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PERSON_PROFILE

My husband and mate, Elijah, is the Alpha of one of the most powerful packs in Fenrisa, the Iron Claw Pack. I am his wife and his mate. One would think that due to being fated, our relationship would be a good one. But that’s far from the truth.

The truth is, I am his second chance mate.

“Verena, I want to reject our bond and get separated,” Elijah’s voice doesn't hold an ounce of emotion as he sits across from me in the dim living room.

I'd been waiting for him to celebrate our third wedding anniversary together. But when he arrived, there was this coldness about him. I figured he was just tired from work, but then he asked me to sit down and dropped a bombshell on me.

"Why?" I blink in disbelief. He must be joking, right? But the intensity of his gaze chips away at my doubt, replacing it with a growing sense of worry. I know the reason. The one I've feared the most for so long.

His mate has returned to the pack.

Elijah’s first mate had left him just before the mating ceremony. The reason was unknown, but everyone assumed that she didn’t want a relationship with her mate and loved someone else. On the same day of their separation, Elijah found me and realized that I am his second chance mate.

Second chance mates are rare, and it can be called a miracle that the Goddess gives Elijah a second chance in love by mating us. He hasn’t rejected his first mate, but one can find a second mate irrespective of rejecting their first mate. It's complicated and goes against the laws of the mate bond. Yet it's a blessing to the ones whose first mate dies or leaves them.

Elijah sighs, “You know about Nixie. She wants to be back with me.”

I clench my fist. “And you want to get back with her?” My lips quiver, and I struggle to stop my body from trembling, but it's futile.

Despite being Elijah’s second chance, he’s my first. My first mate, the only love of my life. No matter who your second chance is, the bond with the first mate is stronger, like the first love that you can’t move on from. Elijah feels the same towards Nixie, I know, but can I simply accept it?

His face remains aloof, “Nixie needs me, Verena. She is my mate and my wolf needs her.”

His first mate returned a week ago, claiming that she was kidnapped by our enemy pack and taken hostage for three years. The pack that captured her was destroyed due to a pack war, and the hostages were released. That’s how Nixie escaped and returned to our pack.

"I can’t have two mates at the same time. Having you both is putting a lot of pressure and weakening my wolf. Over time, it’ll get worse. So, I’ll have to reject one," he adds in a calm voice, while a storm is rising in my chest.

"And you choose her," I reply, tears brimming in my eyes.

I knew that Elijah hadn’t moved on from his first mate when I entered his life. But I had believed that I could heal him and show him that I can love him more. I did everything in my power to make him happy when we got married.

Yet, she’s the one he chooses.

What about us? The relationship we built for all these years, does it mean nothing to him? When I walked into his life, he was emotionally unavailable and rude to me. But I stayed patient and he gradually started to warm up to me. Since then we had worked together on everything and he promised to stay beside me forever.

I know that I won’t be able to bear him a healthy child because I did not shift after I turned eighteen and it's been five years since I have been wolf-less. But I felt the mate bond when I saw Elijah at the Mating Ball. He also agreed to marry me because his pack needed a Luna and it was better to have a second chance mate than have no mate at all.

“You said you'd never leave me. You promised me,” I remind him. “How can you break it because of someone who left you years ago?”

His icy presence sends a chill through the room. "Rena, watch your words. Remember who you're speaking to," he warns, his tone sharp like a blade. "And do you expect me to overlook the fact that you intentionally drove Nixie away because you wanted to be with me?"

My brows raise, “What are you talking about?”

He stands from the couch, “You think I don’t know? Nixie returned to this pack just one year after our marriage and wanted to meet me. But you met her first and threatened her to not come close to me and disappear from the pack.”

A shadow falls on his chiseled face, making him look deadly and dangerous. I have always admired his ruthless side, especially when he makes sure to punish anyone who tries to hurt me. But today, he’s giving me this look as if he’s disgusted by me.

“Because of you, Nixie could not contact me and tell me what happened to her. I couldn’t be there for her when she needed me. Just because of you.” He accuses me, and I feel like I have been stabbed in the chest.

“I did not!” I say and he tilts his head as if he did not expect that response from me. As much as I want Elijah all to myself, I know that he feels empty without Nixie. So I would have accepted them being together, just for the sake of Elijah’s happiness.

He raises a brow, “So you are not going to admit it?”

“Admit what? I have no idea what you are talking about.” I protest.

"Fine, I'll call him then," Elijah's obsidian eyes glaze over as he connects through the mind-link. Seconds later, the door swings open and Joshua walks inside.

“What’s the matter?” He asks as he looks at both of us. He is Elijah’s Beta.

“Rena denies that she had not tried to kick Nixie out of the pack when she returned two years ago. Is that true?”

I look at Joshua expectantly. He will tell Elijah the truth. I relax a little, waiting for the truth to come out. But why do I have this bad feeling?

“No, I saw her two years ago with the Luna,” Joshua replies calmly, with a subtle smile on his face. “The Luna did threaten her and tell her to leave the pack.”

What?!

“Joshua, what the hell are you saying?! I didn't even meet Nixie!” I rise from my seat in shock and look at him in disbelief.

“Keep your voice low, Rena. Joshua is saying what he saw and I am surprised that you believed he’d lie for you. After all, he’s the one who showed me pictures of your encounter with my mate.” Elijah throws the pictures on the table and it feels like someone has pulled the rug off my feet. These are from a different time. They are manipulated.

I look at the Beta who gives me a smirk. He betrayed me. I thought we were good friends but…

My shoulders slump as I look at the floor. This can’t be happening.

“Do you have any evidence that the Beta is lying?” Elijah asks.

I don’t have an answer. My head spins, trying to process everything that has happened.

“No,” I whisper. If I had known that he’ll betray me like this, I would have been more cautious. But why would he do this?

For a few minutes, silence hangs heavy in the air until Elijah gently grasps my chin, coaxing me to meet his gaze. His inky black hair falls messily across his face, reminding me of its softness when I touched it before.

“It's over, Rena. You knew how much I loved Nixie, yet you pushed her away from me. Then you pretended to love me when all you wanted was the power and wealth that comes with being my wife. I can’t let any of this slip away.” he says, his voice gentle but deep and chilling.

Pretend to love him? After all these years, he thinks it was an act. I know I don’t have any evidence to prove my innocence, but won’t he try to believe me for once? I can’t help but wonder if he would have believed Nixie if she was in my shoes. He would have probably forgiven her, because mates tend to be possessive of their partners. But he won’t treat me like that, because according to him, I am just his second chance. I am nothing compared to his first true mate, his first love.

Tears glisten in my eyes as pain grips my heart. "Elijah, I mean it. I don't care about the position. I just want you."
He growls, baring his canines and his eyes flash, “I had enough. You should be grateful that I am not imprisoning you for doing something like this. So if you don’t want to live in the cells, I advise you to accept the divorce and the rejection.” He lets go of my chin and retrieves the divorce agreement.

He slaps it onto the coffee table, making me flinch. "Sign it.”

I stare at the papers with a bleeding heart. All the good memories I had with him flash in my head. What did all of those moments mean? Was it a lie when he said that I make him smile? That I am special to him? That our bond is no lesser than a first mate bond?

I slowly bend forward, and grab the pen. I sign the paper while holding back my tears.“Here, it's done,” I whisper while holding the divorce agreement.

For a brief moment, the iciness in his gaze melts, replaced by shock and hurt. But he swiftly regains his composure and accepts the paper from me.

A sad smile curves my lips. So he would have gotten separated from me anyway. It did not matter what I did, he just needed a reason to reject me and have his mate back.

“When is the rejection ceremony going to take place?” I ask while looking down at my trembling arms. If I see his face, I’m afraid I’ll break down completely.

“Tomorrow. I expect you to be present at the training ground at eight in the morning. Once the rejection is over, you can stay at the packhouse. Though I’d prefer if you don’t come close to my mate. I don’t want you to cause a scene.”

he replied and it hurts how he calls Nixie ‘my mate’.

I rise from my seat and turn around, “Don’t worry, you won’t find me anywhere near you or Nixie after the rejection is over. That’ll be my gift to you. Happy Marriage Anniversary, Alpha Elijah.”

Chapter 2 : Her, Nixie
Verena

It's alright. Things will get better.

Elijah will change his mind, after all he loves me—-

My trembling hand freezes halfway as I reach for the plate on the dining table. Tear droplets splatter on the polished darkwood, and the sight of our signatures on the divorce agreement brings me crashing back to reality. We're divorced, and tomorrow he will reject me.

Not being able to pretend anymore, I break down into sobs. My fingers curl on the edge of the table while I look at the hardwood floor with tears streaming down my eyes. He really divorced me.

My relationship with Elijah hasn’t been a bed of roses. When we married, he was cold and distant. But I started to witness the softer, emotional side of him that he tried to hide from the rest of the world. I made his pain my own, and tried my best to keep him happy. He was gradually warming up to me. But then Nixie returned and he pushed me away like those years of our relationship meant nothing to him.

My chest squeezes painfully at the thought of it. I just can’t accept that he doesn't want me anymore. But the untouched food on the table, and the red velvet cake with Happy Third Marriage Anniversary written on it is a reminder that it's true. It took me almost four hours to bake this cake, in high hopes of seeing a smile on Elijah’s face when he returns.

“Are you finished with your nonsense?” Maya, my maid’s voice, draws my attention to the door. She stands there with an annoyed expression, gesturing towards the wall. “Unlike you, I actually have work to do, like cleaning up this mess.”

I wipe my face, and take a step back, “Yes, go ahead.” My voice sounds dry. Maya rolls her eyes, her lips curl in disapproval as she walks over and eyes the table.

“Such a headache,” she mutters while shaking her head.

Despite being Luna, I am not liked in the packhouse. It's because I am an orphan who did not shift. Even an omega has a wolf, so it makes me appear way beneath in rank. So the people don’t approve of me as their Queen. Someone without a wolf can’t lead a pack of wolves. That’s what I have always been told.

I have learned to live with it because that is how I have always been treated. And forcing people to like me through fear of my position goes beyond my values, so I try to make up for my weakness by putting my best efforts. But Elijah has punished anyone who has tried to misbehave with me, always taking my side when things went down. He was very protective of me. Was.

I wonder if he believes now Nixie will be a better Luna than me because of having a wolf. She comes from a family of Gammas, so she has a strong wolf and anyone will choose her over me.

Rip!

My body jolts at the sudden sound of something being torn off, and I notice Maya ruthlessly tearing the fairy lights and red balloons off the wall behind the table. With each delicate adornment being stripped away, I feel a prick in my chest. My friends Dory and Drake helped me set up the decorations last night, and we were so proud of it.

Maya does not hold back on the food either, and I flinch at the way she just dumps the cake into the dustbin. I feel like that cake, dumped into trash.

My head feels dizzy at the overwhelming emotions. I need a shower. I walk out of the dining hall, and my legs feel heavy for some reason.

Now that I think about it, I've been feeling quite sick since this morning. My throat itches, I feel nauseous, and I've been unusually tired lately. Maybe it's because of Elijah.

Not paying any attention to my surroundings, my hand subconsciously reaches to open the door to the bedroom. But the moment the door swings back, a pleasant musky scent hits my nose. There’s another scent with it that makes my nose crinkle.

My body freezes in place when I notice Elijah sitting on the bed. With Nixie on his lap.

With brown hair that brushes her shoulders in curls and a floral print mini skirt riding up her slender, milky white thighs, Nixie looks like any man’s wet dream. Compared to her, I look basic in my plain blue dress and straight midnight blue hair. They seem to be having a moment as her arms are wrapped around his neck, while his hand is on her slim waist.

Elijah notices my presence, “Rena,” he takes my name with his deep, velvety voice that tugs at my heart and lets go of Nixie’s waist. Nixie gets off his lap and stands beside him, fixing her skirt.

“Oh my Goddess, Rena. I-I didn’t know you would be coming,” her pale skin turns red as if she’s embarrassed.

Even when I don’t have a wolf, I can still feel the sting of their intimacy. My heart pounds painfully in my chest.

“Rena, why are you here?” Elijah asks, staring at me with his cold obsidian eyes. I can’t tell what he is thinking.

Chapter 3 : He, with Her
Verena

“I…um…” the words feel stuck in my throat. My legs feel weak. I can’t believe he started to get so intimate with her after a few hours of our divorce. If he’s this affectionate with her, then it means that he has already moved on. Though maybe he did not need to move on in the first place.

“Rena?” He takes my name again, and I regain my composure. I need to get a hold on myself. He’s no longer my husband, and soon he’ll reject me from the mate bond. So I shouldn’t be feeling anything.

“Did I interrupt something?” I ask, my gaze sliding to Nixie who stares at me with her big doe green eyes. Anyone would fall for the innocence those eyes portray, but I can see the malice behind it.

Elijah narrows his gaze, and places a hand over his mouth. He does that when he’s curious, and annoyed. “You did,” he replies sharply, and I'm struck by his words.

“I–”

“Rena, you should remember that you need to ask for the Alpha’s permission before entering his room.”

My lips part in shock, and my brows lift. “What?”

“You heard me. Still, I’d let this go because we aren’t officially rejected and you are my mate.” His voice puts me in an icy chokehold. Just a few hours, and our relationship has completely changed. Where is the man who waited for me every single night in bed to fall asleep together? Who is he?

“Wow, I did not know that it was your room now, Alpha. The same room we shared for three years,” I retort, crossing my arms. My eyes flit to the bed where he was sitting with Nixie on his lap.

His jaw clenches at my words. “We are divorced now. So isn’t it obvious that we won’t be sharing the same room anymore?” He tilts his head, gauging my reaction.

I smirk, “Sure. I mean, you won’t like me barging into your ‘room’ while you spend some quality time with your mate,” I emphasize the last word and my gaze shifts to Nixie.

“Rena, before you say something to insult Nixie, I’ll warn you. I have been lenient with you, but I won’t this time. So choose your words wisely.” He speaks in a low, commanding voice, reminding me of who’s in charge.

His words crush my soul. It's as if I am the problem in his life.

“Elijah, it's alright,” Nixie moves closer to him, and slides her hand over his shoulder. “I can understand that she’s hurt so I am fine with it.”

A growl leaves my lips as I stare at her hand placement. Elijah raises a brow, and I realize what I have done. He’s still my mate, and it's not easy for me to watch someone else touch him, even if that person is his first mate.

“I–I am sorry if I made you upset, Rena,” Nixie looks at me with quivering lips, “But you have to understand that I love him and can’t stay away from him.” Tears fill her eyes, and she starts to sob.

“Nixie, don’t cry. It's not your fault,” Elijah gets up, and wraps an arm around her. My insides scream at that sight, but I don’t let a word out of my mouth. I silently watch him comfort her when I am the one in need of comfort. “Rena and I have come to a mutual agreement, so it's our decision.”

I scowl. It was never my decision to get separated from him.

Elijah looks at me with a pointed look, “You did not tell me why you are here.” His voice is gentle as always, but I can tell that he does not want me here. He feels that I will sabotage his relationship with Nixie.

My jaw trembles, “It's nothing. I am sorry for interrupting whatever you both were doing,” I storm out of the door while the tears trickle down my eyes. The paintings and furniture on the hallway start to look unfamiliar as I rush past them. Why? Why do I have to go through this?

My head starts to throb, and I stop in my steps. I feel dizzy. The nausea grows, crawling up my chest and through my blurry vision, I see two figures on the other side of the hall. They look concerned as they walk towards me.

“Luna, are you alright?” I recognize the voice. It's Dory, “You look no well—”

I don’t hear the rest of her sentence as the air shifts, and I grace the floor. Shadows dance in my vision before everything turns dark.

Beep. Beep.

My eyes flutter open on hearing a sound, and I find myself in a hospital bed. A dull ache throbs in my head.

“She’s awake,” I feel Dory’s warm hand on my back as I slowly get up. She helps me sit.

“Thank Goddess!” Drake exclaims as he stands beside her. They are twins, and work for me in the pack.

I groan, feeling the same throbbing sensation. “I passed out?”

“Yeah. We brought you to the hospital as soon as possible. Are you okay now?” Drake asks.

I nod, “Yeah.”

The door opens, and a woman walks in wearing a white coat and holding a clipboard. "Oh, you're awake. That's good," she says with a smile as she approaches me. My gaze falls onto the tag on her coat.

Dr. Shalini, Senior Gynaecologist.

“Is it an infection?” I ask.

Her smile widens, “No, Luna. I have good news for you. I hope that the Alpha throws us a party after this.” she says and my frown deepens. My gaze shifts to Drake and Dory. Drake shrugs while Dory shakes her head.

“I don’t understand,” I say.

“Congratulations, my Luna. You are going to be a mother.” she replies.

Chapter 4 : A Baby?
Verena

The world seems to stop as I hear what she said. I am…carrying a baby now?

“What?” I gasp.

The woman nods, her eyes glinting with excitement. “Yes, Luna. I ran a USG scan, and it shows the pregnancy.”

Dory shrieks, “Oh my Goddess! That's wonderful news.” She grins at me, and hugs Drake, who is taken aback by her sister’s excitement.

The doctor looks at my confused expression and asks, “Is everything alright?”

I stare at my lap. How can I be? Drake senses my confusion and turns to the doctor, “Can we have some time alone with her? We’ll call you if we need anything. Thank you for the news, doc.”

“Um, alright,” she says hesitantly, giving me one last glance before walking out of the room.

Dory senses the change in mood and asks me, “What’s wrong, Luna?”

“I think I understand why she is confused,” Drake answers, and Dory looks at him. “We all know that Luna does not have a wolf.”

Dory’s brows shoot up in realization. “Oh my, that’s right. Then, how?” She looks at me, the colors of excitement on her face completely gone.

A she-wolf who did not shift can’t bear another male wolf’s child, let alone that of an Alpha’s child. Our genetics act like one of a normal human, and we are not compatible with carrying a shifter’s child. So how can I having a baby?

“We should get the report checked or tell them to run another test on you. The report can be wrong,” Drake says in a calm voice. He is always calm in these situations and looks at every problem through a logical perspective.

As advised by Drake, I undergo another USG scan to confirm if the report is accurate or not. Dory insists that I get some rest, so I return to the packhouse after the test is over. She promises to bring me the test report, so I anxiously wait for her in one of my spare rooms.

When the second test report arrives, my eyes stay glued to the report file, my hands trembling.

Test result—positive.

Sweet tears blur my vision. I can’t believe this.

“It's really true, Luna. You are with child,” Dory remarks with a huge smile plastered on her face.

My hand reaches to my belly. There is a life growing inside me. When I had not shifted after my 18th birthday, I had lost all hope of conceiving. Elijah was unhappy about my barren state, and it was another reason for him to act cold towards me in the initial stages of our marriage. An Alpha needs an heir, and I was incapable of providing one.

“But how is this possible? I never shifted,” I mutter.

“I have a theory in my mind,” Dory replies as she stands before me with her hands crossed. I look up from the file, and a thoughtful look darkens her eyes, “There have been a few cases where the shifter did not transform at the right age because their wolf was still in a developmental phase.”

I raise a brow, “Developmental phase?”

She hums, “Most wolves start to develop in our bodies from the time of our birth. The average age for any healthy transformation is from eighteen to nineteen. Usually, after that time, no shifter ever transforms, meaning their wolf could not grow properly because of the lack of strength in the person’s body. But there was this one case study in the Moonlight Pack where the Alpha got his wolf at the age of twenty-six. Rumor has it that his predecessors also got their wolves late.”

“So it's in the bloodline?” I ask, rubbing my belly, “Isn’t the Moonlight Pack Alpha a powerful one who has magical powers?”

She nods, “That’s what everyone says. But recently, no one has seen the Alpha around, and some say that it's just baseless rumors. If he truly had magical powers, then he would have shown them, but there’s no incident as such. He’s been a mystery for the last ten years.”

I hum in agreement. It's hard to tell what my condition is, but I don’t care. If Elijah learns about this, I am sure he’ll annul the divorce. He can’t reject me after knowing that I have his baby. It will put the child’s life at risk.

I need to tell him. He has to change his mind after this. He can’t get separated from me if he knows that I am carrying his future heir.

I get up from the bed and tell Dory, “I’ll show this to the Alpha.” Not wasting another second, I am rushing out of the guestroom.

Thank Selene! She has blessed me with a child. She believes that Elijah and I are meant to be together. A smile curves my lips.

The moment I reach his office, I knock the door twice with my knuckles while excitement bubbles through me.

I hear his deep voice through the door, “Come in.”

I step in, feeling a little nervous as I find him sitting on his office chair, wearing his blue-light glasses with a white rim. They frame his obsidian eyes that scrutinize me. He looks so handsome in them.

But then my gaze falls on Nixie, whose arm rests on his shoulder. She is way too close to him, and frowns when she notices me. It's not hard to see the malicious look in her eyes. Once I settle things with Elijah, I’ll make sure she never gets a chance to come close to him.

“What brings you here, Rena?” Elijah asks, shifting his gaze to his computer screen. I am about to respond when he says, “I hope it's not ‘nothing’ like last time. You should know that I am a busy person, and my time has value." He speaks in a frosty demeanor that reminds me of winter.

“I am carrying your baby, Elijah,” I say, hoping that the news will shock him. He has always been looking forward to having an heir. Now his wish has come true.

Chapter 5: Will He Be Back?
Verena

His gaze lifts from the display screen and darkens with disappointment, “Is this your new trick to get me back?” he retorts, and the corner of Nixie’s lips curls into a smirk.

I blink in confusion. Trick? “Why–why would I trick you with something like this?”

His jaw clenches, and the air turns cold with his icy gaze, “You tell me, Rena. You want me to believe that without having a wolf, you can carry the child of an Alpha?” I flinch at his words. I am not proud of my condition. But it's out of my control.

“I know it's hard to believe. I did not believe it either. That’s why I ran two tests to confirm the report. I am really carrying a baby.”

I take a step towards his desk and hand him the file. He flips through it, his eyes going over the report. Nixie leans in to also check, and her face turns pale. It makes me a little happy. This child will be the one to save our relationship and this pack.

“I get it now,” he says, staring at the table in thought, and I breathe in relief. “You went to Shadow Den after the divorce for this reason. To create a fake pregnancy report.” He adds, and suddenly it feels like I have been punched in the gut.

“What?! What are you talking about?” I ask, my eyes wide in horror. Shadow Den is a shady place at the borders of the pack where all kinds of illegal activities take place, including creating fake documents. A dignified lady will never step into that place because it reeks of crime and rogue trafficking.

“I told my men to keep an eye on you, and they reported that you went to Shadow Den. At first, I couldn’t believe it and punished them for lying to me. But now it seems that they were telling me the truth.” The look Elijah gives me completely shatters my soul. It feels like the respect he had for me is broken now.

I shake my head frantically, “No! I did not go there, Elijah. Please trust me!”

He scoffs, his eyes swirling with hurt. “How can I trust you when you are doing things behind my back? You know how much I have desired a child. It pains me to think you have gone this far.”

“That’s not true. I will never do something like this, you know that,” The corner of my eyes prick. How can he believe that I will fake childbirth? “I can prove myself this time. Call the hospital and ask if I had done a test there or not.” I raise my voice, holding my ground as much as I can.

Elijah dials the number on his phone. He puts it on the loudspeaker and places it on the desk for me to hear. With each ring, my heart beats with anticipation. This has to work. The clinic keeps records of their patients.

“Larsen's Clinic speaking. How may I help you, Alpha?” The female receptionist’s voice comes from the receiving end.

Elijah places his hands on the desk and asks, “Is there any record of my wife Verena Donovan getting a USG test done today at your clinic?”

“Give me a second please, Alpha,” the receptionist answers politely. Patient records are confidential, but since it's the Alpha asking for information, the hospital has to obey his orders. I fidget, waiting for her to confirm it. Each second feels like an hour, making me grow nervous. Her voice finally comes through, “There’s no record of her checking in our clinic today, Alpha.”

My heart drops, and for a second I forget how to breathe. No, this can’t be possible. I was there. They saw me. Then, why?

Elijah hangs up the phone. Nixie’s eyes glint with victory as she stares at me. The walls around the office feel like they are closing in on me. Why did the clinic lie? Is someone else behind this? My gaze shifts to Nixie, who has a smug look on her face. It is strange how she has been so silent and did not try to stop me from showing the reports.

He sighs and takes off his glasses. “Rena, look. Your excuses are not going to work on me. This rejection is going to happen because as an Alpha, I have to be with my rightful mate.” He rises from the chair and approaches me. Standing close to me, he adds “And I am letting you stay here. I won’t banish you from the pack, so you don’t have to use these cheap tricks.”

Cheap tricks? My hand goes to my belly. The man I have spent my life with for three years did not try to believe me for once. This proves that he never trusted me in all these years, and I thought that we had a good relationship—one that was built out of mutual love and respect. It was all in my head.

“This is the extent of my kindness, Rena,” Elijah adds, “Don’t test my patience any further.”

I don’t need his kindness. The only thing I wanted from him was to take my side, to have faith in me. But he pushed it all away.

I decide to leave silently and walk towards the door. When I grab the handle with my shaking hand, his voice stops me. “Rena.” I look over my shoulder and find him staring at me. There is something in his gaze.

“I hope you remember the time of the rejection ceremony tomorrow. Don’t try to bail on me because then I’ll have to force you to join me at the training grounds.”

My chest tightens at the lack of empathy in his voice. “I won’t,” I hold back the tears that threaten to fall by clenching the doorknob tightly.

He wants to get rid of me so badly. But I am worried about my child. I can only pray to have the strength to protect my baby from his rejection.

Chapter 6 : Love’s Not Enough
Verena

“So, when is the Alpha throwing us a party?” Dory asks as she walks into my room with a cheerful smile. She does not know. The only thing she knows is that I went to Elijah to tell him the good news. “You definitely have to tell me the names you are deciding on, especially if it's a girl. I don’t want our princess to have a terrible name like mine. Also I–”

“We are going to have a rejection ceremony today,” I say with a grim expression.

Dory blinks a few times, “What? That’s such a bad joke.”

My lips curve in a sad smile while I sit on the armchair, “It's not.”

The girl’s smile drops, “No, that’s not possible.”

My gaze dips to the jar she’s holding in her hand, “Did you bring the herbs I asked you to?”

Her brows pucker, “Yeah, I did. But the herbs you asked for are used to protect an unborn from any strong supernatural forces. Why would you ask for something like—” her lips stop moving as her eyes light up with realization. There are certain herbs that protect an unborn child in the womb of a mother who gets rejected from her mate. I told her to bring one of those so that no harm comes to my baby.

She stays still for a few seconds, “What? I– Are you really getting rejected?” I answer her with my silence. She stands still, as if processing everything.

“The Alpha...he’s behind this, isn’t he?” she grits her teeth. “I should have known it. Something felt off about you staying in this room, and looking so pale.” She clenches her fist.

I slowly rise from my armchair, “Dory, calm down.”

“No for this case!” she slams the jar into the bedside, and stomps out of the room. Crap! I run up to her. She’s going to argue with Elijah.

Stepping out of the room, I get hold of her wrist, and stop her, “Stop! Don’t do it.”

She whips her head at me, rage burning like coal in her eyes, “Luna, I respect you. But I can’t accept this. How can he do this to you? I’ll go and knock some sense into him!”

“No, no, no.” I pull her back. She is acting like a dog who has gone feral, and needs to be kept on a leash. Most of the time she is calm and rational. But when it comes to the people she cares for, she becomes hot-headed and does something regretful. If she talks back to Elijah, she can be put into the cells or even banished.

“Calm down. This decision is mutual,” I say, and she freezes. She turns to me with a face as if lightning has struck her.

“What about the child? How can you get separated when the future heir of this pack is growing inside you?” She points at my belly and I place my palm on it. Despite what the clinic said, I believe that a life is growing inside me. I can feel it in my bones. But I don’t want to tell Dory everything. She does not need to be involved in my problems.

"It's because of the new girl who joined the pack, isn’t it?” Dory asks suddenly, and I jerk my head up at her, my heart skipping a beat. I did not expect her to catch on to it so quickly. She notices my face, “You don’t need to worry about her, Luna. I’ll teach her a lesson that she’ll run out of the borders of this pack and never look back,” she says with determination.

I sigh. This girl has no sense of danger. “You’ll do nothing like that. Promise me.”

She frowns, “But—”

“I said what I said. Don’t argue with your Luna,” I will be ex-Luna soon but there is time left for the rejection ceremony. So I will use my authority to make sure Dory does not put herself in danger.

Her shoulders sag, and she reluctantly nods. “But why are you not doing anything? Will you let another girl just take everything from you?” Her words prick me. I did try, but when Elijah wants me to step out of his life, then there is nothing I can do. Even our child could not save our relationship because he does not even believe in its existence.

“It's pointless. Also, it's better to end things. Our marriage was like an agreement and since he has no use for me now, the agreement has ended.” It was a mistake. If I had known that I would be treated like this after the return of his fated mate, I would have never agreed to this marriage. Second chance mates after all are…second choice, not first.

“But Luna…” She steps closer to me, her brown eyes staring at me, “You love him, more than your own life. I know you.” Her words squeeze my chest tightly and warm tears cover my vision. She has seen how much dedicated I have been to Elijah.

I blink to push my tears back, and amidst the silence of the gloomy morning my words come out like a sad symphony, “My love is not enough.” A tear slips down my left eye.

Dory's eyes glisten with pain as she wraps her arms around me in a gentle embrace. The warmth of her act stirs something inside me, and I break down into sobs. Now that she's here, I realize how much I needed someone's presence to share my sorrow. With no parents or many friends whom I can trust to open up to, given my focus on work and Elijah, her presence feels like a cool shade after hours of walking in scorching heat.

"I am so sorry this is happening to you. If the Alpha can't see how much you have sacrificed for him, then he does not deserve you!" she cries, and I hug her tighter. It brings me some relief knowing that there's someone for me.

"Don't worry sweetheart, it's okay. I can make it." I pat Dory on the back. "Later I'll go to Elijah's room and get my stuff back, they must not want to see me in this house, and neither do I.”

Chapter 7: Shattered Expectations

An hour later, I step inside Elijah’s bedroom to get all my stuff. The walls of the room make me suffocated as it reminds me of the times we have spent here. Brushing those thoughts away, I focus on my task at hand. There is no point in staying in this packhouse so I’ll pack my things and leave. The money I have saved from my stock investments will get me to stay for six months in a five-star hotel.

I will use that time to find a job. Since I have always been focused on my duties as the Luna of this pack, I never got the time to pursue anything else, especially my dream to open a bakery. Now that I no longer have any duties towards the pack, I can focus on my dream and have a bakery shop of my own.

Feeling a little energetic from the idea, I start to pull out all my accessories from the drawer when my eyes fall on a photo frame. Bright blue sky, palm trees and sand fill the background before which stands a couple smiling at me. The lady’s cheeks are pink, and the shine in her eyes is unavoidable as her man has his arm wrapped around her waist.

“Haha! You can’t catch me!” I scream as I run across the sand, the warmth of the sun on my skin, and the cool breeze tangling my hair. Elijah has a challenging look on his face as he chases me, but there’s a subtle smile on his handsome sun-kissed face.

Before I know it, his strong arms grab me from behind, “Looks like I won,” I gasp as he gently lifts me off my feet, my heart fluttering in my chest. With a playful smile, he swings me around. Our laughter mixes and rings in the air, the world fading away as we get lost into the moment.

My hand trembles as I run my palm over the picture in the photo frame. Those were some of our best moments, filled with joy and sweetness. Our relationship wasn’t one of love, but he was slowly warming up to me.

"Oh, looks like there is a thief in here," Nixie's voice startles me as I find her standing inside the room. "How dare you try to steal my things?" she accuses me with her arms crossed.

I look at the clothes that I am holding. "These are my things."

She scoffs, "No more. Whatever you had before, it all belongs to me now. Including Elijah." Her words cut deep, and she smiles in satisfaction, enjoying the effect her words have on me. Her eyes lower to my hand, zeroing in on the ring I am wearing.

I look at the diamond ring. It's a very special ring to me as Elijah gifted it to me on my birthday. "This ring will protect you from everything and my heart is in it. I give it to you," He said when he slid it onto my index finger. It's a rare diamond that can't be bought with money.

"Hand over that ring right now," Nixie says, her eyes beaming with greed.

I take a step back, holding my hand. "No." This ring means a lot to me. Even if I am separated from Elijah, I still want to keep a part of him with me forever.

“I won’t say it again. Give it to me; it's my order! Your Luna’s order,” she shouts.

“You'll never be my Luna. And I'm not giving this to you,” I reply confidently.

“How dare you!” she grabs my wrist forcefully, and I yelp as a sharp pain shoots through my finger to my spine as she pulls the ring out of me forcefully. “Give it to me or I’ll cut your fingers off, you useless lowly beast!” she yells.

Instinctively, I push her away with my other hand, and she stumbles back onto someone’s chest. My eyes go round when I see Elijah holding her from behind. His eyes are as cold as the Arctic, freezing me in my spot. “What is happening here?”

“E-elijah,” Nixie starts crying, and wraps her arms around his neck, “I–” she sniffs, “I was only asking her how costly the ring is and she pushed me away.” She sobs like a baby.

“That’s not true. She was trying to take the ring from me!” I protest.

“So what if she did?” he asks, his face like a carved stone with no emotions. I stare at him, trying to process what he said for a moment. “I told her that she can have the ring when she asked me about it.”

My eyes widen in disbelief, unblinking as they stare at him. Time stands still. I can’t believe what he is saying.

“Hand over the ring to her, Rena,” he demands in a frosty voice. My feet feel glued to the floor. Nixie’s lips curl in a smile as she watches me in despair. The room closes around me, suffocating me with the weight of its shattered expectations. My lips curve upwards, a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. It's devoid of any joy and is a mask to hide the emptiness within. Why did I even hope that he’ll care for me? Stupid, stupid me.

I walk towards them and pull out the ring from my finger. “Here, take it,” I say while the smile remains intact. “You can have everything else here too. I don’t want it anymore.” It's exhausting to keep hoping that things will change, that he’ll take me back. Those are my last words, and I walk out of the room, accepting my defeat. Nixie wins, I lose.

Suddenly, I feel a hand grab my wrist from behind and hear Elijah’s voice, “Rena.” I freeze. His voice is so gentle. My heart pounds in my chest, and I look past my shoulder to meet his black eyes. “The rejection ceremony is going to start soon. I’ll wait for you at the training grounds.”

Chapter 8 : The Rejection
Verena

I smile, while my heart breaks in pain. He is so good at crushing my heart, like it's an object. “I will be there in time.” Saying that, I pull my hand away from him, engraving his touch for the last time in my head.

A while later, I look at my reflection in the mirror. Dark eye bags hang under my green eyes, like someone has sucked the soul out of me. Only half an hour left before the ceremony begins, and after that, I will be separated from Elijah completely.

I have mentally prepared myself for it, but physically, I am in a mess. Nixie took all my clothes and accessories, even the ones I bought myself. I am not that interested in fashion, so most of my clothes and jewelry were gifted by Elijah. So now, I have nothing to wear except this dress that I have on. My hands tremble a little in concern. Without anything, it will be hard for me to survive.

But then I remind myself that I will be a mother soon. Stress is not good for the baby. I rub my belly, “Mamma promises to be strong from now on. You hang in there, pup.”

I will need to dip into some of my savings to purchase new clothes and other necessities. But first, I must find a good hotel to stay in.

My thoughts are interrupted by the loud sound of footsteps, and my face sours when I see Nixie walk in through the door, looking very chirpy. Now, what does she want?

"Why are you here?" I ask in frustration, deciding not to turn around and act as though I am busy. Searching for hotels will be a better use of my time.

I feel her close in, and she waves her hand before my face from behind. My gaze falls on the diamond ring on her finger, the ring I thought Elijah had gifted me as a sign of his love. My heart crumbles at the sight of it.

"It suits me more than you, doesn't it? Elijah said that it looks better on me," she giggles, adding salt to my wound. I intentionally stay silent and focus on scrolling through a site that shows the various hotels available with their ratings and reviews.

"Hello? I am talking to you!" she waves her hand again, clearly annoyed by not receiving her expected response. I refuse to give her the satisfaction of seeing me in pain, so I continue to avoid her.

There's a groan from behind before she slaps my phone away, causing it to hit the hard, hardwood floor. I gasp at its state and immediately pick it up. The screen has cracked.

"Now, that's a proper reaction," she says, smirking.

Clenching my jaw, I face her. "What’s your problem, you mad woman?! I have divorced Elijah, and we are rejecting each other. That should be more than enough for you!"

She sneers at me. "Don't act like you're doing me a favor. Actually, I'll do you a favor. Once you're rejected, I'll make sure you get banished after that."

My face drains of all colors. Banishment? No! If I'm banished, I'll become a rogue with nowhere to live and no means to survive. That's assuming I don't get hurt by the dangerous creatures outside the borders or get captured by rogue traffickers who might sell me to some nasty, old Alpha as a slave first. I can't let my child be born in those circumstances.

"Why? I'll leave this packhouse after rejection, so I won't be a threat to you anymore," I protest.

She scowls. "Of course you are. I don't know what Elijah saw in you, but he seems to still care about you. He was telling me to return your clothes since he gave them to you," she rolls her eyes, "And he won't allow me to turn you into a slave for this packhouse either. So it means you're a threat to my position."

I gulp, feeling a little relieved knowing that Elijah said that. But it's quickly replaced by Nixie's warning.

"Be prepared to be kicked out. See you in the training grounds," she waves her hand and walks away humming a tune. My legs give out, and I collapse to the floor. My fingers curl around the bedsheet for support as I try to calm the crumbling anxiety inside me. What do I do now? I can't become a rogue.

Dory walks in, her eyes falling on me. "Luna, are you okay?" she rushes up to me and helps me stand. She touches my forehead. "You're burning up. Did something happen?"

I shake my head. "I'm fine. Is it time?" Her face falls, and she nods once. Taking a deep breath, I gather some courage. "Alright, let's go."

Chapter 9 : Rejection

I have to fight this. If Nixie wins, my pup will be in danger. I won't let that happen.

We walk down the stairs and step outside. The sky is filled with gray clouds. On the large training grounds where the air usually buzzes with excitement and the energy of warriors, there's a damp, silent atmosphere among the people who came to watch the ceremony.

None of them seem sad to watch me get rejected. They've never wanted me as their Luna because I'm an orphan. I take my place in the center of the ground.

The people on the left clear a path for Elijah to walk through by standing in two rows, and he stops before the space created for the ceremony. Our eyes meet for a few seconds before he turns to the crowd.

“I won’t waste time on explaining what’s happening here as most of you present are already aware. But know that I won’t tolerate anyone breaking the rules. If anyone dares to say a bad word to Verena or insults her in any way, I will have your head. Rejected or not, she is still a respected member of our family and this pack. So you all are expected to treat her fairly. Is that clear?”

The people nod in unison, fearing Elijah’s wrath. A part of me is glad that he is rejecting me in a respectful manner. It would have hurt a lot more if he just allowed anyone to publicly berate me, especially when I go through the rejection.

Elijah walks closer to me, and looks into my eyes. I feel his breathing was a little erratic and his face didn't look quite right.. Is he drunk?

"I, Elijah Donovan, Alpha of the Iron Claw Pack, reject you, Verena, as my fated mate and my Luna," he declares. I close my eyes, attempting to block out the pain threatening to consume me. But even in the darkness behind my eyelids, I feel the strength of the rejection, as it threatens to tear my body apart. The pain rattles through my bones, clogging my nostrils and leaving me breathless.

Elijah extends his arm to help me, but I take a step back. I will endure this pain alone.

"I, Verena, current Luna of the Iron Claw Pack, accept your rejection, Alpha Elijah," I declare. My legs wobble beneath my dress as the ache in my chest intensifies. I feel a strong convulsion in my belly, causing me to lose my balance and drop to the ground, clutching my stomach. My baby!

"Rena, are you alright?" Elijah inquires, but I know better than to believe that he actually cares for me. Gradually, the pain subsides, and I feel the herbs taking action to protect my baby from the effects of the rejection.

"I am fine," I manage to say, wiping my tear-soaked face.

"You accepted it," he mutters under his breath. Was he not expecting it? I don’t even understand him at this point.

My limbs feel weak, so I remain in my place, trying to prevent myself from passing out. Just as I begin to feel like I have regained some control over my body, a strong scent hits my nose. It smells like lemons and grass, reminiscent of summer.

I glance in the direction from which it's coming and spot a man walking into the crowd, looking around anxiously. He’s as tall as Elijah, broad and well-built, with spiky light-blond hair, deep blue eyes, and a tattoo running down his left arm. His aura is powerful, like that of an Alpha.

The moment his eyes land on me, he growls ferociously, his wolf showing in his eyes,

"Mine!"

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