CHAPTER TWO: THE REJECTED MATE
1129 Words
Aria's POV
I always believed the tale of the moon goddess — how she pairs everyone of us with our perfect mates, soulmates who will love and cherish us for who we were.
I never believed in love though. It was out of my experience especially when my parents died loving their pack, yet no one expressed such love to me after their demise.
I doubted the power of love until when I became 18, and I felt it was time for me to be loved by someone, time for me to have a mate, and time for me to forget my pain, and so I kept searching for a mate.
I didn't stop searching until I found my soulmate, and when I did, I felt like the luckiest girl in the whole world.
He is Damon, the future Alpha of the BloodMoon pack, strong, tall and handsome always with a charming smile and grey eyes.
He possessed everything I had dreamed of. But as soon our eyes met, there was a spark of undeniable pull that made me believe he was my mate.
“Damon," I whispered, stepping closer to him, “I’m Aria, your mate."
“My mate?" He paused, gazing at me while a wide grin spread across his chin.
He peered at me once more, observing me from my head to toe. I waited for him to voice out. Perhaps he could feel the same excitement and happiness bubbling inside of me, but his expression rather turned sour.
“Aria," He finally spoke up with a sharp voice. "What made you think I’m your mate?"
I stood still, cleared my throat and adjusted my posture before proceeding. “I believe you're my mate because the moon goddess chose us for each other."
“That's the moon goddess's choice, and not mine."
“What do you mean? Are you trying to reject the moon goddess' offer?" I curiously challenged.
Damon's lips curled into a smirk, but it wasn't the kind of smile that made me feel warm inside. It was cruel and mocking.
“Do you really think I’d accept a mate like you?” He scoffed.
My heart sank at his words. “What do you mean? Am I not good enough for you?”I asked, as my voice started trembling.
"Look at yourself in the mirror. It has all the answers you require." He grinned broadly and said.
“I’m more beautiful than that. Never compare me to a mirror. I don't need it for an answer." I stood still, boldly defending myself.
"I mean, look at you," He continued, his tone filled with disdain. "You're nothing special. I expected my mate to be someone extraordinary, not an ordinary she-wolf."
My head spun as my heart shattered. I stared at him in disbelief.
"But we’re meant to be together." I whispered, as my voice was barely audible.
“Be together with who?" He chuckled, spewing on my feet. “I'd rather die than accept you as my mate."
My eyes rolled with tears with no words of my own. I thought he would observe my pain and give a second thought; instead, he moved closer to me, with his presence towering over me.
“Listen to my words, Aria,” he affirmatively said. “I don't care about this mate bond. I want someone who can stand by my side as an Alpha, precisely a female Alpha. But you don't fit such a role, and you can't find a mate in me."
His words hit me like a punch to the gut. My eyes welled with tears, and my heart panted heavily. I felt a sharp pain piercing through me, but I fought them back, refusing to let him see how much his rejection was hurting.
“I may not be what you expected,” I said, striving to keep my voice steady. “But the bond we share is real. It's stronger than anything else."
Damon chuckled darkly. “Stop deceiving yourself. We can never be together. Oh, do you feel like a bond actually matters? I can break it, and I will."
The air around us grew tense. I never knew that rejecting a mate was possible. I did believe that no one would ever despise anyone the moon goddess offered to another. It sounded rare and painful, both emotionally and physically.
I couldn't believe that the man I was destined to be with was never interested in me. He was willing to throw it all away. I felt like life was about to teach me another lesson.
“Why are you doing this? You're making me feel less of myself. Don't you believe in love?” I asked, feeling a mix of anger and sadness. “The moon Goddess paired us for a reason."
“Perhaps she made a mistake." He responded, almost immediately after my words.
"That's an insult to thhe moon goddess. She can never make any mistake. It is you who decided not to accept the truth."
“Sometimes, life gives us what we don't have, and not what we reject. The moon Goddess may sometimes make some mistakes, especially the mistake of pairing the wrong person with me."
His words were the final blow. I felt my heart shatter into pieces. I had dreamed of finding my mate, so as to feel loved and accepted. But at that moment, all those dreams crumbled before me.
“Fine,” I said, my voice stronger than I felt. “If that's how you feel, then leave. I don't want a mate who doesn't want me."
Damon looked surprised, as if he didn't expect me to stand up for myself. But he quickly recovered, and gave me a cold, dismissive look.
“Gladly". He said. "I’ll find someone who is worth my time, not a ugly beast."
He turned and walked away, leaving me alone in the dark. I stood still, gazing sternly at him.
My heart ached, but I refused to let my tears fall. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing me break down. I rather focus on things that matter.
I stood there, trying to process what had just happened, I felt pain in my chest, a feeling of grief and hope.
It was as if the mate bond was still there, pulling me toward Damon, even though he had rejected me.
“Why did I still feel this way?” I whispered to myself clutching my chest. “Why can't I let him go?"
My pain was overwhelming, with much contemplation but I knew I had to stay strong. I couldn't let his rejection define me.
I was more than just someone's mate. I'm not just Aria, but I’m a warrior and a fighter.
- Writer
