Streaks of Rejection

The serenity of the place was quickly ruined by the group Sapphire least wanted to see. She braced herself for their insults and faced them with a stern face. The woman isn't afraid of them, but she has already lost her will to even fight against them.

"Why are you still here? Didn't you already lose the ability to shift? You are wolfless and worthless." Pristine spoke while wearing her best, triumphant smile. Sapphire has the urge to claw the woman's eyes out, but she doesn't even have the ability to do that anymore. Their strength and supernatural abilities came from their wolf, and now that her wolf had totally shut her down, she was powerless, almost like a human.

Sapphires heard laughter from the other girls with her. She starts to think how funny it was that the group seemed to be forming their own little pack. They were always together and acted loyal to each other when they probably badmouthed each other when one wasn't looking.

"If I am so worthless, then it's a waste of time talking to me, don't you think?" She also gave her best fake smile and headed back inside the pack house. Sapphire was supposed to stay outside to catch some fresh air, but the thought of breathing the same air as Pristine and her minions disgusts her.

Leaving quietly was her plan, but Pristine isn't taking any of it. She used her speed and pushed the woman, causing Sapphire to land on the ground.

"Stop being cocky. You might be the strongest among us she-wolves, but that's all in the past now. I could snap your neck if I wanted to. " Sapphire glared and couldn't take it anymore. She attacked and was fast enough to take Pristine by surprise, but was not fast enough to dodge Pristine's counter attack.

She ended up on the ground for the second time. Sapphire wanted this to happen somehow. She wanted her wolf to get triggered and to let her fight back like they always do, but nothing came. The connection she had to her wolf was totally shunned after she found her mate and got rejected by him.

Pristine leaned in and forced the woman to face her, "A rejected wolf like you doesn't have any place in our pack." She grinned menacingly, simply wanting to rub in Sapphire's face that she was in this situation because Brennan rejected her for Pristine.

"What are you doing?" The question came from Raven, Sapphire's older brother. He rushed towards them and almost pushed the daughter of the alpha away from his little sister.

He growled, "Do you think the alpha would consent to such behavior just because you're his daughter?" Sapphire could feel his anger with his hands already formed into fists. He was close to shifting and pouncing at the women, humiliating his little sister.

Sapphire honestly didn't expect this behavior from her brother. They would always bicker non-stop, in which they ended up brawling more than what Sapphire could remember and count. She appreciated his help, but it was hurting her pride at the same time.

She used to be the strongest. Sapphire could fight for herself like the she-wolf she is, but things changed in a snap just because her wolf couldn't handle their rejection from a man she never thought was her mate.

With folded arms, the woman bravely answered, "We were just playing around. Aren't you the one overreacting? " Her eyes turned to Sapphire. There was nothing but contentment in her eyes.

"I would love to hear the alpha's thoughts about you playing around like this." Raven challenged her in a heartbeat. He knew their alpha. He was always just in his decisions and thought about the pack first.

Pristine rolled her eyes but was obviously defeated.

"You should be thankful that my father didn't throw you out when you were wolfless. You don't belong here, not anymore. " She spat another insult before leaving with her minions.

Sapphire punched the ground in annoyance. Small bruises and wounds were never her worry before, as werewolves have great regenerative abilities, but even that was taken away from her. Pristine was right; she's just a human now.

"Are you okay?" Raven asked, but quickly regretted that he asked. Who would be okay after all that happened to her?

He offered his hand to help her stand, but Sapphire stood on her own. "I'm just wolfless, not invalid."

They would have been bickering in this kind of situation, but Raven chose to tone down and understand what his sister was going through.

"Tonight is the full moon. I strongly believe that your wolf wouldn't be able to resist the pull of the moon. It'll come back to you, and you'll have no problem shutting the mouth of that pretentious bitch on your own." His words made her laugh bitterly. Sapphire wouldn't feel this helpless if she could feel any hope that her wolf would come back at the full moon.

Werewolves couldn't resist the full moon. Everyone's attitudes and emotions are heightened as early as two to three days before the full moon. It affects their mood to a great extent and also their power.

But Sapphire couldn't feel anything. She couldn't count the times she tried communicating with her wolf, but it totally caved in away from her consciousness.

Sapphire didn't answer and headed back inside and went straight to the shared room. She sighed after seeing her state in the mirror. Her shoulder length hair was a mess and her face was covered in dust because of being pushed to the ground relentlessly. She hated to admit it, but she felt hopeless and weak right now.

Werewolf packs used to live together just like their ancestors, but humans have been evolving fast. Human technology is advancing, and they have been really nosy about a lot of things. They eventually learn to adapt. They scattered all over the city, but still gathered when it was time for the full moon. They had the forest to themselves as it was the pack's property and was heavily guarded on other days. This is their only way to adapt to the human-dominated world.

They might be superior to humans in terms of strength and physical capabilities, but their kind are advocates of peace. It was the total opposite of what humans painted them in fictional media. They have good control of their wolf selves and wouldn't hurt anyone unprovoked.

"I hate this," she muttered in pure dismay. She always remembered the tales her mother used to tell her and Raven when they were young. Her mom always said that their kind were the most favored by the mighty goddess of the moon and that they were closest to her. Because of that, the goddess bestowed a gift on their kind; the ability to sense their mates.

Sapphire could remember how excited she was whenever their mother would tell them the story. The concept of having another werewolf that is half of your soul feels magical from a child's perspective, but only that the elders often forget to mention the curse it holds.

She flinched after feeling a sharp pain on her lips. She was biting into it hard enough for it to bleed.

"I hate this!" she exclaimed again and wiped away the tears forming in her eyes.

Werewolves that were rejected by their mates would fall into despair that is often hard to get over with. Sapphire already anticipated the pain, but she didn't expect that her wolf wouldn't be able to handle it. They haven't heard of a wolf that shuts themselves completely after a rejection, but here she is, crying in the shower so no one can hear her weeps.

She was the daughter of the pack's beta. They had been trained since they were children, with a little more extreme training for her and Pristine as the daughters of the pack's highest ranking members. They were expected to perform better, and both of them delivered well, but Sapphire performed better than Pristine in all aspects. No one really asked for them to compete, not even Sapphire, who was too innocent back then and just wanted to make friends. Pristine's insecurity and attitude caused their fight to drag until they aged.

What Sapphire didn't expect was that she would be mated with Pristine's boyfriend. Werewolves couldn't feel the mate bond until they reached their kind's coming of age. They discovered the bond as soon as they locked gazes, but Sapphire isn't feeling as happy as she thought she would be. She felt the instant attraction, but Sapphire couldn't take that a relationship would be ruined because of this.

"It can't happen, Sapphire. You know that I love Pristine, I can't let go of her. We should end this before it starts." Sapphire felt her body stiffening in her spot at the time. Her wolf was whimpering, knowing what would come next after his words.

"I, Brennan Cornelius, am rejecting you, Sapphire Lewis. I'm really sorry, but this isn't right." Sapphire simply accepted the rejection despite her wolf's clear opposition.

And now all she feels is regret. She regrets that she felt bad for Pristine. The latter didn't do anything but humiliate her after the incident, feeling like she owned the world knowing that Brennan had given up the mate bond for her.

She shouldn't have accepted it so lightheartedly. All she wanted for Brennan was to not tell it to anyone yet. She wanted to personally tell her parents about what happened. But he couldn't stop himself from telling Pristine, and the cruel woman happily tattled to everyone.

The news had to be heard by her family from the other people in the pack. She was furious, but things had been done. Her actions caused a huge backlash to her body. Day by day, she felt her body going weak. No one dared to badmouth her right in her face, except Pristine, of course, but she could sense it by their mere stares.

They were belittling her with their eyes, probably thinking that she wasn't good enough for the man to easily reject her. In a snap, her world changed. The woman who used to be regarded as the best is just a woman who lost her wolf because she was rejected.

The few hours before the full moon are very festive for werewolves, but Sapphire could still feel nothing. Her wolf was completely unresponsive, which already extinguished her remaining hope. Her family was looking at Sapphire with worry, but she didn't want people to pity her.

Everyone turned at the peak of the full moon, everyone except for Sapphire.

--

"You dragged me here, saying that we should study, but you're spacing out instead." Sapphire's train of thoughts were cut off by Elisa's voice, trying to lower her naturally loud voice as to not get scolded by the people around them.

The woman simply smiled and apologized. It's been five years since she lost her wolf. It was a huge adjustment, not only for Sapphire but also for her family. Sapphire insisted on joining their training but couldn't keep up anymore. She had to give up training among the werewolves, but she took refuge in learning the human ways of fighting and defending themselves. It wasn't really bad, but she still had to adjust. Her body is weaker and slower than usual.

Things got easier when she entered university, in which she shouldn't have to see any of her pack members anymore. She started living like a human, and although it was hard, she had to live.

"What was it?" Elisa asked again, with concern in her eyes. The woman had a few friends she made along the way. Sapphire might have lost her wolf, but not her common sense. She could still see through people, and she knew that Elisa was a good person she could trust.

There were a lot of times when she wanted to tell her the truth about her identity or how she used to be. But that goes against their rules.

Sapphire must admit that there were advantages to her situation. She felt more attached to her body and emotions, as if they were entirely hers. She had some romantic relationships, which were all humans, but she ended up ending all three of them. Sapphire just knows that she shouldn't prolong a relationship that isn't meant to last.

She still misses her old self, her stronger self. She missed her confidence and vigor, knowing that her wolf was still with her, only that it was dormant at the moment.

"Nothing. I just remembered something awful. " Elisa slightly tilted her head before her eyes widened. Whatever is on Elisa's mind right now, Sapphire is a hundred percent sure that she was wrong. She stood and was about to yammer but realized that she was in a library and she shouldn't actually be loud. Elisa smiled at the people that were looking at her before awkwardly sitting back.

She hasn't thought about the past that much, but every full moon when she couldn't shift and run free was a clear reminder of what she was missing, of what she had painfully lost. Her parents still insist that she still goes to the pack house every month just in case. Brennan would still looks at her with a guilty face every time they meet but Sapphire completely ignores him.

He might be the reason for her pain, but it wasn't his fault that the goddess made them destined for each other as mates.

It was a pain to see everyone happily running while she remained human. She often leaves earlier just to get away from the pain of reality.

"Who crossed you? I'll beat them up. " Elena whispered a warning to whoever hurt Sapphire.

She heaved a sigh, "It was a long story. It happened ages ago too." Sapphire stood and gathered her things. They were already finished hours ago but were too lazy to get up.

Elisa pursed her lips, "Fine then. It must be very personal... but is there a chance that you skip that "strict" family tradition and go to the party with me this night? " She smiled while bobbing her eyebrows.

"Believe me. I really love to go, but my parents wouldn't like it if I skipped. " She was talking about the pack gathering. She had already lost hope years ago, but her mother wouldn't let her skip a month.

She heaved another sigh, "I guess I'm going alone then."

The alpha called earlier, and they were required to come a day earlier than usual because the new alpha of the neighboring pack would make a courtesy call.

"Why is a wolfless werewolf needed on that courtesy call? I'd rather be in that party." She mumbled in dismay.

Elisa's forehead crumpled. "What was that you're saying? "

"Nothing important. "

"I had to cancel an appointment because of that guy. " He heard Raven loudly complaining about the new alpha of the Northwood pack. She lost her enhanced senses too, but their rooms were in front of each other and both doors were open.

Their pack, the Blue Moon pack, was one of the largest packs in the country, but Northwood was larger and had more allies even outside the country. They could see why their alpha wanted to be on good terms with them, but such meetings don't usually require all the pack members. Sapphire didn't get the chance to ask her father about what was happening, but she packed her things anyway.

They went downstairs and her brother received a smack from their mother, "Don't you dare speak like that in the gathering or you'll get in trouble. " She warned. Raven scratched the part where he was hit and glared at Sapphire for cackling.

"You heard your mom. " Their father came out of the room carrying both his and his wife's bags.

Raven rolled his eyes, but didn't argue any further until they were all inside the car. They drove towards the pack house with not much excitement. Sapphire used to be the most excited one during full moons. Her energy cannot be contained, and she barely stays in human form during pack gatherings.

Raven is still murmuring complaints, but no one really pays attention to him.

"Why is everyone called anyway? Isn't courtesy calls usually just among the leaders of the pack? " Sapphire used the opportunity to ask.

"That guy feels special just because he managed to steal the position from the alpha of the Northwood pack. " There was clear annoyance in his eyes, a bit of jealousy too, from what Sapphire could see with years of experience as being his sister.

The woman turned to her brother with wide, surprised eyes. The alpha position is usually inherited or passed on by the alpha themselves to whoever they see as fitting for the position. It is rare nowadays that someone challenges the alpha for the position.

Sarah, their mother, hissed at Raven's statement, knowing where it was rooted from. She knew her son more than anyone else. Their wolves are their strength, but the negative emotions could also stem from them.

"You perfectly know how the system works. The old alpha accepted his defeat with honor, and we have to respect that. " She started lecturing her son about the pack system that all werewolves strictly follow. Their kind still adheres to their old beliefs and is taught to respect them.

Raven was quiet after being scolded by their mother. Sapphire, on the other hand, couldn't push the thoughts she was having about the new alpha. She's never been this curious about a person before.

"Thank you for coming today. " Theodore, their alpha, spoke as soon as they arrived. Her father accompanied their alpha while Sapphire sat on one side. She has been like this at every gathering ever since she faced rejection. It was as if she had a contagious disease. Everyone automatically avoids her, except for some people like the trainer in their pack, who still believes that she was a great person with or without her wolf.

This month's full moon is a supermoon, which means that the full moon will look brighter and closer than normal. It also means that their emotions are more heightened than usual. Sapphire could feel everyone's excitement. She was almost intimidated by it. Ever since her wolf caved in, she felt more vulnerable whenever she was around the whole pack, just like prey in the den of hungry beasts.

The new alpha is still on his way and couldn't really be waited for. They all turned and went to the woods for a run. They all left without looking back. The only wolfless one is naturally left alone in the pack house.

This is why she doesn't want to attend the gatherings. She feels suffocated whenever she goes near the place.

It was where she grew up, the place where she spent her childhood and the only place where she felt free to express her true self. Until it was the place where she got rejected by her mate and where everyone spat insults and disgusted looks at her.

She wouldn't go near the place if it weren't for her family.

Sapphire could usually tolerate it, especially when others were around, but this time it was too much for her. She went out and walked towards the opposite direction, where everyone always runs. It was closer to the entrance of the forest, where no one really liked to go as they could hear human civilization.

"I should have gone to that party instead. " She mumbled and didn't hesitate to sit on the ground. The sky is clear of clouds. Sapphire could tell that the moon would be very visible when the moon had risen. She still appreciates nature as much as she does when she still has her wolf. The woman is thankful for that, because it was the only thing that somehow connected her to who she was in the past.

She might have already accepted her condition, but she still misses the sensation of being a wolf. The woman lightly shook her head off the thoughts. Pitying herself was not her goal today.

A loud gasp broke the silence. Sapphire's eyes trembled a bit. There was a wolf in front of her, a huge wolf with black fur and almost twice the size of her wolf form. Its eyes were almost speaking to her. She could use a mind link to communicate with the wolf, but she lost that ability too.

The wolf's eyes made her knees tremble. She is sure that the wolf doesn't belong to her pack, nor that it was an intruder. His intimidating eyes made her agree that he deserved to be an alpha. His mere presence could make a wolf shudder.

But she is sure that it isn't the reason why her chest is tightening right now. Sapphire gasped again, this time in sheer pain. She grabbed her chest and applied some pressure, but that didn't really give her any comfort. Her heartbeat escalated at a dangerous rate, and that is when everything went blurry.