Rise of the Rejected Mate

Chapter 4

It felt like the whole world was against Zara. She could feel her heart racing as she clenched her fists tightly, noticing all eyes were on her. Everyone hoped she would fail, and she seemed unable to prove them wrong.

“Oh, coward. Just a few minutes into the contest and she’s down already,” Tom said as he threaded his hands into his hair.

She ran to a corner and vomited profusely. “What’s wrong with me? Why do I feel this weak? Why now?” she thought, her heart pounding out of control.

She summoned courage amidst the noise and tried to pick up from where she stopped, using every bit of energy she had left.

She ran as fast as she could, but her pace slowed after a few steps. Blood drained from her face, and she staggered.

“I trained so well for this; why do I suddenly feel weak and helpless?” she wondered, as it instantly brought warm tears to her eyes.

She got to the mountain and began climbing with every bit of energy she had, her booted feet stomping the ground. She thought she was fast enough, but compared to the rest, she was taking baby steps.

Suddenly, her breaths came out in heavy pants, she stopped for a minute to catch her breath. She nibbled on her bottom lips as she thought of a way to win the challenge without using so much energy.

“I think I’m going to pass out if I go any further. Since the deer is on the loose, I’ll take my chances and wait around the corner hoping it comes my way,” her forehead puckered as she thought.

Not sooner had she thought than she heard the sound of the whistle.

She squeezed her eyes shut, stomped her feet on the ground as she said, “Oh Zara, you’re truly weak.” She dragged her feet back to the compound, covering her face with her arm.

Laughter filled the air as she approached the compound.

A loud scream emerged from the crowd. “Let’s welcome our soon-to-be Luna.” Everyone laughed hard as they made mockery of her.

Tom stood at a corner, hiding his face. “I actually gave her a benefit of a doubt thinking she’d redeem herself and free herself from the curse but instead, she embarrassed herself and me,” he said to Sonia in a deep, low tone.

“An Omega will definitely be inferior, you shouldn’t be so surprised,” Sonia responded, sticking her nose in the air.

Zara began to feel irritation from within as the weakness worsened. Being a healer, she had an idea of what was going on.

“This is totally beyond ordinary. These are symptoms of silver dust. Could I have been poisoned?” she thought, a slight shiver working down her spine.

“The Gauntlet of strength is the next challenge. Every contestant is expected to lift the bag of rocks in front of you high up to the mountains to the finished line. No one is permitted to shift his form in the process,” the announcer said.

When the whistle blew, Zara lifted the bag with the little strength she had left. As soon as she took to her heels, she missed her steps and fell, hitting her head on a stone. She then passed out due to the impact.

Laughter filled the whole compound as they mocked her. James rushed over, lifting her off the track and carrying her to the side. He tended to her and after few minutes then she woke up, covering her face with her right arm. Her entire aura screamed of shame.

When the contest ended, Tom went to the centre of the stage to address the contestants. Thereafter, he faced Zara and a deep growl emitted from his throat. He howled loudly commanding the attention of the pack.

“As you can all see, Zara failed woefully in this challenge. She’s a curse that needs to be purged from this pack. Our Alpha died because of this curse and I can’t risk the lives of any other members of this pack because of a mere omega. In addition, I know we all won’t want to be led by a weak Luna also,” he said, his voice firm and unbending.

“I hereby reject you, Zara Starfell, as my mate. By my will and my word, I break the bond and fate that exists between us. You’re also banished from this pack with immediate effect.”

Her face went blank and her heart pounding out of control. “Please tell me this is a dream,” she said as her breath came out in heavy pants. Her brain was too muddled to comprehend all that he said.

James escorted her to her Cabin, his expression hardened as he heard the incessant mockery from pack members. “I’m sorry there’s nothing much I can do at the moment, I really wish there was,” he said, patting her on the back.

Sadness clouded her features as she arranged her luggages.

“Where will you go now? Do you know anyone outside Shadowmoor?” he asked.

She looked up, her eyes making direct contact with him. “I spent my entire life in Shadowmoor, I’m literally helpless at the moment. I have nowhere to go,” she replied.

“My father has a small cabin few miles from here. You can stay there for as long as you want. No one stays there,” James suggested.

Her heart twinged painfully as she responded, “I don’t want to be a burden to you or anyone, I’ll figure a way out of this.”

“No Zara, I insist,” he said sternly.

“Okay then, but it will be just for a few days till I decide on what to do,” Zara answered.

“You can stay there for as long as you want. You have nowhere else to go, remember?” James said.

Zara headed out of the compound to a herbal shop nearby to prepare an antidote for the silver dust since she continued growing weaker.

She sighted Sonia from a distance. She sniffled and turned her face in the other direction.

While she was picking up the required herbal ingredients, Sonia approached her and patted her lightly on the back.

Zara turned, and her eyes bored into Sonia. Still no word from her mouth.

She then turned away and kept on checking around for her herbs. She couldn’t find elderberry, which was the major ingredient to boost her healing. She searched endlessly as her feet began to stagger.

Sonia followed her about for minutes and eventually confronted her. “I know how you feel about me right now but I’m sorry to say, life isn’t fair. The strong always consumes the weak.”

“Oh really?” Zara replied as the colour drained out of her face.

“Tom loves me; he always has. Just assume I’m doing you a favour saving you from a failed marriage,” Sonia said.

Zara stared at her, a deep growl emitting from her throat.

Sonia kept talking regardless. “You aren’t strong enough to lead, not with the recent attacks we’ve been having lately. You’re too weak.”

“My father was an Alpha. What makes you think I can’t lead a pack someday too?” Zara asked as her fingers curled into a fist.

Sonia laughed loudly. “You aren’t your father, Zara. You’re way below him,” she said.

“By the way, are you looking for this? I heard it’s scarce these days,” Sonia said, holding up a bag of elderberry.

“How did you know I was looking for that? Do you perhaps have something to do with my present predicament?” Zara asked as her expression hardened.

Before Sonia could reply, they heard loud growls from outside. Suddenly, a fully transformed werewolf crashed through the window and landed on Sonia, its claws piercing into her.

“Who are you?” she howled in pain.