Chasing The Rejected Mate

When morning came, Lunaire woke up smiling, only to find out her mate was no longer beside her.

She abruptly sat up, wrapping the covers around her body as she frantically looked for him.

"Zane," she called out, but there was no response.

She felt a tinge in her chest.

'He just left me after we made love last night?' she confusedly thought.

However, the mere thoughts of the fiery night they shared made her blush. She felt glad that her mate accepted her for who she was and didn't mind her scars.

"I'm so lucky to have a mate like him," she mumbled and buried her face in his pillow as she squealed.

When the rush simmered, reality crept back into her mind. Despite finding her mate, she still had to do her chores. She snapped up and looked at the time.

She was already late.

Lunaire hurriedly looked around, searching for her nightgown, and found it shredded on the floor. She sighed, got out of bed, and walked to Zane's closet.

Grabbing a white shirt, she dressed and headed back to her room. After a quick shower, she went to the kitchen and resumed her chores.

Half a day went by, but it felt like the day was already over. Lunaire had never thought her work was as tedious as this, even though they're just as tough.

It must be because of her mate if she were to point out what made such a difference. Her young and lovestruck heart had been searching for his warmth since she woke up. However, she hadn't seen him since last night. Being apart was the most painful thing she had ever felt.

Lunaire went outside to cool off, taking a short walk near the woods, when someone called her out.

"Hey! You."

She jumped in startle and turned around only to see Bella and her minions smirking at her with an evil glint in their eyes.

She sighed and walked toward them.

"Yes?" she asked, speaking kindly, not wanting to get into trouble.

"Go get my phone from my room. I left it there," Bella flatly ordered, looking at her nails.

Lunaire frowned at her. "Why can't you get it yourself?" she meekly asked.

Bella then threw her a sharp look. "Listen bitch, just do as I say, or else I will get your brothers on you," she threatened, making Lunaire shudder in fear.

She looked away, nodding, and ran inside the pack house.

Lunaire went straight to Bella's room and saw her on her bed. She grabbed it and didn't stay long, then walked back outside.

"Here...your phone," she said, handing Bella her phone.

Bella only rolled her eyes at her and continued talking to her minions.

Sighing, Lunaire moved away from them and continued her walk. She found herself at her favorite spot and on a huge tree stump facing the woods.

The beauty of the scenery captured her heart. Her gaze pierced beyond the sea of trees, yearning for the liberating feeling within its heart.

'What would it feel like being deep inside the woods? Far away from this pack with only me and my mate?' she wondered.

But she shook that thought away and laughed at herself. It was too high of a dream to turn into reality. A weak she-wolf like her would only be stuck here forever.

Lunaire was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't realize she'd been sitting there for long. The sun was almost setting when she snapped out of it.

"Zane must be back by now," she muttered and headed back in.

And just as she crossed the threshold, a girl's dramatic yell thundered in the hallway.

"Omg! We have a thief in our pack!"

People started gathering around while Lunaire scoffed at Bella for screaming without reason.

Suddenly, her wolf Crystal jumped when an addictive scent hit their nose. Butterflies instantly fluttered in her stomach when she saw Zane come down wearing no shirt.

Jealousy erupted from their depths, and a discreet growl boiled up from their chests upon seeing these girls fawn over their mate.

"What is happening here?" he firmly asked.

Lunaire smiled at him when their gazes met but blankly turned away, hurting her feelings.

'Did I do something wrong?' Lunaire thought, perplexed.

"Alpha Zane," Bella cried, running into his arms, making Lunaire growl.

'My mate!' Crystal growled in her head.

Fortunately, no one heard them, but Zane snapped her a glare that took her aback.

"I went to my room and found my mother's memento missing. Alpha, that gold jewelry never left my room; now it's gone. Someone must have stolen it from my room," Bella wept.

"And who do you think might have stolen it?" Zane dubiously asked.

Of course, why wouldn't he? He had been ruling over them strictly but well. How could a thief come about from such a pack?

By now, every member of their pack had crowded the hallway. Even Lunaire's brothers came out of their rooms due to Bella's commotion.

"I... I don't know, Alpha. I didn't catch anyone in the roo-" she answered, looking distressed but paused when her eyes caught Lunaire.

She gasped and pointed her finger at her, turning Lunaire pale. Everyone pinned their eyes on her, filled with judgment, disgust, and loathing.

"You! You went to my room!" Bella accused as she strode toward her, blazing in anger.

Lunaire stepped back, baffled. Shaking my head in hr defense. "No... I swear I didn't steal anything," she cried.

"Stop lying, you bitch!" she spat.

Lunaire's breath hitched, and she looked at Zane in panic, trying to ask for help, but it made her despair seeing his eyes fixed only on Bella.

Bella looked back at Zane, bawling.

"I told her to get my phone from my room. She was the last one who went to my room. That memento meant so much to me, Alpha, but this thief stole it!"

Lunaire couldn't comprehend what was going on. She came to her room to get her phone, but why would she steal her stuff? She didn't need any jewelry for anything.

She looked at everyone with pleading eyes, wanting to say it wasn't her, but their scornful gazes took her voice away.

Then she heard Zane sigh.

"Okay, hang on, Bella, you can't just accuse someone like that," he said and turned to Dustin.

"Dustin, search Lunaire's room," he ordered at her brother, whose glare would kill her.

"A-alpha, I...I swear I didn't steal. I would never," Lunaire choked up, but he never looked at her even once.

'What was wrong with him? Why was he acting so cold with me?' hurt, Lunaire anxiously wondered.

Ten minutes later, Dustin came back with a box in his hand.

Lunaire trembled, aghast as he walked towards Bella.

"Does this belong to you?" he asked.

Bella looked inside the box and cried. "Yes, this is mine," she said, causing everyone to gasp.

"What the fuck? First a Murderer and now a thief? Why can't she just die?" one person muttered.

Her heart squeezed in pain hearing everyone insult her.

Alpha Zane approached, and she looked at him pleadingly, hoping he would come to his mate's rescue. "Alpha, I would never."

However, Lunaire received a sharp sting on her cheek instead. Zane slapped her across the face.

"Disgusting!" he spat.

Lunaire placed her hand over her burning cheek, petrified, feeling the numbness familiar to her.

She looked back at her mate in disbelief when he suddenly pulled her hair and dragged her away mercilessly in front of their pack.

Everyone chanted for her punishment. They all seemed like demons before her blurry eyes.

"Punish her, Alpha!"

"Yes! Punish her for the murder of our beta and his mate too!"

Lunaire wailed, but Zane remained heartless.

"Xavier! Bring out the pole and the whip!" He yelled out, making her gasp in horror.

"No! No! P-please! P-please, Alpha! She's lying. She's lying! I didn't s-steal! I didn't do it," Ari desperately begged him, but he only smirked at her.

"You are a pathetic piece of shit!" he cursed, tightening her grip on her hair and making her scream.

"Shut the fuck up!" He yelled and punched her in the face.

He threw her on the floor as if she was disgusting trash. She fell to the mud face down, and in front of her, she saw Bella standing not far, smirking in delight, enjoying her pain.