REJECTED YET CHOSEN

Chapter 2

_Lyla's POV_

The forest was quiet except for the crunch of leaves under my boots and the occasional chirping of birds. The stillness felt heavy, almost suffocating, as if the world itself had decided to mock me with its indifference. I had been walking for hours, but the pain in my chest was as fresh as it had been the moment Dorian said those words:

“Lyla Grace, I reject you as my fated mate.”

The memory replayed in my mind like a broken record. Each time, it felt like a knife twisting deeper into my heart. His voice had been cold, detached, as though I were nothing more than a stranger. No, worse—an inconvenience.

I stumbled over a root and caught myself against a tree. My legs trembled, both from exhaustion and the weight of the emotional storm raging inside me. Tears welled up in my eyes again, but I blinked them away. I refused to cry anymore. Crying wouldn’t change what had happened. It wouldn’t make Dorian take back his rejection or undo the humiliation I had suffered in front of the entire pack.

I leaned against the tree, pressing a hand to my chest as if I could somehow ease the unbearable ache there. The mate bond wasn’t just emotional—it was physical. When Dorian rejected me, it felt like he had ripped a part of me away, leaving an empty, gaping wound. My wolf had howled in pain, and even now, she was silent, withdrawn.

“Why?” I whispered to the empty forest. My voice cracked, barely audible. “Why wasn’t I enough?”

Of course, I already knew the answer. I was an omega—weak, unremarkable, and unworthy of standing beside an Alpha like Dorian. He had said it himself: “You’re not fit to be Luna. This is for the good of the pack.”

I clenched my fists. Was it really for the good of the pack, or was it for him? Did he think Camilla, with her perfect golden hair and confident smile, would make him stronger? Did he even care about the pain he had caused me?

The thought made my stomach churn. I pushed off the tree and forced myself to keep walking. The forest seemed endless, the towering trees closing in around me. I didn’t know where I was going, but I couldn’t stop. Staying in the Moonshadow Pack wasn’t an option, not after what had happened. I couldn’t face the whispers, the pitying looks, or Maya’s cruel smirks.

As the sun began to rise, its golden light filtering through the leaves, I came across a small stream. The sight of it was a relief, and I dropped to my knees by the water’s edge. The cold water felt like a blessing as I cupped it in my hands and brought it to my lips.

I stared at my reflection in the stream, barely recognizing the girl who looked back at me. My dark hair was a tangled mess, my cheeks streaked with dirt and dried tears. My eyes, usually so full of quiet determination, looked hollow and lifeless.

“I don’t even know who I am anymore,” I whispered. My voice sounded foreign, even to me.

My wolf stirred faintly in the back of my mind. She had been quiet since Dorian’s rejection. She was hurt just like me. Now, her voice was soft but firm. “You’re Lyla. You’re stronger than this.”

“Am I?” I asked aloud, my voice trembling. “Because I don’t feel strong. I feel… broken.”

“You’re not broken,” she insisted. “You’re hurting, but you’ll heal. You have to.”

Her words sparked a tiny flicker of hope, but it was quickly drowned out by doubt. How could I heal when I felt like a part of me was missing? How could I move forward when every step felt like a battle against the crushing weight of my own pain?

I stood, wiping my hands on my pants. “I can’t stay here,” I said, more to myself than my wolf. “I have to keep moving.”

The hours dragged on as I walked, my body growing heavier with every step. The forest thinned, and by midday, I reached its edge. Beyond the trees, a small town came into view. Smoke curled lazily from chimneys, and the faint hum of life carried on the breeze.

My stomach twisted with nerves. I had never been beyond the Moonshadow Pack’s territory. The human world was a mystery to me, one I had always been told to avoid. But what choice did I have now? The pack had never truly been my home, and I couldn’t survive alone in the wilderness forever.

I hesitated at the edge of the trees, my heart pounding. The town looked so normal, so unassuming, but to me, it was a completely foreign world. I took a deep breath and stepped forward.

As I walked down the dusty main street, I felt the eyes of the townspeople on me. They didn’t stare outright, but I caught the curious glances, the murmured conversations. I kept my head down, my hands clenched at my sides.

“Hey, you!” a gruff voice called out.

I froze, my heart leaping into my throat. Slowly, I turned to see an older man standing outside a small shop. He had a grizzled beard and kind eyes that crinkled at the corners.

“You look like you have been through hell,” he said, his tone not unkind. “You lost?”

“I…” My voice faltered. I didn’t know what to say. “I’m just passing through.”

He studied me for a moment, his expression softening. “Well, if you need food or a place to rest, there’s an inn down the street. Tell them Frank sent you. They’ll take care of you.”

Tears stung my eyes at his unexpected kindness. I nodded. “Thank you.”

Frank waved me off with a smile. “Take care of yourself, kid.”

As I watched him disappear into his shop, I felt a strange mix of gratitude and sadness. His kindness was a reminder that not everyone was like the wolves in my pack. Maybe, just maybe, there was a place for me out here.

The inn was small but cozy, its wooden sign creaking in the breeze. I stepped inside, the warmth of the fire immediately wrapping around me. The woman behind the counter looked up. Her sharp eyes softened when she saw me.

“You must be the one Frank mentioned,” she said. “Rough day?”

I nodded.

She gestured to a table by the fire. “Sit. I’ll bring you something to eat.”

As I sank into the chair, the weight of everything finally began to settle. I didn’t know what the future held, but for the first time since Dorian’s rejection, I felt the tiniest spark of hope. Maybe I could build a new life here, away from the pain and rejection.

Maybe I could find a way to heal.