The Alpha Rejected Me Again

CHAPTER 1

Vittoria's POV

"I, Zander Hemming, future Alpha of Night Shade Pack, reject you, Vittoria Hall, as my mate and future Luna." those words left his lips as if they were meaningless. As if it wouldn't cause pain to both of us...

His cold voice sent shivers into my skin before a sharp stabbing pain hit me right in the core. My hands clutched onto my chest as I tried to gasp for breath. How could he do that?

He stared right into my eyes, which were now filled with tears.

I don't understand...

We are mates? But...

I shook my head. I barely even know him. I'm still turning eighteen a few weeks from now. But I know that he's already of age to find his mate. He already turned eighteen a few months ago. This wasn't the first time we met each other. Does that mean that all those times, he knew that I was his mate?

"Definitely." I heard Athena's low growl.

"W-why?" I asked him almost breathlessly.

The pain caused by the severance of our mate bond doubled with that thought. He knew how much I suffered from the hands of almost everyone in school. Almost every student harassed and abused me every single day, but he never did anything. Yes, he didn't join any of them, but he also didn't try to stop it when we both knew that he could easily do it!

He has Alpha blood! Not to mention that he is one of the closest friends of the crown prince. One word from him and everything would be over. But he didn't do anything. He surely didn't want anything to do with me.

He didn't answer my question. He just looked at me with his distant gaze. But I didn't need him to answer.

There can only be one explanation for that. He never considered accepting me from the start. Maybe the more appropriate question would be, why is he rejecting me just now?

Why didn't he reject me right after he realized that I was his mate? Did he still think about it? And only come up with his final decision now?

Well... If that's what he wanted.

"I, Vittoria Hall..." I held my chin up and equaled his burning gaze despite the excruciating pain that I am enduring right now. I braced myself for another wave of pain before I blurted out the words that I needed to say. My wolf was howling inside my head in refusal, but I ignored her.

"Gladly accept your rejection." I couldn't help but smile bitterly when he didn't even blink before he turned around to leave me there. I gasped when he suddenly shifted into a big, raven-black wolf before disappearing into the darkness.

As soon as he was gone, I fell down on my knees and let my sobs escape my lips. Why does it have to hurt this much when he didn't even seem bothered by it?

It's unfair. I chuckled despite my tears. How can he be so cruel? We are bound by the Moon Goddess herself. He should be the one to love and protect me! Ironically, now he is the one to bring me the greatest pain that I have ever felt. I've been physically and emotionally enduring the abuse of my schoolmates but nothing could compare to this pain.

But what do I expect anyway? He is an Alpha, while I am just an Omega. We were an obvious mismatch. Maybe this is for the better.

I took a deep breath to calm myself down.

"Don't worry Athena, I know we can get through this..." I tried to console my wolf but she just howled. I may be just a weak Omega for everyone, but I know that I am stronger than that.

I will be able to survive this... Or not...

*****

I struggled to open my heavy lids. I groaned when pain registered in my barely conscious mind. I tried to move my body but I couldn't. My wrists were still tied against the walls. And as if that wasn't enough, there's also a silver chain cuffed around my ankles. The other end of it is attached to the wall as well.

I am still in a dark cellar where the Alpha kept me. He isn't just an ordinary Alpha. He is also my mate's father. Or should I say ex-mate? Since he already rejected me almost a month ago. I'm not sure how long. I've already lost track of time since his father abducted me.

A bitter laugh rose out of my throat as I felt my heart twist painfully inside my chest. After surviving the pain of his rejection, here I am kept in prison by his own father.

That is the biggest question in my head right now. Why? Why is he still after me? Didn't he know that his son had already rejected me? So why is he still keeping me hostage here? Is he that terrified that his heir will end up with a weak Omega like me? Is he worried that his pack will have an Omega as its future Luna? I scoffed. I've never even dreamed of becoming one...

"Athena..." I called my wolf. It's been a while since she last talked to me.

"Are you all right?" I asked but she didn't respond.

She feels so weak now from everything that we have gone through. We were still hurting from the rejection when I got kidnapped. Since then, the Alpha started torturing me, using wolfsbane and silver, which greatly affected my wolf. Now she won't even talk to me. I wish she could say something to me. I feel like I am on the brink of losing my sanity the more I stay here.

Why do I have to be punished for something that I don't even have control over? It wasn't my choice to be fated to Zander. If only I had a choice...

I would choose someone who would accept me for who I am. Someone who would embrace my flaws and imperfections... Someone who would support me in turning my weaknesses into strengths...

But my heart ached at the thought of being with someone else other than my mate.

I sniffed. Tears ran down my cheeks as realization hit me. And it hurts more than I expected. I sobbed, looking up at the ceiling. Thinking that the moon goddess can hear me right now.

Why? What have I done wrong? Why do I need to suffer like this?

"Please..." I whispered, not knowing what I was really pleading for.

It hurts that after everything that I have been through at his hands and his father's, it was devastating to realize that, after all that, I will still choose him if given a chance. I wanted to curse at our severed mate bond. Why am I still hurting even after the cords have been cut between us? I shouldn't be able to feel anything right now.

It's so unfair...

I'm sure that he is out there, living his best life after getting rid of me.

My silent cries were startled when the door suddenly opened. A thin figure carefully walked inside. My vision isn't that good anymore, since my wolf is already weak from all the torture. But I can see that she is a woman.

Who is she?

I've been here for weeks already, but all I have ever seen is the Alpha and his warriors. They take turns torturing me. Fortunately, I seemed to still have some luck left in me. Nobody dared to touch me. Or sexually assault me. Most tortures were physical. They hit me with anything they can grab. Whip, paddles, bats...

Sometimes they can get creative too, using silver, electricity, or other things that could possibly hurt me.

"Oh goddess..." she exclaimed when she saw me. Is she crying?

She tried to cut the ropes that were binding my thin wrists with a knife. I gasped when my right hand was freed. Is this what I think it is? Is she helping me?!

"I'm sorry." she whispered while cutting the other one.

"I'm sorry if you were caught up in our mess. You don't deserve this." she finally freed my hands. Now she's fumbling with the silver cuff around my ankle. I'm sure it is hurting her as well. Silver is one of the werewolves' weaknesses. Judging by her appearance, she isn't in the best condition either.

Do they mistreat all the shewolves in this pack?

"Who are you?" I asked.

"I am Luna Myeisha... Zander's mother." she uttered.

My body froze at the mere mention of his name. But I really shouldn't think about him right now. I don't even know if he is also behind this. Did he ask his father to do this to make sure that they would get rid of me? Why didn't they just kill me then?!

The biggest question is, why is his mother helping me now? I am so confused.

She cupped my face with her palms. She finally freed me but I still couldn't move that much. My body is too weak to function. They barely give me food or anything to drink for God knows how long.

How long has it been since I was abducted? Three weeks? One month?

"You are so beautiful..." she whispered, her lips trembling.

"I know that my son rejected you, but please don't hate him..." she whimpered. "Know that he only did what he thought was right."

My jaw clenched at her words. Does she know what she's saying? Should I believe her? How could rejecting me be the right thing to do? I was his fated mate, for goddess' sake! He was the one person who was supposed to love and protect me at all costs!

Yet, he ended up as the one person who caused me so much pain.

"As you know, the Alpha is a ruthless man. He would use anything to make Zander bow down to him. I should know because he used me first. He used his own mate to hold his own son." she explained.

And even with my mind filled with doubts, I think it makes sense.

His family is simply f****d up.

"I will help you get away from here. Come." she held my hand and helped me get up, but we were both weak. I guess she suffered the same fate as me.

But I tried to steady my legs. I was determined to get away from here. I want to go back to my family and just forget all about this. I don't care about Zander anymore. Whether the Luna is telling the truth or not, it shouldn't matter. I would never want to associate myself with them anymore.

After this, I will start anew with just my family. I will never look back. With each step, hope buds within me. I never thought that I could still make it out of here alive.

"Why is it so quiet?" I whispered.

I couldn't hear anything. Or is my sense of hearing already compromised?

"The warriors are all in the palace, together with the Alpha," she answered.

And they all left us alone here? Why are they even in the palace?

"We need to move faster!" she ordered. Even though she is weak, I can still hear the dominance in her voice. She is a Luna after all.

We were able to get out of the packhouse, which was very suspicious. How come not a single soul is around? What is happening?

"Where's everyone?" I weakly asked between gasping for air.

"Tonight is the Prince's birthday celebration," she answered. She kept on tugging me until we ran into the woods.

I am so tired. My legs are almost giving up on me, but we have to get away.

Prince Lucas...

I heard a loud gasp from the Luna before I heard howls from a distance. If I am not mistaken, it's coming from the direction of the palace.

What is happening? Those aren't celebratory howls! It sounded more like warnings.

"No..." the Luna uttered. Does she know something?

"We have to hurry." We kept on running until we reached the middle of the woods. I can't feel my legs anymore. If only Athena wasn't so weak now, I would let her take over. But I couldn't even shift. The silver cuff has greatly affected me and my wolf.

I didn't know how long we had been running when the Luna suddenly stopped in her tracks. I stopped as well, wanting to catch my breath.

That's when I felt a strong aura in front of us. I gasped when I saw a large black wolf baring its canines towards us. I took a step back. He looked scary. He can definitely kill us in a snap! I don't think running can even help us!

"Luna..." I whispered with my trembling voice.

"Go and run. I will keep him occupied. I just need you to get away from here. Don't look back." she ordered through the mind link.

She used her commanding voice, leaving me with no choice but to conform. I turned my heels and started dashing the other way but the wolf was too fast! He's already in front of me in a blink!

"Stop this Dominic!" the Luna roared.

My eyes widened! So he is the Alpha! I've never seen him in his wolf form before. But he looked familiar.

I stood frozen when he started charging toward me. I gulped. I think this is the end of it. I closed my eyes tightly. I felt blood splattered on my arms and face but I didn't feel any pain!

What happened?

I slowly opened my eyes again only to take another gasp in horror!

I couldn't believe what just happened in front of me! The Luna sacrificed herself for me!

She is now hanging lifeless against her mate's arms. She shielded me from the attack, risking her own life! Her head was almost decapitated! Alpha Dominic must have slashed her neck with his sharp claws accidentally! That blow was supposed to be mine. But she took it!

Blood was gushing out of her neck. I wanted to throw up as my stomach churned at the horrible sight!

My lips trembled in fear when the Alpha let out a long howl of pain. She is still his mate after all. Their souls are connected. I am sure that her death caused him a great deal of pain.

I have to take advantage of it! I quietly took a few steps back before I started running away.

"Aah!" I screamed in pain when my hair was pulled back mercilessly. My scalp almost tore off from my skull!

"You killed my mate!" the Alpha, who shifted back to his human form, growled ferociously. But why is he blaming me for the Luna's death?!

"No, please..." I shook my head but he didn't listen.

Instead, he slammed my frail body against a tree.

I limped down on the ground, shaking like a leaf. The Alpha grabbed my jaw and pulled me up. I coughed out while I was looking into his spiteful glare.

My eyes widened when he lifted his other hand up, his claws protruding from the tips of his fingers.

Goddess...

Before I could even utter a prayer, his hand had already slammed against my chest! His claws are piercing my flesh!

I wheezed at the sudden immense pain. I let out a long, agonizing howl as I gasped for my last breaths.

Memories of my life flashed before my eyes but the Alpha's burning crimson gaze was the last thing I saw before I felt his claws tugging my heart, crushing it inside his own hands...