The Rejected Mate

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Anita's Pov

Darkness pressed on me like a suffocating blanket. My head throbbed. My limbs feel heavy. Something soft cradled me beneath my back—a mattress that wasn't mine.

My eyes snap open. Not my bed. Not my room. Not my pack. A rugged stone ceiling loomed over me decorated with silver crest markings—the Silverclaw pack emblem.

My heart slammed against my ribs. I pushed myself up instantly, dizziness exploding in my eyes.

I am in Damon's mansion.

"What the hell!"

I jumped off the bed, swaying as my feet touch the cold floor.

"Damon! " As if summoned by my fury, he stalked in through the door.

When his eyes landed on me, those deep storm—grey eyes—softened.

He actually look pretty.

"Anita," he breathed, stepping forward.

"Thank the Goddess, you're awake."

I backed away instantly. "Why am I here?"

"You were unconscious in the forest, and I couldn't leave you there. I had no choice."

"You have no right to bring me here." I snapped.

"No,"

Something flickered across his face. Guilt. He swallowed and tried again.

"You fainted. I had to bring you somewhere safe."

"So, back to the man who swore he'll never let me bear his pups, back to the pack full of painful memories, is where you call safe?" I folded my arms. Fury spiking hot enough to vibrate under my skin.

"And you think that makes you my rescurer?"

His jaw tightened. I saw the words hit him so hard. Well, he deserved it.

"Anita," his voice cracked slightly. "I said things I shouldn't have. I was a fool—"

"Save it." I cut him, brushing past him to search the room.

"Where's my phone?" I asked him.

He blinked. "Your phone?"

"Yes Damon. A rectangular object, that lights up when you press the button." I said sarcastically.

"You dropped it in the forest." He muttered. "The screen shattered. I had Maverick retrieving it."

I curse under my breath.

"Fine. Give me your phone."

He hesitated—why? I didn't care. I snatched the phone from him the moment he hand it over and dial Maya's number from memory. She answer on the first ring and shout immediately she hear my voice.

"Anita, where the hell are you? Do you know—"

"Maya, breathe," I said. "I'm at Silverclaw pack."

"WHAT?! Anita, are you insane? Rowan has been looking for you everywhere."

Guilt clamped around my chest. Rowan.....damn it. I left him at the party.

"I know. Please tell Rowan that I'm fine and he shouldn't bother looking for me and also help me tell him that I thank him deeply for everything he had done for me."

"Are you sure?" She asked, her voice dropping. "Anita, this will crush him."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Just....do it."

I hung up and dialed Laura next. I explained everything to her. The power surge. The danger. The need to find out who'd wanted me dead before birth.

Laura didn't try to stop me. She just said,

"find the truth, Anita and stay alive."

When I handed the phone back to Damon, he watched me with something unreadable in his eyes.

"You're shaking." He said.

"No," I lied. "I'm furious."

He stepped closer. Too close. His scent—cedarwood, wrapped around me, triggering something in me which I didn't want to acknowledge.

"Anita, I know I said I wouldn't let you bear my pups. I was wrong. I was terrified. That wasn't an excuse but the truth."

His voice softened, barely a whisper. "Let me make this right. I will protect you. I will protect our pups. I will do anything you want." He said and paused studying my reaction.

"But I'll not let you leave me again."

My throat tightened. The worst part? A tiny shameful part of me still want to believe him. But reality was colder than his mansion walls.

"I'm not staying here for you." I said.

He flinched.

"I'm staying because I want answers about my powers and also find out whoever tried to kill me when I was still in my mother's womb."

His eyes darkened. "And I'll help you find every answers you seek." He murmured. "Even if it the last thing I'll do."

The next morning, against all odds, I find myself standing in front of my father's grand house.

Why am I here? Because some foolish part of me hoped he would have changed.

Because I want— pathetically to be acknowledge by him.

The door swing open to reveal the last person I'd want to see.

My stepsister, Dianna

My nightmare of my childhood—wrapped in a too tight dress and too bright lipstick.

"Well, well" she sneered. "if it isn't the useless weak Omega. I thought you ran away forever."

I raised a brow. " And miss your charming personality? Never."

She bristled. "You think being Damon's mate makes you better than me? He still left you and chose Lyra even when he knew you were his mate."

"It does." I smiled sweetly.

"Infinitely."

Her jaw dropped. She opened her mouth to bark another insult but something in me snapped.

Not fear. Not anger. But power. A pulse of heat rippled through the air, invisible yet rippling like a shockwave. Dianna stumbled backward, her eyes widened.

"You—what did you just—"

"I stood up for myself," I said, voice calm, steady. "Try it again next time, honey and bring the worst in me." I said winking at her.

I walk past her and enter the house. My father sat in his study, reading. He didn't look up when I step in. He didn't even flinch.

"Father," I said softly.

He said nothing, acting as if I'm not even in his presence.

"Father, I —"

"You're blocking my light." He said flatly turning a page.

A sharp cold pain sliced through me. He didn't hate me. He didn't love me. He just didn't care I exist.

"I thought maybe— maybe you've realized that you were wrong." I whispered. "But you haven't."

He didn't say anything. And then I walked out. He didn't even raise his head up or say a single word to stop me from leaving.

**********

Back at the mansion, Damon tried everything to make me comfortable. He brought healers to check on the pregnancy. He had the kitchen prepare meals he knew I liked. He even arrange a soft room for me with night lights because he remembered how much I hated the dark.

And then he did the unthinkable. He gathered the entire pack in the courtyard and announced,

"Anita is my true mate and she'll be your future Luna."

A roar of shock circulate through the crowd.

And then Lyra—his ex-fiance— stepped forward, her eyes blazing like hellfire.

"She's weak," Lyra spat. "A powerless Omega and not worthy to be our Luna."

Damon growled. "She's anything but powerless."

I felt something within me stirred at his words—warm, dangerous.

But Lyra wasn't done. She make it her mission to make my life a living hell.

She manipulate one of the maids to poison my drinks and meals. She spreads bad rumors about me. She sets a lot of dangerous traps for me. But I dodged every thing thanks to my growing intuition and strange burst of supernatural sensitivity.

But one day, she succeeded.