Once A Princess, Now A Slave

12- Rejected

Kelsie’s POV

“I, Kelsie Audenzia Tamaska, rejects you as my mate.” I said. My hands are quivering but I managed to cover them with a huge smile on my face. If there’s something that I am good at aside from being pretentious around the pack members, it is too fake if I am nervous or scared.

His lips parted a little at what I said, but it was soon replaced by an emotionless façade. At this moment, I badly want to run away from him. His dark-grey hooded eyes are staring right at me. I tried to sound as casual as possible because I do not want any drama between us two.

Since the beginning, I have had no plans of keeping him as my mate. As I’ve said, I want an Alpha mate. Not just an alpha mate, but a mate with an alpha blood.

“I thought hardly of it while doing my exercises. And I think you’re right. I need to do things seriously now. I will focus on finding my mate, and I hope you will find one too,” I added.

He did not say anything since I formally uttered my rejection. It makes me more nervous.

“Thank you, Connor! It’s been a pleasure being your mate for about…” I tilted my head. I acted as if I forgot how long we’ve been mates “… for about a week? Yeah, right! That’s it. A week!”

8 days and 22 hours. That is the exact time that we’ve been mates. I keep track of everything, especially the ones I have to treasure the most.

I am an early bird person. The only reason I woke up late today is that I stayed up all night long, contemplating how I will reject Connor in a not-so-harsh way. Also, Lycandra did not stop howling inside my head, refusing to agree with my decision.

I am not doing this for myself. This is also for the betterment of our pack!

Connor is indeed great, but it is important that an Alpha has an alpha bloodline. And as far as I remember, Maccon’s are a family of Beta.

“Are you sure about this?”

His voice sent a shiver down my spine. His coldness is very evident that I unconsciously made a small backward step away from him.

“Y-Yes, of course!”

He made a huge step forward to close the tiny gap between us two. I bite my tongue to stop myself from getting nervous. His way taller than me so I need to look up just to talk to him properly.

“For what reason?” he asked seriously.

I am not sure if the faint tone of disappointment were present in his voice or if it is just my imagination because his eyes are as dead as their color.

“I-I already told you. I need to get serious—” D*mn it! I do not even know why I stuttered.

“And do you think I’m not?” He did not even blink when he talks to me.

“I-It’s not just t-that—”

“Then what, Kelsie? Tell me what I should do for you to accept me?”

My heart skipped for a moment. I never thought words like these can escape from his lips.

I avoided my gaze at him and darted to the well-trimmed grass of my training ground.

“Nothing,” I simply answered. I bravely return my gaze to him. “You need to do nothing because there’s nothing you can do to change my mind,” I added.

This time, he withdraw from me. He take a step backward and his broad and firm shoulder went at ease.

“You want an Alpha mate,” he stated. His eyes are still glued to me, making me nervous on my feet.

“Yes,” I answered. I am keeping my answers short because I feel like I’ll only stutter if I keep them long. My braveness for today can only cater to a single word.

With his voice full of conviction, he said, “I will be an Alpha. I will make sure of that,” he gritted his teeth.

“And you think I will never be one.”

Just when I thought I can talk to him with our eyes locked, he instantly made me realize that I can’t.

I glued my eyes to the floor, tapping my right foot anxiously.

“You have a great skill, Connor…” I lift my head and looked him straight in the eye. “But I need an alpha mate with an alpha blood. I’m sure that as a Beta, you understand what I am saying.”

His jaw clenches. I thought he won’t accept my rejection. But instead, he made a step backward and looked me straight in the eyes.

“Guess I can’t do anything with that anymore. I cannot persuade someone to like me when in the first place, they like nothing about me,” he said coldly.

I bite my lower lip. If he is just a random guy pursuing me, I can easily reject him without being considerate of his feelings. However, he is Connor. He is from a respected family who treated me and my father with great respect. It is a common courtesy to give back that behavior.

“Sorry,” I said.

“Good bye, Kelsie," he said, ignoring my apologies.

I sigh. I understand that he's upset.

He turns his back on me and walked away. I do not know why I feel this way, but the moment he started fading from my sight, I feel like I want to run toward him and stop him from going. This is for the betterment of the pack. I also want my family to continue to carry on the Alpha blood.

My wolf howl in my head—an annoying, long, and crying howl.

“I know you’re upset…” I uttered to myself for my wolf to hear. “… I am too,” I added.

I just hope the moon goddess won’t punish me for rejecting the mate that she has given.

Connor completely vanished from my sight. I thought I made a wise decision without knowing that a single rejection will alter the course of my life. A kind of choice that I wish I never did.

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Unedited. English is not my first language. My apologies for the grammar, sentence construction, and wrong spelling.

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Once A Princess, Now A Slave

By: Joanne Cristel

©2023