Rejected by Fated Mate

Three days passed like a slow death march. Each hour that Scott didn't come to our meeting spot at the old oak tree felt like another nail in the coffin of my dreams.

"He's busy," I told my reflection as I stared at the dark circles under my eyes. "He's just helping Violeta recover."

But my wolf knew better. She paced restlessly inside me, whimpering whenever Scott's scent drifted through the pack house.

"He's avoiding us," she insisted. "Something's wrong."

I tried to catch Scott's attention during pack meals, but he'd position himself across the room, his gaze sliding past me as if I were invisible. The man who had once looked at me like I was his entire world now couldn't even bear to meet my eyes.

Violeta, meanwhile, clung to him like a lifeline. She'd appear at his side at every opportunity, her hand trembling as she touched his arm, her voice soft and dependent.

"I don't remember anything about our breakup," she'd say, her blue eyes wide with practiced innocence. "Only that we were meant to be together."

And Scott would respond instantly, his protective instincts flaring. "Don't worry," he'd murmur, guiding her away from the crowd. "I'll help you remember."

I watched them disappear down the hallway, her delicate hand resting on his chest, his body curved protectively around hers. The sight made my stomach twist into knots.

---

I couldn't take it anymore. After five days of silence, I marched to Scott's Alpha office, determined to get answers.

He was alone when I entered, standing by the window with his back to me. For a moment, I almost believed I could see the man I'd fallen in love with—his shoulders tense but still broad, his dark hair slightly tousled.

"Scott," I said softly.

He turned slowly, and the coldness in his amber eyes made me step back.

"What do you want, Octavia?" His voice was formal, distant—nothing like the warm tones that had whispered promises against my skin.

"What's happening to us?" I asked, hating how my voice trembled. "You haven't come to our meetings. You won't even look at me."

"I've been busy," he replied, his gaze dropping to his desk. "Violeta needs me right now."

"And I don't?" The words escaped before I could stop them.

Scott's jaw tightened. "She needs me more than you do. She has no one else."

"I'm your mate!" The words burst from me, desperate and raw. "We're bonded by the Moon Goddess herself!"

Something flickered in Scott's eyes—guilt, perhaps, or regret—but it vanished quickly.

"Violeta was my chosen mate first," he said coldly. "I have a duty to her that I can't ignore."

"Our bond is sacred!" I stepped closer, my hands reaching for him. "You can't just throw that away because she showed up claiming amnesia!"

Scott's eyes flashed gold, and suddenly the air in the room grew heavy with his Alpha power.

"Enough." The Alpha command hit me like a physical blow, forcing me back. "You will not question my decisions in this matter."

My wolf cowered inside me, whimpering as the command took hold. But I fought against it, tears streaming down my face.

"Please," I whispered, "don't do this."

Scott's expression hardened. "Our fated bond will have to wait until I fulfill my duty to Violeta. She needs me now."

---

The joint pack meeting was called to discuss the upcoming Mate Ceremony. I sat in the back row, my hands clenched in my lap as Scott took the podium.

"The ceremony preparations have been going well," he began, his voice carrying through the hall. "But I have an announcement regarding the timeline."

My heart stuttered as Violeta appeared beside him, her hand sliding possessively through his arm.

"In light of recent events," Scott continued, "I've decided to postpone my mating with Octavia indefinitely."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. I sat frozen, unable to process what was happening.

"Violeta needs time to recover and understand her place in our pack," he explained, his voice devoid of emotion. "I cannot in good conscience proceed with another mating while she remains vulnerable."

Violeta leaned closer to him, her eyes finding mine across the room. For just a moment, her mask slipped—and I saw triumph glittering in those blue depths.

"Scott will be focusing on helping me during this difficult time," she added softly, her fingers tightening on his arm.

As the room erupted in whispers, I felt something inside me crack. The sacred bond that had once promised me everything now felt like chains binding me to a man who had just publicly discarded me.

And as Scott's gaze finally met mine—cold and unapologetic—I realized that the Moon Goddess's blessing had become my curse.