REJECTED BY THE ALPHA, CHOSEN BY THE MOON

ELARA'S POV

I couldn't tell if I was dreaming again, I couldn't trust my dreams and my reality anymore, I couldn't tell the difference.

My body felt cold, I shivered all through. My back felt so cold.

I slowly opened my eyes, it was pitch black, my heart started beating again, slowly, my eyes started getting used to the darkness.

I think I was in the dungeon, the lights at the end flickered on and off, there was a very dim light in cell, I couldn't see more than a few feet ahead of me, but if I listened carefully, I could hear the breathing of someone else close, maybe the next cell.

I had been in the dungeon only once before, to do a bit of cleaning, and that's why I could recognize where I was.

"But why would the Alpha throw me in here?"

And as if by natural selection, all the memories came rushing back.

The dream, the pain, the rejection.

It hit me like a bolt of lightning, suddenly I felt goosebumps all over my body.

And then fear... I started getting scared.

"What if he decides to kill me?"  

"Did I do anything to deserve that?"

I resolved to plead for mercy and beg to be banished the minute I set my eyes on the Alpha.

I have no interest in being his mate, regardless of what the mate bond says.

Another pain, just like earlier, but not as intense. It was as if the mate bond was fighting my words, but I could be stubborn, I fought too through.

And I said the words aloud this time.

"I have no interest in being his mate, I just want to be let to live, even if I have to go far away"

I started panicking and thinking of all the likely scenarios. I remember everyone's eyes as I was dragged away before the pain made me lose consciousness. I remember the look of disdain and disgust and I would do anything to be away from here, to be away from the pack house, to be away from the Alpha.

Another jolt of pain.

"AHHHH!!! I screamed in agony"

It was much more painful this time.

I heard footsteps hurrying towards me. It must have been the guards because I yelled.

A single guard appeared in front of me, snarling at me, his eyes glowing, his wolf aching to come out.

"what happened?" He sneered at me.

"I...I...I need to see the alpha" I stuttered, his presence was so overwhelming.

He gave me a low growl again.

"What for?" He sneered again "he ordered us to lock you up and watch you closely, what makes you think you have the right to demand to see him" his words turning into a growl at the end.

I was so scared now, because I had never had a close encounter with any of the guards in the pack, they were always vicious and looked scary, and I always tried to keep my distance from them.

I scooted further into the cell.

"Please....I... I just need to see him", I could barely get the words out.

"You think the alpha would heed to the demands of a mutt? Do not cause any more scenes and do not request to see the alpha again, you will be called upon when it is necessary" and with that he walked away, his footsteps fading.

I was left there, scared and confused. I needed to see the alpha and plead for my life, I didn't want to die just because of a mate bond, besides, I had already been rejected, what's the worse that could happen.

"A lot worse...."

I heard it, like a faint whisper.

"What? Who said that?" I panicked while frantically looking around, I strained my ears and eyes and I couldn't see anyone. 

I strained my ears again but the voice never came again. I must have been hearing things because of the darkness. There were other people here, I don't know how, but I could feel it. And at the same time, it was eerily quiet too.

I couldn't remember when I slept off, I was exhausted and although the pain had dulled to a low hum, it was still there and I could feel it.

Crack!!

I was woken up to the sound of my cell door opening, with three guards standing outside, including the guard from earlier.

"Bring her out, the alpha wants her now" one of them ordered.

I instinctively started shifting back out of fear, but I was no match against these men, so I succumbed while they grabbed me, tied my arms and dragged me out of the cell.

A part of me yearned to see him, but I quickly stopped thinking about it.

I was taken from the dungeon, up a flight of stairs leading to the main hallway, the lights were too bright and I quickly shut my eyes, my arms began to ache because of the way I was being carried.

As quickly as it started, it ended. They dropped me roughly on the ground, my knees aching from the impact. 

I opened my eyes, and I was in the main hall, surrounded by all the pack members, staring at me with demeaning looks on their faces, under the harsh glare of the lights from the chandelier.

I looked up and saw the Alpha, staring down at me, his look demeaning, his jaw clenched, my heart skipped a beat, the bond pulsed and a fresh wave of pain.

The pain made me shudder and close my eyes momentarily, I was confused and didn't know why the pain kept coming.

"Was the mate bond supposed to hurt?" I said to myself. I had never heard stories of pain from the bond, this was a new thing to me, it was painful.

I opened my eyes again and saw the Alpha walking towards me. 

I lowered my head and heard the footsteps getting closer.

Shiny shoes appeared in my vision, only this time, they were black.

"Elara Cornell" the alpha said loudly, enough for everyone to hear "you are here because the bond demands it, and because I will see just how far you can push yourself before it breaks you"