EXTRACTION CELLAR

"Mate?" I uttered, the word filled with a mix of disbelief and confusion, is he my mate? Who is he?

Before I could even respond, he fiercely took his hand back from me causing me to end up on the floor once again, a commotion began around us. Selene’s frustration ran mercilessly in disdain not bothering about my despair. "What kind of trouble have you caused now, Alexandra? Can't you stay out of trouble at least for one day?"

My mother’s arrival isn't any less cruel than Selene's. She stormed in, with a furious face, "Look at the mess you’ve made! Who allowed this idiot here?" she sighed while fanning her face with her hand, "Is this how you present yourself in front of all the guests? How long are you planning on making a fool of our family? You, useless wench!"

I wanted to disappear if possible. The weight of their words were unbearable. I tried to gather all the strength to stand, but their harsh words crushed me more further. I felt my heart would shatter with every angry word they threw at me.

"Alpha Theon, we are extremely sorry for the inconvenience caused by this clown," my father apologised politely as always using me as a scapegoat.

The handsome man in front of me is none other than Alpha Theon, turned to my sister with a look of admiration. "I would never accept an ugly hag like you as my mate, I'm disgusted to even think of you as my mate," he said with his voice full of hatred. My heart ached as if I got stabbed multiple times, he continued, "Anyone would love to have a mate like you, Princess Selene."

Selene blushed at his words, he looked at me once again, "I, Alpha Theon reject  you, and my mate bond with you," he said without any hesitation, I nodded weakly, "I accept your rejection, Alpha Theon."

Immediately he walked towards Selene with a charming smile, "Will this beauty allow me to have the first dance?"

Selene, glowing with happiness, accepted his hand shyly, this happiness is not totally because of his request but because of him rejecting me.

I watched with painful silence as they moved gracefully to the center of the room holding each other's hands. Their dance was a display of perfection with mesmerizing music, a cruel reminder of everything I would never be.

My mother knocked me with her leg while glaring at me with full of hatred, "Enough! Get lost from here. Don’t show your disgusting face in a place like this."

I felt a cold rush of relief mixed with an overwhelming wave of sorrow, but for the first time her words helped me to save myself from embarrassment.

I tried my best to escape from the ballroom, the tears in my eyes were blurring down my vision as I ran in the corridors to servant quarters but I'm desperate to escape the relentless pain and piercing glances aiming at me.

When I reached the servant quarters, I collapsed onto the cold floor, hugging my knees tightly.

Finally I allowed my tears to flow freely, each sob a reminder of my misery. Rejection was nothing new to me, it had been a constant partner since I turned fourteen. My five previous mates, all betas and omegas, had rejected me mercilessly. And now, my sixth mate, an alpha, had rejected me instantly, choosing my sister over me as if I or mate bond with me never existed.

I laughed bitterly at my fate. It seemed I was destined to be alone forever, never truly belonging to anyone, but I don't know why the moon goddess keeps on playing these mating jokes with me, "did I ever ask for a mate? Did I ask for this kind of humiliation? Why am I supposed to go through all these?"

The band around my neck was not an ornament but a symbol of my enslavement to this family. Bound by magic, I was trapped forcefully, unable to escape or even end my life to free myself from all these sufferings. I'm their property, a tool they needed to save their loving daughter, no matter how much I wished for freedom, it's the most expensive thing which I could never afford.

Clara rushed into the room with a worried look, kneeling beside me, I immediately hugged her, my cries growing more desperate as I don't know what I would do, if I don't even have Clara by my side at times like this. "Why does this always happen to me, Clara?" I choked out between sobs. "Why can’t I be loved, at least for once? Am I really cursed?"

Clara hugged me back, her own tears mingling with mine. "I know it's not fair, Alexa" she whispered caressing my hair. "But you’re stronger, we will get through it for sure, don't worry."

For a moment, Clara’s comfort is the only thing that relieved a part of pain burning in my heart. But deep down, I also knew that this pain of rejection would remain with me, a constant reminder of the life that I wasn't born to be loved.

I don’t know how long I cried in her arms, trying to calm my wounded heart, as all I have is these tears. Exhausted from everything, and I eventually fell asleep since tiredness won over my pain.

The next morning, I was jolted awake by the loud sound of the door slamming open. Fear passed through my spine as the first thing I've seen right after waking up is my mom standing there along with the maids. Without hesitation, the maids grabbed me roughly from the bed dragging me to my mom.

"Take her to the extraction cellar immediately," my mother ordered coldly.

Just by hearing the word 'extraction cellar', my entire body trembled with extreme fear knowing what'll happen next. She gripped my chin with a malicious smile reminding me, "Did you forget what day it is today?"