Rejected and in Heat

Maya walked along the tree line, leaving the noise and crowd behind. Her sixteenth birthday party was a huge success. As the Beta’s daughter, every teenager from their pack and the neighboring packs was in attendance. Today was perfect. Her parents had given her a dark blue Nissan Versa, she had shifted into her wolf form for the first time, and she had partied well into the early morning hours. It was almost daybreak, and most kids were still partying. The only thing that would make her day any more perfect would be finding her mate. Finding your mate so early wasn't expected, but every girl dreams about it. She stopped in her favorite spot and stared into the full moon with her bare feet on the grass and her long black hair blowing in the wind. Dustin walked towards the gazebo with a giggling girl on each arm. He was known for being quite the lady's man and never missed the opportunity to enjoy a willing partner or two. The breeze picked up, and an undeniable scent hit his nose. He turned his blond head in search of his mate. His pale blue eyes drew to a lone figure at the tree line. “Uh, girls, give me a few minutes. I have to talk to someone. Then I will be right back.” He motioned for them to sit at the gazebo they had finally reached. One obediently sat. “Mmm, good girl.” He thought to himself with a satisfied smirk. The other pouted slightly but didn’t take her hands off his arm. He gave her a slight frown, “Why don’t you two get started without me? I will be back before you even miss me.” He tilted his head from the brunette toward her blond friend on the bench and c****d an eyebrow. The brunette gave a naughty laugh and joined her friend, eagerly taking the blond’s breasts into her hands and teasing her n*****s. “Ok, but don’t take too long,” she answered as he walked away. Dustin didn’t bother to answer the girl as he followed his mate’s scent to the trees, where he had gotten a glimpse of her. As he approached, he could see her back turned, and her waist-length black hair gently blew in the breeze. She was small and slender, dressed in a bright pink satin dress and a sash that said Sweet 16. His eyes drew down to admire her tiny waist and round ass. The dress ended mid-thigh and drew attention to her legs. They would look amazing wrapped around his neck. Dustin shook his head to clear those thoughts and coughed to let her know he was there. She turned, and her brown eyes went wide when his smell hit her. He stopped about 10 feet from her, prohibiting him from touching her flawless tan skin. He jumped into the speech he had practiced in his head so many times. “Uh, I won’t take much of your time. I’m Dustin.” Half of his mouth turned up in a lazy smile. He waited for her response. “Oh. I’m Maya, Maya Lopez.” Her face lit up into a dazzling smile, and she gave a little bounce on her toes but didn’t step forward. “I can’t believe you’re here. Like, how lucky am I to find you so quickly?” He could see the happiness shining in her eyes and felt slightly guilty about what he would say next. “I, Dustin Black, of the Red Cedar pack, reject you, Maya Lopez, of the White Oak pack as my mate.” He watched as her nose scrunched, and she drew her hands to her heart. Her body bent slightly at the waist as if she could barely stand from the pain. She sucked in a short gasp, “What? No! Why would you say that?” He stepped back a few steps to keep himself from reaching for her. “I’m sorry. It’s nothing personal. I simply don’t want a fated mate. I want the freedom to choose when or if I will have a mate”. With his little speech over, he walked away and didn’t allow himself the pleasure of looking back at her beautiful face. Maya watched him walk towards the gazebo and could faintly hear his voice answered by two female voices. She didn’t know what was said, but she could imagine. Tears filled her eyes, and her heart hurt, but she was also angry. She didn’t allow herself the freedom to cry where she stood. Her pride was greater than that! How could he walk away and feel nothing? She wouldn’t allow him the pleasure of reciprocity. He could never form a complete bond with whomever he chose as his mate if she didn't accept his rejection. With her head held high, she walked back towards the house, but instead of rejoining the party, she snuck into the back door of the pool house to suffer her heartbreak alone.