Chapter 2 My mate's new mate

"No!" I stood up on shaky feet. I tried to climb the platform again.

"You dare to challenge your alpha?" It was Aeon who attacked me. I paid him no attention.

"I waited for you for three whole years. I was all alone, waiting for you, my mate, and the goddess was so kind as to finally bring you back to me. Why do you reject me now?"

"I have said it before; I came back for my people, for this pack. I didn't come for you."

"Then I mean nothing to you?"

"You were my friend, we shared good memories but that is all in the past, grow up and move on. I have responsibilities to hundreds of people."

"I have done nothing wrong to deserve this from you. Even though I am an Omega, I refuse to be treated this way. I do not accept your rejection, Alpha Noah Turner." I added his title as an afterthought.

There was a gasp of surprise from the crowd and everyone began to talk at the same time, and they all looked at me with unfriendly eyes. I turned on my heels and ran away from the pack house.

"I do not wish to do what you are asking of me."

"This isn't about what you want, Noah. It is about what is good for the pack."

"I agree with Ryder. Things really went bad in your absence. You don't need to be told how bad it is; you can see it for yourself." It was Senior Gamma Dean.

I pressed myself against the wall of the workshop in the pack house, where they were standing and talking. I hadn't meant to eavesdrop. I had come looking for Noah.

Looking straight at the platform where we were gathered earlier today, I could still hear the hundreds of voices shouting and clamoring after Noah rejected me, and I refused to accept his rejection. I also ignored the pain in my heart that threatened to kill me. I must speak to him, I had to understand why he humiliated me like that before everyone.

Tonight, I had decided to come back to the pack house. I needed to speak with my fated mate alone. I knew something wasn't quite right.

"So, an alliance through marriage is the only way to save our pack?"

"Yes, Alpha Noah.

There is no game to hunt and our people are sick due to poor living conditions. If you marry his daughter, Alpha Callihan Martins would give us all the help we need."

The mention of that name caused my heart to sink into my belly.

Noah ran his hand through his now-loosened hair.

"Think of it this way; it is a double win for you. The lady in question is beautiful, and her father is powerful. We need his influence to reinforce our pack."

"There is no other way, is there?

"Absolutely none, every Alpha must one day have his Luna. Alpha Callihan's daughter is your Luna. Come morning, the whole pack will know this decision of yours." Beta Ryder ended.

I was done listening. There was only one Alpha Callihan, and I only hoped he wasn't the same one I knew. I retired to my shack at the borders.

Back in my unkind bed, I couldn't sleep well that night and I tossed and turned till dawn. Noah couldn't have rejected me for whom I was thinking.

I arrived very early at the packing house the following morning. I didn't sleep very well all night. I was getting from people today. I wasn't looking my best, nor was I feeling it.

Noah was there with a tall, black-haired woman.

"I hear she is the chosen Luna."

"I heard the same, her father is quite powerful too."

"As it should be, just as it should be. He has no business with the lowlife girl."

"Poor thing, the orphaned girl, she got rejected."

"It is what you get for trying to be what you're not. She is an Omega; she has no business with the Alpha."

"The girl dreams."

People whispered all around me. I had my face hooded, so I went unrecognized. I walked away.

Noah and the girl had their arms around each other, and I was irritated.

"Turn around and let me see who you are." I wished. He was kissing her. I was so irritated that I would have thrown up if my stomach wasn't so empty.

My fears were soon confirmed. She finally turned around. It was Laila Martins, my sworn enemy and the only person I hoped to be able to kill someday.

"Laila! Laila ?" I was mad with anger.

I wondered what she was doing here.

"Oh no, no, no." I clasped my hands and prayed silently to the moon goddess. Noah couldn't be doing what I feared.

Noah cleared his throat, and all was silent. He took the stage and stretched out his arm to Laila, who joined him.

"I have a very important announcement to make."

"Ride on, Alpha!" Someone shouted from the crowd.

"In accordance with the laws of our kind, it pleases me to introduce to you my chosen mate and future Luna, Laila Martin, daughter of Alpha Callihan Martins of the Black River pack."

This announcement was greeted by howling and clapping. I couldn't see why they were happy.

"We will be married in two days."

"No, " I whispered to myself.

"This can't be happening to me."

Laila was the one person I have promised to kill one day in the future. My fated mate was rejected me and would now be marrying the same girl who killed my parents in one day.