Eight Years Bound, One Night Rejected.

Naomi’s POV The drums echoed through the corridors, loud enough to drown my heartbeat. Moonlight flooded the hall, candles flickered, and children laughed, too bright, too alive for the way my chest tightened with every breath. I sat back in my Luna chambers wearing my best outfit, trying to hide my pains from the outer world. Suddenly, my body felt wrong, tight chest, cold fingers, my wolf was silent in a way that terrified me so much. I grabbed the face mirror, and I looked so pale. I had endured all the sufferings and pains from my mate—Alpha Caleb's torment. He had always looked down on me because I was unable to bear him a child. I tried my best, yet—All I had were countless miscarriages and stillborn pups. I remembered the last time I was carrying a dead stillborn pup, kneeling in blood, begging the Moongoddess to take my shame and pains away. A tear dropped from my eye. My wolf growled inside me; she had been silent for eternity. I quickly put on my footwear because I’m not ready for another encounter with Alpha Caleb. I walked gently into the hall, holding my seamless gown that looked bigger than my body because I had lost a lot of weight these past years.. Caleb sat in his position, while murmuring some words to the elders. Everyone was staring at me like I was a beast all of a sudden. Well, I expected punishment or maybe another warning from them as it was a normal routine for me each time they called for a gathering. “Naomi, why are you late to the pack gathering?” one of the elders asked as he stood up, walking towards me, measuring every step of his weight. “I’m sorry Elder, I was busy with work at the courtyard….” I replied as my mate cut me short. “You don't need to be sorry, Naomi, we are ending all these right now,” Caleb said boldly. “Ending what? What does he mean?” I murmured to myself while pitching my hands. . “Oh yes, Naomi, you’ve been unable to bear us a pup for good eight years, you're not fertile, you’re a weak Luna, you don't deserve to be the Luna of Redwild pack.” Elder Majik said, the elder who interrogated me earlier. Caleb stepped forward, I was expecting him to defend me, to be on my side, and prove to them that I’m fertile, that we’re trying our best on it and I would bear him an heir eventually. But no, I was teasing myself, thinking my mate would do that, he did the opposite instead, listing all my flaws to everyone, calling me all sorts of names; a curse to the pack, giving birth to stillborn pups. “Take a look at the maiden around you, some are done giving birth, some females in this pack give birth to at least four pups in six months, but here you are unable to give birth to just one pup for 8 years of marriage!, “Eight years,” Caleb said coldly. “Not one living pup.” He added loudly and turned back to his seat. My heart shattered, my head was banging, my wolf went silent again, oh no, all these are coming from the man I have loved with all my heart. My body reacted before my heart could. When Caleb’s voice rose, my shoulders stiffened instinctively, breath locking in my throat. I could almost feel his grip again, fingers tight around my wrist, not enough to break skin, just enough to remind me who held the power. A sharp memory cut through me. Blood. The metallic taste flooded my mouth as I swallowed it down, silent, because crying only made it worse. I had learned to stand still. To endure. To stay quiet until the storm passed. Loving him had taught me that pain did not always come with claws or fangs. Sometimes, it came wearing the face of the man who swore to protect you. I still chose to endure every insult, every wound, every heartbreak, and remained loyal. Then the Almighty word hit me suddenly, as the word REJECTION came out and hit like a blade. “I, Alpha Caleb of Redwild, hereby reject Luna Naomi as my Mate,” Caleb said, sealing the pain I already saw coming. Gasps erupted from the crowd. I lifted my chain, staring dead into his eyes begging him to take back his word, but he didn't. He meant every pin of his word. Our bond snapped violently. I couldn't move, I stood staring at the man who had been my mate for years. I saw something trembling behind his eyes. Was that a regret or was he doubting the rejection? I was confused. He growled his teeth and forced the word out. “We’re done.” Then to reprimand it all, he walked up straight to Lila—My Guardian's Daughter. The beautiful human with too many fake smiles. “ Lila Derrick will be my mate, the one I have chosen to spend the remainder of my years with.” He announced to the entire pack, holding her hand as he had just won some global awards. Lila stepped forward wearing my Luna’s old necklace. She didn't miss her moment, she threw a cold smirk and pinched her nose as she murmured the word “Broken Luna” to me. I looked out for the only person who could save me from this, my guardian, Beta Derrick, he was one of the respected old betas in the pack and my father’s best friend. The man who took me in after my parents had died. He had shown me love since my childhood even though I suffered at the hands of her daughter Lila; who had always been jealous of me, of how her father handled me with love and care. My eyes met him standing at the window side. I fell at his feet. My hands clutched his robe like I had when I was a child. He stepped back., and he did the unbelievable, he didn't look at me nor did he care about me. Instead, he pushed me away from his feet. I sat down there like I was a statue. Everything around me was blurry. There came the feelings again, the weight of not feeling like I was human or I didn't exist. No one came to check on me. No one asked if I was good. Everyone was too busy jubilating over the new Luna. I hadn’t moved, I stayed glued at the same spot, the exact spot where the bond had sparked instantly announced me as the Luna of the pack. The sky turned cold, matching the beatings inside my chest. This was how I handled pain quietly without tears or screaming. Just staying still. And in that moment, I knew my mate wasn’t the first man to betray me tonight, My guardian also did.