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Chapter one: I do not love you

ANNA'S POV

"I do not love you, Anna!" Lucas' words boomed out, throughout the large wall while my heart shook. I felt like I was hearing things as I staggered.

"What did you say?" I asked, just to be sure. As I looked around, nervously, I felt conscious of myself, more than I ever was. Everyone's eyes were on us as we stood in the center stage. But deep down within me, I was in turmoil.

"I do not love you!! You are my mate but I think the Moon Goddess made a mistake!" He thundered, in loud and cruel tone. His cruel voice echoed through the whole hall and Pack members were an audience to my misery. My brain went into overdrive.

I couldn't believe it! My eyes watered, as my heart shook.

The Moon Goddess had finally blessed me with someone who would love me and now this?

Why am I always unfortunate?

As I looked at Lucas who had an unremorseful expression on his face, I wasn't willing to let my mate go!

Immediately I spoke up, in a desperate tone, "No! You are my mate! You are supposed to love me! Isn't that the promise we made to each other?" I yelled as I pointed at him, with red eyes. My heart was torn apart by the second, and I couldn't believe that Lucas would do this to me.

However, he looked back at me with eyes filled with pity and disgust.

But then I didn't care! He just has to be mine. Swiftly, I moved, just to touch him and make him recall the love we shared. We had proclaimed love to each other and now, he switched up all of a sudden.

To my dismay, Lucas was quick to step back, in disgust as he didn't want me touching him.

"Please..." I said, out loud in a shaky tone as my knees went weak. Tears poured from my eyes like an ocean as I realized that he may really not want me, anymore.

"Lucas, please don't do this to me." I pleaded, as I fell to my knees and then held onto my burning chest. The chatters and murmurs of mockery, from everyone around flowed into my ears and I felt like disappearing from the world.

"Woah, so she turned out to be his mate, huh? I never thought she would hit it big!" I heard someone say as my lips, quivered.

I wanted to yell at everyone to stop as my body shook on the bare floor.

I couldn't believe that Lucas would turn his back on me.

Two days ago, we found out we were mates! It was the most beautiful day of my life and we had made love.

I could finally be with someone who would love me dearly. However, my hopes were thrashed at the mating ceremony!

At this gathering, Lucas was supposed to introduce me to the Pack members as his mate! He is the Alpha's son and he has the obligation of getting a mate, really quickly!

It was a blessing in disguise to be his mate, as he was sought after by almost all females.

However, that blessing had turned into a thorn in my flesh. Why would he give me so much hope and then let me fall down to depths of hell before everyone?

Why?!!

As the chatters and murmurs continued, I realized I couldn't just let things play out like this. I needed to take what was mine. I was strong and independent! Life with my family had caused me to rely on myself, and I craved love so much. I couldn't let it go, after knowing what it feels like. Once more, I was pumped to plead for his love, even though he had looked at me with so much disgust.

I was already miserable after he told me, he didn't love me. What would happen if he rejected me? My brain was already on overdrive and it went into a state of stress, as I reasoned he was likely to reject me, completely.

I realized I wouldn't be able to live if he did!

"Lucas! Please!" I said, in a pleading tone as I crawled toward him. Immediately, I looked up at him, but now there were two faces looking down at me.

What was going on here?! Emily? When did she get here? I was so lost in thoughts and I hadn't noticed her come in.

"Lucas, what..." I was about to ask him, what my stepsister, Emily, was doing beside him. However, I was cut off cruelly, as she looked at me, with a knowing smile.

"I, Lucas Darwin, reject you, Annie Marie Jones, as my mate!" Lucas declared before everyone and my body went still for a moment.

I couldn't process what was happening for a moment. But the burning pain that stabbed through my chest told me what was happening.

Within me, I felt like a bond was severed and it brought me so much grief mixed with pain and anguish.

I saw stars!

"No..." I said, shakily as I held onto my chest. My body burned as I felt something snap within me.

My wolf howled in my mind, in pain and agony as our connection with our mate, severed.

"Why?" I asked, in a shaky tone as I looked at Lucas and Emily. He had gone quiet but Emily looked at me, with a devilish smirk on her.

"He is mine, Anna! Don't beat yourself over it." She said to me and my eyes widened in shock.

"What? Lucas can never be yours! He is mine!" I fired back, in anger and disbelief. I never thought Emily would betray me like this.

I had joyfully shared the news of being Lucas' mate with her and now, she stabbed me in the back, like this.

"Lucas, please say something..." I pleaded, looking up at him. However, the look in his eyes, showed where I stood. It was glaringly obvious to me.

"I want Emily, not you, Anna." He declared, as he looked at my stepsister with so much love.

How did we come to this? How did he come to love her in such short notice?

Gracefully, Emily let out soft chuckles, enjoying the sudden spotlight and attention. Everyone looked at her, with so much adoration and respect. They couldn't wait to start bowing to her!

Everything she was enjoying, was supposed to be mine!

The attention should be mine! The adoration, the respect, shoule be mine! Above all, Lucas should be mine! But I had nothing!

Slowly, she looked down at me and started to whisper.

"Do you think you are worthy of being mated to the Alpha's son? Huh?" Emily said to me as she looked down at me, with disgust.

My mate's arm wound around her waist, showing his decision. She looked so beautiful and soft and she was the perfect female for any strong male.

While I was a stark contrast to her, I was like a diamond, buried in an haystack. No one was willing, to brush up or admire my hidden beauty which I wasn't even willing to show.

I was rejected cruelly while my mate succumbed to Emily's charms.

I was hurt and slowly dying, inwardly. I was alone and helpless.

__

"Where is she?" There were loud shouts and bangs and I jolted up from the bed.

"What the fuck is going on?!" I screamed, in my head as I stood up from the bed.

I had locked myself up, in my bedroom for days after my shameful rejection.

But then I didn't understand what was going on around the house.

"Where is Emily?" I heard an unknown voice and I shook, in fear. The voice brought chills down my spine and I took a step back.

What does the unknown person want with Emily?

For days, she had not been back home after she was chosen by Lucas.

My parents were aware of their union and they were in support.

I was helpless as no one even cared about me. Why then should I care about what was going on?

"Let's stay by ourselves, Wolfie." I said to my wolf and she purred. Ever since the rejection, it had been staying really quiet. We were both hurt and it would take a lot of time to heal.

However, before I could get on the bed, there was a loud knock on the door. My head snapped to look at the door, in anger.

"Who the fuck is that?" I said, in a low and angry tone as I sniffed the air. My parents' scents were mixed with a number of other scents and they were all concentrated at my door.

What was going on? I thought they were all here for Emily and not me!

"You! Get out here! Now!" I heard my father's voice as he thundered and the knocks increased.

Immediately, I dashed toward the door and opened up. My father and my stepmother burst into the room as well as a number of unfamiliar guards.

"What is going on here?" I asked out loud as I looked at them all, in alarm. I started to step back, slowly.

"Is she Emily?" One of the guards asked, and I shook. It was the unknown voice from earlier.

I was about to say no to his answer but my stepmother cut me off, immediately.

"Yes, she is!" She answered and my head snapped to look at her.

"What? I'm not..." I started to say but I was cut off, again.

"Get ready! Your mating ceremony to the prince is in two days!" The guard announced and I shook, in disbelief.

What was going on?

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