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Chapter 2

Chapter 2

REENA

I stood frozen in place as Silverton's cold words echoed in my ears. My heart shattered into a thousand pieces, each one more painful than the last. The ceremony that was supposed to bind us for eternity had turned into a nightmare. I could feel every eye in the room on me, and my wolf, Maya, whimpered in agony inside my mind.

“This can’t be happening,” I whispered, but my voice was barely audible over the murmurs spreading through the crowd.

“Did he really just reject his fated mate?” someone whispered.

“Unbelievable! What kind of Alpha does that?”

Maya growled, her voice filled with pain and confusion. Reena, do something! He's ours! He’s supposed to be our mate!

My legs trembled as I stepped toward Silverton, my voice barely holding together. “Silverton, please... You can’t mean this.”

His blue eyes met mine, but they were cold, devoid of the warmth and love I once thought were there. “I’m Alpha Silverton now,” he said, his tone sharp and final. “I’ve made my decision.”

I could hardly breathe. The weight of his rejection pressed down on my chest, suffocating me. My hands shook as I reached for him one last time, desperate to hold onto any hope. “We’re fated mates, Silverton. You can’t just walk away from that. You can’t—”

“I can, and I just did.” His words were ice, freezing my soul. He pulled back, as if my touch was repulsive. “I was never yours, Reena. I only felt a fleeting attraction, nothing more. You were a convenience.”

I gasped, unable to comprehend the cruelty in his voice. I staggered backward, my legs giving way as I collapsed to my knees. My vision blurred with tears, but I could still make out the faces of those around me—shock, pity, and disbelief.

Maya was screaming inside me, howling in a mix of rage and sorrow. He can’t do this! He’s lying, Reena! Fight for him!

But I was paralyzed, unable to move. The whispers around me grew louder, swirling through the air like poison.

“I can’t believe this…”

“Rejected? In front of the whole pack?”

“Does this mean Emily is going to be Luna?”

I felt the ground spin beneath me as my mind tried to catch up with what had just happened. And then, as if the goddess herself wanted to twist the knife deeper, Emily stepped forward, her face beaming with a smug, triumphant smile.

She sauntered over to Silverton and wrapped her arm around his waist, looking at me as if I was nothing more than an insect beneath her shoe. “Oh, Reena, I’m sorry you had to find out this way,” she said, her voice dripping with mockery. “But Silverton has chosen me now. You really thought he wanted you to be his Luna?”

Maya growled, her anger rippling through me. Traitor! But I couldn’t even form words. The betrayal was too much to process.

Emily leaned closer, her voice low but sharp. “You never stood a chance, darling. It was only a matter of time before Silverton realized who the real Luna was.”

I clenched my fists, trying to hold back the sobs threatening to break free. This couldn’t be real. This had to be a nightmare. But as I stared at Emily, her wicked smile only confirmed the cruel truth.

I stood up shakily, feeling the weight of the pack’s eyes on me. I couldn’t stay here. I had to get out, to run away from this humiliation. I turned and fled, my vision blurred with tears, ignoring the murmurs that followed me out of the room.

Outside, my father was waiting, his face twisted in fury. He had seen it all. He rushed to my side, his strong arms wrapping around me protectively. "Reena, my darling, what happened in there was an outrage!" His voice trembled with anger. "He’s going to pay for this!"

Before I could respond, the reporters descended upon us like vultures, flashing cameras and thrusting microphones in our faces.

"Reena! How do you feel after Alpha Silverton’s public rejection?"

"Did you know about Emily and Silverton’s affair?"

"Do you think you failed as a mate?"

Their questions were cruel and relentless, each one like a dagger to my heart. My father’s grip tightened on my arm, his eyes burning with barely restrained fury. “Leave her alone!” he roared, shoving one of the microphones aside. “My daughter deserves better than this!”

But the reporters wouldn’t back down.

"Is it true that Emily is pregnant with Silverton’s child?" one of them asked, and I felt the world tilt beneath me.

I stumbled back, overwhelmed by the wave of shame and betrayal washing over me. “Dad, please…” I whispered, tugging at his arm. “Let’s just go.”

His jaw clenched, but he nodded. “Get in the car, Reena. We’re leaving.”

As we made our way through the crowd, Emily appeared behind us, her mocking voice following me like a shadow.

"Leaving already, Reena?" she called out, laughing. “I would have thought you’d put up more of a fight for Silverton, but I guess you’re just as weak as I always thought.”

I stopped in my tracks, my body trembling with a mix of anger and sorrow. I wanted to turn around and scream at her, to tell her she was the one who betrayed me, but I couldn’t find the strength. Maya whimpered inside me, too broken to even respond.

My father, however, was a different story. His face twisted into a mask of pure fury. “That’s enough,” he growled, turning toward Emily. “You dare mock my daughter after everything you’ve done?”

“Dad, please,” I begged, pulling him away before things could escalate. “Let’s just leave.”

His eyes were locked on Emily, and I could see the storm brewing behind them. But with a final glance at me, he turned and got into the car.

As we drove away, I collapsed against the seat, tears streaming down my face. Maya was silent, retreating into the darkest corners of my mind. I could feel the weight of everything crashing down on me, suffocating me. I had lost my mate, my best friend, and my dignity—all in one night.

The moment we arrived at the mansion, I rushed inside without a word, bolting for my room. I slammed the door shut and collapsed onto the floor, letting the sobs I had held back finally break free. Everything hurt. My chest, my heart, my soul—it all felt shattered beyond repair.

I curled up on the floor, clutching my chest as if I could hold the pieces together. The pain was unbearable, and Maya wasn’t there to help me this time. She was too heartbroken, too defeated.

I don’t know how long I lay there, sobbing uncontrollably, before the knocking started. It was rapid, insistent.

“Reena!” Jacob’s voice called from the other side of the door. “Reena, you need to come out!”

I wiped my eyes, trying to compose myself enough to stand. I walked over to the door, opening it to see Jacob’s pale, distressed face.

“Jacob? What is it?” I asked, my voice hoarse from crying.

His eyes locked onto mine, filled with urgency. “It’s your father,” he said, his words rushed. “He’s been arrested.”

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