Prologue: Rejection

His eyes sent shivers rushing through me as I tried to process what was going on.

"Did you just say..." I stammered as my heart began to pound painfully in my chest. "To forget that I found you?"

How could he stand there and say that with such a straight face? Wasn't he feeling the same way that I did? That all consuming want to be near and the flutter of butterflies just from our being near?

"I have no intentions on ever accepting a mate." He said slowly, his eyes growing darker. "Especially a lycan one."

His words felt like knives piercing into my heart.

He was rejecting me. He was really standing here rejecting me and not even giving me a chance.

"Why?" I asked slumping to the ground.

"Because mates and love are fucking ridiculous." He hissed.

I couldn't move, couldn't breath as he turned and began to move. He was leaving and I didn't have the strength to call for him or chase after him.

I watched from my place on the ground as he continued to move further and further away. My mind was reeling and my breathing was becoming difficult. How was it even possible that I had managed to find my mate after all the chaos and the person that was destined for me was the one that I absolutely couldn’t touch?

Feeling tears beginning to prick at my eyes, I laid down against the cold dirt. Never in my life did I think I would cry due to emotion, but fuck I was in pain.

"Thia?"

The sound of bushes rustling and then footsteps vibrating against the ground reached my ears that had begun to ring.

I could barely make out the outline of Haidan rushing towards me her face pale and her eyes full of worry.

"What happened?" She demanded, kneeling down beside me. "Why are you like this?"

"I found my mate." I whimpered as the tears that I was trying so desperately to hold back came rushing forward. "I should be happy, right?"

A bubbly laugh escaped me as the hysterics overtook me. I didn’t want to be like this, I didn’t want to look like a fucking idiot like I was right now. However, my emotions had a mind of their own.

Lifting my gaze I met Haidan’s eyes. Her face was set in a grimace as her eyes scanned the area beyond. From the look that rested in her gray orbs, I knew that she saw him.

"Please, just pretend this didn’t happen." I begged, clinging to her arm as she moved to begin the chase.

Even if Ashton was her mate's brother and a childhood friend, there was no way that she was going to let him get away with hurting a member of her pack. I needed to keep her with me so that we could go back to the celebration just beyond the forest line.

"It’s okay." I whispered, trying to wipe away the tears that were staining my face. "Really, it’s okay."

"How is it okay when you’re like this?" Haidan growled, growing more and more tense. "I swear I will rip that asshole to shreds."

"Please, don’t." I begged, tightening my hold. "I just want to go back. Can we please go back? I’m sure everyone is looking for you."

Today was a celebration for Haidan, and she didn’t need to be dealing with such a minor issue. I was a full-grown woman, and I would be okay. I was strong and independent. I didn’t need a mate to make me happy.

"Haidan? Thia?" Antoine’s voice drifted towards us causing my heart to begin doing somersaults in my chest.

I could keep Haidan in place and convince her to forget about what was going on, but now here came my mates brother. He and Ashton already didn’t have the best of relationships because of both being in love with Haidan and now he was going to see me like this.

"Get yourself together." Haidan whispered breaking free of my hold.

"What are you?" I hissed in confusion as she stood and squared her shoulders.

It didn’t take long for me to realize that she didn’t want Antoine to see me in the state that I was in. With Ashton being his brother, there was no way that he would let something like this slide.

Quickly wiping away my tears, I stood and braced myself as Antoine closed the distance between us and him.

"What’s going on here?" He asked, peeking over Haidan’s shoulder at me. "What happened to Thia?"

"Don’t worry about it." Haidan responded sweetly. "Why are you here? I thought I asked you to entertain the guests."

"You were gone too long and I got worried."

At their banter I could feel my heart squeeze in agony. I knew it wasn’t their fault that I was going through what I was, but I still found myself unable to handle the sweetness in front of me.

"I’m okay." I finally managed, getting myself together. ‘Both of you can head back. The pack will wonder where you are before long. "

I watched as Haidan tensed up at my words before she slowly turned around to take a look at me. Of course, she would question what I was saying given the state I was in only moments prior.

Placing a smile on my face, I tried to show a strong front. Who was I to be a complete drama queen on such a big day for Haidan and Antoine?

"Really, I’m okay." I continued as Haidan’s gray eyes took me in. "I’m okay."

"Are you sure?" She asked hesitantly, her frown deepening.

"Yeah."

I was okay, at least I would be. For now, I needed to get my shit together and stop being such an idiot while my friend showed such concern on a night of celebration for her.

"You two go." I said moving forward and motioning for Antoine and Haidan to get moving. "I’ll be right behind you."

Haidan and Antoine exchanged a look while looking in the direction that Ashton had disappeared. I knew that they didn’t necessarily believe me, but they didn’t question any further.

"Alright."

Giving a nod, Haidan moved forward and placed a hand on my shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze before turning and heading to where Antoine stood waiting for her.

Letting out a long breath, I thanked the goddess that she wasn’t going to question me further and I didn’t have to explain what was going on between Ashton and I. 

For now, I could keep it to myself until I could process everything. Once my emotions settled, I knew that I would be okay. After all, I didn’t have the time to worry about a ridiculous thing like a mate. 

Wiping away the last of my tears, I stood up straight and let out a long breath. It was time to celebrate my friend's coronation and say to hell with fate! I wouldn't let this get me down, nor would I let it ruin my life. I had too much going on to worry about something ridiculous like love anyway.

Feeling my determination settle, I began to move forward, keeping a far enough distance from Haidan that she couldn't accidently mind link with me and figure out what was wrong. It was my problem and mine alone. I had no intentions on ever letting anyone else in for the rest of my life.