Chapter 3

Aria's Pov

As I said the official rejection words Ava howled in pain and we felt the mate bond severing. I stared at London with so much desperation, hoping against hope to at least see an ounce of pain or regret, but London was fine, and his expression remained cold as ice.

London turned to Elsa and gave her a long, passionate kiss.

"Why can't he feel any pain?" I mumbled under my breath.

"People should learn to know their place," London said as he and Elsa walked hand in hand towards the stage. "The moon goddess clearly made a mistake," London said, staring at me with nothing short of contempt. The pack members nodded their heads in agreement. "An orphaned omega with no roots will NEVER be my mate, or future Luna of the great Startling Pack."

There was no point trying to hold back the tears that threatened to fall down my cheeks, so I just let it flow shamelessly. Maybe, just maybe, it would reduce the hurt I'm feeling.

"There's no other she-wolf worthy of being my mate, and Luna of the pack, than Elsa Cruz," London announced proudly.

The glint in Elsa's eyes alongside the wide grin on her face couldn't be ignored as she stared at London like he was the fucking sun. London turned to face Elsa, he cupped her face, and planted a kiss on her lips, before bringing out his fangs.

"No!" I growled, trying one last time to fight for what's mine.

London looked over at me, with a smirk spread across his lips.

I shook my head, pleading with him with my eyes, but my pleas were bluntly ignored. London brought out his fangs, Elsa tilted her head to the left, and London sank his fangs into her neck, claiming and marking her as his mate.

My already shattered heart became irreparable. I felt numb all over as I sat on the floor staring in disbelief at the reality of my life. I'VE BEEN REJECTED.

"Long live Luna Elsa!" Amanda yelled from the crowd.

"Long live Luna Elsa!" Everyone present cheered in unison.

"Long live Alpha London! Long live Luna Elsa!" Amanda started with a new chant, racing her glass of wine in the air. "To the glory of Startling pack!"

"To the glory of Startling pack!" They all raised their glasses in the air. "Long live Alpha London! Long live Luna Elsa!" Their chants echoed in the hall.

As I stared at everyone around, right from London and Elsa to all the pack members, the fairytale of a mate and love, I remember my mother telling me shattered in an instant.

London and Elsa came down from the stage and made their way towards the center, while everyone present walked towards them, offering congratulations and well wishes.

"You both are going to have very strong pups," one of the Pack's Elders said.

"I agree. It's important for a pack to have a strong Luna and Alpha," another chimed in.

"Alpha London is so lucky to have such a strong she-wolf like Luna Elsa," Amanda chimed in, it was obvious she was faking it, her smile didn't reach her eyes. Amanda once admitted that she had a crush on London, so hearing her say this made me cringe.

I shut my ears to all the fake praises and flattery, it was obvious they were all trying to get into London's good graces as the new Alpha.

Fresh tears rolled down my cheeks for the umpteenth time as London planted a kiss on the back of Elsa's hand so lovingly.

With the last shred of strength in me I stood up from the cold floor, as everyone seemed to forget that I actually exist. It's not like they've ever cared anyway.

"Watch where you're going!" A pack member said then cussed at me, as I bumped into him on my way out.

Blinded by my tears, I sprinted into the woods, not knowing where I was headed, all I knew was that I needed to get as far away as possible from all this.

"Aria, where are you going?" Ava called out, but I couldn't bring myself to answer as I was overwhelmed by the hurt, and just kept on running farther and farther into the woods, holding my gown in my hands.

My legs became weak from all the running, and I stumbled to the ground, gasping for breath. Allowing Ava takeover would have been a much better option, but I needed to exhaust myself and get my mind off everything that happened tonight.

"Mom, all you said about mate, was a big fat lie," I said in between sobs. "It was all a lie Mom!" I screamed into the air, breaking into fresh sobs.

"Let's go back Aria, please," Ava pleaded, she was probably scared of me getting so overwhelmed by the hurt and attempting to kill myself like the time I lost my parents.

"I'll be fine Ava," I assured her, as I dust myself off the ground. "But I'm not going back there," I declared. "We have nothing there."

I took a glance at my surroundings and realized I was on the outskirts of the pack. I walked a bit further and saw a pub at the other end.

"Don't tell me you're thinking of going in there?" Ava said. "Let's go back home."

"Home?" I scoffed. "That place has never been our home, we were both delusional," I told her and kept on walking towards the pub.

"But a pub is not our home either, Mrs. Beatrice–"

"To hell with Mrs. Beatrice and everyone else," I retorted, and slammed the door to the pub open, making everyone look in my direction but I locked eye contact to a pair of amber eyes that flashed at me.

*********

I woke up with a throbbing pain in my head, my brain felt like it would swell beyond the capacity of my skull.

I tried to sit up, but the room spun, and I collapsed back onto the bed, hitting something- someone, my heart skipped a beat, as I realized what had happened.

"Aria, what have you done?" I scolded myself.

Did I just sleep with a complete stranger? I shuddered at the thought that I had a one night stand with absolutely no recollection of what happened as I stepped into the pub. The only giveaway was that my body felt different and I was completely naked.

I slid out of bed with the last bit of strength I could muster, towards my clothes that were scattered on the floor. I didn't bother sparing the man whose back faced me, a glance. What if he was someone I know? Someone from the pack? I knew I would die from the embarrasment. The goddess knows I wouldn't be able to look him in the eyes again.

I tiptoed out of the room, as I opened the door, the stranger stirred in his sleep.

"Oh, no, goddess please," I pleaded.

The man stirred but didn't turn the other way.

"Phew!" I sighed in relief.

Closing the door gently behind me, I ran out the hallway, and straight to the pack house.

"Luna Aria," Amanda said mockingly, offering a fake bow as soon as she spotted me. "Should I prepare a bath for you?" She taunted, and her minions giggled.

It was way too early to pay any attention to Amanda and her lapdogs, so I decided to do what I do best, ignore them. I tried walking away but tripped, Amanda intentionally put her leg in the way.

"Oops, clumsy Luna," Amanda sneered, followed by a burst of mocking laughter from her and her lackeys. "Oh, Luna Aria, I'm so sorry," Amanda continued with her ridicule. Looking at her from the corner of my eyes as I was on the floor, I could see her with a triumphant smirk spread across her lips.

The pain from last night became fresh in my memory. Getting taunted and ridiculed by Amanda and everyone else was nothing new, but mockingly referring to me as Luna made me remember the gut-wrenching rejection I faced last night.

I sniffled, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to fall.

"Did I just hear someone say, Luna?" Elsa's voice echoed from behind.

"Oh goddess, please don't let her come this way," I prayed silently, but my prayers weren't answered. The goddess seemed to be answering someone else's prayers because the sound of Elsa's heels as she walked became louder as she got close. I looked at her from the corner of my eyes, she was putting in the shoe London got for her on her 17th birthday. I had personally chosen the shoe color, bold red, London had requested my help.

"Greetings, Luna Elsa," Amanda and the rest greeted in unison.

Luna? I scoffed inwardly. I know London already marked her as his mate, but she's not yet Luna, London isn't officially Alpha either. Well, I'm not surprised though, Amanda will do anything just to please Elsa.

Dusting myself up, I stood up from the floor.

"Gree–"

Pow! A slap landed on my cheeks, shutting me up immediately.

"So I'll have to beg you to show me some respect, huh?!" Elsa growled. "It seems you don't know your place in this pack."

"I– I'm–"

Pow! Another slap landed, blurring my vision for a second. For a lady, Elsa sure does have strong palms.

"Babe," London called Elsa in a doting voice, as he made his way towards us.

"Hi, ba–" Elsa tripped.

London rushed over.

"Are you okay, my love?" London asked, his voice etched with concern as he helped Elsa to her feet.

"I'm fine," Elsa replied with teary eyes and turned to me. "Why did you put your legs in the way, Aria?" Elsa accused me, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Did you hate me that much?"

"I did no such thing," I defended myself. "You–"

"Quit lying Aria, we all saw you," Amanda lied through her teeth. She never fails to seize any opportunity to make me suffer. "Didn't we?" Amanda asked her minions who nodded like they were under some spell or something.

"Amanda, why are–"

Pow! London's hand struck across my face, slapping my already stinging cheeks.

"You're to be locked up without food or water until I say otherwise!" London growled, his veins throbbing in his neck, the coldness in his eyes piercing my already wounded heart. "Guards! Take this THING out of here!"