detaching.

"Are you dumb?" He asks before laughing maniacally. He moves suddenly, closing the space between us in a second. The only barrier between us was the metal bars. His presence is overwhelming, and I feel Rudina retreat slightly, cowering in what felt dangerously close to fear. "I knew who you were the moment I turned twenty; why do you think I never bothered to come to find you?".

I remain silent, searching his face with my eyes. I try to find a facade somewhere within his expression. A giveaway that maybe he was pulling my legs for good measure.

But I don't.

"I am an alpha!" He says sternly, his eyes piercing into mine. "I cannot be the mate to an omega! I refuse it!" He shouts sneering at me with so much hatred.

An omega?

"I didn't know, I..." I try to speak but he cuts me off.

"No mate of mine will be an omega!" He says in a final tone.

The words sting. My eyes water and it blurs my vision, but I don't blink. My heart physically aches and I feel it everywhere.

In my eyes that slowly throb, in my hands that begin to shake, in my knees that buckle, and suddenly, I can't hold up my weight.

I can feel Rudina tremble. I reach for her to comfort her but she rejects my touch and fades away in embarrassment.

It's not her fault she's an omega. The moon goddess assigns these ranks not us.

I'm forced to the ground by the sudden weakness that takes over me. I use my hands and knees to break my fall and, in the process, scrape them. But I can't feel them. The pain I feel is far worse. It's heart-wrenching.

I can't move. I can't breathe; my lungs close up and refuse air from penetrating. I keep my eyes on the floor below me, trained on the splatters of blood from my wounded limbs.

It's all too much. I struggle with my weight lifting myself off the ground.

I need to get out of here!

I stagger as I move, my knees barely keeping me above, but I move. I needed to leave; the pain was too much. I take the path I came from using my wounded hands on the wall as my guide.

Most of the lanterns were burnt out and I could barely see. I take a turn to my right but bump into a hard wall instead.

The impact forces me to the ground on my buttons. That hurt. I lift off once more to continue my exit when I hear a low growl.

What could that be?

I stop in my tracks praying silently to the moon goddess that my mind was playing tricks on me, but I hear it again. Slightly louder.

Closer.

My survival instincts kick in, and I ignore the weakness in my bones and the pain in my heart forcing my legs to move faster. My walking turns to a slow jog when I hear the sound growing closer and closer with every step I take.

I take to running, and I can hear the footsteps in my tracks. Whatever was after me was fast. Really fast.

Fear quickly rises in me. One minute, I'm meeting my mate, and he's rejecting me, and the next, I'm running for my life from a creature I know not the status of in a hallway that is strongly longer than before, one I can barely see in.

I see a corridor up ahead, one that light emanates from, and I speed for it, hoping for some leverage in this chase. Once I reach it, I'm met with a door that I don't think twice of before opening and shutting the door behind me.

I rush to the corner of the room and crunch down in a panic position facing the door, my knees to my chest with my hands encircling my body.

I hear the footsteps stop just in front of the door, and I hold my breath, scared that whatever was out there could hear me.

Dear moon goddess save me!

I could hear the heavy breathing and slow rustly growling coming from the creature but that wasn't the sound of a werewolf. I've lived around many enough to know what one sounded like.

A werewolf was a more unstable version of a dog; we pant when in wolf form, and we growl but never this deep, never this guttural.

This. Was. Not. A. Werewolf.

This was more primal and dark. Something of a greater stature, I could see from the little space at the end of the door...big, black bumpy...feet.

Feet? Werewolves had paws!

The door handle starts to rattle, and it slowly starts to twist to the side. I shut my eyes, Praying and wishing and begging that the creature doesn't come in.

The movement stops abruptly, and I hear no sound coming from the other side; the heavy breathing vanishes, and the growling stops.

The silence threatened to swallow me whole; all I could hear was the sound of my heartbeat, frantic, and the walls started to seem like they were closing in on me, trapping me in this little room.

Suddenly, the door was pushed open.