Rise of the Rejected Mate

Chapter 3

“I can explain, It’s not what you think,” Sonia said, lowering her gaze.

Zara’s jaw dropped, making a shuddering breath through her mouth.

“Why are you snooping around? And in my quarters for that matter?” Tom said, his face stoic and without any emotions.

A sad look formed on Zara’s face. Her heart twinged painfully.

Sonia? Are you for real? she said, as an unexplainable emotion flickered in her eyes.

Sonia hastily adjusted her skirt and pushed Tom to the ground.

His eyes narrowed at the disrespect. “Why would you push me away because of this low-life omega wolf?” His voice deep and gruff

Zara looked down, her eyes making direct contact with Sonia.

“Please say something Zara.” She pleaded.

Zara stood there watching them, her hands came up and grasped the bridge of her nose. Their words didn’t mean much to her in that moment.

Finally, she responded with a heavy heart

“I was so disoriented due to the terrible news I received from the pack. I missed my way back outside the house, only to find my friend on the bed with my mate. What exactly have I done to deserve all this? Who did I offend?” She staggered as Blood drained from her face.

“Sonia, you’re the only friend I trust in the whole pack but you decide to stab me in the back,” she said.

Sonia rolled her eyes and scoffed. She got sick of her rants and interrupted her in the process.

“Is it my fault Tom chose me instead of you?”

“Tom chose you?” Her anger instantly died down as shame overshadowed her emotions.

“Has this been happening for a long time? Oh Zara, you’re so stupid.” Her eyes welled up.

“You’re a mere Omega, the weakest for that matter. Do you think you’ll last a week as the Luna with all the recent attacks we’ve been having from the enemy packs? You’re weak Zara,” Sonia said.

“Sonia! You talk too much. She doesn’t need so many explanations. I’m sure she knows I’ve rejected her as my mate.” Tom said as his eyes glinted.

Her lower lips quivered as she heard this. Her mind skipped for a moment.

Tom stood up and walked towards her. The sound of his boots echoed.

He stood right in front of her, staring into her eyes and said once more. “ I reject you Zara Starfell as my mate.”

Pain exploded on her chin. Her face went blank and her eyes became teary.

“O my! you have a great body, I’ll surely miss that. But aside from that, you have nothing more to offer Zara. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have other pressing matters to attend to if you know what I mean.” He sneered as he jammed his hands into his pocket.

“Oh! And yeah, please close the door on your way.”

She summoned a little courage within her, trying to keep herself from crying out loud.

“You can't just reject me. We were chosen by the Moon Goddess to be mates when my father was the Alpha," she said.

"The same goddess who revealed that you killed his father? Or have you forgotten so soon?" Sonia responded.

Tears shone in her eyes but she summoned every last bit of courage in her to hold her outburst.

“No Sonia, not you of all people,” she said.

Sadness clouded her features, her leg became shaky right where she was standing.

“I refuse to be ridiculed this way. I’ll make sure I utilise the available strength remaining in me well and come out of the contest victorious,” she said.

“In case you haven’t heard, I was given a chance to redeem myself by participating in the Rite of Endurance contest,” she said as she stormed the door and slammed it behind them.

Streams of tears flowed from her eyes as she stepped out. She placed her hands on her waist, staring at the sky.

She then headed on to the training ground to prepare for the contest.

“The contest is fast approaching and I can’t afford to lose. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure I come out victorious. I have to prove to them I can still win despite being an omega.” She said to herself.

James approached her as she trained, holding a bottle of water in his hand.

He saw her panting heavily and quickly ran towards her, grabbing her hands to prevent her from falling.

“Take it easy, don’t overwork yourself before the contest begins. Let me show you how it’s done,” he said.

A line appeared between her brows as she responded. “Have you come to betray me too?”

“C’mon Zara, you know I always have your back,” he responded, stomping his booted feet on the ground.

“Oh really? Like you had my back when the whole pack ridiculed me and called me a killer? Thank you so… so much, James,” she said as her eyelids turned up.

“Don’t be like that Zara, I’m only here to help. You don’t have to push everyone away. Just stop hopping for a minute and let me show you how’s done.”

Zara stopped and she began panting heavily. “I’m not weak, I can’t be weak. My father was an Alpha, why am I so different? This special healing ability I have feels so useless to me. I wish I had super strength instead of this.” She lamented still panting heavily as she bent to catch her breath.”

“Pass me the bottle, please,” she said as sweat dripped from her forehead.

She drank as fast as she could, gulping every bit of the water.

“Why does this taste so weird?” she asked, looking up, her eyes making direct contact with him.

“Stop being paranoid Zara. Now, follow my moves accordingly. They’ll come in handy for this contest”.

Sonia watched them from afar, gave a little twirl and giggled with excitement as Zara drank from the bottle.

“Yeah, that’s my girl. Drink up, baby girl,” she said, as Zara emptied the bottle.

Zara felt lightheaded shortly after, so she decided to take a short nap in order to regain her strength before the contest began.

A few hours later, several wolf packs from far and near gathered to witness this memorable event. The Rite of Endurance contest is held once a year. Contestants who come out victorious rise in rank. For Zara, it was more than that; it was an issue of life and death.

Zara was summoned to join the rest of the contestants as everyone sat patiently, waiting for the event to commence.

Zara stood upright alongside all the contestants, waiting for the Pack elders to address them regarding the rules of the challenge. She gritted her teeth as she clenched the linen she was holding.

"Cursed witch, look at how weak she is. You're going to die today, you killer," Zara heard several whispers from the crowd as she stood.

Her heart twinged painfully when she saw Sonia and Tom approach the field together. "Don't lose focus, Zara," she told herself.

Her face went blank as one of the pack elders addressed them. His words passed from her left ear to her right, without her grasping a single one.

"Why do I feel weaker than usual? No, Zara, not today," she muttered, tapping her laps hard.

"The first challenge is called The Chase. There's a deer up in the mountains. At the sound of the whistle, you are to run up there swiftly without using your powers, in chase of the deer. Whoever catches the deer first, or is closest to it when the timer stops, is the winner. Now, are you ready?" The announcer said, addressing the contestants.

Zara’s eye blurred and she was sweating profusely.

She said to herself. “I know I’m not strong but this weakness is beyond ordinary.”

The contest began and as soon as she looked up, she saw the other werewolves far ahead of her. She took to her heels and ran as fast as she could.

She then stopped suddenly as she felt a sharp pain in her stomach.