Rejected By My Mate, Chosen By The Lycan King

POV: Lena

I thought this would be the most special night of my life. I had longed to finally meet my mate, but none of that happened.

Now, I just listen as my father — the former Beta of the pack — argues with the former Alpha and his son — the current Alpha — about my expulsion.

The pack around us remains silent, and it doesn't take long for the she-wolves who coveted my place to start mocking me.

'She is your mate, Ryner. Expelling her would leave her unprotected. There are too many renegades and barbarians out there.

I need a strong mate, a Moon who can protect her people. Her wolf hasn't awakened yet, so she's of no use to the pack or to me.'

My mate's words stab my heart like a sharp dagger. Tears want to spill out, but I won't show them my weakness.

'Ryner, please. She's my daughter. Think about the two years you spent waiting for her.’

I clench my fists in anger as I watch my father kneel before my mate and plead for me. It's obvious that he's already made his decision.

He no longer wants me in his life because I wasn't blessed with a wolf.

Two years of waiting for me, of saying he loved me no matter what and making promises that are now empty words.

‘Dad, it's OK. Don't worry. I'll be fine,’ I said, almost breaking down at the end.

I took a step forward, mustering the courage to look him in the eye. Those eyes that used to look at me with love now looked at me with disgust and contempt.

He was going to reject me and, even though I had never prepared for this, I was going to accept it with my head held high.

'I, Ryner, Alpha of the Moon Valley Pack, reject you as my mate. From this moment on, Luna, you will no longer be recognised as one of us, and you are therefore expelled from the pack.'

I clenched my fists at my sides, closed my eyes and bit my lip so hard that I tasted blood.

The pain was suffocating, but I was sure it would pass.

After a few minutes, I straightened up and opened my eyes again. I had to end this.

‘I, Lena, accept your rejection.’

When I said those words, I felt an enormous weight lift from within me. The pain passed immediately, but I couldn't say the same for Ryner.

He fell to his knees, clutching his chest; his veins stood out on his red skin. He was gasping for breath and bleeding from his nose.

Panic spread through the entire herd. I stood there, stunned, watching the blood that was now coming out of his ears.

My father was screaming beside me and there was a roar in the background, but none of that mattered.

Seeing Ryner suffer like that hurt, even though he had himself condemned me to live without a partner and expelled me from my home.

Strong hands grabbed me and began to drag me towards the cells.

They threw me inside with such force that I hit my head on the floor and was stunned for a moment.

“You will be executed for this! You did something to my son, and I swear I will make you pay.'

The gate slammed shut and his footsteps receded.

I caught sight of the moonlight coming through a small crack at the top of the door.

I crawled over to it and lay there under the faint light. It seemed as if the moon outside was watching over me, looking through that small opening.

'What did I do to not deserve your blessing, Goddess?' I whispered to her. I closed my eyes, and my pain went away in the darkness.

The next day, I woke up with a terrible headache.

Leaning against the damp wall, I felt my stomach churning from the smell of rot and human waste.

I couldn't believe that my life had changed so much in the space of a moment.

The whole day passed and still no one came to give me water.

As night fell, a loud noise at the entrance caught my attention.

I stood up, clinging tightly to the bars as I tried to figure out what was happening.

Everything was silent until the creaking of the door echoed off the walls.

I heard someone's hurried footsteps approaching, and just a few seconds later, my dad was standing in front of me.

'We have to get you out of here, daughter. They're going to execute you tonight.'