One

My lunch seemed insufferably meager today as I sat at the table with Nina and Brittney, who had both already found their mates since they were a year ahead of me. 

Everything felt even more awful now that I had learned Felix had rejected me, refusing to accept me as his Luna. It was especially hurtful after I had excitedly told him how special this day was supposed to be.

Nina looked at me, a gentle smile playing on her lips as she asked, "So, Kate, have you met your mate yet?"

I nodded, a hint of sadness in my eyes, trying to hold back any sign of my recent heartbreak.

Both Brittney and Nina reacted with excitement, their voices filled with disbelief and joy. "Oh my god, are you serious?! You found your mate?!"

I looked down, my voice filled with sadness and confusion. 

"He rejected me," I said quietly. "I don't understand why. Today was supposed to be the day I finally found my mate, but instead, he turned me down, and I just don't know why. It's left me feeling devastated."

Brittney leaned in, her curiosity piqued. "Who is he?" she asked. "Does he go to school here too?"

I focused on my food, refusing to respond to Brittney's relentless questioning. Determined as she was, she continued firing off questions, speculating aloud about the type of Alpha who could reject an innocent Omega like myself. As I sat there, Nina noticed my discomfort and, with a soft touch, gently squeezed my hand, attempting to provide some comfort.

“Is he Felix?" Nina looked at me with a concerned expression, speaking carefully. "Hey, I hope I'm not crossing any lines here by mentioning this, but there's a rumor going around that Felix is very close to Rafflesia and Giselle. They're both student council members, and heavily involved in the upcoming event next week. Some people are gossiping about how Felix might have a special thing going on with one of them."

Brittney couldn't contain her anger, her words coming out in a rush. "Hang on, are you telling us that Felix is your fated mate? Seriously? You’ve been dating him for almost three years, and now you're being set up by the moon goddess, and he turns you down for those annoying drama queens? That's so incredibly unfair!"

 “I don’t know.”

Nina and Britney's heads whipped around in unison as Felix and Giselle emerged from the classroom, strolling side by side, chatting animatedly. 

I sighed deeply and stood up, feeling a pang of sadness as I couldn't help but notice how much time they had been spending together lately. 

It made me wonder if there was something more than mere coincidence between them. As I pondered, a nagging thought crept into my mind – am I not good enough for Felix?

Brittney leaned in and silently whispered, "Let's not get into any fights here at school, or Ms. Rogue will discipline you severely."

Nina chimed in with a knowing nod, "And between you and me, Ms. Rogue absolutely hates you. She'd jump at the chance to bring the hammer down on you if you give her even the slightest excuse."

I sighed, feeling incredibly down. The thought of continuing at school didn't sit right with me at all. The atmosphere around me was so oppressive and stifling. I couldn't take it anymore. I went straight home and let the tears flow freely, allowing myself to release all the pent-up sadness and frustration.

I slammed my bedroom door shut, frustration coursing through me. How could a two-year relationship end so suddenly just because Giselle had entered the scene? It was all so absurd and hurtful. 

How could it be so simple for Felix to discard me in favor of another girl? 

My mom's soft voice interrupted my thoughts as she gently pushed the door open. "Hey sweetie, what's up? You're home pretty early today, isn't it?"

"I'm fine, Mom. Just feeling a little tired," I lied, trying to mask my distress.

My mom entered my room slowly, her voice laced with concern as she asked, "Why are you crying, sweetie? You can tell me what's wrong."

I tried to nonchalantly wipe away the remaining tears and attempted a weak excuse, stating, "It's probably just some dust got into my eyes."

Mom sat down beside me, her gaze gentle but perceptive. 

"You know I know you better than anyone. I can tell when something really bad has happened. You don't have to hide it from me," she reassured me.

The tears began streaming down my face again and I rushed into my mom's open arms, burying my face in her shoulder as I sobbed uncontrollably. She silently held me close and gently patted my back, knowing something truly awful must have taken place to provoke this level of pain.

As I sobbed against her shoulder, I managed to force out the words, "Felix rejected me today." 

The tears continued to fall as I revealed the source of my heartache.

"He rejected me for another girl," I managed to choke out through my tears. "I don't understand what went wrong. We had been together for two years, and now he's just thrown it all away."

Mom gently pulled back, her face etched with concern, and asked if I was serious. 

"Are you telling me that he actually rejected you for another girl?" she clarified, searching my eyes for the truth.

I nodded, a fresh wave of tears streaming down my cheeks as I struggled to speak. 

"Yes," I cried, the pain of the situation overwhelming me. "He rejected me, and now he's with someone else."

My mom gently stroked my hair.

"Shhh, it's okay," she whispered, holding me tighter. "I know it hurts right now, but you'll get through this. You're stronger than you think. And I'll always be here for you."

I leaned into my mom's comforting embrace, feeling the warmth of her love surrounding me. As the tears continued to fall, she leaned down and planted a gentle kiss on my forehead. 

In that moment, I was overwhelmed by a swirling mixture of pain and comfort, my head spinning with conflicting emotions.

"You have plenty of time to find someone who will love and respect you more than Felix ever did," she said, her grip around me tightening. "You deserve someone who values you for who you are, and who will treat you with the respect and love you deserve."

***

In the depths of the night, I jolted awake, my body drenched in cold sweat. The painful ache in my stomach intensified, causing me to cry out in agony. Grasping the sheets tightly, I felt the damp fabric against my skin. I doubled over in pain, the discomfort growing unbearable.

I clutched my stomach, desperately trying to describe the excruciating pain radiating through me. 

"Mom, it's more than just an ulcer," I managed to gasp out through clenched teeth. 

The agony grew more intense, making me thrash around and moan in pain. 

"It's getting worse," I groaned.

I writhed on the bed, the pain becoming more intense. 

"Mom, please, you have to help me," I pleaded, my voice strained as I tried to speak through the agonizing waves of pain. "It hurts so badly. Can you find a doctor or something? Please, I can't take this anymore."

I felt a pang of despair as my mom's gentle murmur registered in my foggy mind. 

Her words, "I'm sorry, sweetie. I can't help you or find a doctor in the middle of the night like this," echoed in my ears. 

The pain continued to pulse through me, my body writhing in agony as I frantically thought of some way to get relief.

"Mom-"

My mom continued to caress my head, but it did little to alleviate the pain I was enduring. 

I spoke in a hushed voice, desperately seeking answers. "Mom, what's actually happening to me? Why is this hurting so much?"

My mom hesitated for a moment before answering, her voice soft yet pained. 

"Maybe your supposed mate is... doing something with another girl tonight," she said quietly. "It's possible that this pain you're feeling is because of that."

I looked up at my mom, tears streaming down my face as I asked, "How do I make this pain go away? It's unbearable. Please, if there's anything you can do, I can't take it anymore. I'm dying with it."

My mom's voice was firm but gentle as she said, "Sweetie, you need to forget about him. You have to accept that he rejected you. Dwelling on the pain isn't going to make it go away."

As my mom's words about accepting the rejection echoed in my mind, I groaned louder in pain. A whirl of emotions churned through me—conflicting thoughts of whether I should be relieved or devastated about living on my own. 

The question of whether I could handle being alone, like my mom had after my dad rejected her, loomed heavily over me. 

The pain and uncertainty were overwhelming, making the future uncertain and filled with trepidation.

***

With the sun creeping into my room, I groaned as I managed to drag myself up from bed. As I glanced down at my body, I noticed a strange mark that had appeared overnight. 

Unsure of its origin, I decided to keep it to myself, not wanting to burden my mom, who was already dealing with a lot.

Skipping the usual shower routine, I grabbed a pair of gray jeans and a red T-shirt from my dresser.

With no mate in the picture, I didn’t see the point in going out of my way to look presentable anymore. So, I decided to arrive at school earlier than usual from now on. No need to put on a show for anyone.

I bounded down the stairs, the sound of my footsteps reverberating through the house. My mom, who was in the kitchen, overheard the commotion and turned her head in my direction.

My mom smiled and called out from the kitchen. "I cooked up a plate of your favorite spaghetti, topped with plenty of cheese. Don't forget to grab a bite to eat before you head off to school."

I let out a soft groan, not feeling particularly hungry this morning. 

"Ugh, not really feeling like eating today," I muttered to myself, my stomach still tight and unsettled.

I let out a soft groan, not feeling particularly hungry this morning. 

"Ugh, not really feeling like eating today," I muttered to myself, my stomach still tight and unsettled.

My mom turned, a concerned expression gracing her face. "Hey, sweetie, how's your condition this morning?"

"I'm fine, Mom, don't worry about me," I reassured her, not wanting her to fuss over me.

My mom observed me skeptically, her face showing a hint of surprise. "You're not eating? That's strange. You always love my spaghetti."

I shrugged casually, trying to brush off her concern.

"I don't know, just not really feeling it today," I replied, not wanting to elaborate on the real reason behind my lack of appetite.

"I can call your homeroom teacher or even the principal to let them know you need some rest. You don't have to force yourself to go to school, sweetie." My mom's expression softened as she suggested.

I shook my head resolutely, a determined look in my eyes. 

"No, I'm fine, Mom. Really," I insisted, my voice firm. "I can handle school. Don't worry about me. I'm stronger than you think."

Reluctantly, I moved towards the table and sat down, reluctantly starting to eat the spaghetti my mom had prepared. Despite not feeling much like eating, I silently took a few bites to make her happy.

My mom took a seat next to me, her gaze studying my face intently. "Sweetie, I couldn't help but notice you seemed a bit off earlier. Did you happen to find something strange on your body?"

My mom looked at me with a mix of concern and fear, her eyes fixed on my figure. I began to wonder if she knew about the mysterious scratch I had discovered on my body.

I shook my head, saying, "I'm good, Mom."

"Sweetie, are you really okay? You know you can tell me anything, right?"

"I know you're worried, Mom, and I appreciate it. But believe me, I'm okay today. If I feel anything off or strange, I'll let you know immediately, I promise." I gave my mom a gentle smile, trying to reassure her. 

My mom sighed, her gaze filled with a mix of worry and affection. "Alright, sweetie. But just in case, here's a special bento I made for you. And let me give you a ride to school, okay?"

I shook my head, a smile playing on my lips.

"Thanks, Mom, but I think I'll take my electric scooter to school today. I kinda want to enjoy the morning vibes and the wind in my hair."

"Are you sure, sweetie? It might be safer for me to give you a ride. I don't want anything bad happening to you." My mom raised an elevated eyebrow, her expression a mix of uncertainty and resignation. 

I leaned in and pecked a kiss on my mom's cheek, attempting to reassure her. "Don't worry, Mom. I'll be fine. I promise I'll let you know if anything happens. Plus, riding my electric scooter in the morning breeze is kinda fun."

My mom gave a resigned sigh, her face reflecting her decision to trust me. "I believe you, sweetie. I know you can take care of yourself. Just promise me one thing - try to move on from Felix, okay? Dwelling on him won't do you any good."