Rebirth of the Lycan's Rejected Mate

Lycans are known for treasuring their mates when they find them, as they can only have one mate in their entire lifetime. Not only were they considered a superior species of werewolves, excelling in terms of strength, agility, aura, physical appearance, and every imaginable special ability, but the concept of having a fated mate added an element of romance to their lives. However, not everyone is willing to accept it just because fate says so. Nevertheless, throughout history, most lycans have been known to truly love their mates from the moment they lay eyes on them. Unfortunately, Selene seemed to be exceptionally unlucky in her case. She had never come across any accounts or instances of a Lycan rejecting their mate, except for her own. Her desire to visit the capital city, even if it were only once in her lifetime, turned out to be the biggest regret of her life. It was there she encountered Lucian, the highly revered Lycan king. Rumors circulated that Lucian had tirelessly searched far and wide for his elusive mate. Countless women of noble birth and exceptional lineage presented themselves to him, hoping to be the one destined for him. However, none proved to be his true mate. Out of sheer frustration, he commands that every unmarked girl from every corner of the nation be presented to him on a daily basis. Both willing and unwilling participants are sent to him. Most were willing anyway even those who claimed to be in a relationship. The lack of a bond with a mate is one of the greatest frustrations a Lycan can experience, and for this particularly temperamental king who is already known for his volatile temperament, it only made matters worse. Selene had resided in a relatively small town, and one of her lifelong goals had been to visit the grand capital city. She had, undoubtedly, heard of the king's royal decree through the news and a small part of her imagination whimsically entertained thoughts of becoming his queen, that princess syndrome every girl sort of had. However, she quickly dismissed it as something that only happened in movies so she wasn't among the ones who went to present themselves willingly at the district office to be taken to the capital, specifically to the palace, at no cost whatsoever. Instead, she proceeded to prepare for her journey by saving enough money. After saving up enough in the hope of starting a new life there she embarked on her journey, her mom was fully in support of her starting a new life somewhere else, seeing the world outside. Upon arriving in the capital, Selene was immediately captured and forcibly taken to the palace. She had barely experienced the city or made any friends before being confined to the palace quarters alongside other girls, who were also awaiting their turn to be presented to the king the next day. The girls were not permitted to see his face. They simply had to release a bit of their unique scent into a special room where he sat behind the curtain and if they weren't the one they'll be freed immediately. Despite the circumstances she found herself in, she remains unfazed, confident that she will also be released the next day. Sadly, fate had other plans for her. What should have been one day turned into five long and torturous years of living in the palace. It was on that fateful day that Lucian finally recognized Selene as his destined mate, and she, too, experienced that undeniable connection. The search came to an abrupt end with the announcement that the king had finally found his mate. The officials were all expecting he would celebrate this but instead, he firmly instructed that no form of celebration should be held else they'd all face the consequences if they disobeyed. It became obvious to everyone that he had rejected this queen. From a distance, Selene had heard rumors of Lucian's brutality. However, being in his presence reveals that the rumors were, if anything, an understatement. The discovery of his mate did not bring about positive change; instead, he became even worse than before. Selene became the target of his daily wrath, as everything about her displeases him, from her social status to her abilities. In his eyes, she is unworthy of him, and he believes this must be some form of punishment from the entity responsible for assigning mates. Consequently, he unleashes his anger upon her. Incapable of rejecting her mate, Selene is trapped in a life of misery, enduring the mistreatment continuously. Lucian never treats her with kindness, not even for a single day. He relentlessly searches for ways to alter the bond between a Lycan and their mate, eventually stumbling upon the darkest of dark magics, which he does not hesitate to use. At the point of death, Selene accepts her fate. Rather than live a life of torment, she willingly embraces death. To even have the will to live would mean she had to continue enduring her role as his mate, and she knows she lacks the strength and power to reject him. She only wished things had been different if he had loved her even a little bit then... She simply mourned the loss of what could have been, even though she knew that Lucian was beyond redemption. She wished she could get a second chance to do things differently. A tear streak rolled down her cheek as she drifted into a subconscious state. Now, many people wish they could be given a chance to undo a past mistake. They always say, "If only I could turn back the hands of time." But then, what's the guarantee that if the hands of the clock really do turn back they can avoid falling victim to the same circumstances? That they could end up with better outcomes? With so many unknown elements attached to it, a rebirth alone won't suffice to change a person's life unless they are intentional about being that change.