Chapter 2
1314 Words
"I reject you", the words circled around Aurora's head like stars. The entire hall suddenly went quiet, and everyone was shocked at this turn of events. They were not shocked about the rejection, they were shocked because Rowan had already marked Aurora. The thing is, marking signified the acceptance and claiming of one's mate, so Rowan's rejection after marking Aurora was not just shocking, it was cruel. Aurora began to hyperventilate. She looked up at Rowan, refusing to believe the words he had just said. Rowan, on the other hand, didn't have a care in the world. He ran his fingers through his curly hair, looked up and sighed in exasperation before saying, "Well, oh great moon goddess! I am so sorry, but I can't put up with the mate you gave me, so give her to someone else". He threw Aurora one last demeaning look before walking out of the hall with his despicable friends trailing behind him.
Aurora broke into cold sweat. She stood up from the floor, slowly looking at everyone before she ran out of the hall. Her mind was in shambles. She saw some members of the pack standing outside the hall, but she paid them no mind; she just ran. As she ran, a sudden wave of agony hit her, and she fell to the ground, letting out a piercing scream. She crouched down on the ground, twisting in pain; she felt as though molten lava was flowing through her veins. The bite mark on her neck immediately started to burn, and a stinging, sharp pain shot through her entire body. The bond between her and Rowan was breaking, and she had to bear the brunt. Aurora let out another blood-curdling scream while she dug her nails into her palms as she clenched her fist. She thrashed around on the ground, begging and pleading with the moon goddess to relieve her of this torment. She began to crawl on the ground, dragging her aching body to a place where she could find peace. She grabbed and clawed at the grass and the dirt, gritting her teeth and groaning in pain. Another wave of pain hit her; this time around, it felt as if her rib cage was breaking alongside the bond. She let out another piercing scream, twisting and turning on the ground like a worm before collapsing into total darkness.
The distant chuckle of a young woman was heard, but there was no one in sight. Aurora looked around in confusion and began walking down the only path she saw. The place looked strange and familiar at the same time. "Aurora", said a faint voice. Aurora turned around in confusion, looking for the caller. "Aurora, I'm here", said the voice again, but this time around, it was much clearer, and its owner standing at a distance. There was no mistaking the voice, "Mum?" Aurora answered bewildered, the view of her mother coming into plain sight. "Mum!" Aurora screamed in excitement as she raced towards her smiling mother with open arms. But the more she ran, the farther she was from her mother. She began to panic, running and screaming for her mother. She continued running, and all of a sudden fell into a pitch black hole. Aurora woke up with a start, sweat streaming down her face, her breath heavy and jagged, and her hair plastered to her forehead. "It was just a bad dream", she whispered, trying to calm herself down. Of course, it was a dream, Aurora's parents were both dead.
Aurora looked around the room in which she woke up; the walls were all painted white, there was a huge painting on the left side of the wall, and pink curtains cascaded down the windows of the room. Then it hit her, this wasn't her room. Aurora jumped up quickly, startling herself in the process. She pushed the covers off her body, revealing her still in the stained sky blue dress she had worn on the full moon celebration. She slowly ran her fingers around her neck, and she felt the blistering, coarse teeth mark on her neck. She closed her eyes in defeat as she realised that the entire event of marking and rejection was real. She pushed herself out of the bed and sat at the edge of it, staring into the empty space. A lot of thoughts ran through her mind, which made her forget that she was in an unknown place.
A knock on the door jolted her out of her thoughts and back to reality. The knock was soft but steady. Aurora straightened herself in a frenzy as she didn't know who or what was behind the door. The door creaked open slowly, and in walked Esmeralda, the Luna of the Ironfang pack. Esmeralda was incredibly beautiful. She walked into the room gracefully, and the morning sun radiating on her face was the icing on the cake. She sat down on the couch in front of Aurora, staring at her intently. "Well, good morning to you too, Aurora", she said to Aurora with a small smile, which caused the corner of her eyes to crease. Aurora face palmed herself in her head for her poor manners and replied, " I'm so sorry, Luna Esmeralda, good morning", she greeted with a slight bow. The Luna just smiled at Aurora, memories of when Aurora was little flashed through her head. They were indeed bittersweet memories, as the memories of Aurora's parents' death were also included.
Aurora looked up at her coyly, the Luna reached for her hands and examined the injuries on her palms, which had formed as a result of Aurora digging her fingers into it while clenching her fists. She looked up at Aurora and stared blankly into Aurora's eyes for what seemed like hours to Aurora. She was trying to mind-link with Aurora's wolf. She sighed in defeat, "You still haven't gotten your wolf yet", she remarked sadly. Aurora shook her head and muttered a weak no to her. She tilted Aurora's head upwards to look at her and asked, "What exactly happened to you yesterday?" Aurora's face immediately turned red, and the searing pain in her veins that she felt last night resumed for a split second. Aurora's face contorted in pain, and tears welled up in her eyes. Luna Esmeralda immediately switched seats from the couch to the bed and sat at Aurora's side, pulling her into a side hug." Now, now, dear, don't cry; it's going to be alright", she cooed while smoothing out Aurora's slightly matted and tangled hair. As she did that, she noticed the mark on Aurora's neck and the state of it and gasped slightly.
"You found your mate?" She asked in a voice barely above a whisper, "and he rejected me. He marked me and rejected me," Aurora replied, and with that, she burst into uncomfortable tears. Luna Esmeralda, who was too stunned to speak, just held Aurora and allowed her to cry to her heart's content. "Why me Luna Esmeralda? Why me?" Aurora choked through her sobs. "I have no parents, no family, hell, I don't even have a wolf, and now this". Aurora rambled on in frustration, "I wish the moon goddess would just take my life, she said while flailing her hands in the air. "That's enough!" Luna Esmeralda retorted while holding her hand up in the air. Aurora stopped ranting and wishing death upon herself, but her lips quivered violently, and in no time, she was in tears again. The Luna, this time around, set Aurora's head on her lap and allowed her to cry. She cooed and cooed, and finally succeeded in calming her down. They stayed there together, in that position, Aurora stared blankly into space with no expression on her face while the Luna sat still, a million thoughts racing through her head.
- Writer
