CHAPTER 03

AVA:

I have been in this room crying my eyes out for three days and I have seen no food, water, and worse still, no Damien. I wonder if this is how bad he hates me.

I came out and got some food into my system before going back into the room again.

Stupid me, if Damien comes begging right now, I would certainly forgive him, I just wanted him despite his shortcomings.

Someone knocked on the door and I went to open it and to my disappointment, it was a pack warrior. I nodded at him to state his reason for being in my abode.

"Good morning Luna, Alpha Damien summons you in his chamber now." He said and I tried to read his expression but it was so far concealed, just as warriors were trained to be.

I decided to go and find out for myself why he summoned me. The normal me wouldn't go to him though, but the rule in Blue Crest is that the Alpha's word is law.

If I refused to do as he said, my door would be kicked down and the next minute, I might find myself kneeling before him. So because I didn't want that, I had to go to him.

On getting there, I knocked on the door and I heard his deep baritone voice say "Come in." Damien was seated in his seat, his shoulders squared. I stared at his handsome face, wishing we could go back to the position we were in when we first loved.

He cleared his throat and looked up from the papers which were neatly arranged on the table.

"I summoned you here because...."

He was saying when I cut him short. I knew what he wanted to say, I already read his mind through the mind link.

"You promised to love me till death do us part, Damien, what happened to that promise?" I asked, tears forming at the corners of my eyes.

"Ava, that was how I felt at the time but now, I don't feel the same way ." He paused for a moment then shrugged.

I looked away feeling my heart shattering all over again. I wiped my tears, deciding not to give up.

"You said no matter what happened, nothing was gonna come between us. I'm your first mate, Damien, look at me, I am the one you're meant to love." I poked my fingers into my chest till it hurt.

I sniffled, then stared at him straight in the eye. "What does she have that I don't?

You make love to me and I am the most supportive Luna. Damien, what did I not give you?" I question with disappointment etched in my features.

A heartbreaking silence rented the atmosphere before I heard him speak.

"She is pregnant for me, Ava, I can't let her raise my pup alone. I love everything about her and she is made for me. Ava, if you love me as you claim, then let me reject you."

As soon as the words left his lips, I fell to my knees.

"Can you just stop thinking about yourself even if it's for a second huh? So what if I'm barren, couldn't you wait for me, and if I'm ugly does that hinder your love for me?" I entreated with tears. The thought that he was going to reject me right now had brought me down to my knees.

I searched his eyes with mine, thinking he should see the pain there and have a rethink.

"I Damien Seth, reject you, Ava Kimberly, you are no longer my fated mate and the Luna of the Blue Crest pack. You must accept my rejection." He said, ignoring my words.

His voice filled my ears and it became clear that I had a failed relationship.

With my gaze pinned to the floor and tears pouring out in torrents, I said, "I, Ava Kimberly accept your rejection, I am no longer Luna of this pack, neither am I your fated mate."

My throat felt dry and my body numb. I was already in a kneeling position or I sure would have fallen to the ground by now.

Our mate's bond just tore apart.

"Now, get up and leave." He dismissed impatiently. Perhaps he wanted to be with his love.

I got up and started leaving, not caring to wipe my tears.

I turned to take a last glance at Damien and his hand was wrapped around Audrey's shoulder as though he didn't care about my intense gaze, he pulled her closer and kissed her forehead.

"Don't let the sight of her get on your nerves, okay." He said and the real bitch herself laughed.

I stared at them motionless as the feeling of defeat, hate, and regret fought for dominance in me. Defeat that Audrey had taken what's mine, hate for both of them doing this to me, and regret that Damien was my mate and that I trusted Audrey way too much.

"Audrey, and Damien, I hope you both are happy with yourselves because I'll make you regret doing this to me." I bit down on my lower lips to stop them from trembling.

Immediately I went home, I began packing my things so I could leave his place and go to my parent's house.

For his name's sake, Damien didn't ask me to leave his house but I'm sure he would ask me to stay in the visitor's room and I'd rather die than hear him say it.

As I packed, I saw the sketch of us the chief artisan of this pack gifted us when we got married and I was moved to tears. It was such a pity we were no more together.

Sucking in a deep breath, I began moving my things to the entrance of Damien's house.

I saw him enter the house and I avoided his gaze.

"Where are you going?" He asked on seeing me.

"Home," I replied and he walked past me like my leaving was what he always wanted.

I know that I'm free from the mate bond, but what I don't know is if I can ever be free from this pain gnawing away at my heart.

******

I lifted my trembling hands to knock on the door to my parent's house and I hesitated thinking what their reaction would be when they saw me.

"Everyone, I'm home," I announced and walked in, dragging my box with me.

My parents were eating at the table when I came in but strangely enough, they acted like a ghost just walked in..

"What's going on here?" I asked, wrinkling my face in confusion.

"You're back, so we should run to you, hug you and tell you welcome back?" She said this so sarcastically I wondered what prompted it.

"Mum?"

"Don't 'Mum' me, join us for lunch if you must, and don't plan on sleeping here tonight because you're going back to your mate's house."

I looked to Dad for support but I was disappointed at the response I got - an indifferent gaze.

"Scarlet, you must do as your mother said. People must not know you got rejected by your mate. It would be a dent in the reputation of this family."

"Seriously Dad, you knew?" I rapidly blinked back my tears as I stared in disbelief. They knew I was going to be rejected, they knew I was constantly abused and yet they weren't even there for me when I needed them the most.

They didn't even ask me what happened but told me I should go back to my mate.

People shouldn't know that I am no longer Luna so they could still get to answer the parents of Luna.

"What about me?!!" Outraged, I screamed at the top of my lungs.

Why was everyone selfish, why was it that no one cared if I was suffering?

"Mom, Dad, I am disappointed in you both. I gave you both everything you wanted, yet this is how you treat me." I said, my voice cracked.

I usually send food, money, and servants to my mother every month.

And my father...I sniffled... I can't remember the last time he asked me for something and I didn't give it. I was their favorite daughter when I was Luna and now that I'm not, they despise me.

Am I cursed so that the people I did good repaid me with evil?

Get yourself together, Ava, and get ready for Audrey's mating ceremony with the Alpha tomorrow. Don't blame anyone for your inadequacies. You failed to keep your home." Mom said harshly.

At the mention of inadequacies, I averted my gaze to the spot where Audrey usually sat and ate lunch with us for the past 12 years. Seeing that it was empty, I inwardly helped her thank her stars because if she was at that dining, absolutely nothing was going to stop me from physically attacking her.

Without as much as a word to them, I started upstairs, dragging my luggage with me.