Owen smirked. “You know, Ariana, I’ve saved this moment just for now. Because if I reject you here… the pain will stay with you until you reach the Night Walker Pack. In your weakened state, you'll be deemed useless to them. And we all know what happens to useless things in the Night Walker Pack, don't we?”
I knew what that meant. The Night Walker Pack discarded the weak, cast them into the wilderness to die slowly, or worse, they used them for sport.
“No, Owen… please, I’m begging you. We were supposed to be forever.”
But he straightened, his voice echoing loud and clear for everyone to hear.
“I, Alpha Owen, reject you, Ariana James, as my mate and future Luna.”
Pain. Blinding, soul-shattering pain ripped through me as though claws had torn into my chest and pulled my heart out. I screamed, my voice raw and broken as the bond between us broke apart with force.
The crowd watched in silence as I rolled around in agony, clutching my chest and gasping for air that wouldn’t come. Some turned away, unable to watch. Others leaned forward, fascinated by my suffering.
Through the haze of pain, I managed to whisper, “I… Ariana James… accept your rejection.”