2. Mated And Rejected

CHAPTER 2

PYRA’s POV:

Alpha Maverick came to halt in front of him.

His bright blue eyes locked into my red ones. His broad figure almost dominated the whole kitchen as his skin shimmered in the small sunlight that entered the kitchen. His hair, dark and messy.

He stared down at me silently while I shook and shivered on the floor from Natalie’s brutal attack. I wondered what I had ever done wrong to deserve all of this. I emitted a soft, pitiful snuffle and picked myself up, my movement hesitant and awkward, and bowed respectfully.

“Thank you, Alpha,” I whispered, my voice barely above a whisper.

Alpha Maverick grunted, his voice firm but not unkind. "You shouldn't let other people bring you down; you need to stand up for yourself, Pyra. There is no room in my pack for weak omegas.”

His words stung, but he was right. But I couldn't stand up for myself, even if I tried. Only pain came the last time I tried. So now, I did what anyone would have done if they were in my shoes; lay low and let everyone have their way. When they get bored enough, they would leave me alone, eventually.

I didn't realize the alpha was still present, until I heard his deep voice which made me jump.

"I won’t be here to protect you next time. Stand up for yourself if you want to survive.” He paused for the longest time.

“Do you smell that?”

I raised my head slightly, but barely enough to lock eyes with him. It would be disrespectful.

I sniffed the air, and that’s when it hit me like a ton of bricks. The most amazing smell ever.

The entire kitchen smelled of pine and the forest after it rained. The smell of nature.

Momentarily, the smell made me forget all the dangers I had been through, and my head went upwards towards the man standing in front of me.

The wonderful smell was coming from him. Impossible. The Alpha is my...

"Mate."

Alpha Maverick’s words seemed to hang in the air as we both stared at each other. None of us was ready to talk; we were just both frozen in our spots in the large kitchen.

The word echoed in my mind, its impact like a dagger into my heart. “Mate.”

It was impossible. I had a mate, and he was the leader of the pack, Alpha Maverick.

I always thought that someone as weak as me would never be considered by the moon goddess to have a mate. I thought I was unworthy and destined to spend the rest of my miserable life alone and detached from everyone in the pack, but now I guess the goddess has something in store for me.

I didn't know how to react; my body ached, and I could feel a stare of ridicule raining down on me from him.

"You... that's impossible." His eyes were hooded by the small light above, but I could still see clearly the conflict that passed through them.

It all disappeared after a while.

"You cannot be my mate, as you are not fit to rule by my side; you are only an omega, weaker than most even." With every word I knew what was coming next, I began to shake my head, refusing to hear his next words.

He sighed, "I, Maverick Zephyr, reject you, Pyra, to be my mate under the moon goddess light."

Every word struck my heart; they played in my mind over and over again, and I thought it was over. I couldn't stay anymore; and the pain in my heart felt like my entire world was crashing down on me.

I shouldn't feel this way, I've never placed too much hope on finding a mate, I never thought that he would whisk me away under the starlight, but it hurt so much that it didn't happen. Why did the moon goddess bestow upon me a mate if he was just going to cause me much pain? Haven't I had enough?

The tears brimming at the corner of my eye made my vision blurry, but I could feel the amount of ridicule raining down on me.

We were both alone in the kitchen, but it seemed like I was surrounded by my tormentors. They all laughed at me.

I didn’t notice Alpha Maverick leave as I collapsed with a resounding thud to the ground in disbelief and pain, tears falling down my face. All the facades of resolve I had managed to build over the years, crumbling.

I sat flat on the floor, having no desire to move out of this place. Nothing changed, if anything, my days in the pack would only grow worse. The tears fell from my face as my heart shattered into a million pieces.

As I cried, I failed to take note of my surroundings. I didn't expect anyone to come down to the kitchen this early in the morning.

The sound of women chuckling echoed throughout, and I knew they were coming.

I couldn’t let them see me like this. I rushed, scattering to the fireplace to let smoke cover my scent, and hid behind the large kitchen door, holding the teary chokes and my breath.

“I just saw Alpha Maverick leave. Maybe she’s finally alone there.” Natalie’s voice echoed as she and her friends came in.

"What happened? I want to hear it again," Jena asked excitedly.

She was a short girl with a pixie cut and had been Natalie's friend for as long as I could remember.

"The alpha showed up when I was about to finish up with that ginger freak. She’s here in the kitchen, and I called you guys for reinforcements. A little beating won’t be that bad, yeah.” Natalie replied.

They all giggled, and I huddled my body harder against the wall, trying to escape by merging into one with the pillars. They were chatting about me and also here to continue where Natalie had stopped before the Alpha saved me.

“Where’s she?” Natalie asked, confused. She sniffed the air but choked from the smell of smoke. “She’s supposed to be here!”

“Maybe, she ran as fast as possible. The dumb bitch is getting quite smart. Why do you take so much interest in Pyra, anyway?" Jenna asked, receiving nods from their other two friends who were curious.

Natalie’s words were filled with disgust and spite. “Have you looked at her? I mean, take a good look at her. Can't you see her hair? Who has that pigment of hair in this pack?” She rambled, her pitch evolving higher.

“No werewolf in two centuries has ever had vibrant red hair as bright as hers. And with the length of her hair and the beauty of that delicate face, it’s just a little time before she catches the eyes of my alpha. I can't take such a risk. I want her gone."

"I see your reasoning on that, bestie. Such a pretty face was wasted on her. But what makes you think Pyra will ever catch the Alpha’s eyes?" Jenna’s curiosity was piqued as her voice was sarcastic.

I felt someone resting on the kitchen door, pressing my body painfully behind the door. I sniffled a painful groan as I stretched my hand to pick an apple.

Jenna’s hands searched for the fruit, and I hesitantly shifted the basket closer to her, letting her pick it successfully.

“I don’t know. I just feel there’s something about her that will threaten my position of power. I don’t know what it is, but I could feel the energy within her. She makes me uneasy the closer she gets to Maverick.” Natalie’s voice was low as she spoke.

“And she’s extremely beautiful, even more than me. I can’t stand her presence. No one is going to threaten my Luna position. I really can't wait for Maverick to see me as his mate. I'd make sure to get rid of her as the new Luna."

They didn't stay long after their conversation, and their voices faded away as they passed through and out of the kitchen. I stayed behind the pillar, scared that they would come back for me.

Why were they talking about me? I never knew what I did to make her hate me so much.

I didn't care much about their discussion and ran out of the kitchen.