Remember me..

Rejection?

Erik

I had woken up early that morning, the weight of anticipation hanging over me like a heavy fog. Sleep had been a fleeting companion, slipping away every time my thoughts drifted back to the importance of today, the day. Today, I would finally get my mate, and the pack would finally receive their rightful Luna. It was a moment I had been waiting for.

When I took over the pack a year ago, I had made my intentions clear. If Embla wasn’t my fated mate, I would ask her to be my chosen one, if she’d have me. I knew the loyalty her pack had to her ran deep, their devotion unshakable, and that they would follow her wherever she went.

That’s why I promised that if Embla didn’t choose me, I would retreat back to my old pack grounds. Every member would be free to decide where they wanted to stay, without guilt or pressure.

I’m certain that vow was a large part of why they accepted me as their Alpha, but it had also created an unspoken tension. My pack, the ones who followed me here, had struggled to settle in, fearing their new home could be temporary, while Embla’s pack lived in a constant state of divided loyalty. Torn between their affection for her and their growing loyalty to me, they lived with uncertainty gnawing at them daily.

Today would end all that. Today, they would have some closure.

As I walked through the town on my way to the bakery, I felt a strange calm settle over me, though the anticipation still buzzed under my skin. I was putting in an order for treats for the upcoming events, a small detail, but one that Embla herself had suggested. We always made sure we had fresh baked goods for meetings, something she insisted could help ease tensions. And she was right. Her little touches had already helped avoid more than one fight among Alphas, and I was thankful for her insight. I may be willing to fight when necessary, but avoiding conflict where I could was better for everyone, especially the elders and the young ones in our care.

“Morning, Alpha! What can I do for you today?”

I looked up to see Liv, one of our fiercest warriors, standing behind the counter. It was a surprising sight, Liv, usually decked out in her combat gear, was now wearing an apron dusted with flour, her dark brown hair dotted with white streaks.

“Morning, Liv,” I greeted her, chuckling.

“Decided to switch out fighting for baking today?”

She gave me a playful scowl, brushing flour from her apron. “Yeah, right. How my sister loves baking will forever be a mystery to me.”

The contrast of Liv, a powerhouse in the training yard, standing in the bakery was too funny not to tease her. “I can tell,” I said, grinning. “I’ll just drop this order off. I’ll leave you to it, unless you’re letting the flour win this round.”

She smirked, crossing her arms. “I’d love to see you do better.”

I laughed and shook my head. “Maybe another time. I’ve got more important things to get to today.”

Liv’s eyes gleamed with understanding, and she tossed me a sincere smile. “Oh, that’s right! Embla’s turning eighteen today. Good luck, Alpha.”

As I turned to leave, Liv called after me, tossing me a small brown paper bag. “Take these with you. My sister baked them this morning, it's Embla’s favourite.”

“Thanks,” I said, tucking the bag under my arm as I reached for the door.

Then, without warning, it hit me, the most intoxicating scent I had ever experienced, washing over me like a wave. It was a heady blend of pine trees and lavender, undercut with just a hint of spearmint. The scent was wild and calming all at once, pulling me in, and I felt my heart quicken in my chest.

I turned, and there she was, Embla. Her bright blue eyes locked onto mine, and I knew without a shadow of a doubt, she was mine.

At that moment, it felt like the entire world had fallen away. The noise of the bakery, the sounds of the town, it all faded into a distant hum. It was just us. Time slowed, and my heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing with the certainty that this moment had been written in the stars long before either of us was born.

A smile spread across my face, wider than any I’d ever worn, and I saw the same joy mirrored in her eyes. She’s mine.

Without hesitation, Embla ran toward me, her long hair flowing behind her like a banner. She leaped into my arms, her laughter filling the air as she wrapped her arms around my neck. I dropped the bag of treats, not caring as it hit the ground, and caught her, lifting her easily. She wrapped her legs around my waist, fitting against me perfectly as if she was always meant to be there.

“I knew it,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. I looked into her eyes, my chest swelling with a love so deep it felt like it would consume me whole. “I knew you were my queen.”

Before she could respond, I closed the distance between us, capturing her lips in a kiss that held everything I had been holding back for so long. It was as if the world had cracked open and poured its essence into this one moment, into us. Every kiss we had shared before paled in comparison to this one, this was magic.

Her lips were soft, and warm, and they tasted faintly of something sweet, maybe from breakfast? I kissed her deeper, my arms tightening around her, my heart soaring with the confirmation of what I had hoped for all along. She was my fated mate, my Luna, the other half of my soul.

For a brief, beautiful moment, we were lost in each other, the rest of the world forgotten.

And then, suddenly, a burst of clapping broke through our bubble, pulling us back to reality. I pulled away just enough to glance around and realized that half the town had gathered, watching us with wide smiles. Some of the pack members cheered, their voices filled with excitement, while others grinned and whispered amongst themselves.

Embla’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson, and I could feel her slight embarrassment as she became aware of the attention. I smiled down at her, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face.

“I love you, Embla,” I murmured softly, my voice low so only she could hear.

Her eyes softened, and she smiled that brilliant smile of hers, the one that always made my heart skip a beat. “I love you too, Erik,” she whispered back, her voice full of warmth and affection.

For the first time in a year, I felt a sense of true peace settle over me. This was it, we were finally complete.

All of a sudden, she let out a heart-wrenching howl, a sound that seemed to tear right through me, freezing me in place. Before I could even process it, I heard the sickening snap of bones, her body twisting unnaturally as she shifted. The sound echoed in the still air, making my stomach churn.

In just a few moments, Embla’s wolf stood before me, and she was… magnificent. Her size was impressive for a she-wolf, strong and graceful, her fur a shimmering mix of grey and white that gleamed silver under the sunlight. But what struck me most were her eyes. Those grey, haunting eyes, stared through me as though I wasn’t there. Blind? I blinked in confusion. Was Embla’s wolf blind?

I didn’t have time to think. A menacing growl escaped her throat, low and dangerous, snapping me back to the present. The next thing I knew, the silver wolf leapt at me, her jaws open, aiming straight for me. I barely had time to react, throwing my arms up in an attempt to protect myself from the attack. Her claws grazed my skin, and the force of her hit almost knocked me off my feet.

“What are you doing, Embla? Stop this!” I shouted, my voice raw, full of disbelief. But she didn’t stop. Instead, her growl deepened, more menacing now, cutting through the air like a blade. Her blind eyes burned with something primal, something… terrifying.

‘Get out of here!’ I commanded over the mind link, my Alpha voice ringing in every corner of the town. I watched as the crowd of people scattered, their faces pale with shock. I let my Alpha aura wash over her, trying to force her wolf to submit, hoping to break through whatever madness had taken hold of her.

But nothing.

She didn’t even flinch.

What in the name of the Goddess was happening?

She lunged again, faster this time. I managed to sidestep just in time, but not completely. Her claws raked across the back of my shoulder, leaving deep, burning gashes. I could feel the hot, sticky blood running down my back, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the confusion and betrayal ripping through my chest.

Embla, or whatever had control of her, bolted into the forest, her silver form disappearing into the thick of the trees. Without a second thought, I let Hakan, my wolf, take over. He surged forward, his paws pounding against the earth as he gave chase, but she was too fast. She moved with a speed I had never seen in her before, darting between trees, slipping through the shadows like a ghost.

Hakan growled in frustration. She’s outrunning us. I felt a mixture of admiration and fear creep through me. What was happening to her? Was this… was this her way of rejecting me?

Her scent lingered in the air, and we followed it until we reached the border. And then, just like that, it was gone. She had crossed the border.

Hakan let out a howl of pure, gut-wrenching agony, a sound that echoed through the trees and shook me to my core. He stood there, staring at the forest beyond the border, his ears twitching, hoping for some kind of sign that she was still there, that she hadn’t really left us.

But there was nothing. The forest was silent. Too silent.

’She’s gone.’ Hakan’s voice was barely a whisper now, and I could feel the crushing weight of rejection settling over us like a dark cloud. He retreated, pulling away, leaving me standing there in my human form again.

The pain was unbearable like someone had carved out a piece of my soul and left me hollow. I couldn’t breathe. My chest tightened, and I sank to the ground, staring blankly at the trees.

Maybe she would come back. Perhaps this was some kind of mistake.

I sat like that for what felt like hours, my mind spinning, trying to grasp the reality of what had just happened. The sun sank beneath the horizon, and the pale glow of the moon took its place, casting eerie shadows across the forest floor.

I looked up at the moon, the same moon I had been looking forward to sharing with Embla tonight. But it wasn’t supposed to end like this. I had been waiting for this day for so long, dreaming of the moment I could call her my mate.

Now it was over before it had even begun.

My body felt heavy, weighed down by the overwhelming grief and confusion swirling inside me. But I couldn’t stay out here, wallowing in my misery. I had a pack to lead, a responsibility I couldn’t ignore.

Slowly and painfully, I got to my feet. Each breath felt like a battle, and the pain in my chest was so deep, it almost felt physical. But I had to keep going. I had to return home.

As I neared the packhouse, I grabbed a pair of shorts from one of the outdoor baskets we kept stashed for moments like this. Shifting had become such a normal part of our lives that it was second nature to have spare clothes ready. I slipped the shorts on, grateful for the small comfort of feeling a bit more like myself again, though the emptiness inside me persisted.

The door creaked open, and for a moment, my heart leaped, was it her?

But no. It was Anders, my Beta. His expression was grim, his concern clear as he watched me approach.

“Alpha,” he greeted me softly, “Did you find her?”

I pushed past him, not wanting to talk, not yet.

“No,” I muttered, my voice hollow. “I don’t know where she is, and I don’t know what happened.”

He followed me into the kitchen as I grabbed a beer from the fridge, cracking it open with shaky hands. I could feel his eyes on me, waiting for answers I didn’t have.

“Do you think she’ll come back?” he asked, his tone careful.

“I don’t know, Anders,” I admitted, defeated. “I don’t even know if she rejected me. It sure felt like it.”

The images of her attacking me flashed again in my mind. Was she targeting me? Or had I just been in her way? My stomach twisted at the thought of her attacking someone else in the pack, what if it had been a child?

I sank into the couch, the weight of everything crashing down on me. Anders sat beside me, silent, watching. He didn’t push for more, and I was grateful for that.

“You should get some rest, Alpha,” he finally said, standing to leave. “We’ll figure this out in the morning.”

Before he left, he placed a hand on my shoulder.

“For what it’s worth, I know she loves you. There’s got to be a reason for this.”

I nodded, though his words barely registered. I offered him a weak smile, one that didn’t quite reach my eyes. “Thanks,” was all I could manage to say.

As the door closed behind him, the silence of the room enveloped me. I was at a loss. My mind was spinning, but deep down, I felt nothing but emptiness. Completely and utterly empty.

After Anders left, I dragged myself into the shower, the hot water hitting me, I scrubbed my body harder than necessary, trying to wash away the weight of failure clinging to me, but the guilt lingered like a second skin. In just a few hours, I would have to face the pack. I had no real answers, no explanations, only that their rightful Luna, the woman they had placed their hopes in, had left us.

Sleep was a battle. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her wolf, those blind grey eyes flashing with something wild and dangerous. I tossed and turned, my mind replaying the scene over and over. Had she meant to hurt me? Or was I simply in the way? I wondered where she was, if she was safe if she was in pain. At least I knew she was alive; I would have felt the severing of the pack bond if she had died. That thin thread of hope was all that kept me tethered to sleep as it finally claimed my exhausted body.

I woke to the smell of coffee, the familiar, warm aroma filling the room. For a brief, blissful moment, I forgot everything. My heart leapt as I rushed out of bed, heading for the door. She’s back. The thought was irrational, but it surged through me like a jolt of electricity. My mind raced ahead, imagining her in the kitchen, making breakfast like she always did, her presence filling the house with warmth.

But when I flung the door open, reality crashed down on me like a truck. The kitchen was empty.

The pain hit hard, a sharp ache in my chest as I stood frozen, staring at the vacant space. Why did I even think she’d be here? It felt like someone had ripped the air from my lungs. After a long moment, I forced myself downstairs, the weight of disappointment heavy in every step.

Anders was there, waiting in the communal kitchen with a steaming cup of coffee in his hands. He took one look at me and frowned. “You look awful, Alpha. Here, this should help.”

“Good morning to you, too,” I muttered, taking the cup and a long, grateful sip. The bitter taste jolted me awake, but it did nothing to erase the heavy pit in my stomach.

Anders studied me for a moment before speaking again. “Do you have any idea how you want to handle this today?”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “I’ll tell them what I know. What other choice do I have?” I hoped for a better idea from him, but deep down, I knew there wasn’t one.

He nodded, his eyes serious. “We should send our best trackers out to look for her. The pack will expect it, especially given that she’s their rightful Luna now. They’ll want her protected at any cost.”

I felt his gaze on me, and I knew what was coming next.

“I'm surprised you came home at all last night. What happened out there? Why didn’t you follow her?” His tone wasn’t accusatory, but I could hear the doubt creeping in.

My chest tightened as I relived the moment. “I tried,” I said, my voice quieter than intended. “But I lost her long before we reached the border. She’s fast Anders, faster than I’ve ever seen. I only know she crossed the border because of her scent, but it was so faint… following it was impossible.” I paused, my hands gripping the edge of the counter. “I should’ve done more. I… I failed her. I failed the pack.”

The words tasted bitter as they left my mouth, the self-loathing wrapping tighter around me. Not only had I failed to protect her, but I hadn’t even been able to track her down. How could I call myself an Alpha when I couldn’t even protect my own mate?

“Don’t do that,” Anders said firmly, placing a hand on my shoulder. “This isn’t your fault. Embla has a lot of explaining to do when she comes back.”

If she comes back. The thought stabbed at my heart. The possibility that she might never return was too painful to fully consider.

“No, you can't think like that,” Anders said sharply, reading my mind. “When she comes back. If she wanted to go rogue, she would have severed the pack bond when she crossed the border. And as you said, you couldn’t keep up with her speed. If you couldn’t catch her, how could anyone else?”

I wanted to believe him. I wanted to cling to the hope that she would come back, but doubt gnawed at me like a festering wound.

“Okay,” I finally said, forcing myself to stand straighter. “Let’s gather the pack and sort this out.”

"Can I have everyone's attention!" I called out, my voice steady even though my insides were churning. The pack had gathered in the park, their eyes wide with concern and confusion. The weight of their expectations pressed down on me like a boulder, and I struggled to keep my own emotions in check.

“I know there are rumours going around that Embla is my fated mate, and I want to confirm that it’s true.” A ripple of whispers swept through the crowd, and I could see the mixture of excitement and worry on their faces. They had waited so long for this.

“There are also rumours,” I continued, my throat tightening, “that she attacked me after finding out, and ran off the pack ground. Unfortunately, this is also true.”

The air seemed to freeze around us, and the whispers grew louder.

Before I could go on, a small voice cut through the crowd. "Where's Luna now?" It was a little girl, her voice trembling. I recognized her, one of the rogue children Embla had taken in after her parents were killed during an attack on our pack. Her wide eyes were filled with fear, and tears ran silently down her cheeks.

“I don’t know, sweetheart,” I said softly, my heart aching at the sight of her. “But we will find her.” I gave her the kindest smile I could manage, but inside, the uncertainty tore me apart.

Turning back to the pack, I squared my shoulders. “We will find her,” I repeated. “I want our best trackers out there, searching for any trace of her. I’ll be joining them. Anders will be in charge in the meantime.” I glanced at my Beta, who nodded. We hadn’t discussed it this morning, but I knew he agreed with me.

I took a breath, steeling myself. “I also want all warriors not on border patrol to be stationed around town. I don’t think she poses a threat to the pack, but after what happened yesterday…” My voice faltered slightly. “I’d rather not take any risks.”

The pack members nodded, murmuring in agreement, but the fear in their eyes mirrored my own. I was their Alpha, the one who was supposed to lead them, and protect them, and yet I felt more lost than I had ever been.

The weight of the pack’s future hung in the air, and I knew that this was only the beginning of a much darker path. One that I wasn’t sure I was ready to walk.