Rejection.

Isabella's POV.

"I, Darius Amaruk, reject you, Isabella Grey, as my mate!"

I heard him, the man who was supposed to be my mate, spoke the words with contempt drilling in his voice.

A single tear slid down my eyes as I held him to apologize for whatever misdeed I might have done towards him for him to reject me so blatantly.

Just before my hands could connect with his sleeve, pain gripped me in my heart and I had no other option but to clutch the place. I whimpered softly at first, not wanting to show how much pain my wolf and I were in. The only indication that I felt the mating bond loosen between us were the tears that began to stream down my face.

A few seconds later and I couldn't hold it anymore. I rolled on the floor and my tears were already forming a pool around me. When I couldn't hold the intended pain anymore, I let out a loud howl.

I heard Darius and the other pack members who had come to witness the mating rejection held their hands against their ears because of how loud I was.

As werewolves, our senses were ten times more active than those of humans. So, I knew how my howl must have screeched in their ears.

About five minutes later, the pain reduced and another five minutes later, I was myself once again. The only thing that could make me tell I was no longer mated was how hollowed I felt inside of me.

But even with the mating bond gone, my love for Darius remained.

I sat up on the bed of grass which I rolled on earlier and stared straight into the blue eyes of the man that just subjected me to pain and humiliation.

"Darius, how could you be so cruel to me? Despite knowing how much I love you?" I cried.

Darius remained rigid as stone. He didn't move even a muscle to show any remorse. The only reaction I got from him was how his blue eyes swam in the ocean of hatred and disgust.

My heart shattered into several more pieces seeing him that way toward me.

How could the moon goddess make me fall in love with a man as unfeeling as Darius?

But frankly, it wasn't only the moon goddess' fault. I had been in love with Darius for as long as I could remember.

Darius and I grew up together, after all.

His father was the beta of our pack -the Burning Flame Pack, while my father was the gamma. As it was usually with all of the pack's three powerful members' children, Darius and I, along with the alpha's son, Connor, grew up together.

Our parents told us from childhood that it was a way of ensuring that we all understood each other better and we could all successfully take over their roles one day when we were of age.

I began to fall in love with him when I was fifteen years old.

Three days ago, I turned 18 and discovered that he was my mate. My joy knew no bounds and I couldn't wait to tell him.

I should have reasoned that he turned 18 three years ago and he must have known that I was his mate. Stupid me.

"You..." He began, drawing me out of my thoughts. He knelt a knee beside me, his eyes throwing balls of fire at me. "The whole of your existence disgusts me. And you are very stupid for thinking that I would choose someone as ugly as you for my mate." He spat at me.

At that point, I felt I would never recover from all the shock I got from the person who was supposed to be a friend. Or at least, a comrade.

I bowed my head, finally giving in to the roller coaster of emotional distress going on in my mind. Drops of rainfall hit my body at different places and I felt consumed that even the moon goddess was weeping with me.

"If you know what is good for you, get lost from this pack." I still didn't bother to look at him or the people laughing at my horrible predicament. "Unless you are going to remain behind the walls of your room as you always are, ugly bitch." He finished with a bout of laughter.

The rain fell harder and I heard footsteps all around me, indicating that the onlookers were seeking sanctuary from heaven's downpour. I remained at the slot where I sat, my tears mixing with that of the rain.

Suddenly, I felt a hand around me. I looked up in shock to see who had dared the future beta just to help me. My violent bloodshot eyes doubled in size when I saw Connor Edward, the future alpha, smiling at me.

He helped me up and squeezed my shoulders gently before he let go of me. He turned very angry grey eyes on Darius and I saw the other man shiver.

*He's using his alpha aura.* I thought to myself as I shivered slightly too.

"How dare you treat her like trash?!" He stormed, his voice echoing like that of thunder. "How dare you treat the future gamma of this pack like an omega?!" He yelled again.

My eyes teared up some more. I couldn't believe Connor was defending me.

"Connor..." The words died in my throat as I saw him move like the wind just before his fist connected to Darius's cheekbone. "Connor!" I slapped a hand over my mouth as I saw Darius bleeding from both his nose and his mouth. He spat some blood out and a tooth flew out with the blood.

Connor nodded to himself, satisfied with the result he got. He pointed a menacing finger at the future beta. "That was just a warning card."

That said, he entangled his hand around mine and walked away, leaving me with no option but to follow.