Reclaiming His Rejected Lycan Princess

/-Sophia-/

The jab to my stomach sent me to the floor with a groan.

"Everest, up now!" A strict ordered.

I forced myself off the floor, even though the pains in my side were so intense that it had me crouching over, but she didn't want to hear that. Lucy Hart was going to be the death of me.

Being the strongest female wolf in our age group, she was tasked with the duty to train us all. She had gotten her wolf earlier than most of us and being the daughter of the Beta, it was easy for her to gain respect.

In my case. I was terrified of her. Amongst everyone else, I was her target. It was possibly because I was weak and hadn't taken down a single wolf since the training began.

I looked at the girl before me and swallowed thickly. Her expression suggested she was out to kill, which meant it was likely going to sustain more injuries than the one I got tonight.

I picked the wooden sword, deluding myself with positivity.

The minute the whistle was blown, we charged at each and in less than a second, my sword was flying in the opposite direction and my stomach took the hits from her blade. I tried to fight her back but she tossed her sword away and shoved me to the ground.

She got on top of me, and I expected the whistle to blow already so she could get off me, but it didn't, and she hit me repeatedly until I was spitting blood.

The whistle finally blew and she got off me. I turned around, spitting blood.

"Up, Everest!" Lucy hissed but I merely turned over with blood dripping off my mouth. "I said Up!"

"I... can't..." I whimpered. If I got off this floor, that girl was going to drive me into unconsciousness.

She walked to me and kicked me over, "Do you think you are just here to occupy space?" She hissed. "Considering your background, one would think you would be at least eager to prove yourself useful to the pack. But that is not the case, is it?"

I couldn't say anything to that. It had become a regular insult. The father of our current Alpha's father found me at the pack border when I was barely a year old and took me in because I was a wolf blood. It was an act I was grateful for but his pack members didn't think the same.

I was treated like an outcast and bullied by anyone who felt like it. I was asked to scrub the floor, wash linens and prepare the high ranking werewolf's meal.

I couldn't complain. They were feeding and sheltering me, even paying my fees which was something not even werewolf could have, especially us females but it was compulsory for me and some other female maids because we would serve the future Luna. We needed to be learned.

What was a couple of beatings and hurtful words compared to food, shelter and clothing?

"Sophia!" Joel came running towards me. "Are you okay?" he asked worriedly.

"They beat the shit out of me again," I sighed as he lifted me off the floor. "I didn't think it was possible to be so worthless until now."

"Hey," he cupped my face tenderly. "Don't say that about yourself. Who cares if you are strong or not? There are a lot of weak wolves out there and being a female, it is our duty to protect you, not the other way round," he said.

I smiled.

"You are my best friend. You have to say that," I stated, and he chuckled. "But I assure you I am not going to remain weak. Tomorrow, by moonrise, I will get my wolf and a mate to protect me..." the mere thought of it made me giddy.

My eighteenth birthday was just a couple of hours away. I could already imagine the thrilling pain that came with shifting and communicating with my wolf. I wanted to know how it felt to share my mind and body with someone.

I couldn't wait to run through the forests like every other wolf. Most importantly, I couldn't wait to find my mate. After years of humiliation, I would finally get that one person that would love me wholeheartedly.

My gaze shifted to Joel who seemed lost in his thoughts. He was one of the guards of the alpha king which was a great position.

I imagined the goddess pairing us together, and it made my chest bubble with excitement. Joel was possibly the only person in the Luna Gray pack who loved me wholeheartedly. Being mated to him will only strengthen and deepen the bond we share.

Which was exactly what I wanted.

"I hope you do," Joel mumbled.

Maybe if I prayed a little harder, things wouldn't have turned out as bad as they did.

The rest of the day passed in a blur, and the long-awaited birthday had finally arrived. I shared the same birthday with the Alpha's cousin sister so as one of her birthday benevolences, she asked that everyone born on that date be made to celebrate with her.

Everyone except me, of course. I was a peasant girl who belonged to the ground, scrubbing the floors after them.

But tonight was my special night so I wore something nice. I even put effort into brushing my hair and putting on some light makeup.

Soon, it was evening and everyone had already gathered. The full moon was coming out and everyone was eager for the transformation of the princess and the other girls.

"Sophia," I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see Joel. He had a small box in his hand and a cupcake.

"Happy birthday," he said and a grin broke out of my face. I worked as a maid in the palace but I did not have the luxury of getting cupcakes. I ate only vegetables so I would be fresh and plumpu enough for the future Luna who would not want an eyesore walking around with her.

"Thank you so much, Joel," I said, feeling the tears burn my eyes. All through my life at the Gray Moon Pack, he had been the only one who gifted me on my birthday or even knew about it.

"I hope you get everything you wish for," he smiled. "The moon is almost fully out."

"I really can't wait."

Soon, the full moon was out and as anticipated, bones started cracking. Right before us, the girls shifted.

The crowd made way for the new wolves to run around.

My smile was starting to drop. I couldn't feel anything. I didn't want to discourage myself yet. Maybe I had to get under the moonlight like the rest of the girls.

So as everyone made their way outside, following the excited wolves, I made my way to the altar. The moonlight was hitting me fully now so I shut my eyes, waiting for it to happen.

My head felt heavy all of a sudden and happiness bubbled in my chest. An intense migraine had me gritting my teeth for some seconds.

Then it stopped suddenly.

Finally, anymore sleep and I would have died.

The voice was nothing like mine and I almost jumped in excitement. It was my wolf!

Hello, Sophia. I'm Isla.

I was too excited that the words that came out of my mouth were incoherent. If she was awake, that meant I would shift soon, right?

I eagerly waited for it but nothing came.

"I... I don't understand..." I mumbled. "Why am I not shifting?"

She said nothing to me, so I decided to give it time, and when nothing happened in the next ten minutes, my stomach twisted in dread.

"Isla..."

I'm sorry, Sophia.

I burst into tears.

"No! No! You can't do this to me. I've been waiting for this day my whole life, you can't do this to me.... Please you can't..." I sobbed.

She said nothing to me and I knew I was done for.

"Isla please... please..." I pleaded but nothing happened. It felt like my life was crumbling before. What would happen if these people discovered I was already eighteen without a wolf?

What would I say to defend myself?

Then laughter blew out of nowhere. I turned to see that I wasn't the only one present in the room as I thought.

"Oh look, it's the useless outcast," Lucy mocked, leading the crowd inside. "You didn't think we would forget today was your birthday, did you?"

I swallowed thickly, fighting the tears that were threatening to pour down my cheeks.

How did she even know it was my birthday?

"Oh, don't look so surprised; you wore a fancy dress and even did some makeup; you didn't think we would be so stupid to think you just wanted to look pretty for the princess," she huffed.

My gaze dropped in embarrassment.

She walked to me, "Your birthday mates are running outside. Shouldn't you be with them?"

The tears escaped my eyes.

"Oh, that's right, you didn't get a wolf like everyone else," she mocked, and everyone laughed. She picked a cupcake and shoved it into my mouth.

"Congratulations, you've proven yourself a true outcast," she said, clapping and just like that, everyone joined her.

I stood frozen on the spot with tears streaming down my cheeks as they headed back outside.

My body dropped to the floor weakly as tears streamed down my cheeks. Just then, a thick, woody scent hit my nose, and my face shot up from my lap.

That scent...

Mate....

I was off the floor in a minute. My mate was somewhere.

Maybe this night wouldn't be entirely horrible after all. I stood immediately and followed it.

The further I went, the stronger it became. I met the crowd of wolves outside but my mate was still out there somewhere.

I didn't waste a second.

I pushed through them, making my way to my mate until the scent completely overwhelmed me. I forced myself to push through the intoxication and froze when I bumped into a hard wall.

The dark orbs rested intensely on me. And I found myself trembling.

It couldn't be...

This couldn't be my mate, but his gaze had me pinned on the spot.

"Mate!" I blurted before I could stop myself and everyone turned.

My gaze was fixed on the Alpha. His eyes hardened.

"This must be a joke!"

The statement shattered the remaining pieces of my broken heart.

/-Sophia-/

"Alpha..." I stepped forward.

"Step back," he growled and I staggered backwards, tears pouring down my cheeks.

A lot of thoughts ran through my mind. Why was he being harsh towards me? We were mates.

Couldn't he feel the bond?

"Levi, please don't..."

"Address me by my name one more time, and I will slit your throat," he growled, and I shivered.

"Forgive me, Alpha," I apologized. "But I'm not lying. We are mates..."

"I know that," he hissed. "But I refuse to be mated to a weak wolfless outcast. The Gray Moon Pack needs someone strong, not a pathetic pushover."

The words pierced through my heart like a double-edged sword. Why would he say something like that to me?

"Please..."

"I, Levi Colton, reject you..." he looked at me in askance. My heart broke all over again. He didn't even know my name.

"Sophia... Sophia Everest...." I sniffled.

"I, Levi Colton, reject you, Sophia Everest, as my mate," he said, and a scream ripped through my throat with my knees dropping to the floor.

It felt like I was going crazy from the pain. Tears poured down my cheeks in torrents as I clutched to my chest.

He walked away from me like he felt nothing. Like my pain was just another annoying occurrence.

My heart was heavy, this wasn't how I envisioned this day to go.

The place blew up with laughter and I couldn't raise my head.

"I must commend you for making this night memorable," Lucy mocked. "First, you couldn't get a wolf and now, your mate rejected you. What more do you have for us tonight?"

Their mocking laughter echoed in my head as I picked myself from the floor and scurried away.

"Sophia!" I heard Joel call after me but I didn't dare stop. The pain in my chest was just too much to bear.

I returned to my room and shut the door. I fell on my small bed and burst into tears. I desperately needed something to dull the ache in my heart but nothing could console me.

All my hopes were dashed in one day and now, I was forced to live with the humiliation.

Taking my life was more tempting than ever. All my life, I had been treated like trash, and this was my one shot at bettering my life, only for it to be ruined again.

How was I supposed to leave with this?

These people will never let me hear the end of it. Lucy would never let me hear the end of it.

The tears continued pouring until there was nothing left in my eyes.

I was weak and tired.

You will be fine, Sophia.

She was just as sad as I was but she knew nothing about the pain I was going through.

If she did, she would have known that nothing would get better. Things will only get worse and I will never be fine.

I ended up crying myself to sleep because that was the only thing I could do.

The next day, I couldn't even bring myself to leave my room. I knew what was waiting out there for me and frankly, I would rather not face the jest.

Unfortunately, staying in my room was no option either because soon there was banging on the door.

"Sophia!" My mistress hissed. "Do you now need me to remind you of your chores every morning?"

I groaned and turned over.

"Be useful for once in your goddamn life, would you!" She barked, banging hard against the door and I knew I couldn't stay in bed any longer or she would break down the door.

Which I would have to pay for because no one took the words of a mere slave over the pack members.

I tried to act like it didn't hurt and opened the door only to receive a hot slap across the face.

"How dare you keep me banging outside your door? Have you lost your manners?" She bawled angrily and I palmed my cheeks.

"I'm sorry," I apologized and she stormed away from me in annoyance.

"Don't just stand there! Get your sorry self downstairs this minute!" She snapped and I scurried down.

The stares that followed me made me want to sink into the ground and never show up again but what could I do? It was impossible to do that.

They didn't even bother to spare me a little shame. They pointed at me and gossiped at the top of their voices so I could hear them and feel horrible.

"Isn't that the girl that couldn't get her wolf?"

"You mean the worthless outcast that got rejected by the Alpha?"

"I don't understand why the moon goddess would make such a terrible mistake, to be honest."

"When I saw that silver hair, it was freak alert!"

They succeeded because the words felt like additional stabs to my already wounded heart.

I descended the stairs, avoiding as many eyes as I could. I headed to the kitchen and took out the dishes.

Even the other maids who were better than me, made fun of me. It was just amusing to everyone that I couldn't get a wolf and still got rejected on the same night.

I wish it was that funny to me.

"Have you heard?" I heard a whisper.

I was certain it was going to be about me since it was convenient for people to gossip in my face.

"The Alpha will be introducing his new Luna tonight," she continued and my whole body stiffened.

"You are such a gossip! Where did you hear this fake news?" The other maid rebuffed.

"It is not fake! I heard the Alpha discussing with his Beta while I was cleaning the hallways," she defended.

The plate dropped from my hand into the sink and the noise startled them. They looked at me but before I could say a word, they burst into laughter.

"Look at her face!"

"Poor thing thought she was going to be the future Luna!"

My heart clenched.

The goddess knew I had never for once imagined myself as Luna. I just needed a man that would love me for me. A mate that would treat me like a human being.

Someone like Joel.

But I guess the goddess thought it would be better to make a joke of me.

I fought back the tears and turned to continue the dishes.

Who cares if he found another Luna? He already rejected me, didn't he?

But deep down, I knew I cared.

A little too much if I may add.

I could only hope that the maid was bluffing but she wasn't.

Later that day, Alpha Levi summoned a meeting for all the pack members. Everyone was looking at me funny as I joined them.

"This meeting is for pack members, weirdo," someone hissed.

"Since when did the outcast become a pack member?"

There were chuckles but I kept my face to the ground, avoiding their stares and struggling to keep my head together.

"I'm sorry for making you all gather here on such short notice," The Alpha started. "But the Luna ceremony is around the corner and it is only right that I introduce your future Luna to you."

There were cheers along with a few mumbles.

My heart was drumming against my chest. Some part of my stupid head hoped that he would turn around and introduce me as his Luna.

Yes, that was how delusional I was.

"Permit me to introduce to you the Future Luna of the Gray Moon Pack, Lucy Hart..."

Cheers erupted as I staggered back in shock.

Lucy?

Of all the women he could choose from, it had to be the one who made my life miserable.

She descended the stairs with such grace that one would never believe she was a bully.

She moved to his side and they locked arms. My chest tightened as I focused on their interlocked hands.

"She is beautiful, cultured and strong enough to lead our pack to greater heights," Levi said and the crowd cheered in agreement.

I didn't realize I was crying until the tears rolled down my cheeks.

This couldn't be happening.

Just as I looked up, his cold dark eyes connected with mine. Without wasting a second, I turned on my heels and ran.

/-Sophia-/

Pain.

Hurt.

Humiliation.

That was just the order of my life now. There was no reason for my smile anymore, not that I have ever smiled before.

Nothing for me to hope for.

I just wanted to shut my eyes and never wake up. Who knows, maybe that would numb the pain in my heart.

At least in death, I couldn't feel anything. Not even this emptiness.

I didn't even have the courage to go to school. If home alone was hell, how would I cope in the midst of more than three hundred thousand assholes? Yes, our pack was the third largest under the lycan king of the south.

The young adults loved drama. They loved to see others crumble so my situation was going to be their everyday amusement.

But staying back wasn't even an option either. I had to go whether I liked it or not and hoped they would just leave me alone.

I got dressed and picked up my backpack. Joel was already waiting downstairs for me.

"Sophia!" He exclaimed, pulling me into a hug. "I'm so glad you're okay."

My eyes watered.

How could he even say that with everything going on? Did I look okay to him?

"Yes," I answered instead. I wasn't going to bug him with my problems. His presence was already enough consolation for me.

I don't know how long we hugged but I wasn't ready to let him go, yet. I was reminding myself that despite how horrible things turned out to be, there was still someone who genuinely cared about me.

"I'm sorry for what happened to you, Sophie. You are a beautiful soul and deserve all the happiness in the world," he said.

I wish the goddess thought so too; then maybe she would have mated us, and this wouldn't hurt so much.

We walked together to school in silence. It felt like there was so much to say and nothing to say at the same time.

"Do you want me to walk you to class?" He asked.

"No, we are already late. If you walk me, you will be extra late so get your ass moving," I said.

"Fine. I'll see you later."

Once he was gone, I sucked in a deep breath. This was going to be a lot harder than I thought.

Maybe I should go home and bury myself in chores instead of facing all these people.

In the end, I found myself walking to class. I was receiving strange stares but I tried my best to ignore it.

This was a large school, and wolves from different packs attended it, so there was no possible way everyone would have known about it that fast.

I wasn't even a popular person in school. I was that invisible nerd that no one cared about.

On getting to class, all eyes fixated on me. It was as if they knew what happened. Their knowing stares and the taunting look in their eyes were enough proof of that.

"Miss Everest, how nice of you to make time to join us," Mr. Matthew, our etiquette teacher, said sarcastically.

"I'm sorry, sir. I woke up late," I apologized.

"I'm sure you did. Get in," he said dryly and I scurried inside immediately. I moved to my seat, hoping to move on from the embarrassing moment, but as soon as my bum touched the seat, it gave out, and I went crashing to the floor.

The class blew up with laughter.

"Everest, I will not have you distract my class!" Mr mattehew snapped and I got off the floor, mumbling an apology.

To cut the story short, my day was terrible, and I couldn't wait for classes to be over, but when the bell rang for recess, I got another surprise.

My image was drawn and hung everywhere in the hallway and they were all from the night where Levi rejected me. My birthday!

They were all laughing and pointing and I just wanted to burst into tears.

Why was life being so shitty and unfair to me?

What exactly did I do to deserve all this? It was not my fault that I got separated from my parents during the war and no werewolf family in the pack agreed to adopt me like they did the rest of the children who were piled at the same time I was.

My question went unanswered of course.

After classes, I just wanted to return to my room, but I couldn't because, apparently, I had training. We needed to learn how to protect the future Luna.

"You're early!" Lucy walked towards me. "I didn't think you would have the face to show up for practice."

I said nothing to that. She was looking for a way to mock me and I wasn't going to give her that satisfaction.

"Doreen, you go with Everest," she said, blowing the whistle.

Doreen was three times my size and stronger but who was I to complain? I headed to pick a sword and froze when I realized there were real weapons.

Was she being serious?

"Is there a problem, Everest?" She called when I stood there for too long.

"I don't understand..." I turned to her. "These are real weapons."

"Of course, sweetheart. You didn't think we would use toys forever, did you? Yeah, the enemy is not going to come to you with wooden weapons," she stated.

"But..."

"But what? If you had transformed like the rest of the girls, we would be training your wolf, not you," she retorted.

If the aim was to make me feel less of myself, then she succeeded.

"If I were you, I would work hard so I don't become a liability to others in time of need or, most likely, the first to get killed when we get attacked any day," she said cruelly.

I swallowed thickly, taking in Doreen's size once again.

"Don't worry, she'll go easy on you," Lucy said, walking away.

I picked up the weapon, gulping hard. The whistle blew and she dashed towards me. I wasn't going to try fighting back.

This wasn't the normal training. I was going to sustain actual injuries, not just a few punches.

Which is why I took to my heel. She was relentless and chased me with a killer look in her eyes.

Another sign that she was out to draw blood.

"Stop running and fight, Everest," Lucy yelled but there was no way I was going to listen to her.

I was confident she did this on purpose, and Goddess helped me; I wasn't going to let that thing get close to me.

As I ran towards her, Lucy stretched her arm and because I did not see it on time, I slammed into it, falling to the ground.

Doreen caught up with me at the same time and before I knew it, the sword came at a rapid speed.

I rolled away quickly, it slashed my hand.

At the sight of blood, a smirk played on Lucy's lips.