The Untitled Luna

REJECT ME

CLAIRE

“What’s with you?” Michelle asked right after we finished our shift. We were in the staff room and currently preparing to close the restaurant.

I looked at her with curiosity, “Why? Did I do anything wrong?” I don’t remember messing up earlier. Surprisingly, there was no fuss today. No customers were trying to get their meals for free or picking fights with the staff, which is strangely more common than I thought before working in customer service.

“No, silly. You look…. radiant. Girl, you’re blooming like sunflowers. “I felt my face heat up after hearing her remark. Was I too obvious?

She smiled knowingly. “You... I didn’t know that you had a boyfriend. What is he like? Is he hot?”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” I answered almost immediately as the realization hit me. We are indeed mates and have already done more than people who are getting to know each other do. But he hasn’t directly told me that we are together now.

Did I spend so much time with humans that I started thinking like them? Should I have asked him before assuming anything?

Michelle suddenly cleared her throat, returning me to reality, “I shouldn’t have asked that. Sorry.”

I smiled, “It’s fine. It’s... just a bit complicated at the moment.”

After gathering our stuff, we went out of the diner, and I quickly caught Killian’s scent nearby. It made me confused. We didn’t agree that he would pick me up after work because he was also busy with his work.

“I forgot that I had to buy something. I’ll go ahead. Be careful on your way home.” I used it as an excuse to go the other way and quickly located Killian. He was waiting just outside his car. There was something different about him that I can’t point out, but I don’t feel good about it. I suddenly doubted myself and if I should approach him. The more I look, the more I feel like I’m being drowned.

I know he was already aware of my presence, but he didn’t even bother looking at me.

“I thought you were busy? You don’t have to pick me up at work either.” I spoke after a short contemplation. My voice was almost shaking. He looks angry or conflicted. I’m not sure. For some reason, I couldn’t reach his emotions as well, despite our bond.

Killian gestured for me to enter without telling me the reason at all. He started driving without answering my questions.

“What’s happening?” I asked again, but he didn’t answer me. No matter how many times I asked, he remained quiet. We stopped in front of the apartment I was staying in, but he wasn’t speaking.

“Killian, please answer me,” I demanded this time, overwhelmed by the emotions that suddenly welled up in me. It wasn’t mine, but his anger that was intensifying moment by moment.

We finally made eye contact, and I felt shivers running down my spine. My knees weakened, and I unconsciously found myself inching away from him. I don’t know what I did wrong, but I feel small just from his stares.

He took a deep breath as if he were stopping himself.

“Is your father Francis Ethridge?” he asked me with gritted teeth. His eyes shifted to his wolf’s.

I gave a slight nod, “What is this about?”

Killian’s hand formed into a fist. His anger continued to rise without me having any idea what was happening.

“Your father was the reason why my mother died. I should have realized it sooner.” I suddenly felt like my whole body was drenched in ice-cold water.

Suddenly, I was back in that situation, back when I did everything to prove my father’s innocence, but no one believed my family. They were the words of an alpha against us. He was being blamed for an attack on a neighboring allied pack, but I had no idea that it was Killian’s pack, and I didn’t know that their Luna had died then.

I was a fool for thinking that this was something good.

“I… I told you, my father was accused, but he wasn’t a traitor. He never was. We were framed-” I stopped my explanation when he snapped at me. I looked into his eyes and immediately knew that there was nothing that could change his mind.

I should have known this was the only reason I had a mate.

“I guess this ends here,” I said, trying to stay calm despite the rejection hitting me before it was slapped on my face.

He snarled, “Leave before I do something I would regret doing.”

“I would, but let’s end this here and now. Reject me.” I said it even though my wolf was pleading with me not to. I can’t spend my life with someone who can’t believe me or at least give me the benefit of the doubt.

Everything in me was hoping that I’d see even just a bit of hesitation in his eyes, but all I saw was hatred and rage.

“I, Killian Morgan, reject you, Claire Ethridge, as my mate.” He didn’t even stutter.

I smiled, not hiding the bitterness in my face. “I accept your rejection, which would sever every single connection we had.” I felt my wolf lashing out until it went radio silent.

I opened the car door but spoke to him for the last time, “I’m sorry for what happened to your mother. I really do, but my father is framed by our pack’s alpha. He did as he was told, and then the people with him suddenly acted on their own and wreaked havoc on your pack under that man’s orders. I’m simply the daughter of the pack’s traitor. No one believed me, but you’re an alpha. You have all the means to discover the truth. Please do it. It’s for your own good.”

It was my last effort to convince him. If he doesn’t believe me, then that is his loss. I walked away without looking back and went straight into my apartment, flopping on my bed and wiping the beads of tears forming in my eyes.

I almost forgot that fate had never smiled in my direction and that I would never be happy.

It was definitely short-lived.