REJECTED UNDER THE BLUE MOON

Chapter 5: The Broken Bond

I sat on the floor long after the voice disappeared.

The cottage was silent again.

Only the crackling fire and my uneven breathing filled the room.

I looked around slowly.

No one was there.

The door was still locked.

The windows were closed.

Had I imagined it?

I pressed a hand against my collarbone. The silver glow had faded, leaving only the familiar crescent-shaped birthmark.

"This is not your end, Emily."

The words echoed in my mind.

The voice had sounded warm.

Kind.

Almost... comforting.

But that was impossible.

I was alone.

Wasn't I?

A sharp pain stabbed my chest.

I winced and leaned forward.

The broken mate bond still hurt. It felt like an invisible hand was squeezing my heart.

"So this is what rejection feels like," I whispered.

I had heard stories about rejected mates before.

Some never recovered.

Some left their packs and became rogues.

Others slowly lost the will to live.

I closed my eyes.

"No."

I refused to become one of those stories.

Even if my heart was broken, I was still alive.

I wiped away the last of my tears and slowly stood up.

I needed water.

I walked into the tiny kitchen and poured myself a cup with shaking hands.

Before I could take a sip, someone knocked on my door.

Three slow knocks.

My body tensed.

No one ever visited me this late.

Another knock came.

"Emily?"

It was Selene.

I opened the door.

She stood outside with a small basket in her hands.

Her eyes were red.

She had been crying.

"I brought you dinner."

"I'm not hungry."

"I know."

She held out the basket anyway.

"But you still need to eat."

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then she stepped inside without waiting for an invitation.

She placed the basket on the table and looked around the small cottage.

"I was worried about you."

I forced a weak smile.

"I'm still here."

She turned to face me.

"You shouldn't have gone through that alone."

"I didn't have much of a choice."

Selene's shoulders dropped.

"I'm sorry."

"You didn't reject me."

"No."

She swallowed hard.

"But I couldn't stop it either."

I walked over and gently squeezed her hand.

"You don't have to apologize."

She looked at me for a long moment before pulling me into a hug.

I froze.

Then I hugged her back.

For the first time since the ceremony, I didn't feel completely alone.

"I hate him," she whispered.

I closed my eyes.

"I don't."

She pulled away and stared at me.

"How can you not?"

"I don't know him."

"Emily..."

"He didn't reject me because he enjoyed hurting me."

The words surprised even me.

"I think..."

I looked toward the window.

"I think something made him do it."

Selene frowned.

"You still believe there's a reason?"

"I have to."

Because if there wasn't...

Then the Moon Goddess had simply chosen the wrong man.

A loud knock interrupted us.

This one wasn't gentle.

It shook the entire door.

My stomach tightened.

Selene and I looked at each other.

Another knock.

"Emily Ashwyn."

A deep voice came from outside.

"You are ordered to report to the Alpha House immediately."

Selene's face lost all color.

"No."

I opened the door.

Two pack warriors stood outside.

Neither looked happy to see me.

"The Alpha wants to see you," one of them said.

"Now."

I frowned.

"At this hour?"

"You've already kept him waiting."

I exchanged a quick glance with Selene before following the guards.

The village looked completely different now.

Hours earlier, it had been filled with music and celebration.

Now the streets were quiet.

People watched from their windows as I walked past.

Some whispered.

Others simply stared.

Word had already spread.

The rejected mate.

The title followed me like a shadow.

When we reached the Alpha House, the heavy wooden doors opened.

Inside stood Alpha Gareth.

He was a large man with streaks of gray in his dark hair.

Tonight, he looked older than usual.

Beside him stood Luna Helena.

Neither of them smiled.

"Emily," the Alpha said quietly.

I bowed my head.

"Alpha."

He sighed deeply.

"What happened tonight has placed Silver Hollow in a difficult position."

I remained silent.

What was I supposed to say?

"I'm sorry your Alpha King rejected me"?

Luna Helena stepped forward.

"We truly are sorry for what happened."

Her voice held genuine kindness.

It almost made me cry again.

Alpha Gareth looked away before speaking.

"The Elder Council has already reached a decision."

A cold feeling settled in my stomach.

"What decision?"

He hesitated.

Then he finally met my eyes.

"They believe your presence will bring shame and instability to the pack."

I blinked.

"I don't understand."

"The light that surrounded you after the rejection frightened the Elders."

I remembered the silver burst.

"What was it?"

"We don't know."

His answer only made me more uneasy.

"The Elders believe it may be dangerous."

Silence filled the room.

Then he spoke the words that shattered what little remained of my world.

"Emily Ashwyn..."

"You are hereby banished from Silver Hollow Pack."

For a second, I forgot how to breathe.

Banished?

"No..."

My voice came out as barely a whisper.

"I've done nothing wrong."

Alpha Gareth closed his eyes.

"I know."

"Then why?"

"Because fear is stronger than reason."

Luna Helena looked away, unable to meet my eyes.

"You have until sunrise to leave our territory."

The room began to spin.

This had been my home my entire life.

Every tree.

Every path.

Every memory.

Gone.

Just like that.

I looked at the Alpha one last time.

"Do you agree with this?"

His silence gave me the answer.

Slowly, I nodded.

"I understand."

I didn't.

But I wasn't going to beg.

Not anymore.

I turned and walked toward the door.

"Emily."

I stopped but didn't look back.

"I'm truly sorry," Alpha Gareth said.

A sad smile touched my lips.

"So am I."

I stepped outside into the cold night.

The Blue Moon still watched from above.

Hours ago, I had entered the ceremony hoping to find my future.

Now I had lost my mate.

My home.

And the only life I had ever known.

I placed a hand over my glowing birthmark.

It was warm again.

Very warm.

The same gentle voice whispered deep inside me.

"Leave without fear."

"Your destiny is waiting beyond these woods."

I lifted my head and looked toward the dark forest stretching beyond the village.

For the first time since my rejection...

I felt something stronger than heartbreak.

I felt the first spark of change.