Rejected By Mate, Contracted As A Chosen Mate

Chapter 5 Shadows In Silence

The silence that followed Sebastian’s confession wrapped around us like a heavy fog. I could still feel the weight of his words in the air about Alexa, about his broken trust and though he tried to mask it with indifference, the pain in his voice had been raw and real.

I shifted uneasily on the edge of the bed, unsure of what to say. The man everyone feared, the ruthless Alpha of Killian Pack had just bared a vulnerable piece of himself to me. Me, a woman he barely knew. He stood up, walking over to the tall window that overlooked the moonlit gardens, his silhouette outlined against the night. His hands were clenched tightly behind his back, rigid with tension.

“Sebastian...” I said softly, unsure if I was even allowed to address him like that. He turned his head slightly, acknowledging me without speaking.

“I’m sorry for what happened to you. I know what betrayal feels like... maybe not exactly like yours, but...” I trailed off, my throat tightening as memories of Kelvin and Bianca flashed in my mind like cruel taunts. For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, in a voice quieter than before, he asked, "Does it still hurt?"

I blinked. Of all the things I thought he might say, that wasn’t it. "Yes," I admitted. "But not as much as it used to. It’s more like a scar now. It's there... just not bleeding anymore." He chuckled bitterly. "I think mine still bleeds."

The admission sent a strange ache through my chest. I wanted to say something, anything that would make it better. But what comfort could I offer a man like Sebastian, who carried the weight of an entire pack on his shoulders?

"I won't betray you," I said impulsively. He finally turned fully to face me, studying me with an unreadable expression. "You say that now. Everyone says that... at first."

"I mean it," I insisted, standing up. My voice quivered slightly, but I forced myself to hold his gaze. "This marriage might be a contract, but that doesn't mean I’ll break the promises I make." For a moment, neither of us moved. Then, slowly, he nodded.

"Good," he said simply, his tone firm but softer than before. A tentative truce settled between us. He crossed the room toward me, stopping only a foot away. His hand lifted and hesitated as though he was going to touch my cheek, but at the last second, he pulled it back. It was almost instinctive like he was afraid he might break something fragile if he reached out. I didn’t move either. I just stood there, heart pounding, feeling the electricity between us hum to life.

And then, a loud knock shattered the moment. Sebastian’s head snapped toward the door, a low growl rumbling in his throat. "What?" he barked. The door creaked open and a young Beta stepped inside, bowing low. "Alpha, urgent message from the council."

Sebastian’s jaw tightened. Without another word, he strode across the room and snatched the envelope from the Beta’s hand. His eyes scanned the letter quickly, and I saw the muscles in his jaw clench tighter.

"Any problem?" I ventured carefully.

He crumpled the letter in his hand. "It seems not everyone is happy about our marriage."

My stomach dropped. "What do you mean?"

"There’s a faction within the pack that thinks our union is... suspicious and too convenient. They’re demanding a trial."

Panic gripped me like a vise, squeezing the breath right out of my lungs. My mind raced, trying to process his words, but they crashed together in a mess of fear and confusion. I had agreed to this marriage as a contract. Clean, simple, no emotions attached. Now, it felt like the walls were closing in like I was trapped in something far more dangerous than I’d ever imagined. My fingers trembled at my sides, and for a second, I couldn’t even look at him. What had I gotten myself into?

"A trial?" I repeated, horrified. "For what?"

"To prove that this marriage is genuine... and that you’re worthy to be Luna." I swallowed hard. My fingers curled into fists at my sides. Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy. Of course, someone would try to tear me down before I could even get a footing here. "What do we do?" I asked, my voice steady despite the turmoil swirling inside me.

Sebastian smirked, but there was no humor in it. "We prove them wrong."

"But how?"

Before he could answer, another thought struck me, a darker one.

"What if they’re right?" I whispered, barely able to voice the fear gnawing at me. "What if... we can’t?"

Sebastian’s gaze snapped to mine. He crossed the room in two strides and gripped my chin, tilting my face up to meet his eyes. His touch was firm but not painful. "We will," he said fiercely. "We don’t have a choice."

Something in his voice settled the chaos inside me. I nodded slowly.

"Alright," I said. "I’m with you."

His eyes searched mine for a moment longer before he released me and stepped back.

"Good," he said again. "Because the first trial begins tomorrow."

*******

The next morning was a whirlwind. I barely had time to process everything before I was dragged into preparations. I was given a different dress. It was a traditional Luna ceremonial gown, stitched with the crest of Killian Pack. I stared at myself in the mirror, barely recognizing the woman in the silver and black fabric.

Beside me, one of the housemaids fussed over my hair, twisting it into an elegant knot.

"You look beautiful, Luna," she said with a smile. I forced a smile back. Inside, I felt anything but beautiful. I felt like a fraud. What if I failed? What if I embarrassed Sebastian? What if this all blew up in our faces?

Sebastian appeared in the doorway, already dressed in his Alpha regalia. The way he stood there, sharp, cold, and with a commanding presence, sent a fresh wave of fear through me. He extended his hand. "Ready?" he asked.

No. Absolutely not. But I placed my hand in his anyway. "Ready."

The trial was held in the central court, a vast stone arena surrounded by the pack's council members and a sea of onlookers. I could feel their eyes burning into me, I could hear their whispers even before I stepped into the circle.

"She's too weak."

"She’s an outsider."

"She doesn’t belong here."

Sebastian’s grip tightened around my hand, grounding me. Councilor Marius, an older wolf with sharp features and a sharper tongue stepped forward.

"Natasha," he said, addressing me directly. "Today, you will undergo three trials to prove your worthiness as Luna of Killian Pack. Should you fail, this marriage will be deemed invalid, and Alpha Sebastian will be stripped of his title."

The gasps that rippled through the crowd made my blood run cold. I turned to Sebastian in shock, but his expression was unreadable. They weren’t just questioning me. They were questioning him. And if I failed, I wouldn’t just lose my place here, he would lose everything. My hands trembled slightly, but I forced myself to lift my chin.

"I understand," I said, voice steady. Marius nodded once.

"The first trial," he announced, "is of strength."

A large male wolf stepped into the arena, bare-chested and snarling. My stomach flipped. "You must defeat him in combat."

I heard Sebastian growl beside me. "She’s not a warrior," he barked. "This is absurd!"

Marius shrugged. "A Luna must be strong. If she cannot defend herself, how can she defend the pack?"

I swallowed hard, stepping forward before Sebastian could argue more. I couldn't let him fight my battles. I had to prove them wrong myself. The wolf, a towering Beta named Aron grinned at me cruelly.

"Don't worry, Luna," he sneered. "I'll try not to break you," I said nothing.

Instead, I remembered the self-defense lessons I had taken as a child in the orphanage. I remembered how to move, how to dodge, how to survive. The council signaled, and the fight began.

Aron lunged, claws bared, but I ducked, rolling out of the way. He was fast, but he underestimated me. He thought I was weak. That would be his mistake. I darted behind him and kicked the back of his knee with all my strength. He stumbled, cursing, and swung around, grabbing for me. I twisted away, landing a punch squarely in his ribs. He grunted in pain. The crowd gasped.

Fueled by adrenaline, I kept moving, ducking, striking, evading. It wasn’t graceful, and it certainly wasn’t easy, but I fought with everything I had. Every betrayal, every heartbreak, every ounce of rage that had built inside me over the years, I unleashed it all. Finally, with one last surge of strength, I landed a kick that sent Aron sprawling onto his back. The arena went deathly silent.

Slowly, Aron got to his knees, coughing. He looked up at me and then bowed his head in submission. I had won.

My legs shook slightly as I stood there, the weight of a hundred eyes pressing down on me. The adrenaline from the fight still thrummed in my veins, but beneath it, a bone-deep exhaustion was starting to creep in.

Sebastian strode forward, lifting me into his arms before I could collapse. His scents like woodsmoke and something wild surrounded me, grounding me. "You did it," he whispered fiercely. I managed a weak smile.

One trial down. Two more to go. Sebastian’s hand settled firmly at my lower back, steadying me without a word. His touch, though fleeting, sent a strange sense of reassurance through me like a silent vow that I wasn’t alone in this.

Councilor Marius cleared his throat, pulling everyone’s attention back to him.

“Impressive,” he said, though his tone was laced with reluctance. “But strength alone does not make a Luna. There are other qualities... equally important.” His gaze raked over me with open skepticism.

The murmurs around the arena grew louder. Whispers too low to make out fully, but sharp enough to sting. Some faces looked impressed; others, hostile.

I caught sight of a woman among the crowd. Tall, statuesque, with sharp silver hair braided down her back. Her expression was unreadable, but her eyes gleamed with something dangerously close to amusement.

“Who’s that?” I whispered to Sebastian without taking my eyes off her.

He didn’t glance her way. “One of the Elders. Selena.”

“Is she part of the council?”

“She advises them. But she’s not exactly a friend to outsiders.” I swallowed hard. Great, another enemy I hadn’t even met yet.

As Marius spoke again, outlining the second trial, I forced myself to focus. I couldn’t afford distractions, not now.

"The second trial," Marius announced, "will test your loyalty and honesty. A Luna must be able to speak truthfully, even when it is difficult. Lies have no place in the heart of the pack."

He signaled, and a different Beta, a woman this time, with hard eyes and crossed arms stepped forward, holding a small silver goblet.

"You will drink from the Cup of Clarity," Marius explained. "It compels truth. You will be asked questions. If you lie, you will feel... pain."

A collective shiver ran through the crowd. Pain? I stared at the goblet as it was brought toward me, the liquid inside shimmering faintly under the sun. Sebastian’s fingers brushed mine briefly, a silent warning, or maybe a silent comfort. I couldn't tell. I took a deep breath and stepped forward, heart pounding.

Whatever they asked me, whatever doubts they tried to sow, I had to answer with nothing but the truth or pay the price.

And somewhere deep in the crowd, hidden from view, a pair of golden eyes watched me intently, a presence that sent an uneasy chill down my spine. Someone else was watching. And they didn’t want me to survive the next trial.