Crimson Red's Embrace: Rise of the Rejected Mate

He chose another girl. He was cheating on me more than that one time. He got her pregnant. Everyone was shocked by the announcement. A hush fell over the room, an eerie silence as everyone waited for what would happen next. The anticipation was almost suffocating, as if the entire room held its breath in unison. People's eyes darted back and forth, their expressions a mixture of sadness and sorrow for me. "What will happen to her?" I heard someone ask. I was glued to the center, looking at my mate, Daniel, who was holding the mic. Sunshine was smiling ear to ear and kissed Daniel in front of everyone on the lips. They shared a passionate kiss that the crowd cheered for, celebrating their happily ever after. Some were shocked but supported them, while others felt sorry for me. I felt like I was in jail in that room. Nobody had my back. No one wanted to go and comfort me. I really don't have any close friends in my pack. My world revolves around Daniel... who left me betrayed and hurt tonight. Alpha Daniel is cruel. He only let me go from standing in the center once Sunshine was announced as the new Luna in our pack. Luna Anna, Daniel’s mother, was the one who announced it. It seems like she already knows. She never really likes me. All of them turned their backs on me. I've never felt so hurt. I feel like my back and heart were stabbed a million times. I ran away as fast as I could from the convention hall. "Sorry," I whispered, wiping away my tears when I bumped into someone. I gasped when my bum fell on the floor because I was off balance. Damn it! What other shitty circumstances could happen tonight? "A woman like you should not be alone outside at this hour," a familiar voice said while holding my hand. Looking up, I saw a man with an imposing figure and a commanding presence. Standing at 6'2", he possessed a strong and athletic build, exemplifying his position as an Alpha. One look, and I knew who he was—the future Alpha of the Crimson Red’s Pack, Dmitri Silvano. My eyes widened in shock. Why was he here? Inside my head, I calculated if I had sent an invitation to our pack's number one enemy, but I was already lost in myself because of what had been happening around me. He gracefully touched his midnight black hair that fell in unruly waves, adding to his charismatic allure. "No thanks. Are you trying to pick on me after what happened?" I was referring to my rejection. He nodded. "Think whatever you please. Do you want to go out or not? Because I want to get out of this shitty hole, too." I sighed and grabbed his offered hand, and he pulled me up. When he felt my body shaking so bad, I saw him taking off his tuxedo jacket and wrapping it around my shoulders. "Take this. You're cold," he whispered to me as he walked me outside. I looked at the hand placement on my waist. I did not have the chance to protest because we were already gathering so much attention. After the announcement, the guests returned to their chit-chats and acted as if nothing happened. I didn't want to know what was going on with Daniel and Sunshine. Like Dmitri, maybe I wanted to get out of this shitty hole as badly as him. *** "Why are you taking me here?!" I screamed at Dmitri, who brought me to the rooftop of this building. The anger inside me is still burning. I want to punch someone right now. I hate my mate! I hate Sunshine! I hate everyone in this pack! "I feel like you need some fresh air." "Who do you think you are to know what I need?!" He licked his lower lip and sarcastically laughed. He looks so done with me. "Look," he drew a deep breath. "I know you're upset because of the rejection thing. So please calm down, woman – s**t," he cursed under his breath when I started crying. I bawled my eyes out and punched his hard chest. He took a step backward but didn’t falter. “It hurts so much…” Dmitri was quiet the entire time until I dried my eyes out, until I had shed all my tears. He did not ask me questions. He just listened to my cry. "I always hated these things. They seem so formal, so forced," he brought up a topic after a couple of minutes of silence. We were sitting on the bench. I looked up to see the moon shining so bright. "You mean a pack’s party?" I asked him. He nodded. “Yeah.” “Then what do you prefer?” I asked again, not taking my eyes off the moon. "Something small, intimate, with people I actually enjoy being around." I nodded. "That sounds like an extraordinary idea, but perhaps it's not quite suitable for ranked members who often prioritize showcasing their abilities. Besides, what would the Lunas do in such a situation? They would probably succumb to boredom," I pondered aloud, eliciting laughter from the man beside me. “You know what? I like your sarcastic remark every time I bring up something.” I creased my forehead and stood up from the bench. “It seems like you’ve enjoyed too much drama for tonight, Mr. Silvano.” He also stood up and gestured with his hand, “Sorry, I didn’t mean it that way.” I nodded. “Thank you for your presence. I needed it and I appreciated it a lot. I apologize for being rude to you earlier. Let's call it a night." He grabbed my hand and looked at me with a tight lip. “Sorry, what’s your name? You haven’t introduced yourself throughout the night.” I smiled sarcastically. “Do you not know me or are you just pretending right now to humiliate me more?” Everyone knew about me as Alpha Daniel’s destined mate; even the neighboring packs. But knowing that he came from the Crimson Red Pack, maybe he doesn’t know. He chuckled. “You always think the worst of people. I’m not pretending right now. Why would I?” “My name’s Lily,” I sighed. He clenched his jaw. “Lily… like a flower? Hmm, a strong symbolism of purity, innocence, and beauty.” My eyes widened. “Y-Yeah.” I sighed. “My parents chose that because I looked so delicate, like a flower.” I looked away and thought about my parents. They did not go to Daniel’s birthday party. I wonder what happened. My heart skipped a beat because of the sudden gut feeling. I looked at Dmitri's eyes widely. “I h-have to go!” I shifted into my form and ran towards our castle. If anyone ever touched my family, I will kill them. “No… no, no, no, please not my parents!” I screamed at the top of my lungs when I saw how our castle crumbled into ashes. “Mother!” I shouted, but no one responded. Nobody dared to help put off the raging fire in front of me. “Father!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. I was lost for words. I was out of breath. My wolf, Lilac, was whimpering inside and started clawing my chest. She was tired and drained already tonight, emotionally and physically. She couldn’t fight anymore. I shifted into my human form and saw two burned bodies lying on the ground. It was a familiar form despite the burns. I knew it all too well. They are my mother and father’s burned bodies. I gasped and covered my mouth. This time, I fell to my knees and my wolf started wailing. The rejection never made me fall to my knees, but seeing my parents' cruel death in front of my eyes made me insane. Everyone was shocked. The news spread like wildfire through the pack, causing whispers and gasps to echo through the halls in our area. The announcement that the Alpha had chosen his ex-girlfriend over his mate to be the Luna and the sudden fire that erupted in our castle, killing my parents, had sent shockwaves of disbelief and confusion through our pack. Are all of these coincidental? I bet not. I had no energy left; no will to live anymore. How could I? The people I loved so dearly died; my mate rejected and humiliated me. “I had stood by your side through thick and thin, supporting you in every decision. We had shared a bond that was meant to be unbreakable, a connection forged by fate itself! Yet, in a single moment, everything I had believed in came crashing down, Daniel! But this? Trying to get rid of me in the pack by killing my family? I would never forgive you!” I shouted and made a scene in front of his family. I don't care about anything or anyone anymore. He couldn't ignore the pack's speculation. I was the one who offered him solace and strength. We had both overcome countless obstacles and guided our pack to prosperity. And now, it seemed as if all of that meant nothing. Alpha Daniel looked down at me while his two bodyguards were holding me in place. “Let me say it again. It wasn't us who killed your parents, Lily. That fire was accidental. You have no proof.” How could he f*****g say it in a calm manner? Like he's been practicing and memorizing that line! “You're lying!” I know when he is. His right eye twitches, his fingers shake, and he couldn't maintain his gaze on me. “Get her out of here. You know what to do,” Alpha Daniel said, using his Alpha commanding voice. I want to give myself a pat because I didn't cry in front of him. Fury replaced my sadness as I took one last look at the place where I grew up, the only home I knew and the one I was destined to lead until a week ago. I will remember those who have caused me pain. One day, I will make sure to inflict pain ten times greater than what they have inflicted on me.