Alpha Kieran's Second Chance Mate

CHAPTER TWO : REJECTED

The morning sun streamed through the window of the old cabin where Selena had the best and worst moment of her life. She blinked awake, after crying herself to sleep, the echoes of the previous night still lingering in her mind; Kieran’s touch, his whispered words, the way they had surrendered to the pull that bound them, his scent, the s*x. A smile formed on her lips as she sat up, her heart swelling with hope.

Selena stood up and stretched. "There's still hope. Last night must have been so sudden for Kieran, I understand. I'll try again today"

All that was on Selena's mind was talking about her feelings to Kieran again. He had always been her best friend and they moved a step further by having s*x. She was still flustered too, so she understood the reason why he rejected her. Today was another day, she was sure that Kieran would have had a rethink and would accept her.

Selena walked back to the territory, practicing the words she would say to Kieran to gain his heart finally. But as she reached the territory, a chorus of excited voices drifted in from outside, pulling her out of her deep thoughts. She frowned, wondering what was happening as she moved closer. She reached the garden where all ceremonies took place and it was a hive of activity. Pack members were bustling about, arranging decorations and preparing for a celebration. The air was filled with anticipation.

"Selena!" She heard her name. It was a familiar voice. The voice of the head of the women in the pack.

Selena quickly adjusted her hair neatly, hoping Mrs Aldric wouldn't notice anything strange. Mrs Aldric is a very meticulous woman and could notice every single change in a woman's body.

"Mrs Aldric!" Selena smiled insincerely. "Has the coronation ceremony not ended? Why is everyone going around in a hurry?"

Mrs Aldric ignored her question. "Everyone's been looking for you. It's a special day for the Alpha, so it's a special day for you too since you're his best friend. Quick! Get dressed properly and come help out before the ceremony begins. We don't have much time" The woman said and walked away hastily.

Confused, Selena went in, hurriedly took a bath and dressed up before stepping outside. The fresh scent of pine and the chatter of the pack filled her senses as she pushed through the gathering crowd.

" Selena, congratulations. You must be happy for Alpha Kieran" People said to her with smiles on their faces as the ceremony commenced.

"Excuse me, but what's the ceremony for?" Selena asked, she had an idea about what it was but she didn't want to believe it.

"You don't know? It's Alpha Kieran's bonding ceremony. He has found his mate and they will be bound together today. Our pack is truly blessed by the moon goddess"

Selena's heart froze. A bonding ceremony. Who was Kieran's mate? He just became Alpha the day before and slept with her, how could he just get a mate the next day like what happened between them meant nothing. Selena was hurt and angry.

Each step she took further tightened the knot in her stomach. Then she saw it: Kieran, dressed in ceremonial robes, he had an expressionless look on his face. Beside him stood a young woman with golden blonde hair and eyes that sparkled with a light Selena could never mimic.

It was Mia. A part of the pack. Her family was taken in, into the pack when their territory was attacked and they had nowhere to go. They were the newest people in the pack. Selena recalled Kieran staring at her and commenting about her hair which he liked a lot. Now, she was actually his mate? Someone totally new was preferred over she who had been in the pack since her birth.

The world around Selena blurred, her pulse a roaring in her ears.

"Kieran!" she called out loud, her voice trembling. He turned, his eyes locking onto hers. For a fleeting moment, regret flashed across his face, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.

"Selena..." His voice barely carried over the murmurs of the crowd.

Everyone was surprised by the sudden interaction between the Groom and his best friend.

Her chest raised up and down like she was panting. "Why didn’t you tell me? Why let last night happen if.... if this was waiting for me this morning?"

Kieran’s jaw tightened. "I didn’t know it would be today. The elders... they decided at dawn. I had no choice."

"There’s always a choice," she said, the betrayal slicing through her.

Panic flashed in Kieran’s eyes. "Lena, please— Are you seriously going to do this here? You'll embarrass yourself."

Selena scoffed. " And yesterday wasn't embarrassing but I should be embarrassed now? After what happened, you could have given me time... given us time to process it and talk about it. But no, you go ahead to have a bonding ceremony the next day"

" I told you. I didn't know about this. I just found out and it had to be done today. I'm the Alpha of the pack and this pack is stronger with a Luna. Mia is my Luna, so please just let us finish then we'll talk" Kieran spoke, the soft smile always on his lips whenever he spoke to her, totally absent.

"Kieran, I...."

"Stop with this nonsense!" A voice roared, sending shivers down her spine. Kieran's father, Edmund marched towards her, fury written on his face.

"Selena, what is wrong with you? I've tolerated you long enough because of your parents but this is the height of it. He isn't your best friend but the Alpha of your pack, show some respect! How dare you try to stop the ceremony?" He roared.

He stepped closer to her and spoke in her ears. " I got your scent from Kieran this morning. Whatever happened between both of you was a mistake and should stay hidden forever. Your parents would be so disappointed to see how you turned out."

Selena took a step back, tears forming in her eyes, shaking her head. Hearing about her parents made her hurt. They gave their life to protect the pack and this is what they get in return? She felt like a disappointment to them. "I can’t stay here."

"Selena?" Kieran watched as she took steps back.

"Don’t," she interrupted, her voice breaking. "Don’t ask me to stay and watch you bind yourself to her. I can’t do that."

With one last, agonized look at the man who had been her world, Selena turned and pushed through the crowd, running into the forest. The forest embraced her as she ran, each step taking her farther from the place that was home and the love she could never claim.

Tears blurred her vision, but she didn’t stop. The pain of rejection and betrayal was a fire in her chest, spurring her onward. She had no destination, only the desperate need to escape.

Behind her, the pack’s cheers rose to a crescendo as the bonding ceremony began, a cruel reminder that life would go on without her, and so would Kieran.

She kept running and soon tears began to flow down her cheeks, she wanted to disappear. She had nowhere to go now. She had made a fool of herself in the pack and going back there was no option. She was now a lone wolf.

With a weary breath, she continued down the rugged road that led toward the human town beyond the forest. Selena barely noticed as exhaustion bit at her legs and dulled her senses.

Then came the blinding headlights. Loud honks. A screech of tires. The deafening crunch of metal. Pain burst through her body like wildfire, and the world went dark.