Chapter 3. Rejection

GRACE P.O.V

Long before becoming a Luna Moon pack, I used to enjoy the beautiful scenery in the sky with my parents. The crescent moon shone brightly, with millions of stars dotting the dark sky.

It was as dark as my heart right now.

The wind blew softly, and the leaves of the trees swayed in dance. But all I could hear was the sound of my heart whimpering.

Tonight, without Alpha Alex beside me, I felt loneliness pushing at me fiercely. I sat on the sofa in the deserted living room, staring blankly at the ceiling.

I let out a long breath. All this time, I had been too busy helping Alpha Alex achieve his goals in every way I could.

However, what about me? I just realized that I didn't have time to think about myself. Even in our second year of marriage, I hadn't given him a child.

I stared at my wedding photo with Alpha Alex displayed on the wall in front of me. Then my gaze shifted to the clock on the wall that showed twelve o'clock at night. Alex hadn't returned to our house until midnight.

I had deliberately waited for him to straighten things out. Not long after, he came home looking disheveled. His suit was rumpled, he had undone several buttons on his top shirt, and he had tousled his black hair. His stern face tightened as he found me sitting in the living room.

“Why aren't you sleeping?” he asked as he walked up to me. I moved away as his right hand was about to land on my blonde hair.

“Alex, can we talk seriously now? I'm begging you,” I said with teary eyes.

He was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly. I followed him to our room. I waited for him on the couch by the window while Alex went to the bathroom.

“Grace, what did you want to talk about?” asked Alex as he sat on the same couch as me. The scent of body wash wafted fresh from his body in casual clothes.

“Look at the sky, Alpha. Do you feel the same loneliness I do when I'm gone?” I turned my head to the side, looking at him, who was currently also looking at me.

I saw Alex's body jerk slightly as he heard my words. A leader who usually exudes a powerful impression of all things now looked listless.

Alex looked at me with a sharp gaze, his right hand touching my arm. “Grace, I don't know what to say to calm you down. This isn't something that can be chosen instantly. I have promised to solve the problem in a way that is fair to both you and Jecelin,” he said in a quiet tone.

I felt disappointed and troubled, but I could not possibly demand something that the Moon Goddess had destined. I squeezed my hands in helplessness and despair, as if that could distract from the pain in my chest.

“Alpha, this is not your problem, but both of ours. I know you claimed me because you didn't want to lose your Alpha status. My goal is the same as yours, which is why I sacrificed my mate's bond with Gabriel to ensure a true Alpha led by the Moon Pack. I was so stupid to think you would keep the promise you made two years ago,” I said with a trembling voice mixed with sobs.

“Before meeting me, Jecelin had gone through a lot of misery. Therefore, I realized her dream of being able to live peacefully in a pack that would protect her.” His voice sounded shaky at the mention of the woman's name. There was no longer any reflection of my form in his green eyes. I knew where this was going to end.

“I rejected Gabriel to be with you. Can't you do the same? Jecelin can't do any work; I allowed her to work as your personal secretary so that her presence here is more useful. If you can judge correctly, then you can decide who is most valuable to you and to the glory of the Moon Pack!” I exclaimed out of anxiety.

Alex held my arm even tighter. “Grace, you're the best. Don't let this bother you. I appreciate you as my chosen mate and Luna for bringing glory to the Moon Pack. However, I can't refuse Jecelin, my true mate. I'm sorry.”

I forced a smile as I heard his confession. Furthermore, I nodded my head briefly. “Don't apologize, Alex!”

“Listen to me. Nothing changed after Jecelin came into my life. I'll make sure she doesn't touch your power, and she won't become Luna!” Alex spoke in a stern tone. His sturdy jaw hardened as I withdrew my hand.

“What's the point of having power if my Alpha loves another woman? Even though she's your mate, I came into your life first!” I exclaimed angrily while pointing at his face, which looked so sickening to my eyes.

“Then what do you want, huh?” Alex moved to stand in front of me, his face so tense that his neck muscles stood out against the surface of his tan skin.

“You have to decide between us. Either me or Jecelin,” I replied with a trembling voice.

Alex pursed his lips. His eyes blinked rapidly, and he turned to leave. I hurried to catch up with him and pulled him firmly by the arm so that we were facing each other.

“Choose me or Jecelin?” I asked him in a demanding tone. I squeezed his arm when Alex didn't answer my question.

“I can't decide between you two because you are both equally precious to me. I love you both in my own way.” He held my shoulder and stroked it gently. Instantly, his lips came closer and kissed my cheek. My emotions calmed down a little from the warmth of the kiss.

“How do you love in your own way?” I asked with an incredulous expression.

He pulled his face away and looked at me intensely. “You and Jecelin have the same place in my heart, each in their own way. I love you both, with all your flaws and strengths. And I will do my best to maintain this relationship,” he replied.

Tears welled up in my eyes when I found out that he had decided to pick between the two of us. I don't think it's a perfect solution, but it's the worst solution ever. “If you love me and my strengths, would you rather keep me?” I asked in a trembling voice.

“I keep you by my side. Our relationship will remain strong despite Jecelin's presence. We will overcome every obstacle together, with genuine love for each other. That's my answer, and it won't change,” Alex replied while gently wiping away tears.

“You are a selfish man, Alex. You pressured me with my weakness to achieve your goal. But now that everything is yours, where's your reward for me?” I snapped at him angrily.

His jaw hardened, and he gripped my shoulders firmly. “What reply are you referring to? You've managed to become the Luna Moon Pack, the most powerful pack shifter on the American continent. Is all that wealth and popularity not enough for you?”

I knocked his hand off my shoulder in a swift motion. “I don't need any of that. I just need my Alpha to be by my side and choose me as his one and only mate!”

“Yes, you got me. I have claimed you, and you are mine. So, what else do you want to argue about, Grace?” Alex exhaled harshly while glaring at me.

I exhaled harshly, tired of talking to a stubborn human like Alex. “I take issue with the commitment between us. You promised to make me the only one in your life. But that's just a bunch of bullshit!”

Alex corrected his posture and looked around the room. “This is all beyond my control, Grace. All this time, I thought I didn't have a true mate. However, it turns out that my mate came after we got married. I couldn't possibly reject my mate since she is currently pregnant,” he said in a frustrated tone.

I felt a little guilty for raising the tension between us. Likewise, I preferred to calm my emotions. “Ok, I understand. Are you going to reject her after your child is born into the world?”

“Are you crazy, Grace? I can't reject the mother of my child. Where is your conscience, Grace? You're a woman too, and you should understand how she feels. She's so perfect in my eyes—such a full representation of a woman. She can get pregnant, take good care of me, cook me delicious meals, and be considerate of the little things around me. So different from you!” Alex snapped at me while pushing my shoulder so that I backed away.

“Yes, Jecelin is indeed a perfect representation of a woman. If I had more time like her, I could probably pamper you. But, since I'm a Luna Moon pack with a lot of work and demands to be perfect, my work is not in the kitchen or sleeping comfortably on the bed!” I shouted with bated breath.

“Enough, Grace! Stubborn woman like you won't understand a man's needs. I require your attention too, but you prioritize the pack more than anything else. That's why I can't reject my bond with Jecelin, who has sacrificed her time for me,” he retorted while looking at me with a piercing gaze.

“Alex, don't you understand the difference between us? There is nothing wrong with my work or with my path as Luna. You just can't accept that I'm not perfect and can't fulfill all your desires. Please, Alex. Understand my situation,” I said, with feelings of jealousy mixed with hurt.

“Look, you're the selfish one in our relationship. I keep telling you not to spend too much time outside, but you don't listen to me!” he snapped so hard that his neck muscles tensed.

“Because pack business is urgent, that's why I'm leaving. I can't possibly leave pack business to Beta, Delta, or the warriors. As long as you are busy taking care of your personal business, then I will handle all Moon Pack affairs,” I said with trembling lips because Alex's aura when angry was so scary.

Alex shook his head as he walked around the room. He clenched one hand into a fist and punched the wall until it cracked. I gasped as his eyes turned red, and he growled at me. “You're not the only one who's busy, Grace. I'm also busy with my work and my duties as the Alpha Moon Pack. But I make time for you as much as I can. When I wanted to spend time with you, you weren't by my side.”

The tension between us grew hotter. Alex was so angry that part of his form turned into a wolf. The Alpha aura emanating from his body pressed against me, making me unable to move.

“Stop! What's going on here?” Suddenly, the former Alpha's voice was heavy in my room. He walked into my room with a cold aura and a sharp gaze directed at Alex.

It surprised me that the former Alpha didn't come alone; there was the former Luna and Jecelin who came with them.

“Jecelin, you're here. Please hug me,” Alex said in a softer tone, while it still transfixed me in shock.

“Mom, let me calm Alex down,” Jecelin said when the former Luna was about to approach Alex. How close Jecelin was to my in-laws, to the point of calling her “Mom”. Jecelin gave Alex a small smile, then hugged his large body tightly. “Of course, dear. I'm always here for you. Don't get angry again. We can talk about this problem in a cold discussion,” she continued while looking at me sharply.

Alex released his embrace and looked at Jecelin softly. “I love you, Jecelin. You are everything to me.”

I could only watch the scene without saying a word. As I started walking towards Alex, suddenly the voice of the former Alpha stopped me.

“Luna Grace, we need to talk in a calm atmosphere.” My father-in-law said to me.

I nodded and followed him from behind. The former Alpha sat on the single sofa, while the former Luna sat on the same sofa as me. My hands clasped together nervously as their eyes gazed at me.

“I'm sure you already know that Alex met his true mate,” the former Luna said, opening the conversation between us.

I clenched my fists tightly. “Yes, I found out about their affair when I visited Alex's office.”

“They're not cheating, Luna Grace. They are mates,” the former Luna replied, correcting my answer.

My chin lifted as I looked at Luna beside me. “The proof is that they were playing behind my back. Maybe if I hadn't visited Alex's office, I wouldn't have known what they were doing.”

The former Alpha's expression looked tense. While the former Luna's eyeballs moved quickly like a panicked person, her face remained calm. Jecelin's expression looks smug, and she must be pleased with this situation. Meanwhile, Alex looked very uncomfortable, as evidenced by his shaking hands. As for my feelings, it mixed them between annoyance, disappointment, and sadness when I saw Jecelin showing her closeness to Alex in front of me.

“Luna Grace, I am pregnant with my Alpha's child. He had marked me when we mated for the first time three months ago. So, now I have a position not much different from yours,” Jecelin said with a faint smile that looked mocking in my eyes.

“Congratulations on your pregnancy, Jecelin,” I said sincerely to her. Although I was annoyed with both of them, I sincerely congratulated Jecelin on her pregnancy, as children are holy creatures who do not know the mistakes of their parents. No wonder lately I feel unfamiliar with Alex's figure; it turns out he's been mating with his mate.

Her thin lips with red lipstick smiled, and her hand didn't stop rubbing her stomach. “Alpha, I demand your promise now,” she said while looking at Alex.

I was suspicious when I saw Alex's face change. He gave me a quick glance, then focused his gaze on Jecelin.

“Why are you silent? I'm pregnant with your child, and now it's time to prove your promise!” Jecelin spoke in a lofty tone.

“What did you promise her, Alex?” I asked seriously.

“Nothing important,” Alex replied quickly.

“Nothing important?!” snapped Jecelin, mimicking Alex's words. That woman really had a poor attitude, and I really regretted bringing her to the Moon Pack. “You promised to reject Grace if I got pregnant!”

My eyes widened as soon as I heard Jecelin's words. This really difficult situation hurt and disappointed me. So, it was true what Gabriel said about Alex rejecting me.

“But--”

“Are you starting to doubt now?” Jecelin stood up while pointing at Alex's face.

“Jecelin, behave yourself!” I exclaimed angrily as I stepped closer to her. I scrutinized her petite figure, standing only up to my shoulders. Her white skin looked clear because I often gave her money for body treatments. Her beautiful face hardened as I touched the tips of her mahogany-colored hair. “I'm going to slap your arrogant face if you keep being disrespectful. Around you are the Alpha and Luna Moon Packs. And the former Alpha and Luna are watching your inappropriate behavior.”

She growled as she punched my hand. I felt someone holding me from behind as she pushed my body. I turned my head in surprise when Gabriel grabbed my shoulder. Then he removed his hand from my shoulder and walked over to Alex.

“Alpha, there is a report from the warriors guarding the border. A group of rogues attacked and left some of our warriors injured. I will go to the border to help eliminate the rogues,” Gabriel said with a flat look on his face.

Alex sighed and nodded. “Go, Beta. Bring plenty of troops, if that's what it takes.”

“I'm strong enough to take out those bastards myself.” Gabriel bowed his head softly, then trotted away in his wolf form.

I stared at his departure until his figure disappeared into the darkness of the forest. It surprised me when Alex suddenly appeared in front of me.

“What are you looking at?” His voice was a hoarse growl and sounded angry to my ears. His green eyes turned a fiery red, like blood, a sign that emotion had overcome him. “How dare you look at a man other than me?”

I rolled my eyes, unwilling to listen to his ramblings. “I just looked at him, not to the point of physical contact.”

He stomped his foot on the floor, breaking the rose-patterned marble in my room. “I know you two still have feelings for each other. That's why I let Gabriel go to the border tonight,” he said with a smirk on his lips.

“What do you mean?” I asked with concern.

Alex tilted his head to the right as his right hand stroked my cheek. “You'll find out later, Grace,” he replied as he moved away from me.

Suddenly, I felt uncomfortable after hearing Alex's words. My breath hitches because my chest feels tight, as if there's a big rock squeezing in between. My palm gently stroked the left side of my chest, trying to calm myself down as I began to be overwhelmed with fear.

My body gave a small jerk as my nose inhaled the scent of Alex's blood. My eyes widened as I realized he had bitten his right wrist with his fangs. His form changed into that of a half-wolf: his wolf's ears appeared, his eyes were red, and black fur appeared on his hands. He howled so loudly that the Moon pack started coming to my house. My eyes began to glaze over as I saw my people begin to arrive. My room had a tall window design with wide glass, so I could see my people standing outside.

No, no, no. Don't let Alex do the thing I'm most afraid of for the rest of my life. I rushed over to him, who was currently standing next to Jecelin. My footsteps stopped when he raised his hand, signaling that I should keep my distance from him.

“This is the right time,” he said in a hoarse voice mixed with a growl. I shook my head quickly as he raised his injured right hand up. “I, Alpha Alex Haword, reject Grace Annalisa as my mate and Luna Moon Pack. She has committed treason for looking at a man besides her Alpha!” he exclaimed loudly.

The moment Alpha announced that he was breaking his mate's bond with me, everything instantly turned into a tense silence around me. The faces of the Moon Pack people standing outside looked anxious and worried.

I hadn't expected Alex to swear off our bond.

I felt my heart racing. A vow that meant the termination of our relationship, my defeat as his life partner, and that there would be no more love binding us. Those words pierced my heart like a sharp knife, pulled it out, and sliced into my soul.

It felt like it had pushed me out of our wolf family's pack. I felt upset and hurt because they were always talking about mate bonding, which is essential for werewolves. I felt so lost and separated from my family.

My profound feelings were poignant, similar to when I lost my identity as she-wolf in the family. I felt alienated and very lonely, even though I was among the Moon Pack folk, whom I sincerely loved.

Sad and disappointed. In the end, I left the Moon Pack territory.

I looked up and saw the expanding night sky. After a while, tears began to fall, even though it wasn't raining. Suddenly, my stomach began to ache, and I searched for a way to survive.

Someone in my heart is forcing me to meet Gabriel, but I don't know where he is at the moment.

I had to face the punishment I deserved for all my arrogance and behavior in the past. Alex's words of rejection made me feel like there was no place for me in the pack anymore. I had also stopped communicating with my parents after officially becoming a Luna Moon pack, leaving me with no way to return home.

The cold and dark atmosphere of this forest seeped into me like a reminder of my arrogance and disobedience to the Moon Goddess' rule.

I stood in the middle of the forest, feeling both exhausted and helpless. Until my body fell because of the pain in my stomach, which felt like there was a lump of life in it.

Before I lost consciousness, the wind wriggling around me carried my tears that had begun to dry on my cheeks. I felt the painful law of karma befall me like a lament in my heart.

I deeply regret having violated fate. However, it's already too late, and perhaps after this, I won't be able to continue my life anymore.