The Rejected Mate

CHAPTER EIGHT

Damon's POV

"Anita, I know I wronged you deeply but let's first put that aside for now. We will sort it all out when we get back to Silverclaw pack."

"I'm going no where with you Alpha Damon. You rejected me. My family rejected me. Silverclaw pack also rejected me. I know there's no place for me again in that Pack and I was warmly welcomed here. So my darling Alpha, I'm going no where with you." She spat out angrily.

I tried to be calm as best as I could but she's not making it easy for me.

"You'll go back with me to Silverclaw pack, Anita whether you like it or not or I won't think twice before raging this your so called savior pack down." I threatened and tried to instill fear in her.

I saw her waiver a bit but she quickly shook it off.

"You'd dare not, Alpha Damon. This Pack saved me when my own Pack rejected me, they stood by me when I was left alone and you'll rage this pack over my dead body.

I wasn't expecting that from her. She had totally changed. Those eyes– are no longer filled with love— but pure anger.

"With all due respect, Alpha Damon, Anita seek solace from my pack and we gave that to her. I won't stand akimbo and watch you drag her away. And moreover you've already rejected her, so where does all these clinging comes from?" That silly Alpha spurts out that rubbish.

I turn to him with immense fury raging through my body.

"This is none of your damned business. How dare you interfere in our discussion?" I roared with fury.

Anita stepped out from behind Rowan, her face fierce.

"If you try to take me by force, Damon, I swear I will shift and fight you myself."

I was shocked for a moment before fury take over. My wolf howled inside me, torn between claiming and destroying.

But then, I saw her eyes glowed— not with fear but with power I didn't remember her having. Something in her aura made my wolf freeze.

"Leave," she whispered. But tge command was heavy. Almost supernatural.

I staggered back, stunned as if she had slapped me with magic.

I said nothing more as I stormed away with my warriors behind me.

*********

Weeks passed but bonds do not break easily.

Despite Anita's final words, I could not forget her. Her rejection echoed in my head every night, haunting and tormenting me.

At first, I told myself it was pride. Then anger. Then obsession.

But eventually, I understand the truth— I wanted her, desperately and painfully.

My wolf refused to calm, snarling at my stupidity.

Lyra, my so-called fiancee, felt the distance. She tried everything—seduction, threats—but none of it mattered. I barely looked at her anymore.

One night, I confronted myself in the mirror.

"I can't do this anymore." I muttered.

Lyra walked into the room at that exact moment, expecting affection. Instead I told her the truth with brutal honesty.

" I can't marry you, Lyra. I'm putting an end to our engagement."

"You're joking?" She asked, bewildered.

"No." I said sharply.

"You're ending our bond because of that— that weak Omega?" She hissed.

"She is my mate, I only got engaged to you to be more powerful. But I can't do this anymore." I snapped.

Lyra lunged at me, claws out but I caught her wrists easily.

"Don't do this," I warned softly.

"You're pathetic." She spat out as I released her. "You will regret this."

But I didn't stop her when she stormed out. My mind, my heart, my wolf— everything in him had already been fixed on Anita.

But my troubles didn't end there. Lyra's family, a powerful allied clan threatened political retaliation. The elders of the pack were furious.

And worst of all, I couldn't focus on anything.

My beta, Maverick, practically ran the pack.

"Alpha," Maverick said one evening as I stared blankly at unfinished documents on my desk.

"You need to sleep."

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not." Maverick's voice held both loyalty and concern.

"You haven't attended training for a week. The southern border patrol hadn't been assigned. You mother asked about you— three times."

I closed my eyes and rests my back on the chair. "I can't think of anything else."

"Anita?" Maverick guessed and I flinched.

"You're tormenting yourself." He said quietly.

"You have to do something, real fast."

"Before I forget," Maverick said, suddenly turning serious. "There's another piece of information I need to pass across to you.”

“ What?”

“You’re invited to the ascension Ceremony for the new Alpha of the Blackwood pack in a month time. I heard... you’ll be given the honor of pronouncing him as the new Alpha. And moreover, I heard all the Alphas from all packs will be there as they had some matters to discuss after the ceremony and they must all be with their partners. Since you have no one to take along as your partner... how about me?" He smiled, trying to lighten the mood.

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Wow, that’s quite an honor. But, no. Tell them I won’t be coming."

"But—"

"No buts." My tone left no room for debate. "I’m not interested in attending a boring ceremony with those greezers who keep protecting my enemy. So, reject it."

Maverick hesitated but eventually nodded, bowing his head slightly before stepping back. As he turned to leave, he stopped and looked over his shoulder. “But if you later change your mind, let me know. You never know who you might run into there.”

"I doubt it," I muttered under my breath, my mind drifting to her. Anita. But there was no way she’d be at something like that as they will only allow people of higher rank to attend such ceremony. I quickly dismissed the thought as I knew that it was impossible.

As Maverick's footsteps faded, I looked up at the moon, its light casting a cold glow over the land. I closed my eyes and prayed to the Moon Goddess, one last time. Please... help me change her mind so she'd come back to me.