A LUNA’S REJECTION

Chapter 3

Rejected by My Mate

When I woke up, I realized I wasn't at the battle ground anymore. I was in the infirmary—a small clinic beside the main hospital, usually reserved for minor injuries. The moment i attemopted to sit up, a dull, throbbing pain seared through my skull. I groaned softly, the ache relentless.

"Mia." Clara's familiar voice reached me before I saw her. She stepped into view, her gaze sweeping over me with concern.

"What happened?" I mumbled, clearly still dazed.

"Olive kicked you pretty hard," she explained. "You’ve been out all night and most of today."

"Wow. Did she win?" I grumbled, trying to focus.

Clara's lips twisted into a smirk. "Nope. She made it to the semi-finals but lost."

I wasn't sure whether to be disappointed or relieved. On one hand, it was a little satisfying knowing she didn’t win, given how much my head was killing me. On the other hand, losing to someone who didn’t even take the championship made it feel more humiliating.

"Who beat her?" I asked.

Clara's smile widened. "Me, silly. She hurt my best friend, after all."

My eyes widened. "You made it to the semis?"

"Yeah," Clara sighed, her excitement tempered. "But then I lost to that b***h, Emery."

I finally noticed the bruises on her arms and neck. They were already fading, pale marks against her skin. Somehow, she managed to avoid any facial injuries. Meanwhile, my own eye had to be blackened, surely, and the throbbing told me it was clearly far from okay. I tasted blood on my lip, but it was probably healing.

Suddenly, my heart pounded faster. "Clara," I whispered urgently, "I had the Glaze."

Her eyes went wide. "You had what?"

I nodded, pushing through the soreness. "I felt the connection. I found my mate."

Clara practically jumped out of her chair. "No way! Who's it?"

Before I could answer, the curtain at my bedside rustled aside. A warmth flooded through me, starting from my fingertips and spreading outward, leaving my skin tingling. My gaze locked onto Bren. His intense eyes scanning my face, then my bruised body, before shifting to Clara. Her shock was palpable.

"I need to speak to Mia," Bren said, his voice commanding.

Clara didn't hesitate. "Yes, Alpha," she replied, bowing her head and stepping out. I wonder if Bren mind-linked her. If so, it means Clara had completed the ceremonial process and now bore the pack's brand on her wrist. I glanced at my own wrist. Still blank. No sigil. No shield and sword etched into my skin.

I turned to Bren, confusion swirling in my chest. "I'm your mate," I said, voice very soft.

"Keep your voice down," he ordered. His eyes flickered downward, avoiding mine as he pulled Clara's chair closer and sat.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

Something was off. He didn't seem like the Bren I knew—the friendly guy who talked to me just yesterday. My wolf urged me to comfort him, to reach out and bridge the distance.

"What's wrong?" I asked, feeling the undeniable pull toward him. He’s never looked so striking, with his deep brown eyes and hands I suddenly wanted to hold. But something in him had changed.

Bren's jaw tightened. He remained silent for a moment, then muttered, "I don’t think I’m ready for a mate."

My heart skipped, then raced. "What the hell are you talking about?" I blurted out. Mates are chosen by the Moon Goddess. She doesn’t make mistakes. Bren's words made no sense.

"I'm not ready," he snapped, his voice louder, harsher.

My pulse thundered in my ears. "What makes you think I’m ready?" I shot back.

He stood up, crossing his arms. "Great, then that’s settled," he said coldly. "We’ll reject each other."

The word "reject" hit like a knife, slicing into my soul. My wolf howled in agony, too stunned to react. "Are you serious?" I choked out. "I don’t want to reject you."

Bren scowled. "You just said—"

"Just because I said I’m not ready doesn’t mean I won’t try," I interrupted, my voice cracking. "Why are you doing this? How can you be so cruel?"

For a split second, he hesitated, and I think I could see regret. But then his face hardened, and he became a stranger.

"You want the truth?" he spat. "You lost in the first round, Mia. You really think I want a Luna who can’t even win one fight? I need someone strong. Someone worthy of this pack. And you? You’re just a book nerd. You don't have what it takes."

This isn’t real. Surely it can’t be. I’ve dreamed about finding my mate for years, imagining this moment a thousand times. I’m twenty-two, and I’ve clung to fairytales, believing that when it happened, it would be perfect. But this? This was a nightmare.

"I spoke to my Beta," Bren continued mercilessly. "And Jake. We all agree. When I do choose a Luna, it’ll be someone stronger than you."

Tears welled in my eyes. "You can’t reject me," I whispered, desperation laced in my voice. My wolf panicked, urging me to fix this. Why should I have to defend myself to Bren? He knew me. We studied together, spent days by the lake with Clara and Jake. How could he be so heartless?

Bren’s eyes darkened. "Watch me," he growled.

"The King will be furious!" I pleaded, my voice cracking.

Bren’s expression turned even colder. "The King has bigger problems than this, Mia. He doesn’t care about some petty mate bond."

Tears blurred my vision. I won’t cry, not here, not in front of him. In a final attempt, I reached for his hand. As our skin touched, a familiar jolt of warmth spread through me, the mate bond struggling to hold on. For a heartbeat, Bren softened—but then he ripped his hand away, anger blazing in his eyes.

His voice was harsh and final. "I, Alpha Bren Stevens, sever all ties with my mate, Mia Holm, and reject our connection, crafted by the Moon Goddess."

The bond doesn’t break cleanly. Instead, it tears, jagged and raw. The pain was excruciating, like a part of me was being ripped away. My wolf howled, and I clutched my chest, feeling the void where the bond used to be. Bren stumbled briefly, as if the rejection wounded him too, but he quickly straightened and walked out.

I was left alone, shattered and empty. My wolf paced, pleading to chase after him, but what was the point? He’d made his choice.

Clara bursts back into the room, panic in her eyes. "What happened?"

I couldn't find the words. The pain was too real, too consuming. The dream I clung to was dead, shattered beyond repair.

"Mia," Clara whispered, her hands gentle on my shoulders. Her concern was piercing, but I felt hollow, like a shell of myself.

I meet her gaze, memories of our childhood dreams flooding back. We always imagined finding our mates, someone who would love us unconditionally. The dam broke free, and I sobbed, grief tearing through me. I threw whatever was in reach—a pillow, a cup, a clipboard—unable to contain the pain.

Clara pulled me close, her arm steadying me. I needed this moment, just one chance to let the weakness take over. I’d been strong for too long, always fighting, always enduring.

Here, now, I didn't care if I was a Spartan or not. My parents had abandoned me. My mate now doesn’t want me. Maybe Bren was right. Maybe I’ll never be enough.

But I have to be. I had to be.

*You will be,* my wolf whispered.

I clung to Clara, the heartbreak coursing through me, each wave more crushing than the last. Rejected, unwanted. My entire world was unraveling, and all I could do was cry.