The Alpha Who Rejected Me

* 5 years ago* The first thing I noticed about Alpha Ronan Blackwood was his eyes. Storm-gray, cold and impossibly clear, they found me from across the Great Hall as if the hundreds of people between us didn't exist. My breath caught. My wolf stirred before I could stop her. Mate. The word echoed through my mind, followed by a rush of warmth that spread through my chest and down my limbs. After eighteen years of hearing stories about fated mates, I had always wondered what it would feel like when it finally happened. I hadn't expected it to feel like being struck by lightning. The Great Hall seemed to fade around me. The music, the conversations, the clinking glasses, all of it became distant as Ronan started walking toward me. He was even more intimidating up close. He stood well over six feet, with broad shoulders and a powerful build that made the black suit stretched across him look almost unfair. His dark hair was pushed back from his forehead, emphasizing the sharp lines of his face, strong jaw, straight nose, high cheekbones. There was nothing soft about him. He looked like someone who had never needed to ask for anything in his life. People moved out of his way without being told. I suddenly became very aware of myself. Of my dress. Of my hands. Of the way my heart was beating far too quickly. I'd been prepared for this moment. I'd imagined meeting my mate and becoming his Luna. I'd imagined standing beside him at ceremonies, learning his territory, building a life together. I'd never imagined that the man himself would make me feel so small. Ronan stopped in front of me. I had to tilt my head back to meet his eyes. For a moment, he said nothing. His gaze moved over my face with a strange, detached attention. His eyes lingered on mine, then dropped briefly to my mouth before returning to my eyes. Something about that tiny movement made my stomach twist. He knew. He knew exactly what was happening between us. "You know who I am," he said. It wasn't a question. I nodded. "Alpha Ronan." His expression didn't change. "Your name." I almost frowned. "Liza." He knew that too. Everyone in the room knew who I was. The elders had announced my name before the ceremony. He had probably heard it dozens of times before tonight. Still, he'd asked. Maybe it was simply another way of reminding me that this was his territory, his ceremony, his decision. He stepped closer. My breath caught again. There was barely any space between us now. I could smell him, something dark and clean beneath the faint scent of cedar. My wolf pressed eagerly against the bond, desperate for the closeness. Ronan leaned down. His breath brushed warmly against the side of my neck, and a shiver ran down my spine before I could control it. Then his voice came quietly against my ear. "Don't." I froze. He straightened as though nothing had happened. His face was completely unreadable. I stared at him, trying to understand what that one word meant. Don't what? Don't hope? Don't react? Don't mistake the bond for something it wasn't? Before I could ask, Ronan turned toward the gathered pack. The room fell silent. My heart began to pound again. He didn't look at me. "I reject her." For a moment, I thought I'd misunderstood him. Then he said it clearly enough for everyone to hear. "I, Alpha Ronan Blackwood, reject Liza as my mate." The bond shattered. Pain ripped through my chest. I gasped and staggered backward, one hand flying instinctively to my heart. It felt as though something inside me had been torn apart with bare hands. My wolf howled, refusing to accept what had happened. The room blurred. I heard someone say my name. Someone else whispered, "Oh, Goddess." My knees buckled. Ronan caught my arm before I could fall. His grip was firm, almost impersonal. For one desperate second, I looked up at him. Surely he could see what he'd done. Surely the bond had hurt him too.I searched his face for anything, a flicker of regret, hesitation, even pity. There was nothing. His jaw was relaxed. His expression remained calm. He released me. "Stand up." The words were quiet. Not cruel. That somehow made them worse. I forced my legs beneath me. Ronan had already turned away. One of the elders stepped forward, clearly uncomfortable. "Alpha, perhaps—" "I'm finished." He didn't raise his voice. He didn't need to. The elder immediately fell silent. Ronan walked away. That was it. No explanation. No apology. He didn't even look back. I stood in the middle of the hall while whispers spread around me. People stared openly now, some with pity, others with curiosity. I wanted to disappear. I'd spent my entire life being told what it meant to become a Luna. I'd grown up believing that when I found my mate, everything would finally make sense. Instead, in less than five minutes, I'd lost him in front of everyone I knew. I swallowed hard and turned toward the doors. Someone reached for my hand. I pulled away. I didn't know where I was going. I only knew I needed to get out. The doors opened, and cold night air rushed over my face. I stepped outside. For a moment, I stood there with my arms wrapped around myself, trying desperately not to cry. Then I heard the doors close behind me. I didn't turn around. I walked.