----Edward POV----
“She said, ‘I, Astoria Black, daughter of Gamma Eldridge Black, hereby reject you, Kane Lean, son of Omega David Lean, as my mate and partner. I do not accept the gift the Goddess gave me and hereby renounce any right or claim on the mate bond between us. I wish to choose my own mate—and I have already chosen him as my future and as my partner.’”
"Astoria Black!" I exclaimed. The shock of it made me momentarily inconsiderate of Kane’s broken state. I had never before encountered anyone who had been rejected by their mate. It was rare—unheard of, even. Most werewolves longed for the day they’d meet their fated mate, never daring to spurn the Goddess’s sacred gift.
“Yes, my lord. Astoria Black,” Kane whispered. His voice was so small, so hollow; I knew instinctively tha
