Chapter One: Rejected

BRIELLE's POV

There are some events that happen to you in life that change the entire momentum of how your life goes. Today seemed to hold such a day. After spending all my life feeling like some low life that didn’t even deserve to be breathing, yesterday was starting to seem like I was finally being compensated for those days.

I hurriedly pushed open the curtains, allowing the bright light to bring the pink themed room I shared with Ava, my best friend to life. She was still asleep and even though the sun rays were pretty harsh this morning, it did not seem to affect her. For a wolf shifter who should always be on alert, Ava was a deep sleeper.

I laughed at her weird sleeping position and walked into the bathroom for a shower. Today was a good day and nothing was going to spoil it for me. I hoped.

Once done, I picked out a towel from the rack and watched my reflection in the mirror shake down the wavy jet black mane. Then I wrapped it up in the towel and wrapped my torso in another.

“Good morning, Bri. How do you feel this morning?” Ava asked just as I stepped out of the shower. She was in her bed, reading a book. Who reads a book as soon as they wake up?

When her question hit me, I smiled shyly, the events from last night rushing back to me.

The Lunar ceremony.

The ceremony where wolves that had come of age were newly transformed and the lucky ones found their mate. I had achieved both.

“I feel amazing.” I chimed, going to the wardrobe by the bathroom door to pick out my day’s wear.

“Of course you do. You transformed. You found your mate. And your mate is not just anyone. You ended up with the Alpha. Talk about back to back good luck. The moon goddess has really been kind to you.” I could make out the excitement in Ava’s voice as she spoke.

“She has.” I responded absentmindedly, feeling my tummy tighten with glee when I remembered how he looked at me after announcing to the pack members that I was his chosen mate. I knew there and then, that those sparkly green eyes would be the death of me.

We did not have enough time to talk last night as he had an urgent matter to attend to. But he had not failed to extend an invitation to come see him in his office today whenever I liked. He had promised to clear out his schedule for me.

My grin widened as my eyes settled on a short plaid gown. My wolf nodded her approval at my choice. She agreed we had to look good for our mate.

“I guess I have to wait a long time to bag such good luck.” I heard the whiff of sadness in Ava’s tone even when she tried to pass the statement off as a joke.

I hurried over to her, dropping the gown on the bed and grasping her hand over the closed book on her lap.

“Hey Ava. Do not talk like that,” I cooed, rubbing soothing patterns on the back of her palms.

She shrugged. “I feel like I have failed my parents.”

“No…” I was saying, but she interrupted me.

“You know, they met each other at the lunar ceremony too. And all my life, I had wished for the same. It is believed that mates who find each other at the ceremony would last forever.”

As much as that belief gave me a huge assurance that the Alpha and I were in it for life, I had to comfort my friend.

“Ava, you are a wonderful person. And all the good luck you ever need…is in here,” I pointed to her heart. “You not finding your mate yesterday does not mean you are doomed for life. If not for anything, you should be really happy you transformed last night. Imagine you did not…” I petered out, envisioning the disgrace and shame those wolves would face.

“In everything, give thanks. And more things to give thanks for will find you. I am sure the moon goddess has a very special person she is preparing for you. So do not worry. Yours will come.” I told her.

She beamed at me and engulfed me in a hug. “Thank you, Bri.

One thing I am most thankful for is that we finally became sisters.”

I giggled. “Your wish kind of got my parents killed.” I tried joking but the pain that seared my heart was unbearable.

She untangled from the hug and cradled my face. “One day, justice would be served. And the perpetrators would rot in hell.”

I nodded, swallowing hard.

“Come on. Your mate awaits you. We should not keep him waiting.” Ava got out of bed and pulled me up, helping me get ready.

Soon, I was skipping all the way to the pack house, my gown hugging my slender form and my hair bouncing along as I went. The pack house was a flurry of activity. Everyone seemed to have something important to do.

I could remember the Alpha’s office being on the first floor as my father was the Alpha before he died.

I had just taken the first step up the stairs when three girls blocked my path. I recognized them from school, but I had never spoken to them before. In fact, I did everything possible to avoid being caught up in their web. They were terrible news.

“Look who the cat dragged in from the trash,” their ringleader, Lara crooned, smiling wickedly at me.

“Oh look. It is Bridget, the orphan girl,” one of the girls behind her replied and they cackled loudly.

It had been years since I was referred to as ‘the orphan girl’ and it was these three witches that started it. I would end up crying every day, wishing they would stop but their bullying only intensified. Until I met Ava, who taught me they would keep bullying me if they saw it got to me.

My palms formed fists by my side and I bit my lower lip to stop it from quivering as my eyes misted. I would not cry before them. I would listen to them offload their rubbish and walk away, just like I had been doing in the past until they lost interest in me and moved on to their next victim.

“And to think Bridget could form a mate bond with our Alpha.” Lara said to her friends. “How dare you?” She poked my head. “How dare you dream of being our Luna? Have you forgotten your place, traitor?”

Traitor. The tag was back again. I had never understood why they called me that.

Or maybe I did... I just couldn’t accept it.

No matter how many times they said it, somewhere deep down in my heart, I knew that wasn’t me.

A small crowd had stopped to watch us and it hurt that no one tried to stop Lara and her friends from bullying me. Did I mean nothing to anyone? I wished my mate was here. He would not allow this to happen.

“I…I…” I tried to speak up but the bubble in my throat would not let my words through. Instead I looked down at my shoes, wondering if the disappearing spells from Merlin would work in that moment when I incant them.

Lara grabbed my jaw, dragging my gaze to meet her condescending one. “You do not deserve the Alpha. A traitor like you is meant to be torn to pieces and fed to the beast of the forests. Just like your father.” Then she pushed me so I fell and grazed my knee and walked away, her minions trailing behind her as they went up the stairs.

My wolf saw red and nudged me to let her out. She would not stay still and watch them humiliate me. She wanted to tear them to pieces and crush their bones.

“LET ME OUT!!!” She yelled at me, pushing me to transform. But I held her back. It would not end well for me if I let my wolf carry out her plans for Lara. As usual, the clan would turn against me. Just like they did my father.

The crowd had begun to disperse but stopped when the Alpha approached me. My heart soared and my wolf pranced about delighted. I smiled when he stretched out a hand to me, finding solace in his arms. I was sure he must have seen all that had transpired and would surely punish Lara and her friends.

“Are you okay?” He asked, searching my face intently.

The moment he looked at me with those bright green eyes, all my dissatisfaction and mistreatment from just now seemed to have vanished.

I nodded and ducked my head shyly. “Yes. Except for the bruise on my knee.”

“I would ensure you are well taken care of, okay?” He rasped and I nodded again.

“Thank you.”

There was a moment of silence and when I glanced at him, several emotions flitted his face all at once. “Are you alright?” I inquired, concerned.

He nodded and closed his eyes. When he opened them, he had determination swirling in them.

YES.

HE WILL NEVER FORGIVE LARA FOR HURTING HIS MATE. My wolf sang.

He opened his mouth to speak and closed them.

“You can tell me,” I placed a hand on his heart.

He looked at the hand for a second, removed it from his chest and held onto it as a trace of disgust flashed through his eyes.

I blinked, unsure of what I had seen and just like I thought, his eyes were the usual green I was used to seeing.

Yet, the words that came out of his mouth had my world crumbling into pieces.

“I, Huxley Pierce, today reject you, Brielle Levine as my mate."