CHAPTER 4 REJECTING

SAFFRON'S P.O.V

A few hours later, I awoke with a blissful feeling fluttering inside. I still felt the burning sensation everywhere he touched me. My body felt so alive and aware. I moved to get up realizing something heavy was across my body. I looked down to see his arm holding me tightly. When I tried to wiggle from his grasp he only tightened his hold.

"Mad, I have to pee," I said, trying to move his arm.

"5 more minutes, Mom." He said in a sleeping state, making me laugh.

When I laughed his head shot up and his eyes were open, very alert.

"Saffron. Shit, sorry. Am I pinning you down?" He asked while quickly removing his arm.

"Just a little," I said as I started to slide off the edge of the bed.

I realized I was totally naked, not that I was embarrassed but I grabbed the sheet covering my body anyway.

"Don't want me watching that perfect body walking away?" Maddox's voice asked. I turned around to see his eyebrows wiggling, making me laugh.

"Just hiding what you did to it," I said jokingly.

I still had small imprints from his hands on my body with love bites cascading all around that my wolf healing hadn't corrected yet.

"Ahh Show it with pride," Maddox exclaimed.

Deciding at that moment to drop the sheet and dart to the bathroom. My ass jiggling in the process. I could hear Maddox let out a groan and a small growl as footsteps pounded behind me. I left the door creaked open so he could enter. I quickly relieved myself before starting the shower, waiting for the perfect temperature, and getting in. The water cascaded down my achy body making it feel amazing all over again. A moment later Maddox slides in the shower behind me. Pulling my ass firmly against him. He started kissing my neck over my mark making my body quiver.

"Let me treat you like the queen you are." He said as he grabbed the shampoo, pouring some on my head and rubbing my scalp.

My eyes rolled to the back of my head at the blissful feeling of being catered to. Once we were done, I got out and dried myself before putting on some of Maddox's clothes. At the moment, I hadn't thought about grabbing clothes before coming to his room, but that was okay. This was better.

Maddox then entered his closest before speaking again.

"Oh, Mom is planning a celebration party. It was supposed to be for your birthday but now it's kind of a combo of your birthday and well becoming the new Luna."

His words sink in. Shit, I was the new Luna. I had prepared all my life for the possibility of being mated to an Alpha but not once did I really sit and process what it may mean.

After a while, Maddox went to his office and I headed to my own room to get ready for the party. It was being held in the forest at the lake, my favorite spot.

Upon entering the room Charisma was sitting on my bed with a huge smile plastered on her face.

"Hey, sister. I can say that now, for real!" She said, jumping up with excitement.

"Hey, bitch." I said playfully.

"Ahh come on, you're not still upset about last night are you?"

"No, of course not."

"HOLY SHIT BALLS, YOU'RE MARKED!" She then screamed. making me smile widely.

"I'd say, tell me everything. But please don't cause ew." She then said, making me laugh.

We talked for a while while getting ready before we headed down to the forest. When arriving, the party was already in full swing. People were splashing in the lake while others were drinking and singing to the music. Everyone was so carefree.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" My mom screamed, pulling me to her.

My dad and brother came up next. "Happy birthday, Squirt." My father said while patting my head.

"Hey adult, wanna beer?" My brother asked, popping one open.

Luckily we are permitted to drink at 18. Since werewolves have such a high tolerance for alcohol, getting drunk was nearly impossible. So they allowed us to partake at 18.

The sky's colors were beginning to turn darker with the red hues shining out beneath the clouds.

A howl in the distance caught everyone's attention.

"I just wanted to gather everyone for a moment to wish my beautiful mate, your Luna a happy 18th birthday!" Maddox hollered out, making everyone go wild.

Everyone began to mingle again once Maddox finished his sentence. Suddenly an eerie silence crept across the forest. Maddox quickly looked around before I even realized what was happening.

Screams erupted all over as men emerged from the trees. Strange men were quickly grabbing innocent women and children that were standing near the tree line.

A huge smokey gray wolf all of a sudden appeared. His eyes narrowed in on me, something familiar lurked within his eyes.

Maddox let out a roaring growl when the huge gray wolf launched himself forward, attacking Maddox. While the other strangers began attacking other nearby members.

Within minutes we were surrounded, each strange man stood a few feet apart in a circle surrounding us. The way they stood made it feel like a barrier. Each man had a hostage, holding knives against the throats of the innocent helpless women and children. My chest was tightening at what was about to happen.

Maddox was fighting fiercely when the wolf threw him, making his body hit the ground hard.

Ginger whimpered in my mind at the sight of her mate lying on the ground motionless and bloody. He wasn't dead, but he was severely hurt.

Suddenly the gray wolf transformed, leaving the man I hated the most in his place.

"Malik," I whispered angrily.

"I told you I'd be back for you, dollface." He said in a low scary tone.

"Let them go, they've done nothing to deserve this!" I screamed, looking around at all the innocent members his pack held knives to.

"No problem, but the only way that will happen is if you agree to come with me." His scary voice said.

"No." I spat out disgustedly.

"Fine." He said, lifting his hand. A woman next to him started to scream as the man who held the knife dug into the flesh of her neck.

"STOP!"

"You know what I want. It will stop when you agree." He said more aggressively this time.

"Fine! Just let them go!"

"Perfect. Now reject your mate."

"NO!" Maddox, Vincent, and my father, Javier all roared at once.

"If you promise to leave and not kill anyone then I will do as you ask," I said, trying to bargain for the lives of all the innocent people here.

"Deal. No harm will come to this pack if you come with me as my chosen contracted mate."

"Okay. Fine." I said as tears began to freely fall.

I had all I could ever want, the perfect mate, the perfect life, and just like that it was ripped away from me. As I said, fate could be cruel.