THE KING’S EXILED LUNA

Chapter Two

Maelin

Noise erupted in the air. Voices overlapping each other while I stood there, drowning in my own thoughts as I stared at the man I loved with every fiber in me.

“Corvin please…” my voice cracked painfully, “please don’t do this to me..”

I reached for his hand but he pulled away faster than the speed of lightning.

“It’s understandable that you feel the way you do right now, but there’s nothing I can do..”

“Of course there’s something you can do!” I fired back, my voice tearing down the noise and pin drop silence returned.

“Tell me this is all a joke and I promise you, Corvin, I am willing to forgive you for–”

A wicked and mocking laughter burst through him, his face turning red as he clapped his hands a few times over my face.

“You want to forgive me?” He sneered.

He turned to the royal announcer, the corners of his lips almost reaching his eyes as he grinned from ear to ear.

“She wants to forgive me, can you believe that?” He laughed mockingly. Everyone else joined in, the rippling sound tearing through my skin as pain shot through my veins.

Looking up at his family members, I realized this was something they’d already discussed and agreed on. Their faces were indifferent and from their expressions, I knew for a fact that they wanted me out of Corvin’s life.

“I’m sorry for the inconvenience this will cause you, but I have to do what’s best for my future. You wouldn’t understand..”

I watched his back recede into the crowd and my vision blurred as tears pooled in my eyes.

My body felt cold, despite the sweat that was dripping down every part of me.

“Settle down everyone!” The royal announcer’s voice resounded like an alarm. I couldn’t even turn away from the place Corvin was standing earlier.

My mind replayed every single event that just happened and I could feel my organs preparing to explode.

“I still have an announcement to make..” he added, pulling me back to the present.

I blinked the tears away and slowly turned around, wiping my soaked face with the back of my hands.

The air around me felt tense and for very obvious reasons, I felt the urge to burst into tears there and then.

But I had to stay strong to receive my award and hold onto the hope that I finally got into the academy.

“Let’s just get this over with, please..” I begged, my voice almost inaudible.

He glanced at me for a moment, and then turned away, his eyes narrowing behind me.

I didn’t bother to look in the direction his eyes went because I wanted nothing more than to just get down from this bloody podium.

“I’m sorry, Maelin, but you can’t receive this award..” he finally said.

I stared at him for a while, gathering up the right words to say in my head. My eyes found his and I held his gaze, hoping that this was all a silly prank and that they’ll soon yell “SURPRISE!”

“I’m afraid you won’t be able to join this academy anymore..” he added, like there wasn’t enough blood gushing out of the wound Corvin inflicted on my heart.

“I don’t understand what you’re saying, sir, you were just about to hand this award to me. What has prompted this sudden change of heart?” I burst into tears, my hands shivering.

His eyes trailed off behind mine and I turned around, following his gaze.

Corvin… again.

“Why are you doing this? I merited this award and I deserve it. You can’t just rip it away from me just because Corvin has refused me as his chosen mate!”

“If you wish to put it that way, Miss Rook.” He growled, handing the award back to one of the guards standing behind him.

“That’s the only bloody way to put it!” I barked, veins popping out the sides of my head. My lips quivered and I felt a cold chill run down my spine.

But none of that was enough to stop me from telling them that they have wronged me.

“Father!” I cried out, sobbing profusely. “Father please do something!”

My father looked at me blankly. He didn’t even give any impression that his daughter was in distress, nor did he look in my direction.

“Please leave the podium..” the announcer ordered, while the commanders went down with the guards.

I took a deep breath, my heart ramming against my chest while I tried to ignore the burning pain on my wrist where the mate mark was.

Of course the bond was as good as ruined, Corvin wanted noting to do with me.

I took one last look at my father and deep in his eyes I could see some pity in them but he was a coward. Scared to lose the alliance and the power that came with being an ally of the Ashenridge pack, he refused to protect and fight for his daughter.

As I left the podium, everyone began to whisper. In fact it was almost as if they wanted me to hear it. “I almost thought the academy has lost its credibility.” A man began. “I thought they were about to give an omega, female nonetheless the insignia.” He began.

“Little did she know that she was being set up for her own humiliation, what a shame.” Another laughed.

That’s right, I’d just become a laughing stock.

My eyes were burning and the tears were right there, but I couldn’t let them fall yet. Not right now because I had one more act of dignity to perform and if I was going to do this, I was going to do it with at least one piece of myself still intact.

I reached for my wrist and unclasped the bracelet I’d worn every day since the mate bond mark showed up.

I closed my fist around it and held on tight as I walked across the courtyard to where Corvin stood, because if I let go now my hands would start shaking.

When I stopped in front of him I forced myself to look up.

My eyes locked on his, and for one stupid second I let myself hope that he’d see it and flinch. That he’d reach out, pull me into his arms, press a kiss to my forehead like he used to and tell me this was all some cruel joke and he wasn’t really doing it.

But even I knew the depth of that delusion.

“Corvin…” my voice was too weak. I cleared my throat ready to try again. “Corvin Ash!” I yelled and silence returned in the air.

“I hereby reject you as my mate!” I added, the words almost pulling me to the ground as they left my mouth.

His brows rose, his lips twisting into a mischievous smile. “Well, good riddance.” He laughed.