The Rejection
829 Words
I hurried to unlock the door just as Alicia shoved it open.
"For the moon's sake, Elara!" she snapped, brushing past me. "I've been knocking endlessly. For a moment, I thought something bad had happened to you."
She paused, her expression softening.
"I know we don't always get along, but you are still my sister. I would never want you hurt. You know that... right?"
She stepped closer and reached out to touch my cheek.
I quietly stepped back.
I fell for that masked innocence once before. I thought bitterly, and it cost me everything, my mate, my life.
I won't fall for it again.
Alicia studied my face as though trying to read my thoughts, but I kept my expression blank.
"One of Orion's guards is outside," she said after a moment. "He said Orion requests your presence."
She crossed her arms casually.
"When you are back, we should go out for a drink and talk about your wedding plans. Mother is right, if you marry Orion, it's still a win for the family. Mother has spoken some sense into me, and I've decided, I don't mind giving him up for you."
Her smile looked almost genuine.
" Alright, Alicia," I said carefully. "We can talk about the wedding plans later, but I won't be taking any drinks.
"Alright, sister," she replied sweetly, once again trying to drape her arms over my shoulder.
I quickly dodged her touch and hurried down the hall to meet the guard waiting outside.
As we rode on the horse, the cool wind brushed against my skin. I closed my eyes briefly, savoring the moment.
Soon, I will marry Orion.
Soon, I will become Luna of the pack.
And perhaps.... finally be free from Alicia and the years of cruelty.
The horse slowed to a halt in front of a guest house.
I frowned. "Why are we here?"
"The Alpha wishes to spend some time with his future Luna somewhere private," the guard replied respectfully.
My heart fluttered.
I stepped down, and he led me inside.
This will be your room, my lady. Please make yourself comfortable. The Alpha will join you shortly.
He bowed and closed the door behind him.
Almost immediately, it opened again.
A young man in his late twenties entered carrying a tray with a glass.
He bowed politely.
"A drink for you, ma'am, while you wait for the Alpha. He will be here shortly.
He placed the tray on the table and left.
I stared at the glass.
Finally... my dream was coming true.
After the weeding, everything would change.
No more humiliation. No more living under Alicia's shadow.
Freedom.
I lifted the drink and took a sip.
Then another.
The room spun suddenly.
My vision blurred as weakness spread through my limbs.
Darkness swallowed everything as I collapsed onto the bed.
Elara
I jerked awake.
Orion stood in the doorway.
Behind him stood Alicia
My heart lurched when I noticed the half-naked man scrambling beside me. He grabbed his shirt and rushed out of the room without meeting anyone's eyes.
"I warned her not to do this!" Alicia cried dramatically from behind Orion. "I tried to stop her. I begged her to think about how much this would hurt you."
My mouth opened, but no words came out.
My head throbbed as I tried to remember.
The harder I tried, the more it hurt.
Orion stared at me with pure disgust.
"How unlucky must I be," he said coldly, "to have a slut like you as a mate?"
The word struck like a blade.
"I, Orion, reject you as my mate."
He practically spat the words.
Then he turned and stormed out.
The pain ripped through my chest as if my heart had been stabbed with a burning knife.
Tears slid silently down my cheeks
Alicia laughed softly before leaving the room.
My world collapsed in seconds.
By the time I got back home, my name tasted sour on everyone's tongue.
People whispered when I passed.
Insults were thrown like stones.
Shameless
Disgrace
Cheap
I dropped to my knees before my foster father, clutching his legs.
"Father, please," I sobbed. "I don't know how it happened. I swear, I'm innocent."
My pleas, my cries, my desperate explanations, none of them moved them.
It was as though my words vanished into empty air.
"We regret taking you in," my father said coldly.
His voice was void of the warmth I had once known.
"Leave this house. We will not stand by and watch you drag our name through the mud." My mother cut in sharply, hatred blazing in her eyes.
"Mother, please!" I cried. "Where will I go?"
"Anywhere far from here," she replied with disgust, looking at me like I was a filth that had somehow crept into her home.
I begged
I swore
I cried
No one listened.
I left with nothing but the clothes on my back and a heart that felt shattered beyond repair.
- Writer
