Chapter Four

Adrian's abrupt rejection hit Elena like a physical blow. She stood frozen, her mouth agape, her entire body trembling.

"What did you say?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "Are you rejecting me as your mate? As your future Luna?"

Adrian’s gaze hardened. "Yes," he said coldly. "Accept my rejection, Omega!"

Elena struggled to process his words, her mind reeling. "But why? After everything... Why would you reject me as your Luna?"

Adrian’s eyes darkened, his anger palpable. "What do you think? That I’d accept you as my Luna? I’ve done my research. I know who you are and where you come from."

He took a step closer, his voice dripping with contempt. "I’m not insane enough to accept an orphaned Omega, a wolfless werewolf, as my Luna!"

His words were like daggers, slicing through her heart. Elena felt her knees buckle, but she forced herself to stand tall. "You're right, I'm an orphan, an Omega, and wolfless. But that’s no reason to reject me, Adrian," she said, her voice trembling but defiant.

Adrian's lips curled into a sneer. "Those are exactly the reasons to reject you. You’re worthless."

Elena's breath caught in her throat. "And what about last night? You took my virginity forcefully.”

Adrian’s face flushed with irritation. "It was a mistake," he said dismissively. "I was drunk and needed to release some tension. It means nothing."

Elena's heart pounded with a mixture of anger and sadness. "It meant something to me," she said, her voice cracking. "You can’t just dismiss it as a mistake. You violated me."

Adrian's expression hardened. "I don’t care. I’m an Alpha. I have no intention of being bound to someone like you."

The harshness of his words left Elena breathless, her heart shattering with each syllable. "If I were you, I’d accept my rejection," Adrian said, his anger barely contained.

"No," Elena replied firmly, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her.

Adrian’s eyes narrowed, his teeth clenched, and his hands balled into fists. "Do you want me to make your life a living hell? Because I will," he threatened.

"But Adrian, you're my mate!" she protested, her desperation evident.

"I don’t care! I’m an Alpha, and rejection won’t bother me," he retorted.

Elena knew the pain of rejection was real and devastating for werewolves. She couldn’t bear the thought of him suffering, nor could she accept the finality of his words.

"I'm not going to accept your rejection, Adrian!" she declared with resolve.

His role as the future Alpha of the Bloodlust Pack represented a chance to restore the pack her parents founded. She couldn’t let him reject her, no matter what he threatened.

"If that’s the case, brace yourself. I won’t let you be my Luna!" Adrian's final words hung in the air as he stormed back into the palace.

Left alone in the butterfly garden, Elena took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. "I will not let Adrian reject me. I’ll do whatever it takes to gain his acceptance," she vowed to herself, her resolve hardening.

After a few moments of contemplation, Elena returned to the quarters she shared with the other maids. The shift in mood was palpable as she walked through the halls. Groups of maids huddled together, their voices low and urgent. They glanced at her with furtive looks before quickly turning away, their murmurs intensifying.

She approached Samantha, who was brushing her hair in front of the mirror.

"Elena, where have you been? Why didn’t you eat anything?" Samantha asked, glancing at her in the mirror.

"I was out. I wasn’t hungry earlier," Elena lied, the truth too painful to admit.

"I’ll take a shower first," she said, escaping to the bathroom before Samantha could ask more questions.

As the water poured over her, Elena pondered Adrian's threat and the painful reality of his rejection. What would he do to make her life hell? The cool water did little to soothe her fears. Was Adrian truly as ruthless as he seemed, or was there more to his rejection?

Elena sighed, finishing her shower. She got dressed and lay on her bed, unable to sleep despite her exhaustion. Hours later, Samantha shook her awake.

"Come on, Elena, we have to make breakfast for the Alpha’s family," Samantha urged.

Elena groggily rose from her bed. "I’ll be there soon," she said, watching Samantha hurry out of their room.

Once ready, Elena made her way to the kitchen. Her coworkers were busy, and she immediately pitched in to help prepare breakfast for Alpha Bernard’s family.

As they worked, the murmurs from earlier grew louder. Elena caught snippets of conversation—something about a maid and the woods. Her heart pounded as she turned to Samantha, who seemed equally unsettled.

"Did you hear about the maid?" Samantha whispered, her voice barely audible over the clatter of pots and pans.

"What about her?" Elena asked, her stomach tightening with dread.

"They found her body in the woods," Samantha said, her eyes wide with horror. "She was... she was killed, Elena."

The news hit Elena like a punch to the gut. She struggled to keep her hands steady as she continued to chop vegetables. "Who was it?" she asked, her voice shaking.

"Her name was Lila. She went missing last night," Samantha replied, her voice trembling. "They think it might have been a rogue attack."

Elena felt a wave of nausea wash over her. Lila had always been kind, always smiling despite the hardships of being a maid. Now she was gone, and Elena couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of loss and fear.

"We have to be careful," Samantha said, her eyes meeting Elena’s. "Things are getting dangerous."

Elena nodded, her mind racing. As if dealing with Adrian's rejection wasn’t enough, now there was a threat lurking in the woods. She couldn’t let fear paralyze her. She had to stay strong, for Lila’s sake and her own.

When they finished preparing breakfast, Lycia, the head maid, entered the laundry room with a stack of papers. She scanned the room and called out, "Samantha, I need you to fetch more linens from the storage room."

Samantha looked up from her task, relief flickering across her face as she accepted the brief escape from the grim atmosphere. "I’m on it," she said, her voice carrying a hint of escape from the pressing gloom.

As Samantha hurried off, Elena continued her work in the laundry room. The rhythmic sound of washing clothes provided a small solace, but the weight of recent events hung heavily over her.

"Elena, Prince Adrian is looking for you," Gwen said, her voice cutting through the hum of the laundry room.

Elena’s heart skipped a beat. "What does he want?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

Gwen shrugged, her eyes sympathetic. "He didn’t say. But you should go see him."

Elena nodded, her mind racing with the possibilities of what could come next. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever awaited her.

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