Diana

I nervously take a step towards him, my hand subconsciously reaching out towards him, but he coldly raises a palm towards me. I stop in my tracks as my heart gives a sharp twinge.

“Yes I knew you were my mate a long time ago”, his voice flat.

For a second, my brain is too muddled to understand what he is talking about until I realize that he had just answered my earlier question.

“You were too young at the time so I had to wait until you were of age to be able to recognize it too”, he continues.

“Then-“ my voice coming out shaky.

“Now that you are, I can finally say what I wanted to”, he adds coldly. What he says next destroys whatever hope I had in me.

“I cannot be with you. I am an Alpha. You’re a Wolfless wolf. There’s no way I can mate with you. As an Alpha, I need a mate who can stand tall by my side; not someone so weak she cannot even protect myself, much less of the pack if an attack ever came”.

Every single word that leaves his lips feels like a knife being stabbed into my heart. The blood drains from my face and I sway unsteadily on my feet, suddenly feeling light-headed. He doesn’t reach out to help.

I slowly shake my head, as though by doing so, I could will his words away and out of my head, “No. No, it’s not like that. That’s not how it works. The Moon Goddess ordained us as mates. The rest of the details will work themselves out with time- that’s the meaning of Fate. We’re meant for each other-”

“She made a mistake”, he cuts in mercilessly.

My head shakes even more vigorously, my body language plainly expressing my desperation, “The goddess is never wrong-“

“She is this time”, he cuts again, his voice firm.

What is happening? This is not what is supposed to happen…none of this is making any sense…

I take another step towards him again and this time he takes a big one back. Away from me. And the pain in my heart grows even more intense.

Annoyance crosses his features at my stubbornness, “Don’t be ridiculous. You have about as much strength as a human female and not only that, you heal like one too”, and he gestures to my still healing nose.

“If I accepted you, you would quite literally be the easiest Luna to kill in history. Our enemies wouldn’t even have to try hard. They could literally just send an Omega and he would effortlessly be able to get the job done. Hell! I bet even rat poison would be enough to do you in”.

“In terms of value, you have none. You are unable to do any labour that requires physical strength or any heavy lifting like the other Omega. That’s why all you’re relegated to are cooking and cleaning duties. And even with those duties, it’s not like it has to be you. Literally anyone in the pack could do those chores”.

“To put it bluntly, you’re quite literally the most useless member of this pack- a walking burden. And. I. Refuse. To. Mate. With. You”, he bites out. Enunciating each word so that he was sure I could understand him.

These vicious words, uttered in the same captivating voice that had just seconds ago called me beautiful, are excruciatingly agonizing… the same lips that had stolen my breath away with such a romantic kiss could still be used to destroy me so.

His words are brutal and merciless yet his expression is calm. In fact, he doesn’t look like he is trying to insult me or to hurt my feelings at all. He looks as though all he is doing is stating the facts as they are.

And that breaks me even more. Worse because I know that every single accusation is true.

…does that mean that I am undeserving of love then?

My throat feeling as dry as sandpaper, all I’m able to croak out is, “Then why-why did you kiss me?” my voice tinting with desperation,

“If you didn’t want me, why did you kiss me? Why? Why?!!” I want to scream and yell at him, but the egg-sized ball in my throat makes my voice come out an agonized whisper,

“Why give me hope that you want me just to snatch it away?!”

His eyes narrow at the blatant disrespect but I don’t care.

This time he takes a second before replying. His words came out slow as though he is mulling them over, “I wanted to know what it felt like to kiss my mate. I wanted to know if it was worth being with you regardless-“

“And I do have to admit, it’s the best kiss I’ve ever had-

“But unfortunately no, it’s not worth forever being mated to a liability”, he then looks me up and down, “You are quite beautiful too…” and then shakes his head.

“Pity”.

-and that word makes me feel even smaller. And that’s it isn’t it? My entire worth summarized into one word. A liability.

However, it seemed he wasn’t done with me just yet. He could still crush to smaller pieces whatever is left of my broken heart.

“I, Magnus Aldridge, reject you Diana Castellanos as my mate. By my will and my word, I sever the bond and fate that exists between us”.

Immediately, I feel as my wolf who had began to stir retreat even further back into my mind; all activity stopping as she falls dormant once more.

I stagger back, hand clutching at a chest that feels as though it is doused in flames. My legs give out and I collapse to the floor. And the entire time, I am unable to look away from his face.

My mind feels fractured by the shock and I try to gasp for air. Yet no matter how much I take in, it just doesn’t seem to be enough.

I want to scream but the impact of those malicious words leave me with an emptiness so profound I can’t even find the voice to make a sound.

All of a sudden, my head spins and I curl into myself, gasping for breath. The pain in my heart is so intense it feels as though my lungs are collapsing.

This can’t be happening…no…no it’s not possible…the Fates can’t be this cruel…after everything I have been through, after suffering with the terrible cards the universe had dealt me, they can’t possibly not let me have this one piece of happiness.

I shake my head. This must be a dream- a nightmare that my exhausted brain must have conjured up. However, the pain in my heart tells me that is very much real.

My mate has just rejected me…I wasn’t even aware that that was possible but somehow, he had. He didn’t want me. He doesn’t want me.

“I’m going to be late”, I vaguely hear him mutter in annoyance.

“For your sake, you had better accept the rejection so we can put this all behind us and carry on with our lives”.

“I’m not cruel. Just because I don’t want to be with you doesn’t mean I’ll let you keep suffering. So know that If you don’t accept the rejection, the pain will never stop”, he adds, a furrow in his brows as though he were a teacher lecturing a dull student, his entire aura oozing impatience.

I however am unable to utter a single word, much to distraught and in pain to be able to process a word of what he is saying.

Annoyed, he rolls his eyes and looks down at his watch, “Well you can stay here until you’ve got yourself back together and then you can leave”, he says dismissively,

He takes a step closer only to realize that I am still curled up against the door, “Move. I need to go”.

Getting no reaction from me, his brows furrow tighter, “I said MOVE!”

This time, he uses his Alpha Command and my body instantly obeys, quickly scrambling away from the door. He might not be my mate anymore, but he is still my Alpha.

He takes one last look at me before striding out, the door banging shut behind him, and I am left alone in the silent room, tears flowing down my cheeks and my body wracking from the pain of rejection coursing through my being.

…

Miles away…

“No! No! Please… oh God No… ahhhhhh!” and with a sickening crunch, a dark creature swoops in bites down on his shoulder. The bite hadn’t been too deep, just enough to maim, but not enough to kill. It is about to take another bite when suddenly, something stops it in its tracks.

Something has changed. It doesn’t know what it is but it rudely forces his human consciousness back to forefront for a second. Its eyes flicker from blue to brown and back again.

What is it?

The creature growls in annoyance. Whatever it is, it feels familiar. It drops the man and tilts its head in confusion.

Its familiar… this feeling… it feels like something from a past long gone…

What is it?

The creature shakes it head again with an even louder growl.

Taking the opportunity while the creature is distracted, the injured man, tries to slowly drag his body away. Unfortunately, the movement brings back the creature’s attention to him.

Its prey is getting away.

The blue in its eyes wash out all the brown and its muzzle curls in a terrifying growl. Lightening quick, it snaps its jaw around the man’s throat, picks the man’s body and viciously shakes it, biting down harder until the gurgling sounds from the dying man come to a stop. It throws the body to the side and the man falls like a broken doll, right beside his own weapon.

With a loud howl, the creature disappears deeper into the dark forest.

Unknown to the creature, deep in the recesses of its soul, something rope-like; thin but firm, has appeared, emitting a soft and ephemeral glow.

It is a half-formed mating bond.

Diana

I stumble out of the study blindly dragging myself along, my body swaying unsteadily; in too much pain to even notice which direction I am heading. My eyes are blurry with tears as I make my way down the hall.

Everything hurts…

All I want is to get as far away as I can- far, far away from this place of heartache and pain. I want to curl up in bed and cry my heart out, maybe then the stifling pressure in my chest would stop…but maybe it never will…

In my dazed and disoriented state, I don’t notice the door that creaks open just ahead. A hand reaches out from within and roughly drags me in, grip tight with bruising intensity. The door is then slammed shut.

Seeing who it is, I feel the blood drain from my face and a chill runs down my spine.

What I find is the disturbing gaze of Beta Mason staring down at me, on his lips is the same twisted, perverted smirk he always seems to wear around me. But this time, there’s an additional evil undertone to it which sharply reminds me of the encounter three years ago.

Worse yet, this time, we’re inside the Pack House…in his own study… my heart sinks even lower when I remember that all the rooms in the Pack House are soundproofed, meaning that there is no amount of screaming that would help me either.

“Why hello, Diana. Funny meeting you here”, he smirks.

His eyes run all over my body, taking in my well-fitting jeans and t-shirt. He lasciviously licks his lips, and I regret every single thought that ever made me pick out these clothes. I wrench my arm out of his grasp and wrap my arms defensively around my middle, taking a step back, trying to put some distance between us.

“I am curious though, what were you doing in the Alpha’s office hmmm?” he drags the last word, his voice making me nauseated.

I don’t answer and take another step back, cautiously keeping my eyes on him just in case he makes any sudden movements.

My silence doesn’t seem to bother him at all though as he cheerfully continues, “I saw you walking behind him just now, and you looked like a puppy following its master”, then he snickers, “You like him don’t you? Little Diana has a crush”, he sings.

“Too bad he’s way out of your league”, and he laughs in my face, his words making my heart clench painfully.

“But now you’re crying…” he muses, holding his chin as he studies me, his expression contemplative, “Could it be…” then he grins, “Could it be that you confessed your feelings for him and got rejected?”

No, but close enough…

I bite my lip and quickly school my expression. However, his sharp eyes still catch the minute change and they widen in amazement before he bursts out in loud derisive laughter, “Poor, poor wolfless Diana. Actually delusional enough to pine after the Alpha. How pathetic”, he jeers, laughing even louder.

I shut my eyes tight in hurt and embarrassment. His mockery digging deeper into my fresh wounds.

After laughing to his heart's content, he narrows his eyes on me and licks his lips, “But don’t worry, if the Alpha won’t take you. I will. I’ll satisfy those cravings you have. If it’s a man you’re lusting for, then it’s a man you’ll get. I can give you exactly what you want. Who knows, I might just be better at him at-“ and makes an obscene motion of humping his hips in the air.

I immediately pale.

“No”, vehemently shaking my head. My body trembles with panic as I take another step away from him, “I would like to go now Beta Mason. Please let me go”, my voice trembles as I beg, trembling from terror and desperation.

“I don’t think so”, he hums, stalking towards me. He runs his eyes up and down my body once more, “I’m going to enjoy this”, he muses darkly, and he starts to unbuckle his belt. A moment later, he pulls it free from his trousers and throws it away to the side, the buckle falling with a metallic clink.

“There’s no drunk warrior here to save you now Princess”, he smirks mockingly, “this time, no one is going to interrupt us. It’s just you and me now Diana. Just you…and me”, as he stalks closer.

I turn around and dash away.

“I do so like the chase”, he cackles and comes after me.

Diana

Trigger Warning: This chapter contains scenes of SA, violence and blood. Read at your own discretion.

Sharp pain explodes in my scalp as Beta Marcus grabs me by my hair and drags me down with him onto the floor.

I struggle fiercely “Let me go, you bastard!” I scream and manage to kick out at him before clawing away.

“Oof!” he exclaims exaggeratedly when my foot collides with his hard chest- with mounting despair, I realize that my feeble strength can’t hurt him at all, “Seems we have a fighter on our hands! How feisty! But I like it!” he chuckles.

He grabs me by the ankle and drags me back towards him, my thrashing useless against his overwhelming strength.

He flips me over onto my back and grabs my flailing arms in one hand before pinning them down above my head.

I raise a knee to kick between his legs but he quickly situates himself between my two legs, cutting off my chance to do so.

Screaming hysterically, I thrash my body, bucking my torso in a bid to throw him off- screaming for him to get off, to let me go, but it just seems that the more I struggle, the more sick amusement he finds in the situation.

With his free hand, he roughly lifts the hem of my shirt to my neck, exposing my chest. He pants lasciviously and grabs my breast through my bra, squeezing it brutally.

I whimper at the pain, “No! No, please! Please stop! You’re hurting me!” I sob, trying to inch my body away from him. With everything I have, I try to dislodge his disgusting touch which sends bile to my throat.

“Someone please help me!” I scream desperately when he palms the other breast. I thrash my head in stiffening terror and when my eyes glance behind him at the door, they happen to clash with brown eyes- wide with shock, through the small crack of the slightly ajar door.

It seems that when he shut the door earlier, something had caught on it and he hadn’t noticed that the door hadn’t quite closed all the way.

Seeing this, hope blossoms in my heart. I can still be saved! Someone could still save me from this nightmare!

“Please! Please help me!” I scream even louder, this time, my voice has taken on a shrill tone in my desperation.

“Please!” I implore the person standing petrified behind the door, my eyes boring into familiar eyes.

My loud scream apparently annoys my assailant because he growls before backhanding me across the face, the hit resounding with a loud slap.

“Are you trying to burst my eardrums?!”

My head whips to the side and my vision goes blurry, a loud ringing in my ear. My lip also splits from the force behind the slap. However, I shake my head, forcing my consciousness through the dizziness brought on by the blow, the pain is nothing as long as I am able to escape. I determinedly keep my gaze on those brown eyes behind the door- eyes strikingly similar to my own.

“Please” my eyes boring into his, dripping with desperation.

This is my brother. My twin brother. And regardless of our past, I have never had a doubt that if I were in a real pinch, he would come through for me. After all, he is my family. My own blood.

With my eyes, I implore him to hurry up. The tears of fear flowing down my cheeks and into my hair becoming those of relief. I have no doubt in my heart that he would save me. And even as Beta Mason unbuttons my jeans, relief courses through my veins instead. I am saved.

Right at this moment I expect him to barge into the room and throw Beta Mason away from me…but instead, something inconceivable happens.

Apollo turns around on his heels and strides away.

What?

No…

The shock of it stuns me- my previously thrashing and fighting body icily locking into a state of petrification.

No…

He wouldn’t…

He WOULDN’T!!