Chapter 5: 5: Rejection

ARIEL

My entire world splits in half the moment Xavier says those words to me.

~“I reject you as my destined mate.”~

The pain is so much worse than anything the Hunters ever did to me.

It feels like a thousand wolfsbane injections in my chest all at once—like Xavier has just reached into my chest and ripped it wide open.

All of my dreams of having the perfect mate, little pups, growing old together—everything disappears.

The loss of it all is so terrible I just want to curl up into a ball and stay there forever.

But Xavier isn’t about to give me that kindness.

“Warriors! What are you doing just standing there?” he yells out. “Get the prisoner up. We’ll bring her to the pack border to make sure she doesn’t try anything else that could endanger our Luna.”

My former squadmates look around hesitantly, unsure of what to do.

He’s basically telling them to choose between their warrior oath and our friendship.

“NOW!” he barks, and they scramble into action.

I feel James’s arm gently help me up to my feet.

He looks at me apologetically. I can tell this is killing him inside.

“Thanks,” I say, smiling at him weakly. “But I can take it from here.”

My whole body is on fire, and I can barely stand, but I don’t want to look any weaker than I already do.

I manage to take a few steps by myself.

The faces of my entire pack stare at me. Some are filled with shame, some look heartbroken, and some look furious.

But there’s nothing anyone can do to help me, out of fear that Xavier will punish them too.

I’m truly alone right now.

It feels like even the Goddess has abandoned me. She said she had a plan for me, but if this is it, then I’m ~fucked.~

I just need to leave.

To get away from all of this and find someplace where I can be alone and cry.

I stagger farther, each step an agony.

All I have to do is make it to the road behind the pack house, which leads toward the forest and the border.

“Wait!” I hear a shrill voice call out behind me.

I turn, surprised to see Amy running after me.

Tears are in her eyes, sending her heavy mascara down her cheeks. She throws her arms around me and nearly knocks me to the ground.

“Amy…,” I whisper cautiously, eyeing Xavier as he watches us. “What are you doing?”

“Here. It’s not much, but it’s all I can do.” She hands me a backpack, probably filled with food and other essentials.

It’s sweet, but I doubt it will last long out there.

“Xavier is going to be furious…” I whisper.

“Fuck him!” she says, way too loud. “I can’t believe he’s making you leave. You just got here.”

“On the bright side, I don’t think I could’ve lived here with Natalia as my Luna,” I say, trying to lighten the mood a little. “That might be a worse form of torture than what the hunters put me through.”

Amy isn’t amused.

“Ariel, this is serious! You’re about to be a rogue!”

“I know, I’m trying not to think about that,” I reply, a knot twisting in my stomach. “Goodbye, Amy.”

She hugs me again and squeezes as hard as she can.

I can’t believe this could be the last time I ever see my best friend.

“That’s enough! Keep moving, prisoner,” Xavier yells, and Amy backs off, sticking her tongue out and flipping him off when his back is turned.

~Goddess, I’ll miss her so much.~

I try to fight a fresh wave of tears as I walk away from the rest of the pack and through some trees, toward the main road.

I can hear Xavier’s and Natalia’s footsteps behind me.

I just wish they’d leave me alone. But Natalia wouldn’t want to miss the show.

“We wanted to welcome you home, sister,” she says with no sympathy, “but, as usual, you couldn’t control your wildness. There are rules in a pack. Maybe you forgot them while you were away.”

I glance back, ready to say something, even if it gets me killed, but the sight of Xavier and her is so painful that I wince and turn away.

I step onto the concrete, gathering my strength for the long walk out of the pack territory, but then see something covered by a tarp off on the shoulder of the road.

And my dad is standing right there in front of it.

My heart leaps when I see him.

Thank the Goddess I’ll get to say goodbye to him too.

He looks at Xavier anxiously, and then back at me.

“Ariel, I know things are dark right now. But I have something to give you. You’ll need it more than me, anyway,” he says, swiftly pulling the tarp and letting it fall to the ground.

My jaw drops open when I see what’s underneath.

~Dad’s motorcycle!~

“Dad…I can’t take your bike. You’ve worked on it since I was a kid. It’s your pride and joy!” I say, gasping.

“No, little warrior, ~you’re~ my pride and joy. And this isn’t a negotiation. The bike is yours now and that’s that.”

I run to my dad and embrace him, tears staining my cheeks.

“I’m going to miss you so much.”

“I’ll miss you too, Ariel, but don’t give up hope. You’re stronger than anyone I know. If anyone can make it out there, it’s you.”

After seeing my dad, I’m filled with a newfound strength.

I swing my legs over the motorcycle and put my backpack inside the saddlebag.

My heart is pounding as I’m about to ride off into the unknown, but at least I have a better chance now.

I glance over one more time toward my squadmates.

“Warriors! Stand at attention!” James yells out as I turn on the engine and prepare to leave. “Salute!”

Every member of my former squadron salutes me despite Xavier’s furious look as I pull the motorcycle onto the road.

My heart hurts from how much this means to me.

I fight back my tears.

I’ve already cried enough today.

“Thank you, James. Thank you, all of you. I’ll miss you so much.”

“Don’t give up on that dream of becoming a warrior, Ariel. You’re the best fighter I’ve ever seen,” James says.

“Not much chance of that, now that I don’t have a pack,” I say sadly.

Xavier glares at his pack.

“That’s enough! She does not deserve this respect. She attacked our Luna. She is a prisoner! A rogue! A dangerous criminal!”

“We both know that’s not true, Xavier,” says another voice.

A ~familiar~ deep voice.

Xavier growls and turns around furiously, ready to punish the source of the voice. “I’m an alpha! Who dares ignore my proper title?”

Someone steps out of the shadows, and my heart leaps out of my chest.

It’s the rogue who pulled me from the edge of death after I escaped the hunters. Those days after the escape blur together in a haze of pain. I’d forgotten just how striking he is—tall and powerfully built, with the kind of presence that demands attention. His blond hair catches the light, and his forest-green eyes are sharp as they look right at me.

Then I notice a ripple pass through the crowd—wolves lowering their heads, every single one bowing to him.

~What the hell?~

“Alpha Alex of Royal Pack and your ~king~, that’s who speaks,” Alex says to Xavier.

He’s not a rogue, he’s the king! And I spoke to him like he was a commoner.

Oh, yeah, and I grabbed his throat ready to rip it out. I’m lucky he didn’t have me killed.

Xavier looks as stunned as I am for a moment, but then quickly recovers. He straightens his shoulders and glares at Alex. His lip curls up with a snarl. “I have every right to cast out this rogue,” he snaps, his voice laced with defiance.

“I’ve always questioned your judgment, but casting this one aside confirms it,” Alex says. “Not seeing what she is—how special she is—that’s yet another mistake, Xavier. But your loss is my gain. She’s a part of MY pack now.” Alex takes a step forward, his gaze locked on Xavier, and says, “She’s MINE now.”

My head is spinning.

~Is this really happening?~

~Did the KING really come for me?~

Xavier growls. His fists clench, hiding his retracted claws.

“Back down, Xavier,” Alex growls loudly, “and ~kneel~ before your king.”

Xavier’s back arches and he flexes his arms and shoulders, seeming to grow bigger before our eyes. He hates that he must kneel, hates that the king is claiming what he once called his. I can see with brutal clarity that he would rather see me lying dead at his feet than surrender me to another man.

~What the hell is Xavier thinking?~

He’s challenging the king’s dominance.

There’s only one way that ends.