REJECTION

REJECTION

Alpha Caleb's heart sank as the whispers of rumor reached his ears. Word had spread throughout the pack about the cancellation of the highly anticipated Luna celebration between his daughter Alpha Amanda and Alpha William of the Blue Moon pack. He was also furious that William had chickened out and sent his beta to do his dirty job. Spineless - he muttered as he went seeking for his daughter, the look of concern etched deep lines on his face as he hurriedly made his way toward Amanda's chambers. 

As he approached her door, the muffled sounds of sobs reached his ears, intensifying his worry. Alpha Caleb gently pushed the door open, his heart breaking at the sight before him. Amanda,  sat hunched over in a chair, her shoulders shaking with each tear that cascaded down her cheeks. Her childhood friends, Lucca, Vanessa, and Susan, surrounded her, their arms wrapped tightly around her in a gesture of comfort and support.

Caleb's heart filled with sorrow as he crossed the room to be by Amanda's side. He knelt down before her, his voice tender and filled with concern. "Are you okay, my dear? What has happened?"

Amanda looked up, her eyes simmered with tears. She tried to compose herself, but the pain in her voice was evident. "Dad... they... they canceled the Luna celebration. William... he..." Her voice faltered as she choked back another sob.

Caleb's grip tightened on Amanda's hand, his eyes filled with empathy. He had hoped to shield her from anything that would cause her pain after the death of her mother and brother. "I'm here, sweetheart," he murmured, his voice filled with fatherly love. "Tell me everything. You don't have to face this alone."

Amanda took a deep breath, finding solace in her father's presence. She poured out her heart, sharing the pain and confusion that consumed her. She spoke of William's decision to cancel the celebration, the whispers of betrayal that had begun to circulate within the pack, and the overwhelming disappointment that weighed heavily upon her soul.

“I am sorry honey, no one deserves to be treated like this, did he give reasons for his decision.”

Amanda nodded “It is because of Jane, she had an accident.”

“Jane, who is she,” Caleb asked his face crisping in confusion

“She is William's first mate, she rejected him.” Amanda sniffed back tears

“Well, now we know why, Alpha William is a scoundrel.” Caleb scoffed “What do you plan to do now.”

 “I have no intention of having him back,” Amanda replied with a blank look

“Are you sure you are okay?” Caleb's concerned voice pierced through her swirling thoughts, pulling Amanda back to reality. His hands gently grasped her shoulders, and his gaze held a mixture of worry and love. This was his way of ensuring her complete attention, a gesture that always reminded Amanda of his unwavering support.

"I will be," she replied, her voice laced with a hint of determination. “Can I be left alone? Amanda pleaded, she needed to clear and mind and think of the next line of action.

Her father refused but after much persuasion succumbed, Lucca, Vanessa, and Sarah left with him.

As soon as they left, Amanda buried her face in her pillow, muffling her sobs as her whole being trembled with pain. The ache in her heart felt unbearable, surpassing any pain she had ever endured, except for the loss of her mother and younger brother. It was a torment that made her question her own survival. Heartbreak was no longer an abstract concept; it was a visceral pain that tore at her very soul.

 It wasn't just about William canceling the wedding; it was the impending rumor that threatened to poison the twelve territories that comprised the Wolf Kingdom. Regardless of the postponement and Amanda's rejection of him, everyone would see it as William abandoning her, and the conclusion drawn would be that she was the problem. It was not a common occurrence for a female alpha to be rejected or abandoned, and the implications of this disgrace were unbearable. She clenched her teeth in agony, her entire being consumed by sorrow. Today was meant to be a day of celebration, as it was the turn of the Blue Moon pack to act as host to all the guests from other packs coming for the Luna celebration which would be followed by the festival to honor the goddess. The Luna celebration was supposed to be groundbreaking, a female alpha and the alpha of another pack becoming mates has not occurred for centuries but now she was disgraced, rejected, and abandoned.

Being the alpha of the Blue Moon pack was never her choice; she had never aspired for this position. She longed for a simple and humble life, one removed from the burdens of leadership. Yet, duty and fate had intertwined to place this responsibility upon her shoulders. Her father had impressed upon her the weight of her duty to the pack. He made her understand the challenges that lay ahead, particularly as a female alpha. His words echoed in her mind, his voice filled with a mixture of pride and concern.

"One day, my dear, I will pass on or become incapacitated, and you will assume the role of alpha. As a female, it will be an even greater struggle for you, both from the other packs and from your subordinates. I want you to be prepared for anything and, most importantly, never give up."

"But I am only fifteen, Dad," Amanda protested, refusing to accept the possibility of her father dying. "Nothing is going to happen to you. You'll still be here with me."

"Tomorrow is not assured," he replied, his voice tinged with sadness. 

"But surely the Moon goddess wouldn't allow us to suffer another loss, would she?" Amanda posed the question, desperate for reassurance, yet already chagrined by the haunting possibility.

Silence greeted her inquiry, the absence of an answer spoke volumes. Her father changed the subject, perhaps too burdened by his own memories and fears to offer the comfort Amanda sought. From that moment forward, she dedicated all her energy to training, with the knowledge that the respect bestowed effortlessly upon other male Alpha, she had to work harder to be accorded the same respect. And gradually, after years of relentless dedication, things began to change for the better within the Blue Moon pack.

Amanda concentrated on her pack duties not too keen on meeting her mate. However,  when she met Alpha William, from the moment their eyes met, there was an undeniable connection that transcended mere attraction. He called her his second chance mate, revealing the heartbreaking story of how his first mate had rejected him. In the following months, their bond deepened, and he proposed to her. Alpha William wanted to seal their love with a grand wedding during the auspicious Thargelia ceremony—a day reserved for Lunas to unite in matrimony. It seemed like a dream come true, until the last moment when he decided to postpone the engagement, shattering her heart and disrupting the life she had envisioned. Now, here she was, cocooned in the solitude of her bedroom, nursing a broken heart. The pain was unbearable, intensified by the realization that her hard-earned respect among the pack might crumble in the face of this public humiliation.

As she glanced around her room, the remnants of last-minute decorations mocked her. The chairs she had specially crafted for William and herself stood at the corner in her, the meticulously done nails, and the facial treatments—all reminders of the meticulous preparations she had made. It only heightened her frustration, and when her gaze fell upon the extravagant gown she had made for the occasion, anger surged within me. Without a second thought, she grabbed a pair of scissors and mercilessly shredded the dress, its once majestic form now reduced to a scattered heap of fabric on the floor.

Beep! Beep! Beep! Amanda’s phone rang but she refused to answer the call, some moments later Lucca arrived in her room alone

 "Your father sent me to you. He wants you to get ready to receive the guests." Lucca said “he said it is your duty as alpha and not being around would be good for you or the pack,

Amanda nodded, understanding that duty called, even in the midst of her personal turmoil, her own problems had to take a backseat to the responsibilities thrust upon her as Alpha. "Thank you for letting me know," Amanda murmured.

Lucca couldn't help but voice his frustration. "Since there's no wedding, why not cancel the festival altogether?"

Amanda sighed as she brightened her face with some makeup. "I wish I could, but the wedding is only a part of today's ceremony. The festival is always held a day after the Luna celebration, canceling the worship of the goddess is like striking out the soul of our kingdom," she explained a tinge of resignation in her voice.

"This situation sucks," Luccs spat out, his frustration mirroring her own.

"Indeed, it does," Amanda concurred, her voice filled with weariness and sorrow. "Tonight, I'll have to wear a fake smile and pretend that everything is okay while I slowly wither away inside."