REJECTED BY MY MATE

"What have I done to deserve this?" Iris cried.

Emmett, the Alpha of Moonbay pack face was expressionless as he stood unmoved by her pleas. He just wasn't interested to hear whatever she wanted to say.

Iris knelt at his feet, she'd given her all trying to make their marriage work out, she'd ignored all his excesses but suddenly, just suddenly he told her he wanted a divorce.

"You should start packing up your things, Iris," Emmett told her," You have just 24 hours to be here, that's after you sign those divorce papers"

"I won't sign them till you tell me what I've done wrong" Iris cried," What haven't I done to be a good mate ?"

"Save your questions for someone ready to answer them, the earlier you get on with it the better, Iris" Emmett voiced.

Tears poured down her eyes, her heart was hurting with the pain she felt.

They'd only be mated for two years and he wants a divorce. She'd tried her best to make their marriage grow.

Emmett as she knew was arrogant and a womanizer but she still went ahead to be his mate because she loved him.

In two years she'd turned a blind eye to his immorality and cheats, she'd pretended not to notice the way he eyed other women even before her.

"I've tried, Emmett, to be a good and loving mate and this is what I get?"Tears slid down her cheeks," I have done nothing wrong to you just give me a reason why you're suddenly asking for a divorce"

"I owe you no explanation, Iris, before we joined you know I never had feelings for you. I only wanted to get married to you so I would take over my position as the Alpha," He told her," You knew about that"

"I wanted us to work out, I was ready to give anything so you'd love me but no, you keep hurting me just more," Iris said

"I want to move on, Iris, I'm sick and tired of being with you" He yelled

She cried even more, her whole body trembling as she did.

"Please, don't do this to me I beg you" She pleaded

"This was what my parents wanted before they died and now that there gone I can't continue to tolerate you," He said, "Just sign the freaking divorce papers"

"Give me one more chance, Emmett, I promise I'll do whatever you want. I have nowhere else to go, I love you"

He cut her off, "Well I don't love you, Iris. How hard is that for you to understand?"

"We can make this work, please "She begged

"I'm fed up, Iris. I don't wish to have you as my mate anymore" He said simply.

" Why are you treating me this way?, what have I ever done to you ?"

"Everything. You've done everything, Iris. I can't stand you any longer, our marriage had always been a loveless one and you know it"

"I beg you, Emmett, don't do this"She cried.

"It's already done, Iris," He said

She shook her head vigorously," No, no. I won't do it, I won't sign them "

"I'm afraid you have no choice, Iris because tomorrow I'll be presenting my new mate to the council "

Iris's mouth dropped open, she couldn't believe her ears.

New mate? how could it be?

Tears ran in full force down her eyes as she realized he had always had someone, he had been waiting for the perfect time to divorce her and move his new mate in.

Iris choked on her tears, she wondered where she'd gone wrong in ever loving him. Why was he hurting her the way he was?

She glanced across to the divorce papers lying some inches from where she knelt, it brought tears to her eyes.

"You have a mate already?"She asked," We're barely even separated and you're planning on bringing another woman"

"She's not just another woman, Iris, she's someone better than you, someone I love and not someone who I'm forced to be with because of some position," He told her.

His words stabbed her like a thousand dagger, she fell to the ground and sat hopelessly on it.

"How could you say that to my face," She cried," The heavens know I loved you with all my heart, I loved you with everything in me"

"Save it, Iris. I'm not interested" He snapped.

Emmett signaled to two hefty guards at the doorway and they came marching to them.

Iris looked from one guard to the other as they stood on either side behind her, waiting for their command.

"Pick up the divorce papers, Iris" Emmett ordered

She shook her head again, she wasn't going to do it.

"You'd have to kill me first, Emmett. It's over my dead body I sign those papers" She cried, "I'm not leaving you for any lady, not now, not even in a thousand years"

"I don't want you to through the signing process the hard way, Iris. Pick it up nicely and sign it or I'll have you face my wrath "He thundered.

"How can be so ruthless, Emmett," She cried," Who made you turn your back against me this way"

" I don't owe you anything like I said, not even the smallest piece of information," He told her.

"Don't I deserve to know?, how can you treat me so unfairly as if I'd never mattered to you"She intoned

"That's because you never did, "He plainly said

"You promised to love me, you promised right before the park and the council that you'd love me all the days of your life, Emmett " She cried bitterly

"Let's say I lied, Iris. Now what, tie me to a stake and whip me?"He said, "I see you want to go about this the hard way"

Iris watched fearfully as he nodded to the guards, they seized her up by the arm immediately and roughly, dragging her to her feet.

"Let go of me, "Iris protested, as their nails dug into her flesh, holding her up," Get your hands off me, you pigs"

"I think you need to learn the hard way, are you going to sign those papers peacefully and without force or not?"He asked

She stared at him, cursing the day she'd met him.

"I won't," She said, holding his stare.

He nodded slowly, enjoying her boldness" Take her away"

Iris was in the room she'd once shared with Emmett before he moved away.

She had cried her eyes out, wondering so hard what she had done to deserve such treatments from the man she'd loved so much.

The once bright and beautiful room they'd shared had become a gloomy room filled with sadness and painful memories.

Her face had reddened,crumpled and stained with tears. Emmett's guards had seized her by the arm and pushed her into the room, leaving those words that kept bringing tears to her eyes

"Sign the divorce papers or you'd go without nothing,"They had told her.

She was so lost in thoughts that she didn't hear when the door slowly opened and Meggie,her best friend, eased into the room.

"Iris,"She called, rushing to her side

Both friends wrapped themselves in a tight hug and Meggie kissed her hair as she cried into her shoulders.

When she let her go, Meggie looked deeply into her eyes with a sorry look in her eyes.

"I heard of what happened,"Meggie said,her voice almost in a whisper.

Tears,fresh ones came pouring down Iris's eyes ,she couldn't control them any more.

"Emmett,he wants a divorce,"Iris cried,"It's just so sudden,I don't know what I've done wrong,"

Meggie looked at her,"The news had spread so fast in the pack,I wonder what is it you've done "

"I've done nothing, nothing wrong to him"Iris wept bitterly," I know Emmett might not love me but I had only hoped he'd grow to "

"Are you going to sign them?"Meggie whispered again.

"Of course not,"Iris said,her voice louder than Meggie's,"I won't do it until he tells me what I've done wrong,where I've gone wrong"

Meggie took a deep breath, reaching out to hold her hands as she looked at her deep in her eyes.

"How long are you going to keep forcing yourself on him,Iris. He doesn't love you and he never will"She said gently," You've tried to make him grow to love you but it's just not working. Two years,iris ,two years you've been in a loveless marriage,aren't you tired?"

"I can't give up on my marriage,"Iris whispered,"I love Emmett,you know that"

"But he'd long given up on you,wake up ,Iris, Emmett wouldn't love you even in a hundred full moons"Meggie told her calmly

" I can't ,I just can't , Meggie "Iris cried

"The earlier you let go of him ,the better. You have to move on,I'm your friend and I'd never lie to you,"Meggie's voice was calm, encouraging

Iris looked down on the divorce papers on the bed,her heart tightened in pain and so much hurt.

She had never imagined that a day would come when she'd have to walk out on her marriage just because her mate had suddenly rejected her.

"He said he'd gotten a new mate for himself,he's presenting her to the council soon,"Iris shuddered," Do you know who she might be?"

Meggie looked uncomfortable,she shook her head slowly and in thought, wondering who the lady might be.

"Emmett seems rather impatient to get you out of his life,that bastard,"She cursed.

"Emmett might not have been faithful to me but I'd never expected him to want to replace me this fast,"Tears strolled down her eyes.

"He's an unrepentant bastard and that's the more reason you need to leave him,let him go ,Iris. He's not the only male in the whole of the park"Meggie told her firmly.

" You think I should give up everything and leave?"

"Yes,that's what you ought to do quickly. If he's going to show off his new mate to the council then I'm sure you're not regarded here and so Is your presence,"Meggie told her," You need to leave before he does that else you'd be disgraced and ridiculed "

Iris looked down at her palm,she thought really hard for a while,while Meggie stared at her .

"I guess he doesn't deserve me,"Iris whispered.

"I overheard the guards saying he's going to take you away from the park if you don't sign the papers"Meggie whispered," He wants to disgrace you ,so you need to act fast"

"How?"Iris asked

"You need to leave this park immediately before he makes you go roughly,you have your image to protect so you need to go away,stay somewhere else for some time and cool off,"Meggie voiced.

Iris wiped her face with the back of her palm,she decided not to cry out her eyes anymore for a man who doesn't deserve her love,cry, loyalty and even tears.

Meggie watched her as she gingerly picked up the divorce papers from the bed and slipped it out of the brown envelope.

She flipped it open and stared hard at the content,tears threatening at the sides of her eyes but she blinked them away,there was already a pen in the center of the document and she picked it up

Iris took a deep breath as she signed her own side of the divorce papers.

Meggie smiled," See,it wasn't so bad after all. You've done well Iris and now you can now be a free woman"

Iris looked up at her, closing the papers slowly," I guess so"

They heard heavy footsteps in the corridor and they both looked at the door just before it flung open.

Emmett stepped in with some guards ,he was looking rather impatient as he walked to them.He looked down at the files in her hand and he nodded.

"I believe you've done your part,"He said satisfactorily.

He motioned to a guard who walked over to them and snatched the divorce papers out of her hand and handed it to him.

He smirked ," Good girl"

"I will never forgive you for this, Emmett,"Iris said, making her voice as strong as she could but deep down tears wanted to pour down her eyes.

" I don't need your forgiveness,you should go find yourself someone who might eventually need it," He said," You can decide to still remain in the park or go elsewhere if you want"

"I'll go , Emmett,"Iris said firmly, " And leave you to your conscience but this isn't over"

"Thank you all for your esteemed appearance,"Emmett spoke to the council

"We heard of your divorce with Luna Iris,how true is this?"An old elder said in a breaking voice.

"Yes,and that's why I called this meeting,"Emmett said

A wave of murmuring went through the council,they all spoke in hushed voices to themselves .

"This is uncalled for,what have Luna Iris done?,you can't just make such a decision without letting we the elders know first"Another said.

"I make my own decisions and only consult you all when it involves matters concerning this park," Emmett said," It's my life and I choose to do whatever I want to do with it"

"The moment you stepped in as the Alpha ,that was the moment you stopped having a personal life" The first and oldest elder spoke," we can't have you desecrate the laws of our ancestors"

"Your father had only one mate and so was his father before him. You won't make a difference,Alpha Emmett,"Another said.

"It wouldn't be bad if that difference started from me, would it?,"Emmett asked rhetorically," My parents forced Iris on me so I could take over the position of the Alpha and now I've had enough of it"

"You speak of sacrilege,Alpha Emmett . Luna Iris was betrothed to you and as the law states ,you must grow old with her"An elder said firmly

" With due respect,my elders but I'd like to see you try and force her on me,"Emmett dared, "I have made my decision and it's final "

" Luna Iris had been a good mate and a supportive Luna to this park just as your mother had been before her demise,"The old elder said," Do you have anything to present against her?"

Emmett's face tightened,his dark eyes swept round the council of elders before him. How he had hated those old ,nosey men who wouldn't mind their businesses.

He took a deep breath trying to calm the anger that was welling up inside him.

" I have a new mate, someone I would present to you and to the whole park,"Emmett said," And our joining would be in a fortnight"

This stirred another wave of murmurs and side talks,objections and chattering among the elders.

Emmett crossed his arm over his chest, waiting for them to quiet down. He thought that their objections were as useless as a fruitless tree,he'd give them the honor of listening to their objections but he would do what he wanted.

"We have to see Luna Iris,you can't make any further decision without her being present,at least we owe her that," An elder said.

"There would be no need for that,she had already agreed to it and signed the divorce papers,"Emmett said, craftily" She wanted it too and she was glad i came up with the divorce before she did"

"That can't be,"An elder objected.

"That's a lie and you know it,"Another said

"We need to see Luna Iris,we have to know what she wants if indeed she wants to leave"Another chipped in

"Haven't I told you?,what more do you want to hear?"Emmett asked, slightly peeved.

"It's against our laws for an Alpha to take another Luna except if she had committed a grave offense "The oldest elder said .

"What do you old men what?"Emmett lost his cool," Force me to be with someone I don't even love,my parents both loved themselves and not for once did they regret their joining, I don't want to be forced to do anything..I'm the Alpha and my decision counts"

"Not when your decision would lead you astray that's when we'd come in as the elders we truly are" The oldest elder voiced .

"Our role is to make sure you make the right decisions and I'm afraid you are not making one now,"Another said.

" Luna Iris is your betrothed,she's your late parents choice and so far has been a worthy mate and Luna to us all"

"We can't sit back and watch you take wrong decisions,your parents have build up this park in love and in turn you have to continue in that love with Luna Iris"

Emmett sighed, rubbing his temples,they can object all they want,yes,he'd let them say all the rubbish they want to.

He was already preparing for the joining with his new mate and whether they liked it or not ,they'd have to approve their joining.

Emmett looked round at the old men,what did they know about love ?, with the best he knew most of them were unmarried and were planning on dying that way.

What gave them the right to tell him who and who not to be with?

The last time he checked,his parents were the only ones who could and now they are dead and gone.

He had his life and decisions to himself.

"My decision is final," Emmett said after some time," My joining with my new mate comes soon and you all would be present as the law states"

"Besides who is this woman that we don't know about?"The oldest elder asked

"Yes,we also need to know who she is,the family she's from,"Another elder said.

"It would be a shame if you choose for yourself someone who would rip this pack apart"Another said," That's the reason we don't want you to make the wrong choices"

"You all know that Iris was an omega,yet you allowed my joining with her"Emmett frowned.

"She was your betrothed,whether an omega or not,the moon goddess had permitted your joining even before you grew to make choices for yourself,"The oldest elder told him.

"Who is this woman you wish to join?We need to know," they asked again.

Emmett cleared his throat, that was the question he'd expected them to ask instead of telling him what and what not to do.

"She'd be here in a minute,"He smiled.

He searched their confused faces,he loved the way he was keeping them in suspense.

Emmett waited and then the doors parted slowly,they all turned to the door in unison and practically rose up from their seats .

"Here she comes,"Emmett spread his hand to the door," Meggie Raymond..."

Meggie stood by the door,dressed beautifully in royal apparel,a smile rose up her lips.

"...my new mate."