Rejecting My Alpha Mate

Chapter 8

SELINA'S POV

I didn't want to have a grand celebration for my 18th birthday, but this was what I asked Mom and Dad for last night. I wanted them to throw me a lavish birthday party and invite all of our family's friends, including the Alpha and Luna of the Shadowfang Pack.

Ellaine became even angrier with me because of the extravagant celebration our parents gave me. I didn't care if she was angry. What mattered to me now was that Mom and Dad had granted my request.

I was still inside my room, staring at myself in the mirror. I was already wearing my gown, a combination of black and a lava-like color, like molten rock freshly flowing from a volcano.

"Sweetheart, all of our guests are here already. Aren't you coming out yet?" Mom asked. I looked at her reflection in the mirror. I smiled because she looked so beautiful. She still looked like a young woman, especially now that she was also wearing a gown that perfectly showed off her slender figure.

"I'm coming now, Mom." I answered.

"Come downstairs, okay?" I simply nodded. She went downstairs first. I looked at myself in the mirror one last time before finally leaving my room. I could already hear the noise coming from outside. Everyone was enjoying themselves, and I could hear the clinking of wine glasses.

I took a deep breath before finally stepping outside the house.

"Let's all welcome our birthday celebrant." Mom announced as soon as she saw me. All of our guests immediately turned their attention toward me. I suddenly became nervous because I hadn't expected Mom and Dad to invite this many people. It felt like almost the entire pack was gathered outside our house.

"I know everyone here already knows that Selina isn't our biological daughter, but we've always treated her as our own. We're grateful that the Moon Goddess entrusted her to us. My heart is filled with mixed emotions, happiness and sadness at the same time, because time has passed so quickly. She's now of age, and before long she'll have a family of her own." Mom said while we stood together on the mini stage.

"Selina, sweetheart, I hope you always remember that we love you very much even if we're not your real family. Happy birthday, sweetheart. I hope you enjoy this night." Mom added. I could only smile. I looked around the crowd. There was only one person I was searching for, my mate. Didn't he come? I only wanted him to make me feel, even for just one night, that he wanted me too, but it looked like he wasn't here.

"Ahh." I groaned as my chest started hurting again. Here he goes again. He's doing it again. Who is he sleeping with this time? Did he skip my birthday because he was busy with another woman? As far as I knew, Ellaine hadn't left the house. If Ellaine was here and Adrian wasn't, then who was the woman with him now?

"Sweetheart, are you okay?" Mom asked worriedly after lowering the microphone. I smiled at her.

"I'm fine, Mom." I answered even though worry was still written all over her face. The pain in my chest only became worse, but I forced myself to hide what I was really feeling because so many guests were watching me.

I went back inside the house because I might lose my balance again if I stayed outside. I'd just wait until Adrian finished whatever he was doing before going back out. Hopefully, it wouldn't take him the entire night again.

I stayed inside our house for almost half an hour. Fortunately, I no longer fainted every time he slept with someone else because the first time I felt it, I woke up in the school clinic.

I looked upstairs when I heard Ellaine and Adrian laughing. I let out a bitter laugh. So that was why I couldn't find them outside, they had been inside Ellaine's room. When Adrian's eyes met mine, he smirked.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Don't worry about her anymore. You shouldn't even pay attention to that girl." Ellaine said before she and Adrian walked downstairs.

"There's still plenty of food outside. Go eat first." I said to them. Ellaine simply rolled her eyes at me.

"Are you happy because Mom and Dad still gave you such a big party? Enjoy it while you can because I promise you, this will never happen again. No matter what you do, no matter what you wear, you'll never become a true Montecarlos." Ellaine said arrogantly before pulling Adrian outside the house.

I took a deep breath before going back outside. Our guests were already dancing. Ellaine and Adrian were laughing happily together.

"Are you feeling better?" Mom asked. I nodded before walking toward the mini stage.

"Good evening, everyone, may I have your attention for a moment?" I spoke into the microphone. All of our guests looked at me, and those who were dancing stopped. I looked at Adrian, who was staring at me with a deep frown.

"I just want to thank all of you for coming to celebrate my birthday. This means so much to me because you took the time to spend this evening with me." I said gratefully.

I took another deep breath. I didn't know if what I was about to do was right, but I refused to simply die because of the pain he kept giving me. My heart was pounding wildly from nervousness.

"As we all know, once we reach this age, we may finally recognize and scent the mate the Moon Goddess has chosen for us." I continued. I didn't look at Adrian even though I could feel his intense stare on me.

"Are you seriously hoping you'll find a mate? You're a human, remember?" one of Ellaine's friends mocked. They all burst into laughter.

"Stop dreaming, girl! You're never getting one!" they shouted. I looked at Dad. I knew he was furious because they were humiliating me, but I subtly shook my head to stop him from interfering.

"I, Selina Montecarlos—"

"What do you think you're doing?!" Adrian shouted. "Are you saying you already know who your mate is? Are you trying to show off that you found your mate the moment you turned eighteen even though you don't even have a wolf?" Adrian added. Ellaine and the others laughed even harder.

I gave him a sweet smile. I can't read your mind, but I can feel what you feel, Alpha Adrian.

"I know what the pull means. I know you are the one the Moon Goddess made for me, Adrian. But I cannot accept this. I, Selina Montecarlos, reject you as my mate. Moon Goddess, hear me, I turn down this bond. It ends here." I declared.

Everyone fell silent and turned to Adrian. I swallowed hard when nothing happened to him.

He laughed and shook his head at me.

"Do you really think I'm your mate?" he said. My brows furrowed. Why? I knew we had both felt the mate bond. I knew he was my mate. Why wasn't he hurting after I broke our bond?

Nothing happened to me either.

What is going on?