The Lycan's Hated Mate

Chapter2

2- Rejected by a king

Sitting there in my family's home, soaked and alone, I held the royal invitation in my trembling hands. I stared at it, my gaze shifting between the elegant script on the parchment and the silent fish in the glass tank.

"What does it mean?" I whispered to the floating fish as if it would answer me. "Why would they invite me? It's so... weird, don't you think?"

Of course, the fish offered no insight, continuing their gentle, indifferent swim.

I sighed and leaned back, contemplating the invitation. "Do you think I should go? Could I possibly find my mate there? It's been eight months since... since my family's death. I can't even get back into society. Maybe I should go."

Tears welled up in my eyes as the weight of my circumstances bore down on me. "But who would want me?" I choked out, my voice breaking as the reality of my situation hit me like a wave crashing upon the shore.

I knew that in the lycan society, finding a mate was a cherished and life-altering event. But I was a late bloomer, a wolf who had yet to awaken her true self. The stigma of being different, of having no wolf to call my own, weighed heavily on my heart. I had no friends, no family, nothing.

As the tears streamed down my face, I couldn't help but feel the crushing weight of my isolation and loneliness. It was a stark reminder of the harsh reality I faced, and the emotional turmoil that had consumed me since the night my family was torn from me.

In the grip of despair, I dumped the royal invitation onto an old chair and made my way to the bathroom. The bathtub filled with water as I stood there, feeling the weight of my misery. Life had become an unbearable burden, and the thought of escaping it silently crossed my mind.

I sank into the warm water, letting it envelop me as I shook my head, trying to wash away the pain that clung to me like a persistent shadow. But as I held my breath for a moment too long, contemplating the unthinkable, I gasped and resurfaced, my heart racing.

"f**k it," I whispered to myself, my voice trembling with both fear and defiance.

With renewed determination, I climbed out of the bath, my wet clothes clinging to me as I reached for the discarded invitation. Tomorrow night, I thought. Tomorrow night, I would attend the Lycan estate's mating ball, if only to escape the suffocating despair that threatened to consume me.

As I stood in my soaked robe, my resolve steeled, I heard a sudden commotion outside. Banging noises echoed through the air, and I rushed to check, my heart heavy with dread.

There, in front of my door, a group of mischievous kids pelted it with tomatoes. Their laughter was cruel, their voices filled with malice as they taunted me, the very words they used like knives.

"Family murderer!" one of them yelled, their voices echoing in my ears like a vile chant. And then, with one final barrage of tomatoes, they scattered, leaving me standing there in the doorway, soaked, humiliated, and crushed by their heartless cruelty.

The next day dawned with a renewed sense of purpose. I groaned and hit the door one last time before deciding that it was time to take action. I couldn't bear to leave the town where my parents had lived, where they had built their home and their reputation as popular doctors. But it was time to sell the house and move forward, to find a way to heal my shattered life.

I had made a decision: I would attend the ball. If I didn't find a mate there, then it was a sign that I needed to leave this place for good, to find a new beginning.

As I prepared for the evening, I stood before the mirror, assessing my appearance. Soft, delicate features framed my face, and my eyes held a depth of emotion, a reflection of the pain and determination that resided within me.

The gown I wore was my mother's, the very one she had worn during her own time as a young woman. It was a symbol of her elegance and grace, a reminder of the woman I aspired to be. I adjusted the gown, the fabric cascading around me like a silken waterfall, and I couldn't help but smile as I looked at my reflection.

"Mom, Dad," I murmured, my voice soft and filled with emotion as I gazed up toward the heavens. "I'm finally attending a mating ball. I hope you guys can see me from there."

Tears welled up in my eyes as I continued, my voice trembling with regret. "I'm so sorry for causing you pain, for allowing that stranger into our home that day. I wish I had never opened that door for him. I wish I had never allowed him into our lives. Maybe... maybe you would still be here."

My fingers drifted to the scar on my stomach, the physical reminder of that fateful night. The pain was a constant companion, a reminder of my past mistakes.

Tonight would be different, I silently vowed as I stood before the grand ballroom's entrance. The elegant gown my mother once wore clung to me, a symbol of grace and strength. As always, no one wanted to associate themselves with me, but I refused to be daunted by their disdain.

The legends spoke of the water of life and romance, the moment when a lycanthrope's mate would appear before them. They said the touch of that sacred water would awaken one's inner wolf and guide them to their destined partner. I had no wolf yet, but I believed in the possibility of love and the chance for redemption.

I took a glass of whiskey and sipped, feeling the warmth and courage it offered.

The time had come, and I was ready. Ready to face the future, to find my mate, and to prove that I deserved a place in this society.

And then he entered the room, the Lycan King himself, Adrian Thorn. Handsome beyond words, his presence commanded attention. His jet-black hair and piercing gray eyes seemed to capture the very essence of strength and authority. He was goddamn handsome, and I couldn't help but smile at the memory of our childhood encounters, when my family had treated him and his parents with the utmost respect.

As King Adrian stepped into the spotlight, his regal aura filling the room, I marveled at how he had grown into a truly remarkable figure. A soft sigh escaped my lips, unnoticed by the others, as I admired him from afar.

And then, in a voice that resonated through the hall, King Adrian announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, it is time to commence the mating ceremony."

The climax of the night arrived, and I walked toward the water of life, my heart pounding with anticipation. As always, I found myself at the back of the line, easily pushed aside by the other eager lycanthropes.

But I refused to yield to their judgment.

When it was finally my turn, I took a deep breath and stepped forward. I touched the water pool and allowed his scent to fill me.

I was glad that he was here.

The scent, the unmistakable call of destiny, guided me unerringly to him.

And there he was, King Adrian, the embodiment of power and authority. Our eyes locked, and I couldn't help but speak the word that had been etched into my heart.

"Mate."

But his response was far from what I had hoped for. His handsome features contorted with displeasure, and he frowned deeply, his voice dripping with disdain.

"You," he uttered, his tone cold and unforgiving. "It's you."

My heart sank at his reaction, the harsh words cutting me deeper than any blade. I trembled uncontrollably, tears welling up in my eyes as I stammered, "Yeah, me."

The eyes of the entire room were fixed on us, their whispers growing louder with each passing moment. Adrian's disbelief was palpable, his voice filled with scorn.

"How could that be possible?" he seethed, his words laced with cruelty. "Of all people, I was supposed to be mated to an outcast weakling like you."

My heart shattered as he continued to berate me, his words a brutal onslaught that left me trembling and devastated. And then, with a final, devastating blow, he uttered the words I had feared most.

"I reject you."