The Rejected Luna’s Redemption

Chapter 2

Jane

"What is your name?" he demands, his voice sharp as he stalks toward me. My heart pounds, and I instinctively step backward, fear gripping my throat. I open my mouth to respond, but the words refuse to come. A shiver runs down my spine.

He is towering, his sheer presence making me feel insignificantly small. The suffocating aura surrounding him drains the air from my lungs.

And then, there’s this unsettling sensation coursing through me as he draws near. Is this the fabled mate bond, or is it merely my imagination? His piercing gaze locks onto me, scrutinizing, questioning. His brow lifts impatiently when I fail to answer.

"I asked you a question," he states coldly.

"My name is Jane Biller," I finally manage, stepping back once more—only to nearly collide with a waitress.

"Watch out!" he snaps, seizing my wrist and yanking me aside. A jolt of strange electricity shoots through me at his touch.

I stare at him, breath hitching. His grip is firm, his expression unreadable, but I see something flicker in his eyes. Did he feel it too?

His reaction is instant—his face pales, and his expression turns dark, almost predatory, as if he loathes what he just experienced.

"Richard Brown," he suddenly announces.

Confused, I stare up at him. Is he... introducing himself?

Before I can make sense of it, he tightens his grip and delivers the words that shatter my world.

"I, Richard Brown, reject you, Jane Biller, as my mate and Luna."

My mind goes blank. Time slows. A collective gasp echoes around us. Eyes filled with pity and shock settle on me.

Is this real? Is this actually happening?

I don’t just meet my mate—I am rejected within minutes. My breath quickens, and the weight of realization crashes over me, unleashing an onslaught of tears.

"Why?" I choke out, my voice barely above a whisper. "Why are you rejecting me?"

I’ve waited my entire life for this. To be cherished, adored, protected by my mate. And now... now he’s tearing it all away from me.

This isn’t how it’s supposed to be. This has to be a mistake—a cruel twist of fate.

"Are you seriously asking me that?" he scoffs, tightening his grip painfully. "Look at you. You’re fragile. Weak. A gust of wind could knock you over. The Moon Goddess must have lost her mind pairing me with someone like you."

His words cut deep, each syllable a jagged blade to my heart.

"What can a she-wolf as feeble as you offer me and my pack?" he sneers. "You’d ruin me. Ruin my legacy. I won’t allow that. Accept the rejection, and let’s pretend this disgusting moment never happened."

I want to disappear. I wish the earth would swallow me whole.

Tears blur my vision, but I manage to whisper, "I can’t accept your rejection."

His head snaps toward me, disbelief flashing across his face. "What?"

"I... I don’t have a wolf," I admit, staring at the floor. "Not yet."

"You’ve got to be kidding me!" He releases me like I’m something repulsive. "A mate without a wolf? What am I supposed to do with you? How could the Moon Goddess curse me like this?"

"I thought... I hoped that meeting my mate would awaken my wolf," I confess, my voice trembling.

"That’s bullshit!" he growls. "You’re useless. Nothing will change that. And let me make something crystal clear—I never want to see you again. Do you understand?"

My body trembles as sobs rack through me. This is the worst night of my life, and it only keeps getting worse.

Not only has my mate rejected me—he’s humiliated me in front of everyone.

From the corner of my eye, I see my mother storming toward us. Anger blazes in her eyes.

"Alpha, how dare you?" she seethes. "How dare you humiliate my daughter like this?"

"And who the hell are you?" he growls in irritation, raking a hand through his hair.

"I am her mother! And I won’t stand by while you insult my child!"

He chuckles dryly, eyes filled with disdain. "Oh, so you’re the one who birthed this pathetic excuse of a wolf? That explains a lot."

A deep growl rumbles through the air. I flinch, thinking it’s my mate—but it’s not. It’s my father.

For the first time in my life, I believe he’s about to defend me.

"Alpha," my father booms, stepping forward. "I don’t care if you reject my daughter. But I will not tolerate you insulting my mate. You may disgrace your own, but I won’t allow such disrespect toward my wife."

Hope flickers for a moment—until he continues speaking.

"As for my daughter? Do whatever you want with her. I couldn’t care less."

My breath catches in my throat. My own father just... disowned me?

My mother’s face hardens. "You disgust me, Beta. You would side with this arrogant brute over your own flesh and blood?" She turns to Richard. "And you—you don’t deserve my daughter, not even an ounce of her worth."

She steps toward him, grabbing his shirt. "Let go," he warns in a low growl.

"Enough!" my father yells. "Enough, woman!"

She releases him, turning back to glare at my father. "Be prepared, Beta. I will reject you. I’ll make you understand exactly what it feels like to be abandoned by your mate."

"You wouldn’t dare," he scoffs, but I hear the shake in his voice.

"Watch me," she spits. "You’re a disgrace. Both of you."

I can’t take it anymore. This pain, this humiliation—I need to get away.

Without looking back, I spin on my heels and flee, ignoring my mother’s desperate calls. I have to escape.

Escape from my father.

Escape from the mate who just shattered my soul.