Rejected Silent Lone Wolf

Ella's POV

"I, Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack, Kevin Allen, reject you, Ella Moore, to be my mate."

His voice was icy, and my heart shattered instantly. Tears streamed down my face in large drops. I could only clumsily gesture with my hands. Unable to speak, my mouth only produced choked sobs.

"I'm sorry, Ella. I'm only 19, we're still young, and I'm not ready to bond with you. Besides, you... are not suitable to be the Luna of the Blood Moon Pack."

He stared at me with a helpless expression. Seeing my helpless look, he remained expressionless, making me feel estranged.

Shaking my head in disbelief, I couldn't fathom that Kevin Allen, my best friend, would reject me today, at my 18th coming-of-age ceremony, in front of all the werewolves of the Blood Moon Pack.

"Hey, Ella, you mute girl, get off the stage from the testing. Alpha Kevin has rejected you. Don't stand there foolishly, there are other mates waiting for the test!"

A male wolf below urged, followed by waves of mocking laughter.

"So shameless, a mute Omega still deluding herself to be an Alpha's mate. It's like a toad wanting to eat swan meat."

"Huh, she thinks being Alpha Kevin's follower since childhood would make the Alpha accept her. Ridiculous. Even though her mother was the former Alpha's beta, she's just the lowest omega, worthless, how could she be worthy of an Alpha."

I chose to ignore these taunts, as I've done for the past 18 years. However, Kevin was different for me. He was the most precious person after my mother. The rejection by Kevin at that moment caused immense pain to my body and soul, yet I held onto a glimmer of hope.

I struggled to compose myself, holding back tears, continuing to communicate silently with gestures.

Why? Do you see me the same way they do?

Do you agree with them?

My panic makes me look clumsy, and I hate that, but I want to confirm Kevin's true thoughts. I know he is not that kind of wolf. He once told me that I was the strongest female warrior. Although I knew he was encouraging me, I had imagined that in his heart, I was not a worthless wolf.

The helplessness in Kevin's eyes grew deeper. He sighed, shifting his gaze away from me, seeming unwilling to face this situation.

"Ella, you've always been a clever and obedient she-wolf. You know I've just ascended as an alpha, I still need to grow. What I seek in a mate is a female warrior like your mother, not... not someone like you."

Not someone like me, a mute, an omega with no fighting capability.

I understood the latter part of his sentence. It felt as if all my strength had been drained, every sincere feeling shattered, just like these 18 years of companionship.

Kevin and I grew up together, I couldn't believe he didn't know how the werewolves looked down on me, yet he chose to reject me outright in front of their scrutinizing eyes.

"Ella, even if we can't be mates, I still regard you as a sister..." Kevin continued, but was interrupted.

"Kevin, shut your mouth!" My mother, Ariana Moore, jumped onto the stage, embracing me, and shouted at all the werewolves, "My daughter is the most precious treasure in the world. Stop mocking her right now, or I won't be lenient with any of you!"

The warm embrace of my mother made me feel even more aggrieved. Her armor was tough against my back, yet it gave me strength. "Ella, remember what I taught you? Stop crying, don't show your weakness in front of anyone, don't give anyone the chance to hurt you."

I nodded, wiping away the tears from the corners of my eyes. What my mother said was true, tears of the weak are worthless.

"Kevin, my daughter is not worthless. She also has her strengths. Don't forget, from childhood to now, every time you got injured during training, it was she who healed you and stayed up late making medicines for you." Anger burned in my mother's eyes as she confronted Kevin, not mincing words. "And now, here you are humiliating her in front of everyone."

"Beta Ariana, I never intended to humiliate Ella," finally, a hint of regret appeared on Kevin's handsome face. It seemed at this moment he realized the pain in my heart. "Ella, I'm sorry. I never meant to truly hurt you, I just..."

Just what?

I gestured again using sign language.

However, Kevin just sighed, refusing to continue. I understood him, he was always like this. When he didn't want to argue further, he'd remain silent. His last words were his true feelings.

He never really thought enough of me as a trustworthy partner.

I locked eyes with him and nodded.

Alpha Kevin, I accept your rejection, but from now on, we have nothing between us.

After completing my hand gestures, I caught a momentary surprise in Kevin's eyes. Clearly, he hadn't expected me to be so resolute.

Ignoring him, I stood up from my mother's embrace, wiped away all my tears, and descended from the testing stage under the gaze of all the werewolves.

After a brief silence, a new round of ceremony began on the testing stage.

Every year during the Blood Moon Pack's coming-of-age ceremony, young werewolves awaken their inner wolves on this day. The lucky ones also find their mates.

And I, I was the unfortunate one. Not only was I told that I was the lowest-ranking Omega, but I was also rejected on the spot as a mate.

Ella's POV

My mother was Kevin's father's beta. Last year, when 18-year-old Kevin took over, my mother became his beta. She's a fierce warrior, achieving feats in multiple battles and earning respect among the wolves in the Pack. I, on the other hand, am the opposite-an Omega who is mute. I often wonder why there's such a vast difference between us.

Would Kevin reject me if I were also a female warrior?

I huddle in the corner of my room, alone and heartbroken, shedding tears.

"Don't cry, my sweetheart. Get up now; I'll take you to train in the forest." My mother barges into my room, lifting me out from under the pillow with one hand.

Mom, can't you let me be alone?!

I angrily gesture in sign language.

"No, what you need now is to connect with nature, my little wolf. Come, channel your sorrow and anger into strength, make yourself stronger, and Kevin will regret it." Her tone is slightly indulgent, but she firmly escorts me out of the room.

Several minutes later, I reluctantly find myself sprawled on the back of a large brown wolf, traversing through the woods in the moonlight while the wind howls in my ears. I reach out and feel the cool breeze, and the sadness in my heart diminishes slightly.

"See, child, I was right, wasn't I?" The large brown wolf says triumphantly.

I nod in agreement, patting my mother's shoulder. Even though I lost Kevin, I still have my beloved mother. In my life, she has not only played the role of a mother but also that of a father. I shouldn't disappoint her.

Then, she stops in front of a massive waterfall and drops me onto the ground. "Ella, now, try to transform into a wolf."

Rubbing my bottom, I stand up, looking bewildered.

Seeing my dazed expression, her wolf front paw impatiently taps the ground. "Focus your mind, seek another voice within. You're 18 now, you can transform into a wolf."

I nod and attempt to do as my mother says. Suddenly, a surge of warmth spreads from my heart to my entire body, and my bones seem to elongate as if mutating. Before I can exclaim, I transform into a wolf!

Astonished, I lift my front paw but fail to maintain balance and tumble to the ground.

"Haha, oh, my little wolf is adorable in her clumsiness." The large brown wolf laughs heartily, completely disregarding my wounded pride.

Mom!

I growl, glaring at her, clumsily getting back up from the ground.

"Don't worry, with me around, you'll become a formidable she-wolf."

We continue training until the sun rises the next day, returning to the tribe. Exhausted, I collapse on my bed and fall asleep.

When I wake up again, my mother is no longer there. By now, she's already at the Blood Moon tribe Alpha's office, busy with her duties as a Beta. Two months ago, news arrived of the destruction of the Northern Black Moon tribe, causing unrest in the Blood Moon tribe. As the newly appointed alpha, Kevin also needs to learn more.

After a simple wash-up, I glance at the mirror and almost get frightened by my pale and weary appearance. I examine my face, messy black long hair, brown eyes-a very ordinary look. I sigh, I haven't inherited my mother's beauty, her blonde hair, and hazel eyes.

I enter my laboratory where various herbs are cultivated-or more accurately, poisonous herbs. I open a ceramic jar on the table, containing ten centipedes. Unfortunately, only four of them are alive. They're my precious ones, and I carefully feed them with some herbs I collected yesterday.

Once they're fed, these centipedes will engage in another round of battles. The survivors will eventually become my weapons.

Yes, I am a poisoner and also an apothecary. Despite being a werewolf with no combat abilities, I am deeply fascinated by various herbs and poisons. My mother once said that when she was pregnant with me, she mistakenly ingested a herb, which resulted in me being unable to be like other healthy werewolves and becoming mute.

When I was young, she took me to visit various renowned healers in the tribe. Although we gained nothing, it was through this that I formed a bond with herbs. They accompanied me during my lonely childhood.

Counting the scarce leaves, I had no choice but to go out to gather herbs. Despite my reluctance to leave after yesterday's coming-of-age ceremony, as I would encounter some unpleasant individuals, I sighed and decided to face my fears, carrying a bamboo basket and heading up the mountain to collect herbs.

Leaving my wooden hut, I could feel the prying eyes. Without my mother's company, those werewolves always found ways to bully me, but I ignored their whispers.

"Look at that poor creature, always carrying a bamboo basket and spending time with some leaves. She's so peculiar. No wonder Alpha Kevin refuses her."

Just the mention of Kevin irritated me. I glared at the woman who spoke and she huffed before leaving with firewood.

As I was about to pass through the Pack's gate, four young she-wolves blocked my path. One of the women I recognized, she was Maya, my former good friend and also the daughter of one of the Blood Moon tribe elders, destined to be a future female warrior.

When I was 16, I once saved her on a night when she was with a young man in the bushes, engaged in intimacy, and got bitten by a snake. I happened to come back with the antidote midway and cured her. However, she accused me to the elders of poisoning her, aiming to cover up the fact that I had caught her with that man. Later, I found out that the man wasn't a member of the Blood Moon tribe. I still don't know the true identity of that mysterious man, the one that made Maya slander me in such a way. It must be an unspeakable secret.

"Hey, long time no see, Ella," Maya approached me with an air of disdain. "Heard you got rejected by Kevin?"

Ignoring her, I tried to bypass them, but another she-wolf grabbed my hair.

"How dare you glare at me, you wretch! I'll teach you a lesson!" The woman attempted to strike but was stopped by Maya. "Emma, don't use force. Ella's mother is the Alpha's beta."

"Hmph, what does being the Alpha's beta matter? With your intimacy with Alpha Kevin, we don't need to fear Beta Ariana," Emma, the she-wolf, said with emphasis on 'intimacy,' her tone suggestive.

My mood began to turn restless. I freed my wrists from their grasp.

"Don't rush to leave, Ella. Aren't you curious about Alpha Kevin's relationship with Maya?" The other two she-wolves blocked my path.

I don't care.

I gestured in sign language.

"Haha, what is she saying? Do you understand?" Maya laughed, covering her mouth. "This little mute one, does she really think Kevin rejected her just because she's an Omega?"

After Maya finished speaking, the other three she-wolves surrounded me, snatching my bamboo basket and trampling its contents. I was furious, about to draw out the poison needles hidden in my sleeves, but I remembered my mother's advice against rash actions. I halted my thoughts of poisoning them.

"Ella, I slept with Kevin, just a day before your 18th birthday. Did you know? Your mate, Alpha Kevin, performs exceptionally well in bed. I am quite satisfied," Maya boasted softly, leaning in close to my ear.

"Kevin rejected you because you have no feminine charm."

I instantly stopped breathing. It felt like my blood had turned to ice, a wave of defeat washing over my heart.

Kevin rejected me because I lack feminine charm.

My mind was momentarily thrown off by that statement. I forcefully pushed Maya away, staring at her with rage. However, Maya casually examined my defeated expression, as if observing an ant.

She drew close to me, arrogantly straightening my disheveled hair. "Stay away from Kevin, or I will make it impossible for you and your mother to stay in the Blood Moon Pack."

Ella's POV

After they left, I crouched down to pick up the broken bamboo basket that had been stepped on, sighed, and returned home to replace it with a new one.

In the past, even when Mother wasn't around, Kevin would stand by my side, and the werewolves wouldn't dare to bully me. I held back the tears that wanted to spill from my eyes, trying my best not to think about Maya's words.

Turns out, Kevin had slept with Maya the day before the adult ceremony.

My mate and the bitch I detest the most made love, and then rejected me.

I passed by a weapons shop, and from not far away, I heard noisy voices. I originally intended to ignore them and pass through the crowd, but a familiar male voice called my name, "Ella!"

Even if I didn't turn back, I could tell it was Kevin's voice. At this moment, I didn't want to deal with him.

"Wait, Ella! I need your help."

My steps hesitated for a moment, and he caught up with me. Kevin's tall and sturdy figure stood in front of me, heaving for breath, his scent still so familiar, yet I felt him so strange at this moment.

"Ella, are you still angry about yesterday? I thought given our past relationship, you would forgive me."

Forgive him?

With a hint of anger, I lifted my head, but when I locked eyes with his blue ones, he chuckled, "Ella, I apologize to you. Can you forgive me? I hope we can go back to how things were."

I remained silent. I didn't understand how agonizing his rejection was for me, while Kevin could easily brush off what happened.

He truly didn't care about my feelings.

I gestured angrily.

Kevin, I said yesterday that we have no relationship from now on. Please, don't come near me.

Kevin furrowed his brow, scrutinizing my expression. His handsome face showed helplessness, "Fine, you're still so stubborn. If you change your mind, we can still go back."

As I tried to leave, he grabbed my clothes again, "Ella, I need your help right now."

I glared at him with anger.

"My subordinates started vomiting excessively this morning, and what's worse, just now, two werewolves died of heart attacks. I've asked the Pack's pharmacist, but the pharmacist says it's an extremely rare poisonous herb, yet there are no specific clues about it, so we can't find an antidote."

As soon as he mentioned the poisonous herb, my interest was piqued. Kevin knew well about my fascination with herbs. He continued, "All the poisoned werewolves claim they didn't consume any herbs but had their usual breakfast. Ella, I need you to help me identify the poisonous herb that's affecting the werewolves."

With every move and gesture, Kevin exuded a sense of authority as a leader. I hesitated for a moment before nodding slightly. I communicated using sign language.

I can help, but I have conditions. Once I'm done, you must fulfill my request.

"Okay," Kevin nodded in agreement.

Then, Kevin led me into a rudimentary grass hut, likely a temporary shelter. There were two guards outside the door, and as I entered, the guards closed the door automatically. I pursed my lips, this seemed like a clandestine affair.

I examined the bodies of the two deceased werewolves, their lips were purple, a clear sign of suffocation. According to Kevin, they had vomited before their deaths.

I focused, using my fingers to manipulate the chin of one poisoned werewolf. As I moved his face from left to right, there was a sudden chill when my fingertips touched his skin. However, the werewolf had only died a few minutes ago, and his body temperature wouldn't have dropped so significantly.

"A mute Omega treating the sick? How could the Alpha trust her?"

"Is she here to cause trouble?"

I heard whispers behind me from the guards, ignoring them as I approached the poisoned but living werewolf.

Kevin warned his subordinates with a glance, and the scene quieted down. Then, he followed my steps closely, "Ella, any discoveries?"

I stared at the enlarged pupils of the poisoned werewolf, their trembling body from the cold, and gestured with sign language.

Do you feel a burning sensation in your throat, heaviness in your chest? Or even a sensation of chilling?

The soldiers didn't understand my sign language, they looked puzzled, gazing at Alpha Kevin. Kevin repeated my questions.

"Y-yes, all of us have the symptoms she mentioned."

How long has it been since you started feeling sick?

I continued using sign language.

"About... 3 hours."

I frowned and continued gesturing.

Did you eat a green plant this morning, and its juice was red?

When Kevin reiterated my question, the soldiers pondered, still wearing perplexed expressions.

"As we've just checked, there were no herbs found in today's breakfast," said one werewolf soldier.

"Red..." Suddenly, another soldier seemed to recall something. His lips trembled as he said, "We did eat a sandwich with red-colored bread, but that didn't seem like an herb..."

"Quickly bring the sandwiches bought today," Kevin ordered his subordinates.

Soon, the sandwich wrapped in white paper was presented to me. I opened the package, uncovered the red crumbs, sniffed them. The scent of the crushed juice wasn't strong; one wouldn't notice it unless smelled closely.

Indeed, it was the smell of herbs!

I took a small piece of the breadcrumb, licked it with my tongue, about to savor its taste, but I forcefully spat it out when a strong force made me do so. I looked at Kevin disapprovingly.

"Ella, are you out of your mind? This might contain poisonous herbs. I asked you to find the poison, not to ingest it!" Kevin's expression turned serious as he reprimanded my inappropriate action.

The other werewolf soldiers also looked at me incredulously.

I pursed my lips, unconcerned. They didn't know; in fact, I had tasted various herbs since I was very young, almost immune to poisons.

Smell it.

I gestured to Kevin using sign language.

Like me, he took some breadcrumbs and smelled them. Then, his eyes flashed with a fierce glint. He looked at me, questioning with his blue eyes. Immediately, I gestured with sign language again.

This is Bloodroot. For humans, ingestion leads to fatal poisoning within two hours. For werewolves, it's within four hours. They need to have their stomachs pumped as soon as possible.

After conveying this, I left the grass hut. Kevin didn't stop me, immediately ordering his subordinates to seek a physician to treat the poisoned werewolves.

To be honest, I don't care about the conspiracy involving the Blood Moon clan; it's not something I need to know. After all, the less a weakling knows, the safer they are.

The only thing I worry about is my mother, the beta of the Blood Moon clan. As a female warrior on the war front, she will face many dangers. In the previous generation, my grandfather and even my ancestors, generation after generation, served as the Alpha's Beta for the Blood Moon clan, protecting the werewolves. However, when an anomaly like me, a weak Omega, appeared in their lineage, I didn't receive the shelter and understanding from the clan members. Instead, I faced endless ridicule.

So, my only wish now is, if there's a chance, I want to leave with my mother and go somewhere that truly accepts us.