REJECTED BY ONE DESIRED BY THREE

CHAPTER 3

THE GIRL WITHOUT A PACK

Lyra's: POV

By sunrise, everyone knew.

By noon, everyone had an opinion.

By evening, I had nowhere to live.

The Alpha's rejection came with consequences.

A rejected mate could remain within a territory under certain circumstances.

But a rejected mate connected to a disgraced bloodline?

That was different.

The council summoned me before sunset.

I stood alone in the council chamber.

Cassian sat at the head of the table.

He didn't look at me.

Seven council members surrounded him.

All old.

All powerful.

All watching me as though I were an animal trapped in a cage.

Councilman Varis cleared his throat.

"Lyra Veyne."

I lifted my chin.

"Yes?"

"You understand the consequences of last night's rejection."

"I understand that your Alpha rejected me."

A few council members shifted uncomfortably.

Varis narrowed his eyes.

"You are no longer considered part of the Alpha's household."

"I never was."

Silence.

He continued.

"You will leave Draven territory before sunrise."

My stomach dropped.

"And go where?"

"Wherever rogues go."

I looked at Cassian.

Finally, he looked at me.

Our eyes met.

Nothing.

No warmth.

No recognition.

Just distance.

"You agree with this?"

His expression didn't change.

"It is necessary." He said

"Necessary."

I repeated the word.

He nodded.

I laughed softly.

It sounded broken.

"Of course."

Cassian's eyes narrowed.

"Lyra."

I stepped closer.

"You rejected me."

His jaw tightened.

"I know."

"You destroyed our bond."

"I know."

"And now you're sending me away."

He didn't answer.

I swallowed.

"If l wasn't your mate and your mate is one the counsil mens daughter would you have rejected her?"

Silence.

That was my answer.

I nodded slowly.

"Understood."

I turned.

"Lyra."

I stopped.

Cassian's voice was quieter.

"Don't go into the northern forest."

I looked over my shoulder.

"Why?"

"The creatures there don't follow pack law."

"And neither do I anymore."

I walked out.

Mara packed my belongings.

There wasn't much.

Three dresses.

Two pairs of boots.

A knife my father had given me.

A photograph of my mother.

And the small silver pendant she'd left behind.

Mara cried as she folded my clothes.

I didn't.

I'd used up all my tears.

"Take this."

She handed me a small leather pouch.

I opened it.

Inside was a ring.

Black stone.

Silver markings.

"What is this?"

"Your mother's."

My heart stopped.

"You said you barely knew her."

"I lied."

I looked at her.

"Why?"

"Because your mother made me promise."

"Promise what?"

Mara's eyes filled with fear.

"That if the Moon ever chose you, I would tell you the truth."

My pulse quickened.

"What truth?"

She grabbed my hands.

"Your mother wasn't a traitor."

I stared at her.

"I know."

"No."

Her voice shook.

"You don't understand."

She glanced toward the window.

"Your father wasn't either."

My heart stopped.

"What are you saying?"

Mara whispered:

"The council lied."

A cold sensation moved down my spine.

"Why?"

"Because they were afraid of what your family carried."

"What did my family carry?"

Mara opened her mouth.

A scream erupted outside.

We both froze.

Another scream.

Then another.

Mara's face went pale.

"Run."

"What?"

"Now."

The front door exploded inward.

Three masked figures entered.

Mara shoved me backward.

"Run, Lyra!"

One attacker lunged.

I grabbed the knife.

The blade barely blocked his strike.

He was stronger.

Much stronger.

He slammed me into the wall.

Pain shot through my back.

His hand closed around my throat.

"Where is the pendant?"

I froze.

He knew about it.

I kicked him.

He staggered.

I ran.

Through the back door.

Into the forest.

Branches tore my dress.

My lungs burned.

Behind me, footsteps thundered.

I didn't stop.

I ran deeper.

The Draven territory disappeared behind the trees.

The path vanished.

The moon rose above me.

And suddenly—

The pendant around my neck became hot.

I grabbed it.

Black veins of light spread across the silver.

Then a voice whispered:

Come home.

I stopped.

"Home?"

The forest answered with silence.

Then something moved between the trees.

Huge.

Fast.

I backed away.

Two golden eyes opened in the darkness.

My blood turned cold.

A wolf stepped into the moonlight.

It wasn't an ordinary wolf.

It was enormous.

Black as midnight.

Scarred.

Its eyes fixed on mine.

I couldn't move.

The creature lowered its head.

Not attacking.

Watching.

Then it spoke inside my mind.

You finally escaped them.

I gasped.

"Who are you?"

The wolf's lips pulled back.

Not a snarl.

A smile.

Someone who has been waiting.