Rise of the Rejected Mate

Chapter 2

Zara stood there staring at him, speechless, her fingers gently tapping against her lap as she tried to gather her thoughts.

"Do what?" she asked again, scrunching up her face.

Tom, on the other hand, had never believed in superstitions, so he doubted that Zara was responsible for the Alpha's death.

His face twisted as he thought to himself, "This could be the perfect excuse to break the bond since I can’t afford to be with a weak omega."

"Why did you kill my father?" Tom asked in a deep voice, squeezing the hem of his shirt.

"Why did I what?" Her jaw went slack.

"Why would you accuse me of such a thing? Even if you hate me, that’s too much of an accusation."

"Silence!" the Luna interrupted sharply and gave her a dirty look.

"Do you have a mark on your back?" She asked.

She swallowed hard and said, "Yes, I was born with one. My mother has the same mark." She gently stomped her feet on the ground at a fast rhythm.

"And what is the shape of this mark?" the Luna pressed.

Everyone fell silent, waiting for her response. The entire pack seemed eager to place the blame of the Alpha's death on her.

"It’s round... a moon shape, right around her lower back. I saw it when I bent her over the other night on the balcony, if you know what I mean," Tom added with a wink and gave a lopsided grin.

“Do you always have to be so rude? Yes, I have a moon-shaped mark right there,” her voice shaking slightly as she spoke.

“My mother had it too. It’s a mark unique to special healers.”

Ella gripped the armrest tightly as she gave Zara a disdainful look. “What makes you so special? Are you saying you’re better than our healers who have been practicing before you were born? How arrogant! You cursed witch!”

Zara stood frozen, her heart pounding as she looked around, searching for a single friendly face. But there was no one to stand beside her. Tears slipped down her cheeks, leaving her silent, unable to defend herself.

“The cursed mark on your body caused the death of my Alpha. If you aren’t stopped quickly, you will be the end of this pack, but not under my watch. I can promise you that,” Ella said, her voice cold and filled with accusation.

Awe washed over Zara's face as she struggled to understand. “How in the world is that possible?” she replied. “I already explained to you what the mark means. How could you still think that?”

Her words meant nothing since there was no one to back her up. The only person who could have was her mother, but she was gone.

Tom slammed his hands against a table. "How come no one else in the pack has it?"

Before Zara could respond, the seer interrupted.

"I saw it clearly in a vision from the moon goddess. You carry a cursed mark and must be stopped."

Zara leaned on the rickety chair behind her, her jaw slack and her mind racing.

Tom’s legs shook endlessly as his expression hardened. "I’ll never stoop so low to be with a weak and helpless mate."

Those words touched Zara down to her marrow as her eyes flooded with tears. Her breathing became shallow as she leaned on the armrest.

"Never in my life did I ever think I would be rejected by my fated mate," her voice was barely a whisper and her face went blank. It felt like the whole world was against her, and she was brutally humiliated.

James, Zara’s cousin, was already pacing around the room uncontrollably. "Can we… can we please go easier on Zara? She doesn’t deserve this." He shoved his hands into his pockets as his fists clenched tightly.

"You can’t say that. This is my father we’re talking about," Tom said.

"I always knew there was something evil about you. I regret ever getting intimate with you that night. I never knew you were bad luck," a vein popped out in his neck as he spoke.

"Get out of my sight. We’ll leave your matter for the elders to handle," Ella said, holding her head as a sharp pain struck her.

Zara left the pack house, tears streaming down her cheeks. She dragged her feet as she looked at Tom with terror in her face.

She felt light-headed, her vision dimmed. She stumbled, collapsing halfway to the exit. Sonia ran swiftly, caught her before her head hit the edge of a table.

"Up… up, Zara. Here we go. Let’s go to the cabin," Sonia said, helping her to her feet and guiding her to her cabin.

"I believe this is a misunderstanding. How could my loving and caring Zara suddenly be labeled a killer? It can’t be. I won’t allow it." Sonia stomping her foot as she spoke.

"Is this a dream? It has to be. What have I done to deserve this? Can you please help me out here Sonia? This hurts like hell. I don’t think I can take it anymore," Zara lamented.

"I won’t stand for this, my dear friend. I’m going to the pack house to appeal on your behalf. This is so wrong," Sonia said firmly.

"Is that a good idea?" Zara asked faintly, her voice nearly gone from all the tears she’d shed.

"I don’t care. I can’t just sit here when my friend is in desperate need of help." Sonia wrapped her arms around her shoulders, and pat her gently by the side.

"Truly, You’re the best gift given me to me by nature. Thank you so much," Zara said.

"Stop being so dramatic, Zara," Sonia replied as her mouth curved into a smile.

"You know what? Just give me a few minutes. Let me go to the pack house before they make any rash decisions. I can’t let them ridicule you."

Sonia grabbed the armrest as she tried to stand. Zara held her hand, not wanting to let go yet.

Sonia chuckled, hugging her tightly, "I’ll be right back, Zara."

She stood up and headed to the pack house. Smiling sheepishly with zero intentions of approaching the pack leaders.

As she walked down the corridor, she heard the pack elders discussing Zara’s situation and decided to eavesdrop.

"My husband, our very own Alpha, died because of a mere curse. We must rid ourselves of this curse and purify our pack. Your children or loved ones might be next if we don’t take this seriously," Ella lamented.

"Zara is a good child; we all know that. Let’s handle this matter with care. I suggest we don’t jump to conclusions. She’s just a weak omega with no one to rely on. I feel…"

She could barely hear the elder speak at this point, so she stepped closer to the slightly open door to listen.

"Let’s not be sentimental about this," another elder said. "Even if we don’t want to be unfair to a weak young she-wolf, a curse is no laughing matter."

After much debate, the elders concluded that Zara would have to participate in the Gauntlet of Strength challenge with the other contestants. Her fate would be tied to the outcome.

If she failed, it would mean the seer was correct after all, and the Alpha would be free to decide her fate.

"Oh no! So there’s still a chance she could redeem herself after all the effort I made?" Sonia spoke faintly as she tapped her forehead.

She was lost in thought, and as she tried to step back from the door, it made a creaky sound.

"Who’s there!?" Ella shouted.

Sonia ran as fast as she could not to get caught. When she realised the guards were gaining on her, she saw a room with the door opened and then ran inside.

Suddenly, she heard a thick voice from behind. “Hey beautiful”

“Oh my God! Who is that? Her heart started racing as she grabbed unto the door handle tightly.”

She then tilted her head slightly.

“Tom is that you?” Her eye brows rose and immediately, she let go of the door handle. Her cheek turned pink as she couldn’t control the excitement.

She ran towards him and jumped on him.

He held her so tightly, placing his right arm around her waist and grabbing her waist with the other.

“I’ve missed you so much,” she screamed, with tears dripping from her eyes.

“Missed you more beautiful.” He responded

“I see you’ve added in the right places. I hope no one entered there while I was away?” He winked and the corner of his mouth lifted.

“C’mon, don’t be silly. It’s yours and yours alone. She replied.

Aren’t you supposed to be mourning? I already had it in mind that you would be devastated and wouldn’t want an audience with me.”

He scratched the back of his head slightly as he spoke. “He was a great man, no doubt. He’ll surely be missed.”

“I need to focus my energy on what’s important right now. I’m the latest alpha in town. My coronation ceremony is in few days”

“Tom, you’re so heartless,” she said laughing out loud.

Her eyes bored into him as she kissed him on his cheeks. “You look hotter than the last time I saw you Tom”

“Yeah, yeah everyone says that,” he said as his shoulder rose up a little.

“I really wish your so-called fated mate can be out of our lives in no time,” Sonia said as she rolled her eyes.

“Oh, that!. I’m sure she won’t last a day in Shadowmoor. Although we shared a little memory together in the past, but now I feel embarrassed moving with someone so low and weak,” he said, stomping his feet as he spoke.

“Her father was the former Alpha. I guess that was why she probably thought she was special. Now, she has been reduced to nothing,” Sonia whispers, her tone sounded envious.

“By the way, what was the pack elder’s decision?”She asked.

“Who can doubt the visions of your mother? Her visions are always accurate. Besides, getting rid of one cursed werewolf to save the whole pack doesn’t sound like a bad idea do me. I’m sure they’ll all agree to it.”

“Well, you’re right. My mother’s visions are always accurate and should be obeyed in full.” She cleared her throats and scratched the back of her head slightly.

“She hears directly from the goddess and failure to heed to her instructions always amount to dangerous repercussions,” she added.

“Let’s leave the long talk for later and get down to business.” His breathing turned intense as he sized her up.

His hands went behind her back and as he gently lifted her blouse, the door creaked open.