Chapter 4

Leah's POV

There was a reason that werewolves didn't want to reject their mates -

It was too painful. 

Every single part of my body was in excruciating pain. 

I had been branded before, but this was yet the most painful thing that had ever happened to me. 

As much as I was tortured, there was a teeny tiny bit of me secretly wishing that he wouldn't accept my rejection. I wished he would smirk at me and call me an idiot, telling me that there was no way for him to let go of me. I wished that he would press me on the floor, taking me roughly, forcing me to say his name and beg him to give it to him...

I knew it was wrong to still have impossible faith in this train-wrecked relationship between us, but I knew with a simple apology, or a slight nod from him, I would go back to his arms. 

What can I say? Werewolves are very complicated creatures. We would do everything to stay with our mates.

But Lucas didn't show me any signals. He just stood there, frozen in shock. I couldn't tell what was on his mind, but he must be trying to piece together the events that had led up to this moment. 

He had never imagined that I would have rejected him, and yet there he was, staring at the unimaginable.

This is it. I thought to myself. This is the day that I quit. This is the day that I put my marriage to an end and say goodbye to my mate. 

I had thought this day would never come. 

I had thought that when this day came, I would be crying and screaming, but I didn't. 

There were tears in my eyes, yes. But I couldn't afford to shed one more drop of tears for a man that had failed me so relentlessly in love. 

Lucas' shock slowly began to wear off, and a sense of dread settled on his face. 

"You must be kidding me." He said in a harsh, monotone voice. "I'm the Alpha of the White Walkers and you're nothing but an omega. You don't have the right to reject me. I will reject you instead."

"OK. Bring it on. Reject me," I said. My voice was still collected.

Looking offended, he grabbed my arms with his giant hands, looking into my eyes. 

We were so close. His lips were just in front of my forehead. I could easily steal a kiss from him as our goodbye gift.

But I canceled that thought immediately and lifted my face. 

I made sure he saw nothing but determination in my eyes. 

"Are you challenging me? Do you think that I, the leader of the most powerful pack in the entire Kingdom, don't dare to reject an omega like you?"

"I don't know, you aren't rejecting me right now," I replied. "So, what are you afraid of?"

Lucas tossed me on the sofa.

"I, Lucas Logan Steele of the White Walkers Pack of the White Walkers Pack, reject you, Leah Eleanor Lewyn of the Defiant Pack," he said. 

There was no mercy or hesitation in his voice.

"I accept your rejection," I said briefly.

For a long time, Lucas just stood there, unable to move or speak, as if he had been plunged into a strange and foreign world, one that he didn't understand and couldn't control.  

The door was pushed open and Josephine showed up. 

"Oh, my Moon Goddess! Is this a bad time? Did Lucas just reject you?" She gloated. She's known for her curated cautiousness when it comes to handling this kind of situation. But on that day, she just couldn't conceal her happiness anymore. 

"Yes, you've heard it right." My voice was steady and resolute, but I no longer needed to hide my disgust and disdain. "I know it's you who sent me the picture on our wedding day. You want to sabotage our marriage and now congratulations, you've finally got what you want. Lucas is all yours. Enjoy your painful slow death."

Josephine's innocent doe eyes were wide open as if she had never expected this would happen. 

"Oh, mine! There must be some serious misunderstanding here. Lucas and I are just friends. He's like an elder brother to me. A very kind and gentle one. And I swear in the name of my dead brother that I have never ever sent you any pictures! Come on, Leah. Are you OK? You poor thing. I've always known you're a bit backward, but you have never been so paranoid like this. Do you need to lie down a bit? Oh, no. I guess I'm the one who needs to lie down now." She placed her hand on her forehead, leaning against Lucas as if she was about to faint. 

I saw a flash of guilt flick across her dark brown eyes.

Isn't this woman a drama queen?! I thought to myself. Anyway, she's not my problem anymore. I'm done with her.

Just as I was about to walk away, I noticed the sapphire pendant on Josephine's neck. 

I thought to myself, well, according to the preup, I can't take anything away from our marriage, but that pendant was given to me by Lucas before our wedding ceremony. So technically, it's my separate property. And since there's no happy memory that I can take away from this marriage, at least I can claim that pendant.

"One more thing," I said. "I need my pendant back." 

"What?! But that's my pendant. Lucas gave it to me as a gift..."

"That's the wedding gift from Lucas to me. I was wearing it on our wedding day. Everyone saw it," I said.

Josephine took a glance at Lucas and tittered to me, "Oh, really?! I didn't know it was your wedding gift. I wasn't paying any attention to you on your wedding day." 

Then, she lifted her arms, pretending to remove the pendant. 

"Lucas, I know you want to make me happy. But I guess I'll return this pendant to Leah. I mean, growing up, you've bought me so many pieces of jewelry. I still remember the diamond ring shaped candy you bought me when you were six. You put on my finger and asked me to be your bride. I was only four at that time and it was so sweet. This pendant is probably the only piece of precious stone Leah has ever got. I really don't need it. Could you please help me to remove it, Lucas? I guess it's entangled with my hair..." 

"Don't worry. I'll help you." I said. 

Then, I stepped forward and abruptly pulled the pendant off Josephine's neck, along with a lock of her blonde hair.

"Ahhh! You're hurting me! Why are you hurting me? I haven't done anything wrong! Help me, Lucas! This woman is crazy and she's going to kill me!" Josephine screamed in pain and hid behind Lucas, using him like a shield.