Chapter 1 The weight of Rejection

Elara’s POV

I stood before the entire pack, my heart pounding vehemently in my chest that I was sure they could hear it. The gathering of the entire pack was enough to make me anxious because I hated to be the center of attention. 

“What is he planning to do?” Ari my wolf asked in my head, her voice low with fear as well.

I also didn't understand. Why was this happening?

Alexander, my mate and husband, stood across from me, his gray cold eyes piercing into my soul with nothing but pure disgust. The man I love, the man I believed would do anything to protect me, was looking at me as if I were nothing.

Even though I had explained to him last night that I would never do such a thing, he still didn't care. 

Instead, his cold voice cut through the still silence, very sharp and unforgiving at that. 

“Elara, you stand here before the Nightshade Pack accused of the most disgraceful act imaginable. It cannot be heard nor graced.” He said flatly, as if I were already dead to him.

My breath seized in my throat as I dug my nail into my palms anxiously, not feeling any pain even when I could feel blood in my hand. 

“I…I don't understand,” I stammered. “What have I done?”

A scoff, a cold and heartless laugh rang into the air, coming exactly from my left ear. I honestly didn't need to turn because I knew who it was already, but I did anyway.

I turned my head slowly, my stomach twisting into knots at the sight of Kiara, Alexander's sister, standing with an all too pleased smile on her perfect face. Her brown hair cascaded over her shoulders, as her eyes held nothing but innocence. I knew better either way. 

I had always known that Kiara's hatred for me wasn't the one I can imagine. The times she had made me lose my pregnancy, just by making me trip and whenever I talked to Alex about it, he would never think of his sister as the culprit, instead, he would tell me I am the one not careful enough and I wanted to blame my mystery on his sister.

I knew sister love comes first, especially when his parents died when they were just five. I know that he should be on his side but why can't he just see that I have been trying to make everything okay but Kiara wouldn't let him see it. 

She was anything but innocent.

“You don't understand?” She repeated, her voice plastered with mockery. “Did I just hear you say you don't understand? How convenient. Perhaps you would like me to remind you of how you spread your legs for my fiance?” She yelled as gasped coursed through the crowd. 

Something they didn't expect.

“ Can you just stop the lies! Please!” I screamed out, tears threatening to fall from my eyes. 

The one thing I hated in my life was being lied to. I hate accusations. 

I shook my head rapidly, fear crepting over my face. “That's not even true!” I turned to Alexander, pleading with my eyes. “You know me, Alexander. You know I would never do that to you. I would never cheat on you.”

But he didn't move nor did he blink. 

“Don't you dare! Don't you dare make that innocent face. You're a cheating bastard! Do you know you look right now? You look desperate!” Kiara sneered at me.

Alexander stared at me coldly and my chest tightened. “You don't believe her….do you?”

Kaira shot out a mocking pout. “Oh, but why would I lie, dear Elara? Because you always try to get the good side of my brother but who do you think you are? My own fiance confessed everything. But as the liar that you are, you wouldn't even dare.”

I shook my head in disagreement and all I could see was murmurs through the crowd, staring at me with judgement and disgust. Like an outcast. 

This was wrong. I had never even been alone with Kiara's fiance, let alone done something as vile as this. I hated Lucas with so much energy in me. But I could already see the way the pack looked at me…like they expected it from me anyways.

“Lies,” I said and it came out like a whisper. “You're lying. I did no such thing. I hate your fiance! He disgusted me and I never wanted to be near him.”

Kiara's lips curved into a sickly sweet smile. “Am I? Then why would Alexander call for this meeting if he didn't believe it? You know what? You need to stop putting on an act because as far as I know, I covered a lot of evidence just for your ungrateful ass.”

I turned back to him, desperate. At least he would look into my eyes for once to see my already teary eyes. “Alexander….

His eyes darkened, and for the first time since this nightmare began, I saw it. The hurt in his eyes. The look of betrayal. 

A sign that he no longer has that trust in me. 

“Enough,” he said, with his palm facing me to shut up. 

I froze. 

“Elara,” he continued, his voice sharp like he had made up his mind. “From this moment forward, I, Alexander Kane, Alpha of the Nightshade Pack, reject you as my mate. You will no longer be my Luna or the Luna of this pack.”

And just as the time stopped working, the world around me stopped moving too. My heart became heavy and all I could hear was the hard groan coming out from my wolf, Ari. 

A sign that the bond between us had broken, ripping through my being. Pain unlike anything I had ever known coursed through my chest as I held tight onto it like it would be tearing apart anytime soon. 

Tears trickled down my face, my ears listening to the whispers of the pack. 

“She deserves this.”

“Disgusting human beings.”

“What a disgrace.”

“I knew she wasn't the person she portrayed herself to be.”

I tried to breathe. Tried to think. 

“I didn't do this,” I whispered, my voice barely above a whisper. “You know I didn't. If you really want me to leave then I will, but don't make it like this. I didn't cheat on you, Alex. I will nev….

I had not finished my statement when a rough slap landed on my face, pushing me back forcefully as I groaned out in pain. 

I stared up, tears trickling down my face to see Alex. He was the one. The one who slapped me.

He slapped me? Could he be more annoyed than this? After everything I gave him? The pack doctor had told us that he won't be able to produce any sperm nor child because he is infertile and even after convincing me that I could have sex with anyone I still didn't give up on him. I never did.

And yet, he stood before me actually believing the part that I have been having sex with Lucas?

“You will not tarnish my name any further,” he said, his voice full of the void of any love he once had for me. “Your punishment has already been decided.”

My heart pounded harder this time as I uttered the word after him.

“Punishment?”

He didn't hesitate, nor give me one more glance. “You are to be sold as a slave to the Bloodfang Pack.” He announced and my eyes widened in shock and disbelief. 

What?

No. No, no, no.

I shook my head continuously. 

No, this can't be happening. It shouldn't be.

Gasps echoed through the pack, but no one, absolutely no one stopped me. No one defended me. No one offered to hear my own side of the story. 

Even the people I had helped once to get rights only averted their eyes away from me like I was a disease and I could infect them with it. 

“Y…you can't do this,” I choked in my own Saliva. “Alexander, you …. can't.”

I haven't even finished my conversation when they charged in, causing nothing but chaos.

The Warriors of the Bloodfang Pack stepped into the place, their presence commanding authority and power through the gathered wolves.

They were larger, darker, colder than any wolves I had ever seen. Yes, that was what the Bloodfang warrior's were like. 

Slavery was never any option for anybody and it is how they announce someone missing every time and then after selling them off to some bunch of fools. I had always hoped that we could do something about it but now, it turned out I was the one being sold to them.

“Who do you think you are to want to sell me? What have I ever done to deserve this? You claimed I cheated on you, yes I did. I cheated on you but what more is my offense? I didn't steal, nor did I end someone's life.” I screamed out at the top of my voice even though tears had clouded my eyes.

But no one, no one said anything. 

At the front of the group stood Ronan Voss. 

The right man of the Alpha of the Bloodfang.

His mere presence sent a chill through my soul. Tall, broad and oozing an aura of dominance that was undeniable, Ronan surveyed the crowd with disinterest until his piercing silver eyes landed on me.

His lips curled into an amusing smile. More like a satisfaction. 

“Well,” he drawled, his voice deep and commanding, “I see my payment is ready.”

I took a step back in panic, holding onto my chest tightly. 

Alexander…he really did this? He really traded me off like an object? Without any investigations?

Like I meant nothing to him.

“No,” I whispered, my heart pounding. “Please.”

I turned to Alexander, my pride shattered into millions of pieces, my soul bleeding in pain. “D.. Don't do this to me. I didn't betray you. I honestly didn't do this. You have to believe me. Okay, Alex. If this is a joke then can you just retrieve this all thing? If it is to test my loyalty then please just let me go. Just let me go.” I cried. 

However, he didn't even give me a glance and Ronan let out a low, chuckle. “Oh don't worry, little wolf,” he murmured. “We will take good care of you. As you are priceless, it would be even more gracious.”

He lifted his hand, and before I could move, rough hands grabbed me tightly from both sides.

I screamed, struggling as two Bloodfang warrior's held me in an iron grip like I would run if they loosened their grip on me. 

I decided to break free my wolf, but it was of no use. She was also in pain and couldn't even stand up.

“Alexander, don't do this!”