Rise of the Rejected Mate

Zara could feel her heart racing when she heard Tom was on his way home. Her smile spread wide as tears shimmered in her eyes. "Finally, Tom is returning home today after so many months of waiting!" Zara screamed at the top of her lungs, stomping her feet and pulling sonia into a tight embrace. "Tom is finally fit to be the alpha, and he'll have you by his side as his Luna," Sonia said as her mouth curved into a smile.” "I'm happy for you. Indeed, you are the luckiest girl in all of Shadowmoor having Tom as your mate," she said. Zara who was overwhelmed with joy didn’t hear a thing she said. “Sorry can you come again?” She laughed out loud gently tapping her on the cheek. “Really!? I hope I too find my love one day like you.” sonia said jokingly with a faded smile. "But how do you think he’ll react when he hears the news?" Zara asked as she glanced up to the ceiling. "Should I be worried? Should... should I avoid seeing him today? Or should I be the loving mate and stay by his side?" She paced aimlessly around the room, her mind running wild.” “You worry too much, my friend. Please, sit down and let me fix you up so you’ll look perfect for your Alpha, our future Luna,” Sonia said looking sideways as her nose crinkled, and they burst into laughter. As Tom approached the gates, members of the pack welcomed him with arms stretched wide open. His return had been highly anticipated, as the pack was in need of a new alpha after the recent passing of his father. "Behold, the newest Alpha is in town," he announced, the corners of his mouth turned up and his shoulders lifted slighty. He went around shaking everyone who came out to welcome him. Zara stared at him from a distance, watching him attend to everyone gathered around. Her eyes swarmed with tears. She couldn't contain the joy within her, smiling continuously as she watched him greet everyone. Her eyelids drooped as Tom approached. It felt like a dream, seeing her fated mate standing before her. Before she could utter a word, he said hurriedly, "Hi." "Hi, Tom," she replied, disappointment in her voice as she nibbled on her bottom lip. She had expected more from him after so many months of waiting for this moment. Her expression closed up. "Can you give me a moment to attend to some important matters? Matters that don’t involve the weak," his whole face lit up as he laughed loudly and kept walking. Sadness clouded her features. "What in the world just happened right now?" Her jaw clenched as her thoughts ran wild. "Is it a crime to be an omega?" "Was I just ridiculed?" "How did the loving Tom become so rude?" "Was I played to the extent of giving him my body before he left for his training?" "Zara! Zara!" Sonia tapped her gently, she then tilted her head slightly to the back. "I saw Tom with James at the tavern, his arms wrapped around a strange woman." "What?!" The corner of her mouth quirked up, tears shimmering in her eyes as she sank to the ground.” This is the exact opposite of what I imagined would happen to me," she whispered to Sonia in pain. "Please help me up," Sonia grabbed her hands. "Can this be true? I want to believe everything that just happened was a joke. Let me go meet him again," she said, her forehead furrowing as she spoke. As she approached the entrance, her jaw clenched when she heard the loud screams of men, drunk in broad daylight, having fun. She glanced to the left corner and saw two women comfortably seated on Tom's lap. "By the way, where is my father? I didn’t see him welcome me. Is he jealous that I've come to take the position he cherished most?" Their mouths fell open as he laughed loudly. Everyone fell silent. "Did I say something wrong?" he asked as his smile faded. "Tom," his mother, Ella, called in a still, small voice amidst the silence. "Hey, Mum! Have you come to celebrate with us too? I thought women your age weren’t supposed to drink alcohol," he grinned as he spoke. "Follow me to my chambers now. I need to talk to you," Ella said, walking out the door with a sad look. His expressions dulled as he noticed his family members had sad looks on their faces. She moved closer to him and hugged him, pleased to see her son grown strong and fit. "Where is the boy who left here a few months back?" she exclaimed. He plastered a smile on his face and responded, "he’s no more." "I'm a full-grown man now. I’m sure you can see that from the abs on my chest," he said jokingly waggling his eyebrows. "But why the sad look, Mother?" Beyond the merriment and rejoicing, he sensed something was off. She gritted her teeth. Instantly, she burst into tears, unable to utter a single word. "Mother! Mother! You can talk to me. What's the issue?" "Sit down Tom. I’m sorry, this might ruin your mood." He chewed on his bottom lips as fear gripped him. "You can talk to me, Mother. What's the issue?" "Your... your father." "What about him?" he asked anxiously. "He didn’t wake up last night." "What?! You mean he's... asleep?" Sadness clouded his features. "He's dead, Tom!" she said, tears shimmering in her eyes. His expression hardened as he ran swiftly to the pack house to see for himself. "Oh no!" he shouted upon arrival, seeing the rites being performed for his father. "Who could have done this?!" he screamed. "All will be well, just let this sink in for a minute," his mother said, holding him tightly, comforting him with kind words. "This is beyond ordinary; your father didn’t die of natural causes. Someone did this," his mother said. Tom remained on his knees. His eyes welled up, mourning in pain. "The Alpha is the strongest werewolf in our pack. Who could have done this?" he asked. "His death came as a shock to everyone." She said as she glanced up to the ceiling. "The seer told me something disturbing that I haven’t been able to share with anyone yet. It’s best if you hear it from her." "What could it possibly be?" he said in a low tone as his brows knitted. "You know how much we cherish our great seer. You know how accurate her prophecies are. I’m sure you're also aware that our pack still stands today because of her," his mother said. "Can you skip the long talk and tell me exactly what I don’t know?" he spoke harshly as he screwed up his face "The seer told me the person responsible for your father's death is a member of this pack," "Okay? So who?" he asked in a harsh tone She quickly summoned the seer to share her vision with Tom. "In my vision, I saw a moon-shaped mark on the back of a young she-wolf. She is responsible for this tragedy and will bring about your demise and the fall of the entire pack if not actions aren’t taken." "What!? Do you... do you mean..." He was short words as his face twisted. "No, it can't be," he said. His mother who has always been so superstitions accepted the prophecy of the seer without thinking twice. "Please tell me that’s not true," he said, his pupils flared and tears streamed down his face. The door creaked open from behind. "So sorry for your loss, Tom," Zara said as her jaw went slack. "Why, Zara? Why did you do it?" he asked, tears shimmering in his eyes. "Do what?" she asked as her heart twinged painfully.