Chapter 1 Chapter 1: Decisions

Willow

“Dustin!” I screamed as I came wildly underneath my mate.

He slammed into me twice more before finding his release and grunting. We were both breathing hard, and I was elated. Alpha Dustin Birch of Blue Ridge is my fated mate. I just turned eighteen; he was there, unmated and unmarked. He is tall, with blond hair and blue eyes. His body looks gorgeous, and the Moon Goddess thought I was deserving of this man.

Vana, my wolf, is also happy. She is a beautiful wolf. She is grey and white, and she has my grey eyes. I roll over to snuggle with my mate. Dustin stiffens, though, and then gently but firmly removes my hand from his chest.

“Willow,” he sighed.

Something feels off. I don’t understand why he is pushing me away. “Is something wrong, Dustin?”

“I haven’t given you permission to call me with such informality, Willow,” he replied.

I felt a pang in my chest. “But…we’re mates.”

He sighed again. “Don’t remind me.”

I sucked in a breath. Don’t remind me? What does that mean? “It’s a fact, not a reminder.”

Dustin got out of bed and started putting his boxers on. “Yeah, I know it’s a fact. I don’t want to be reminded of said fact, Willow,” he said; this time, there was a hint of annoyance in his voice.

“Did you not enjoy…,” I stopped speaking. Embarrassed to ask if he didn’t enjoy the sex with me. That was my first time. To me, it was incredible. Maybe he was disappointed. I can learn, though. I know this isn’t his first time. I’ve seen him with other women. I also have heard stories from other women about how fantastic he is in bed, and after our moment together, I agree. He was fantastic. I mean, that was my first time, but he saw to my needs. I presume he is fantastic. It’s not like I sleep around.

He simply sat on the bed and continued getting dressed. “It was fine,” he said as he put on his shoes.

“Then why are you being cold with me now?” I asked. I’m thoroughly confused now. We are mates. We just slept together. Now he is getting dressed in such a hurry that it feels like he is running away from me. I thought fated mates fell in love immediately.

He stands up and reaches for his shirt. “Listen, Willow, I am in love with Marian Nunns. I am taking her as my Luna.”

My mouth dropped, and my heart stopped. I swear I stopped breathing too. Vana is howling in my head at the rejection. “Marian Nunns? But I’m your mate, Dustin! How can you take her as your Luna when the Moon Goddess paired us together?!”

I feel tears welling up in my eyes, threatening to fall. How could he take the one woman who has always taunted me? The one woman who is constantly humiliating me in front of the entire pack. He is supposed to protect me. I’m his mate!

“Clearly, the Moon Goddess made a mistake,” Dustin said.

“But, we just…,” I said, stopping again. I’m trying to wrap my head around everything he is saying. I don’t understand.

“Yeah, and it was great, Willow,” he said. “But I only wanted to experience what sleeping with my fated mate would feel like. I’ve heard it’s the best sex I will ever have, and the hype is true. That was the best sex I’ve had. Now that I’ve had it, and gotten it out of my system, I can move on with Marian.”

“You…only…wanted sex from me?”

“Pretty much. No one will say anything because we were fated mates.”

“Were?”

He leaned down and gave me a chaste kiss on the lips. Then he pulled his shirt back on before looking me in the eyes.

“I, Alpha Dustin Birch, of the Blue Ridge Pack, reject you, Willow Ashford, as my mate,” he said with such carelessness.

I immediately felt the ripping of the bond in my chest and screamed out. Vana is whimpering from the pain. I fell to my knees and tried to breathe through the pain.

“Why her?! Why am I not good enough?!” I cried, clutching my chest.

Dustin bends down. “Willow, you are weak. You are an omega with no real skill. Marian is a beta’s daughter and a trained fighter. That’s what any alpha would want by his side. A strong and capable partner. You are not strong, nor are you capable,” then he lifts my chin, “Accept the rejection, Willow.”

“I hate you,” I whispered between sobs. “You miserable bastard.”

I weakly got to my feet and stood up straight. I looked Dustin in the eyes, “I, Willow Ashford, accept your rejection.”

At that moment, the final tether of the bond snapped, sending both of us two steps back. Dustin grunted but managed to stay upright. I grabbed onto the bedpost and held on.

“I, Willow Ashford, reject Alpha Dustin Birch of Blue Ridge Pack, as my alpha. I would rather be a lone wolf than stay in this pack a minute longer.”

That second blow affected Dustin more than me. His eyes widened, and he clutched his chest. “Are you crazy?! You’d rather be a rogue?!”

“You made your decision, and I made mine, Dustin. I’m grabbing my things and leaving right now,” I said, fighting through the pain as I packed my luggage.

“Willow, you are being irrational. You will find your equal. Another omega to bond with. You don’t need to leave,” he said.

I looked at Dustin coldly, and he stepped back one step. “Dustin, you are going to regret your decision. It may not be today. It may not be tomorrow. But the Moon Goddess doesn’t forget those who think they know better than Her. I hope when that day comes, whatever She has planned for you will be swift and final.”

I grabbed my phone, my charger, and the few outfits I owned, then threw them in a suitcase. I grabbed my backpack and tossed my toiletries, important documents, and wallet. Then I grabbed the one keepsake my mother left me and clasped it around my neck.

Before I walked out, I turned and looked at him. “I’m not weak. I will show you and everyone else who has mocked me, humiliated me, and hurt me exactly what you threw away.”

I opened the door and walked out of that room, out of that pack house, and out of that pack. From now on, no one will ever call me weak again. I will be the strongest, fastest, smartest, and most efficient she-wolf anyone has ever met.