Rejected

ZEPHYRINE's POV.

I stood frozen, my mind reeling in shock.

"Cursed!" someone shouted, and the word was taken up by others, echoing through the clearing. "She's cursed, she's cursed, she's cursed!

I felt like I'd gotten the wind sucked out of me, that he had reached in and sucked everything from my insides out. The words cut deep, and a part of me couldn't help but wonder one question: Was it me? Am I cursed to have people around me die under these circumstances that are so mysterious?

“She killed Cormac! She doesn’t deserve our alpha.”

And then came the mention of Cormac's name, another wave of pain with the utterance of it, for that wound was raw and their words salt in it.

The crowd began to chant, a rising cry to make Elwes check again: "Check again! Check again!" they were calling, faces twisted with disgust.

Ryker slowly rose, a calm voice slicing through the chaos. "Enough," he said, his gaze sweeping the room. "Elwes, please check again."

Elwes nodded pale-faced and began to study the ancient texts once more. Several were holding their breath as the room fell silent to await the outcome.

As Elwes worked, the crowd was starting to split, some of them moving to one side of the clearing, others to the opposite. I felt a sense of vulnerability growing inside me as I realized that I was being slowly forced toward the middle of the clearing, toward the alpha and the heads of the Council.

The faces of all the people in the crowd turned to me with suspicion and hostility. This feeling of a timid animal, cornered, with no escape route came over me.

Finally, Elwes looked up, his eyes locking on mine. "The outcome is still the same," he said with a firm tone. "Zephyrine Blackwood is the alpha's mate."

Chaos rose out again in the crowd as their voices rose in shouts and arguments. I did nothing but stand, frozen, as pack leaders began to close in around me.

Ryker took one step forward, this tower-like structure with me. The next second, I felt small, insignificant, in rags next to what was almost exquisite. Unapproachable, his eyes locked on mine, his unreadable features seeming to pierce clear into my soul.

"Look at me, Zephyrine," he said softly, his voice low, even and smooth.

I hesitated, not quite knowing what to do with myself, but something in his tone had me comply. I lifted my eyes to his; a shiver ran down my spine as our gazes met.

"Did you hear what Elwes said?" Ryker asked. His voice was calm yet laced with authority.

I nodded my head, my voice barely above a whisper. "Y-yes."

Ryker's face didn't show any expression , but I saw the flicker of disdain in his eyes. "Good," he said, voice smooth. "Because let me make one thing clear: I reject you, Zephyrine Blackwood, as my mate."

Gasps and murmurs exploded through the crowd, shock and excitement etched upon each face. I felt the gut punch, like the air had been knocked out of me.

Ryker's voice rose, carrying across the clearing. "I have a duty to this pack, and I will not be swayed by some curse ridden omega who has been rejected by her own mother. My love, my life is dedicated to the well-being of our pack, and I will not risk anything for a lowly omega who is likely to bring me nothing but death and destruction."

His words cut deep, each word a precision strike aimed at my heart. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of shame and humiliation, the crowd's eyes upon me like a weight crushing me.

Ryker's voice now laced with disdain, "You are a stain on the honor of our pack, Zephyrine. A reminder of the weakness and foolishness that can bring us down. I will not be party to such a union. I reject you, now and forever."

Murmurs shot into cheers and clapping, faces full of approval and admiration at Ryker's words, while I stood frozen on my feet, my heart just shredded into a million pieces as Ryker turned his back to me and simply walked away, leaving me to face the pack's scorn and rejection.

I started to leave, my eyes welling up with tears from the shame and humiliation, until finally, a person was in the way, extended a leg, and it caught my foot and I tripped. I hit the ground hard, feeling a scrape of skin across the hard, rough surface.

The pack erupted into laughter and jeerings. A wave of shame washed over me as my face burned in embarrassment.

That was it; I had had enough. I scrambled to my feet, my heart heavy with the weight of their rejection. I knew I had to get out of there-to leave the pack and its cruelty behind.

I turned and ran, feet pounding the earth as I fled into the forest. The laughter and shouts of the pack faded behind me, but I dared not look back. I just kept running, my heart racing with fear and shame.

The instant I burst through the trees, relief washed over me. Finally, free of the pack's toxic influence. But it wasn't going to last.

No sooner had I stepped out of the pack's safe space than a figure flashed past me, his speed and agility sending a shiver down my spine. I spun around, eyes scanning the trees, but no one was there.

It was as if the figure had vanished into thin air. But I knew what I'd seen. Someone-or something-had been watching me, waiting for me to leave the pack's protection.

A cold shiver ran down my spine, the sudden realization that I was not alone. I was vulnerable, exposed to whatever dangers lay in the forest. That thing which had just overcome me was swift-too swift for me to catch.