Rejected By My Mate,Claimed by his uncle

Chapter 2

Lillian’s POV.

My eyes widened, but no words came out. His grip on me grew tighter until I started to fight against him.

"If you try to leave this pack, I'll hunt you myself.” At last, he let go, and I collapsed to the ground, coughing and clutching my neck.

“Just divorce her. She’s useless,” my sister’s voice cut through the room. “Not only is she barren, but she has a weak wolf.”

Yes, my wolf was weak, or so they said. To call it “weak” was putting it kindly. I had never seen it, never felt it. But hearing my own sister use it against me, was a wound deeper than his hands could ever leave.

“She’s right,” I whispered, forcing myself to rise. My legs trembled, my throat burned. “Divorce me. Let me go. My presence isn't needed anymore.”

His eyes darkened.

"You think a divorce erases my mark?” He snarled. “I picked you from the trash. I made you who you are. No one has a right over you but me.”

I bit down hard, grinding my teeth, the rage and pain clashing inside me.

“Get out!” he roared. Before I could answer, he clapped his hands. Guards rushed in. “Drag this thing out of here.”

Their faces froze in shock, but they obeyed.

And just like that, I was dragged out.

I pushed open the door to my room, and a bitter laugh slipped from my lips. The flowers I had carefully arranged were still there, mocking me.

I blinked hard, trying to hold back the tears that burned my eyes. I had imagined tonight so differently, after a quiet dinner, the two of us would come here, to this very room, and spend the night together. If only I had known…

I sat down. My gaze fell on the framed picture of me and Sergio. I picked it up slowly, my hands trembling.

One hot tear slid down my cheek and landed on his smiling face.

“Where did I go wrong?” I whispered.

That photo was from our second year of marriage. I remembered how I hadn’t even wanted to take it, but Sergio had insisted. It’s for memories, he had said.

A bitter chuckle escaped me again. Memories? What a cruel joke.

Take me back to the night I first met him. Please… if I could go back, maybe I’d see what I was too blind to notice.

Three years. Three whole years, wasted. All of it, a lie.

I remembered all the nights I'd cried against his chest, terrified that my inability to give him a child would make him regret marrying me.

He had always silenced those fears with the same words.

“You're enough, Lillian.”

I had believed him.

God, I had believed him.

So how? How did we get here?

“This can’t be real,” I muttered, my voice breaking.

Fuck, this has to be a nightmare. The Moon Goddess can’t be this cruel, she can’t!

My knees buckled, and I dropped to the floor, clutching the picture frame to my chest. My sobs came hard, shaking my whole body until my throat ached.

I slammed the frame against the bed, glass cracking under my hand. “How?!” I cried, my voice ragged. “How do you expect me to stay? To watch you… and her… my own sister!”

My sobs choked me. Tears blurred everything until I could barely breathe. “Why me?” I whispered into the emptiness, my voice shaking, breaking. “Why… me?”

I didn't remember falling asleep. Maybe I hadn't. Maybe my body had simply surrendered after crying until there was nothing left.

"Luna... Luna Lillian."

A gentle hand shook my shoulder.

I forced my swollen eyes open. Morning light filtered through the curtains, making the broken glass scattered across the floor sparkle like tiny shards of ice.

Maria stood beside the bed, and the moment our eyes met, hers filled with tears.

"Oh, Luna..." She rushed forward and wrapped her arms around me. "You don't deserve this."

The warmth of her embrace shattered the wall I had struggled to build around myself through the night.

"I tried," I whispered, my voice raw. "I tried so hard."

"I know."

She stroked my hair, her shoulders trembling. "Everyone with a heart knows."

I pulled away and forced a weak smile.

"It doesn't matter anymore,"I said.

"It does." Maria glanced toward the closed door before lowering her voice. "You have to leave."

I stared at her, certain I had heard wrong.

"What?"

"You need to run."

My heart lurched. "Maria..."

She reached beneath her apron and slipped a small leather pouch into my hand. It was heavier than I expected.

"I've been saving money," she said quietly. "And I know someone in a rogue settlement about two hours from here. He's trustworthy. If you can make it there, he'll keep you safe."

I looked at the pouch before lifting my eyes to her.

"You're risking your life," I warned her.

"I know," Maria replied without hesitation.

"If Sergio finds out…"

"He won't," she cut in, her jaw tightening with determination. "I'd rather die helping you than spend another day watching them destroy you.”

Fresh tears blurred my vision.

For the first time since yesterday, someone had chosen me, not because they had to, but because they wanted to.

My fingers curled tightly around the pouch.

"I don't know if I can do this," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

Maria gently cupped my face and looked into my eyes. "You can," she said softly. "You're stronger than they've spent years making you believe."

I closed my eyes, letting her words settle over me. There was nothing left for me in this place, no husband, no family, no home, only humiliation. When I opened my eyes again, I tightened my grip on the pouch she had given me and gave her a small nod.

"I'll leave.”

*****

By evening, the pack house had become unrecognizable.

Music drifted through every hallway while expensive perfume blended with the rich scent of roasted meat and fine wine. Alphas from packs across California filled the mansion with laughter as servants hurried between them carrying silver trays.

Everyone had come to celebrate Sergio's birthday. Ironically, our wedding anniversary had always fallen on Sergio's birthday.

Standing before the mirror one last time, I picked up a pair of scissors and cut away my long brown hair. Thick strands slipped to the floor one after another, and with every cut, another piece of the woman I used to be disappeared.

When I finished, my hair rested just above my shoulders.

I changed into a plain black dress that looked no different from what many of the servants wore. It wasn't beautiful, but that was exactly what I wanted.

Tonight, I didn't want to be seen.

I drew in a slow breath, steadied my trembling hands, and slipped out of my room.

The crowded hallways swallowed the sound of my footsteps as guests laughed, servants hurried past, and musicians filled the air with cheerful melodies.

The back entrance was only a few corridors away.

Freedom was so close I could almost taste it.

"Lillian."

My entire body went rigid.

Melissa leaned casually against the wall with a glass of wine in her hand, a cruel smile playing on her lips.

"So this is what you've become," Melissa said, her eyes slowly sweeping over my shortened hair before a mocking laugh escaped her. "You look pathetic."

I ignored her and kept walking, but she quickly stepped into my path, blocking my way.

"Running away won't change the truth," she continued, her smile widening with every word. "Sergio never loved you. You couldn't give him an heir, and now..." She leaned in until I could smell the wine on her breath. "He's found someone better."

Every word sliced through me like a blade.

Something inside me finally snapped.

Without thinking, I shoved her with all the strength I had. Melissa stumbled backward, nearly dropping the glass of wine in her hand before glaring at me in disbelief.

"After her! Now!" Melissa barked at the nearby guards.

I didn't wait to see if they obeyed. I turned and ran, bursting into the gardens as the cold night air slapped against my face.

Branches snagged at my sleeves while my heart pounded wildly against my ribs, urging me to keep moving. Freedom was only a little farther away.

I rounded a corner at full speed and crashed straight into someone. A pair of powerful arms caught me before I hit the ground.

I looked up sharply.

A black mask concealed the stranger's face, leaving only a pair of piercing blue eyes staring straight into mine.

The moment our eyes met, something inside me shattered awake.

Heat exploded beneath my skin, racing from my chest to my fingertips. My heart slammed against my ribs, but it wasn't fear.

It was recognition.

For the first time in my entire life, I felt my wolf.

She surged forward inside me, wild and frantic, as though she had been asleep for years only to wake at the sound of his presence.

“Mate!”

The word wasn't mine.

It belonged to her.