Rejected
865 Words
CHAPTER THREE
I Reject You
Riven found Elara the next morning before she found him.
She was standing beneath an oak tree outside the arts building, reading through lecture notes.
He watched her from across the courtyard.
His wolf was restless.
Go to her.
“No.”
Mate.
“She’s not ours.”
The wolf growled.
Riven hated the word.
Not because it was wrong.
Because it was right.
Elara was his mate.
And if his father discovered the truth, she would be dead before sunrise.
He walked toward her.
Elara looked up.
The moment she saw him, her expression hardened.
“Do you need something?”
“Yes.”
“Then say it.”
“Come with me.”
“No.”
“Elara.”
“You’ve used my name enough.”
He looked at her.
She looked tired.
The shadows beneath her eyes were darker than yesterday.
“Did you sleep?”
She frowned.
“Why?”
“You look exhausted.”
“I had a nightmare.”
Riven went still.
“What kind?”
“None of your business.”
He swallowed.
“Come with me.”
She laughed bitterly.
“You really don’t understand the word no.”
“I don’t have time.”
“Then don’t waste mine.”
She turned to leave.
Riven caught her wrist.
The moment their skin touched, pain exploded through both of them.
Elara gasped.
Riven released her immediately.
“I’m sorry.”
She stared at him.
Something about his face made her pause.
He looked afraid.
Not angry.
Afraid.
“What are you scared of?”
Riven looked away.
“You.”
She frowned.
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He couldn’t tell her.
Not yet.
Instead, he said:
“I need you to trust me.”
She laughed.
“That’s funny.”
Riven stared at her.
“I don’t trust you.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you here?”
Because you’re my mate.
Because my wolf would tear the world apart if anything happened to you.
Because your mother once begged me to protect you.
Because I promised a little girl in a forest that I would find her again.
Instead, he said:
“Because you need to stay away from me.”
Elara’s eyes hardened.
“Fine.”
She walked away.
Riven watched her.
His wolf howled.
Don’t let her go.
Riven closed his eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
⸻
That evening, Elara received a message.
Unknown number.
Meet me at the old chapel. Alone.
She stared at it.
She should have ignored it.
Instead, she went.
The old chapel stood at the edge of campus, surrounded by trees.
It was abandoned.
Or supposed to be.
Riven was waiting inside.
Elara stopped.
“You.”
“We need to talk.”
“You could have asked normally.”
“I don’t have much time.”
“Why?”
He looked at her.
Because his father was already on his way.
Because the pack had discovered her.
Because the wolves were beginning to smell her blood.
Because every minute she spent near him made her more vulnerable.
“Because I need you to understand something.”
“What?”
Riven took a breath.
Then he said the words he had been dreading.
“I reject you.”
Elara stared at him.
“What?”
“I reject you as my mate.”
She laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because it was absurd.
“I’m not your mate.”
Riven’s eyes flashed gold.
“You are.”
Pain exploded through Elara’s chest.
She dropped to her knees.
A burning sensation spread beneath her skin.
She screamed.
Riven stepped toward her.
His wolf was tearing through him.
Stop!
But the rejection had already begun.
A silver crescent appeared beneath Elara’s collarbone.
Riven’s face twisted with pain.
He could feel everything she felt.
Confusion.
Humiliation.
Fear.
And beneath it all—
Heartbreak.
His wolf screamed.
Undo it!
Riven couldn’t.
The bond snapped into something twisted and painful.
Elara looked up at him.
Tears filled her eyes.
“Why?”
Riven couldn’t answer.
“Why did you do that?”
“Because I have to.”
“Have to?”
She pushed herself upright.
“You don’t even know me.”
Riven almost laughed.
If only she knew.
If only she remembered.
“I know enough.”
“Then look me in the eyes and tell me you don’t want me.”
Riven froze.
She stepped closer.
“Say it.”
He looked into her eyes.
His wolf was begging him to take her.
His heart was breaking.
He whispered:
“I don’t want you.”
The lie tasted like blood.
Elara stared at him for several seconds.
Then she nodded.
“Fine.”
She walked past him.
Riven didn’t move.
He waited until she was gone.
Then he punched the stone wall.
His knuckles split.
Blood ran down his hand.
His wolf whispered:
You killed the only thing that could have saved us.
Riven closed his eyes.
“No.”
He looked toward the chapel doors.
“I just made her hate me.”
END OF CHAPTER THREE
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