Chapter 2: After the Rejection
1186 Words
Nymeria’s POV
The hall doors shut behind me.
The sound was heavy.
Like a final decision.
Like something inside my life had been locked away.
I stood still for a second.
Nyx’s voice came fast behind me.
“Nymeria.
”
I did not turn.“Nymeria, wait.
”
“I am fine,
” I said quickly.
Nyx stopped beside me.
I gave a small laugh.
Nyx looked at me carefully.
I looked away.
Selene’s footsteps came next.
Slow.
“You are not fine.
”
“I was just rejected in front of everyone. So yes, I am fine.
”
“Do not lie to yourself.
”
Calm.
Confident.
She stopped a few steps away like she was not in a hurry at all.
“I told you not to embarrass yourself,
” she said.
I turned slowly.
“Was this your plan?”
Selene tilted her head.
“Plan?”
“You knew this would happen.
”
She smiled a little.
“Alaric made his own choice.
”
My chest tightened.
Selene stepped closer.
Nyx stepped between us.
Selene looked at Nyx.
My hands shook.
“Leave,
” I said.
“You wanted this.
”
“Everyone saw the truth today. You were never meant for him.
”
“Stop talking to her like that.
”
“You are still here? That is brave for someone who cannot protect her.
”Selene looked at me one last time.
“Get used to it.
”
Then she walked away.
Nyx turned to me quickly.
“I am not listening.
”
But I was.
“Do not listen to her.
”
Every word stayed inside my head.
We started walking through the hallway.
People were everywhere.
Whispers followed me like shadows.
“That is her.
”
“The rejected mate.
”
“She cried in front of the Alpha.
”
“She should leave Valmora.
”
I kept my head down.
Nyx whispered,
“Ignore them.
”
“I am trying.
”
A group of girls stepped in front of us.
One of them smiled like she was waiting for me.
“So this is her,
” she said.
I did not answer.
Another one laughed.
Nyx stepped forward.
“You really thought you would become Luna?”
“Move.
”The girl crossed her arms.
I pulled Nyx slightly back.
The girl laughed again.
My throat burned.
I finally looked at them.
“Are you done?” I asked.
They paused.
I did not wait for an answer.
“Or what?”
“Let them talk.
”
“At least she knows her place now.
”
I walked past them.
Nyx followed quickly.
“You should not let them speak like that,
” she said.
“I did not stop them,
” I answered.
“Because it is already done.
”
We reached the courtyard.
Cold air hit my face.
It felt sharp.
Too sharp.
Nyx looked at me.
“You are shaking again.
”
“I am fine.
”
“You are not fine.
”
I closed my eyes for a moment.
Something inside my chest was still there.
Not gone.Not broken completely.
Just… wrong.
Nyx stepped closer.
“Feel what?”
“That bond with Alaric.
”
“Do you feel it?”
I pressed my hand to my chest.
It hurt.
But not like before.
Now it felt empty and heavy at the same time.
“I feel something,
” I said.
Nyx nodded slowly.
“It is not supposed to stay like that after rejection.
”
My voice dropped.
“What is supposed to happen?”
“It should die,
” she said quietly.
My stomach dropped.
“But mine did not.
”
Nyx looked away.
“No.
”
My voice shook.
“Then what is wrong with me?”
Nyx hesitated.
“It reacted instead.
”
A loud horn echoed across Valmora.
Nyx froze.
“What is that?” I asked.
“Border signal,
” she said quickly.
Another horn followed.Closer.
Then shouting.
“Lock the gates!”
“Prepare the guards!”
Nyx grabbed my wrist.
We ran.
“Come.
”
People were rushing everywhere now.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
We reached the wall platform.
From there, I saw the gates.
And beyond them.
Riders.
Dark.
Silent.
Black flags moving in the wind.
Nyx whispered,
“No…
”
One rider stepped forward.
Even from far, I felt it.
Pressure.
Heavy.
Like the air changed around him.Nyx’s voice shook.
The gates opened.
He entered.
“Zevran Veyr.
”
Without waiting.
Without permission.
Like the rules did not exist for him.
People shouted everywhere.
“Enemy Alpha!”
“Prepare for attack!”
But Zevran did not react.
He just walked forward.
Slow.
Calm.
Like he already owned the land.
Nyx pulled me back.
“Do not go near the edge.
”
But I could not look away.
He stopped in the middle of the path.
The wind moved strangely around him.
Like it avoided him.
Nyx whispered,
“He should not be here.
”
Zevran lifted his head slightly.
And I felt it again.That pull.
Different from Alaric.
Stronger.
Stranger.
Like something inside me recognized him.
Nyx tightened her grip.
“Stay behind me.
”
Zevran raised his hand slightly.
The guards became alert.
Then he spoke.
His voice carried too clearly.
“I came for what belongs to me.
”
Silence fell instantly.
Nyx whispered,
“What does that mean?”
I did not answer.
Because my chest reacted again.
Zevran turned slightly.
And I knew.
He was looking at me.
I took one step forward without thinking.
Nyx grabbed me.
“Nymeria no.
”
I stopped.
But my body felt pulled.Like something inside me wanted to move closer.
Zevran spoke again.
“Bring her out.
”
Nyx froze.
“No…
”
My heart beat faster.
“Me?”
Nyx turned sharply.
“You are not going anywhere.
”
But my feet felt heavy.
Like they wanted to move anyway.
Nyx held my arms tighter.
“You do not know him.
”
“I do not know Alaric either,
” I said softly.
A guard shouted.
“State your reason for entering Valmora!”
Zevran did not answer.
He stepped forward again.
Calm.
Unbothered.
Then he spoke.
“I came for what belongs to me.
”
Nyx whispered,
“He is dangerous.
”
“I can feel that,
” I said.
Zevran stopped again.
Then he spoke louder.
“Nymeria Virell.
”My name.
Clear.
Sharp.
Nyx turned to me in shock.
I did not answer.
“How does he know your name?”
Because something inside my chest responded.
Like it heard him.
Like it understood him.
I whispered, almost to myself,
“I think he knows me.
”
Nyx shook her head quickly.
“That is impossible.
”
Zevran stepped forward again.
Slow.
Certain.
And everything around him felt like it paused.
Nyx pulled me back again.
“Do not go closer,
” she said.
But something inside me moved anyway.
And Zevran’s voice came again.
Lower now.
Only for me.
“I have been waiting for you."
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