LUNAR BOND: The Alpha's Luna

The rejection.

My heart pounded within my chest, and I closed my eyes, biting my lip against the pain and fear. Startled, I jolted my head upward as a familiar scent of expensive cologne wafted to my nose, filling my senses with its essence.

Slowly, my eyes shot open, and standing in front of me were Dennis and his two friends, Tyler and Alex. Quivering and breathless, I took a step backward, instinctively moving away from their reach.

Dennis grabbed my wrist, causing me to drop my bag on the floor as he pulled me closer until I could feel his power. My pulse caught, then quickened. I lowered my lashes, wanting to hide my expression from him.

He gripped my chin, forcing me to meet his alluring gaze. My cheeks flushed with color, and his full lips curled into a mischievous grin.

"Let me go." I tried to break free from his hold. "Please, don't hurt me."

"Shh," he said, putting a long finger to his lips, silencing me. My head automatically bobbed up and down.

"So tell us," he said, his tone low and dangerous, "what did you see that night?"

"Nothing." I shook my head frantically, forcing my eyes down. "I saw nothing."

"Tsk, tsk, lies!" he clicked his tongue. "As a matter of fact," he said blandly, "you saw something."

"I won't say a word, please," I pleaded, tears already welling up in my eyes. "Don't eat… uh...kill me, please."

Their amused chuckling filled the air.

"We won't kill you," an amused smile curled his lips as he added, "or eat you." "So you better keep that pretty mouth of yours shut."

"Yes," I said frantically. "Yes, I promise I won't."

He released his grip on me and started to leave but paused suddenly, turning his attention back to me.

He appeared startled and confused as he shook his head silently. Tyler and Alex turned back, looking perplexed. His nose crunched, evidently sniffing the air desperately for something.

And then his eyes widened like saucers. I cast a confused look at him, dazed by his sudden change in reaction.

"No," he muttered, a dark frown forming across his face. "No...no." He met my gaze; mine was confused and afraid, and his was filled with disgust, denial, and uncertainty.

He turned abruptly. "I don't believe this," he said as he left the music room with his friends following closely behind.

I took a deep breath of relief. What just happened? Everything felt like a blur, leaving me confused and hysterical.

I picked up my bag from the floor before quickly making my way out of the music room, afraid they might change their minds and come back.

During the lectures, I couldn't concentrate. I kept wondering about Dennis. The look in his eyes felt as though there was something I couldn't quite place.

I dared steal a glance at him, and at one point, I caught him staring at me. His eyes were gleaming with anger, and a dark frown formed on his face, leaving me bewildered.

Thankfully, our teacher was through with his lecture and also made an announcement: a new student was joining us today.

I heaved a sigh, resting my head on my desk. I was tired and honestly didn't care about any new classmates right now.

"Okay, class," said Mr Andrew, tapping his desk. "Let's welcome Nicholas Angelo."

Whistling echoed throughout the classroom, mostly from the female students. When they did this, it meant they considered you hot or whatever.

"Thank you." A baritone voice boomed in the air, awakening my senses. How can a voice sound so arousing?

I swallowed hard, slowly bringing my head upward, and saw him as he was already walking towards his seat. He was tall, standing at around 6 feet 1, with brown hair styled with a slant across the side. His pale skin and symmetrical face left tongues wagging—he was hot!

Suddenly, I met his ash-colored eyes, and they widened like saucers, as if they'd seen a ghost. It left me puzzled.

He walked past me, his eyes still on me, as he took a seat right behind me. From my peripheral vision, I could see Harley already passing him with flirtatious glances. He was about to become her next target.

I could still sense the eyes of the new student, Nicholas, boring into my back. Why was he so startled when our gazes met? Everything felt so out of place today.

After classes, I sprang up on my feet with my bag in hand, taking long strides out of the classroom. I just wanted to get out of here.

After placing some of my books inside my locker, I clanked it shut before turning to leave. Just as I took one or two steps, a gasp escaped my lips in shock as I felt a grip on my arm, pulling me into the same room as earlier.

"Not again," I muttered, my lips slanting into a pout as Dennis pushed me a little too hard against the wall, placing both of his hands above my head. I closed my eyes, trying to steady my senses with his mesmerizing cologne.

"You…" His voice trailed off into a snarling silence, his fists clenching and unclenching above my head.

I faltered beneath his intense gaze as my heart pounded in my chest. "What do you want?" I managed to ask, averting my face from his gaze.

"I don't even need to think twice about this." A spiteful chuckle escaped his lips as he spoke in a surly tone.

"I, Dennis Henney, the future Alpha of the Red-moon pack," he began, and I stiffened as a knot formed in my stomach, "reject you, Alice Carter, as my mate and future Luna of the Red-moon pack."

I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces as Dennis brutally rejected me as his mate. The pain washed over me like a tidal wave, leaving me feeling devastated and utterly lost. I knew all about this; I had read about it in that book.

It was frowned upon when werewolves rejected their goddess-given mate, for such actions could leave the rejected mate devastated and hopeless.

I wasn't a werewolf, but my heart hurt as though a knife had been plunged straight into it. On the day he recognized me as his mate, he rejected me without thinking twice. Did he despise me this much?

He rejected my love confession, and now he's rejected me as his mate. How pathetic I am.

I had had enough of his constant rejection and hurt. "Let go of me!" I protested furiously, shoving past him.

Hot tears welled up in my eyes as I stumbled out of the room, needing to escape from his piercing stare and the overwhelming humiliation.

I barely registered the chaotic hallway around me as I blindly made my way through the sea of students.

Each step felt heavier than the last, the weight of Dennis's rejection weighing me down. I couldn't understand why he had been so harsh or why he had chosen to publicly embarrass me like that.

My mind was clouded with confusion and pain, making it difficult to see the path ahead.

And then, like a glimmer of hope in the darkness, I caught sight of a familiar face. Nicholas, the new hot classmate, was standing a few feet away, observing me with a worried expression.

In that moment, something inside me crumbled, and I felt a desperate need to escape, to run away from the pain and disappointment.

Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably as I stumbled towards the floor.

"Woah, woah, easy now." I gazed up and saw Nicholas bending over me. "Are you OK?" He asked, his face masked with concern.

"No...No..." I shook my head bitterly, my voice trembling with emotion.

"Please...please, take me far away from here," I pleaded, my voice barely a whisper. "I can't... bear... to be here. I just can't."

Nicholas' eyes widened with concern as he quickly moved closer to me, offering his support. "Hey, hey. It's okay," he said soothingly, his voice warm and compassionate. "I'll help you. Let's go somewhere quiet, away from all of this."

A small spark of hope ignited within me as Nicholas extended his hand towards me. I hesitated for a moment, uncertain of whether I should trust someone new so easily.

But then I realized that I had nothing left to lose. Dennis had hurt me so deeply, and I needed to be out of here so badly.

With a deep breath, I took hold of Nicholas's hand, clutching it tightly as if it were my lifeline.

As we walked away, I turned around and saw Dennis standing in front of his locker, looking at us, his expression bland.

I turned my back and silently vowed to myself that I would never allow Dennis to hurt me like that; I was officially done with his bullshit.