Chapter 2: A Decision

Lyra's POV

I gasped softly, being careful not to hit anything as the shock from the sudden bond I felt was alarming.

Then I waited expectantly with bated breath.

This afternoon was not my imagination— he had looked at me in a way that showed he cared and possibly found me attractive. Maybe he even found my feistiness endearing.

Alpha Kade's eyes narrowed at me slightly, a look of confusion flickering across his face only briefly. "You..." He began in a fairly, still assessing me with a look bearing semblance to disgust. He stood up slowly, twirling the wine in his glass. "Are you my mate?"

The room went deathly silent.

The music paused, partners dancing with one another stilled mid-step, the sound of cutlery scraping dishes ceased, and all eyes turned to face us.

"Alpha Kade?" His Beta, who sat close to him at the table, questioned. "Did we all hear right?"

"You did," Alpha Kade answered. "And I, Alpha Kade, reject you..." He trailed off, not knowing my name.

What did I expect?

"Lyra," I said timidly.

"I, Alpha Kade, reject you, Lyra, as my mate. I shall not allow you, who is not of noble blood, to become my Luna."

I nodded and continued serving the drinks.

"When I speak to you, you acknowledge it," he said in a gruff voice, stopping my hand from setting another drink down.

"What will you have me say, Alpha?" I asked him, trying to fight the tears threatening to spill out of my eyes.

It was hard to act like it didn't hurt, but the last thing I wanted was for myself to appear weak in front of the whole pack.

"Accept the rejection you lowlife," he hissed.

"I, Lyra... Accept your rejection," I muttered.

The moment the words left my mouth, I felt something snap within me— like branches breaking off a tree. I swallowed hard, struggling to keep my composure. My heart twisted painfully in my chest like it was a wet cloth someone was trying to wring water out of.

Snickers echoed through the room, fingers pointing at me while they whispered all sorts of things to mock me.

"I'm sure she thought she had a chance," someone laughed.

"Imagine such a lowly servant becoming our Luna? The moon goddess forbids it."

"I heard she has not even wolfed out," a servant whispered to another.

I dropped the tray on the table and ran out, unable to stop the tears from trailing down my cheeks.

This was by far the worst birthday I had ever had. My life had never known anything like joy before, but this experience where I could feel the pain seeping into every fibre of my being... It could not compare to anything.

After today, I knew I would become a target to more people, and I would not be able to bear the shame and pain of being the Alpha's rejected mate.

I had no idea why I had even deluded myself into thinking he could accept me. Noble people got together, and lowlifes got together.

I sighed and wiped my face, running into the servant quarters. The cold night's air bit my skin harshly.

Stepping into the small room I shared with another servant girl, I fell to the floor by the door and sobbed.

What was the essence of even being here? Slaving away everyday with nothing to show for it. Getting bullied everyday for the colour of my eyes and the misfortune of not having parents like any of it had been my fault.

With annoyance, I stood up and left the room, deciding I was done with this.

++++**++

"Oh dear," I mumbled to myself, shivering and standing at the forest edge. "Note to self, don't take decisions in anger."

I hugged myself tightly, but the thin fabric of my maid uniform offered no warmth. Leaving the palace without anything on me has been a mistake, but I could not dare go back now.

Even if I did, the moment Alpha Kade sighted me, he would send me away.

A prickling sensation of hurt clawed at my insides as my mind replayed the moment in the hall.

The night was quiet, allowing the sounds of the forest surrounding me to be amplified. Rustling in the underbrush, the sounds of crickets, an owl hooting nearby— they were normal sounds but eerie to listen to when my surroundings were deserted with only the tall trees standing guard, their leaves whispering to me as if to comfort me for my troubles.

I took a step forward hesitantly, the cold ground rustling beneath my bare foot as my footwear had gotten stuck in a thicket earlier, and so I had to abandon it.

The more I moved, I noticed the smell in the air changed from something earthy and damp to a musky smell tinged with the coppery smell of blood. I stilled, the hair on my body rising. My stomach growled slightly, reminding me that I had not eaten anything since the early minute shift.

My hunger was quickly replaced by unease when I heard a rustle different from what I had been hearing. It wasn't the playful sound of rodents running through the underbrush or the wind passing through the leaves— this sounded more like someone moving carefully on the grass.

I swallowed hard, my eyes darting around the forest for signs of anything dangerous, but there was none.

"Okay, Lyra, you need to stop being paranoid," I breathed. "You just have to—ah—" I yelped in fear, the sound of a twig snapping startling me, followed by a low growl that seemed too close. I squinted ahead to make out what was in the distance, but there was nothing to see.

Suddenly, a hot breath fanned my neck. I whirled around sharply, and standing a few inches from me, two glowing red eyes stared back at me.

I was facing a rogue with its canines bared, ready to dig into my skin.

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