Chapter 2

Aria's Pov

"Mate!" Ava called again in a louder voice.

My heart skipped a beat. "A- Ava are you sure?" I stuttered, not wanting to get my hopes up.

"Mate!" Ava said again happily, jumping excitedly in my mind.

"Are you sure about this?" I asked again. "Hope you're not doing this because I'm losing all hope of finding a mate?"

"Trust me Aria," Ava said. "He's here, I can sense him."

"Why can't I sense him?" I questioned.

"Cause your heart is finding it hard to accept," she told me. "Now let's go find out mate," she urged.

I sighed in defeat. "Where is he?" I asked, even though I couldn't sense him yet. Well, I just have to trust Ava on this.

"Just walk straight ahead, and climb the first stairs you come across on your right," Ava described.

"Stairs?" I asked in disbelief. "Why go up the stairs? All the unmated werewolves are down here."

"Quit complaining, Aria," Ava scolded me, with a hint of frustration in her voice. "Just trust me, will you?"

"Alright, alright," I said and did as Ava instructed.

As I took the first step to climb the stairs, that's when it hit me. An intoxicating woody spicy scent.

"I- Is that–?"

"Yes, girl!" Ava said frantically, not allowing me to finish my sentence.

"This is too good to be true," I muttered in disbelief.

"Well, it is true," Ava confirmed. "Now, go girl!"

With every step I took on the stairs, the scent became stronger. As I reached the top of the stairs, I ran my fingers through my hair with shaking hands.

"The moon goddess gave you a mate Aria," I mumbled under my breath, attempting to drown the rising tide of panic.

"Move, Aria," Ava said impatiently, as I stood on a spot.

My thoughts were a chaotic mess, as they tumbled over each other, with so many what if's. Could my mate be London? I've not really paid attention to his scent before, but I'm sure it's not a woody spicy scent. I would have known, with how intoxicating the scent I was perceiving right now.

Oh, my goddess! I facepalmed internally. Apart from London, every other pack member always treats me like I'm a worthless piece of garbage. What if my mate is one of those scumbags, would they see me differently now that I'm their mate? What if it's one of the guests?

"Jeez! Aria, would you move your legs!" Ava queried. "I'll take over if you won't move," Ava threatened.

I moved one step at a time with my heart pounding so hard that it blocked my ears. I only knew where to go because the scent grew stronger and more intoxicating with every step, which led to a room.

"London?" I said my voice barely above a whisper, as I set my eyes on those emerald eyes that sparkled and spoke of all things spring. The emerald colored eyes suddenly became sunny, which only indicates one thing, his wolf recognizes me as his mate.

"Ahh…o..ooh…Yes, baby!" The sound of moaning snapped me out of my reverie, and I got a better image of my surroundings.

Right there in front of me, was my mate fucking his girlfriend Elsa.

A great tremor overtook me, I sniffled as tears threatened to spill from my eyes.

Of course, who else would he have been doing this with? I was so stupid to think that having London as my mate would solve all my problems.

London ignored me and turned to fucking Elsa, spanking her on her butt.

The sounds of Ava whimpering at the sight shook me back to reality. I couldn't hold the heartbreak anymore, so I ran back towards the stairs, and a gut wrenching sob tore through my chest, as cold tears streamed down my cheeks. I wiped them with the back of my hands, but the tears still came pouring down anyway.

"Here, Aria," Mrs. Beatrice shoved a towel into my hands as I was running down the stairs. "Go clean up the mess made downstairs at the party."

I ignored her and kept walking down the stairs.

"Did you hear what I just said?" Mrs. Beatrice dragged me back by my shoulder.

"Y-yes, Mrs. Beatrice," I replied in a quivering voice, as I struggled to hold back the fresh tears threatening to fall.

As I arrived back downstairs, I bowed my head slightly to hide my teary eyes as I walked over to the table where the mess was made.

I sniffled and wiped a stray tear that rolled down my left cheek with the back of my hand as I began to clean the mess on the table.

I felt a hand pull me abruptly, and a head turning slap landed on my cheeks, causing me to stagger backward from the impact.

"How dare you barge into my room?!" London growled.

Tears of pain flowed faster than a heartbeat as I stared into his eyes which held nothing but raw hatred.

"I– You– We–,"

Pow! Another slap landed on my face, shutting me up before I could complete my statement.

"Shut the fuck up!" London growled. "I wasn't done talking!"

Everyone turned towards us as they began whispering amongst themselves.

My cheeks hurt from receiving two resounding slaps within seconds, but it was nothing compared to the hurt I felt deep in my soul. I thought one's mate was supposed to love them. But there's no atom of love in London's eyes. And he was always nice to me saving me from Elsa....was that all fake?

Or was he disappointed that I was his mate?

"Do you think I'll accept you as my mate just because the moon goddess destined it?" London asked, accompanied by a menacing laughter.

The whispering amongst the pack members increased, as they stared at us with eyes wide open.

"The mood goddess made a huge mistake this time," London declared. "Someone like you can never be my mate."

Hearing those words from London, my mate, the one who was supposed to love and cherish me throughout his entire existence, felt like my heart was being shredded into a million different pieces.

"Your Highness, I–"

"Just because I showed you a little kindness doesn't change the fact that you are nothing," he snarled. "It was all pity Aria, I felt nothing but pity, don't mistake that for anything else."

I couldn't utter a word but my tears spoke volumes, that I was falling apart.

"I'll make this quick and easy Aria," London continued. "We don't have to waste each other's time."

"No, please," I choked out pleadingly, as I knew what he meant.

"No?" London laughed irritatingly, as he looked deeply into my eyes…my soul. "I, London Fitzgerald–"

"No please, I beg of you," I got down on my knees, and pleaded with him with tear filled eyes. "I'll do anything, please your highness."

London's expression remained cold as ice.

"I, London Fitzgerald, future Alpha of Startling Pack, reject you…what's your surname again?" London stopped midway.

I shook my head vehemently. There's no way I'll answer that, and there's no way the rejection would be official if he doesn't say my full name.

Oh, moon goddess, don't let him remember, please. I prayed in my heart silently.

"Robinson," A voice said from the crowd. I can recognize that voice anytime, any day. It was the voice of Amanda.

"Thank you," London said and turned to look at me. "I, London Fitzgerald, future Alpha of Startling Pack, reject you, Aria Robinson, as my mate."

And that was it, London said the official rejection words.

I buried my head down, as the pain from the rejection and our bond severing tore through my heart. Ava howled in agony in my mind, and I couldn't even imagine what she was going through.

"Accept the rejection, Aria!" Elsa's sneer resonated in the hall, as she walked towards us, and slid her hands into London's arms.

"I–"

"No Aria, please," Ava said pleadingly. "It's just the alcohol talking," Ava was in denial. London wouldn't drink on such a big occasion, it could cost him his position as the next alpha. "I can smell the alcohol on him," Ava persisted. "He'll come back to his senses by morning and accept us."

"No Ava," I replied sadly. "He seemed determined about the rejection."

"Aria, please listen to me just once. I promise I'll–"

I shut the communication link between Ava and I and looked at London with a tear stained face.

"I,--," I took a deep breath. "I, Aria Robinson, accept your rejection of me as your mate."