His Rejected Queen

Chapter Five: Not Luna Material

The air in the storage closet reeked of fear and something else… something sharp and possessive that made my skin crawl. I saw it in his eyes – a raw, primal urge that seemed to fight against the surface. Protect. Claim. Mine.

But he didn’t. He wouldn’t.

The door creaked open, and Crystal, my sister, filled the doorway, silhouetted against the bright hallway light. Her voice, dripping with venom, sliced through the tension like a shard of ice.

“What the f*ck is going on in here?”

I recoiled, every nerve screaming. Roman stiffened beside me, his surprise warring with a simmering anger – and something else, a flicker of… resistance?

Crystal stepped into the closet, her gaze sweeping over us – possessive, accusatory. She posed there, and the differences between us hit me like a physical blow. Me and my older sister Crystal are in fact the total opposite to one and other. Anyone who would meet us, would automatically think that Charlie and Crystal are twins… We were chalk and cheese. Crystal, blessed with her wolf, possessed the sun-kissed skin, long legs, and silky chocolate-brown hair that made her every werewolf’s fantasy. I… was nothing like that. There's nothing attractive about my ghostly white complexion. I am extremely underweight, and I have the most bizarre eyes and hair colour out of this entire pack. I am what you would call the black sheep of my family.

"You still haven't answered my question," Crystal said, her tone laced with steel. “What the f*ck did I just walk in on?”

Roman ran a hand through his hair, his expression a mix of guilt and exasperation. He wouldn't meet my eyes. “It’s not what it looks like, Crissy.”

Crystal’s eyes narrowed, but a predatory smile tugged at her lips. "I trust you, baby.” She turned her gaze on me, all warmth vanishing. “But you…”

She advanced, each step measured, her voice dripping with venom. “What the hell do you think you’re trying to do? Seducing my mate, you wh*re?”

The accusation hit me like a physical blow. “I did no such thing!” I cried, my voice trembling. “I swear on the Moon Goddess, I would never do anything to hurt you, Crissy.”

Roman frowned, confusion flickering across his face. “Wait… you two know each other?”

Crystal sighed, rolling her eyes as if dealing with a tiresome child. “She’s my pathetic younger sister, dumbass.”

Her words stung, but I forced myself to meet Roman’s gaze. His eyes flickered between us, assessing, and I knew what he saw: the glaring differences.

"Well, you two look nothing alike," he said, stating the obvious.

Crystal crossed her arms, her expression bored. "Now tell me, what exactly were you both talking about just now?"

Roman took a deep breath, his gaze shifting to the floor. “She’s my mate.”

Crystal’s eyes widened, her composure cracking for the first time. “I thought I was your mate.”

Roman winced, his voice laced with regret. “She’s my True mate, Crystal.”

So that's what the electric shocks were. They're sparks from the mate bond.

Crystal’s face twisted with fury. “Then reject her desperate ass already.”

My heart leaped into my throat. “Oh no, please don’t,” I begged, my voice barely a whisper. “I’m begging you, please don’t do this. Crissy please, you’re my sister. I don’t know what I have ever done to make you hate me so much. But please don’t take my mate away.”

Crystal sneered. “He is not your mate, you freak. He is mine.”

Roman took a step toward Crystal, his expression softening. I saw the conflict in his eyes, the pull between what he wanted and what he thought he should want.

“The thing is, Seraphina," he said, his voice laced with false sympathy, "I already have my mate. Your sister Crystal. She is my Chosen mate."

Surely Crissy doesn't agree to this.

Crystal beamed, her eyes sparkling with triumph.

Roman continued, his words like a physical blow. "She is everything that you are not. She's strong, intelligent, and elegant. The pack… the pack means a lot to me, and they’ve always been receptive to her.” He hesitated, then added, “And… I love her."

My mate is in love with my sister.

Crystal leaned into him, her voice a honeyed purr. “I love you too, baby.” She rose on her toes and kissed him, her triumph complete.

Roman pulled away, his jaw tight, his gaze hardening as he turned back to me. “Crystal was there when I needed her. But you… where the f*ck were you when I needed you?”

Crystal coughed, a warning glance at Roman.

I’m sorry, but I can explain. And I can promise you that I do have good reasons.

Roman’s expression hardened, his eyes filled with a cold contempt. "I don't give a f*ck as to what your poor attempt of excuses are."

“Please,” I begged, tears stinging my eyes. “If you just hear me out—”

His hand lashed out, striking me across the face.

“Just shut the f*ck up,” he snarled, his voice dripping with venom. “You’re worthless. You don’t have a wolf. And this makes you pathetic and weak. My pack will never accept you. I will never, ever f*cking accept you.”

He hit me.

Crystal giggled, her eyes glittering with cruel amusement.

Roman stepped closer, looming over me, his back rigid, his jaw clenched. He looked… almost ashamed, but the anger won out. His voice was a low growl. “I, Roman Barker, soon to be Alpha of The Evergreen Pack, reject you, Seraphina Clarke, as my mate and Luna to be.”

The words hit me like a physical blow, a tearing, rending agony that ripped through my very soul.

A wolf howled in the distance, a mournful sound that echoed my despair.

My heart is shattered along with all hope. Replaced with hurt, betrayal and heartache.

Roman turned to Crystal, his expression softening, and led her toward the door. He looked like he’d been caught doing something he shouldn’t, his shoulders tight, his movements stiff. "Now, let's get out of here, shall we?"

Crystal looped her arm through his, her voice dripping with satisfaction. “Dayum baby, that was fire.”

Roman chuckled, his arm tightening around her. He glanced back at me, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes – pity? Regret? I couldn’t tell. “Oh, and if you talk to anybody about this,” he called back, his voice laced with a chilling threat, “I will personally hunt you down and kill you myself.”

They left, their laughter echoing in the hallway as I lay sobbing on the floor.

I have dreamed of meeting my mate. My other half, my one and only. Even though my life has been full of uncertainty, I have still dreamed of what it would feel like to have that same love and comfort that my mamma and pappa still share for each other… Whilst my mate hates me… Not only has my mate rejected our soul bond, But he has also physically and emotionally hurt me in the process… What painfully hurt the most, is that he has threatened to kill me if I were to speak out.

I curled in on myself, my body wracked with sobs. What am I supposed to do? He's right though, isn't he? I am pathetic, weak and worthless. I could never be the Luna he wants me to be. I don't even have a wolf.

What am I supposed to do?

My thoughts spiraled, dark and desperate. I don't know if I will survive this…

I am still under rehabilitation, to maintain my physical and mental well-being. I am supposed to be healing. But this… If Roman marks Crystal, It may very well be death of me. The rejection is painful to my heart, but the marking… It will kill my soul.

A distant bell rang, jarring me back to reality.

He asked me where I was when he needed me. I do feel guilty that I wasn't there and that I couldn't be there for him. But my sister was, she took my place of comfort.

With a monumental effort, I pushed myself to my feet, my body aching, my spirit crushed. I straightened my clothes, wiped my tears, and forced myself to take a breath. I would not let them see me broken. I would survive this. Somehow.

I stepped out of the storage closet and into the bustling hallway, determined to face whatever came next.