Luna Thalassa's Awakening

Chapter 2

_Thalassa's POV_

As I locked eyes with Killian, something strange began to happen. My heart raced, and a warmth spread through my chest. I felt a magnetic pull toward him, an attraction that I couldn't explain. It was as if an invisible force was drawing me to him, and it was overpowering.

I couldn't help myself when I found my lips moving, uttering the word that confirmed the impossible. "Mate."

The moment those words escaped my mouth, I was as surprised as Killian. I had despised him for as long as I could remember, and he had always been the tormentor in my life. How could he possibly be my mate? The irony of it all felt like a cruel joke.

As the word "mate" hung in the air between us, Killian's expression shifted from shock to disbelief. He was just as confounded by this twist of fate as I was. I could see the turmoil in his eyes as he mumbled, "This can't be."

But then, something unusual happened to me. It was as if a surge of energy coursed through my body, and I felt a presence stirring deep within me. It was my wolf, the primal essence of my being, awakening in response to this newfound connection with Killian. She wanted to come out, to experience this bond between mates, and the intensity of the sensation was overwhelming.

I clutched my stomach, a sharp pain radiating from within. My vision started to blur, and the world around me became hazy and distant. I could hear the frantic voices of people around me, but their words were muffled, as if they were coming from underwater.

I tried to hold on, to remain conscious, but the pain grew more intense. It felt like my insides were twisting and turning, reshaping themselves in response to the call of my wolf. I was in the midst of a transformation, a profound shift that marked the moment my wolf and I became one.

But the pain became too much to bear, and I could feel myself losing control. As the world faded to black, I fell into a deep and disorienting darkness.

I was vaguely aware of voices surrounding me. They were distant, like whispers in a faraway dream. I couldn't comprehend their words, and it felt like I was floating in a void, disconnected from reality.

But then, as if from a great distance, I heard someone say, "She is waking up."

I struggled to open my heavy eyelids, and when I did, the scene that met my gaze was unfamiliar. I was lying in a bed, with my mother on my right and my father on my left. There were other people in the room as well, their eyes filled with concern. I was disoriented, wondering where I was and how I had ended up here.

Then, a deep male voice, authoritative and calm, pierced through my foggy consciousness. "I have made her wolf dormant for the time being, but she will need to go through the transition soon. I have also prescribed some medicines to ease the process."

The voice belonged to a tall man with salt-and-pepper hair, who was standing at the foot of my bed. He had an air of authority and knowledge that instantly commanded respect. His words hinted at a process that I didn't fully understand, but the mention of my wolf being made dormant sent shivers down my spine. I tried to speak, to ask questions, but my throat was parched, and my voice barely a croak.

The man with the authoritative voice took a step closer, his eyes fixing on mine with a piercing intensity. "Thalassa, I am Dr. Donovan, the pack's physician."

His steady voice continued to fill the room, and he looked at me with a mixture of concern and assurance. "Thalassa, I'm aware that this is a lot to take in. Your connection with your mate and the awakening of your wolf can be overwhelming. That's why your wolf is currently dormant. You were not able to complete the transformation since you were in a state of shock, and that's what led to your fainting."

His words helped to make sense of the inexplicable events that had occurred earlier. It was as though my wolf had become active but hadn't fully manifested, leaving me in a vulnerable state.

Dr. Donovan leaned closer, placing a hand on my shoulder. "You will need to undergo your first shift soon. It's a crucial step in your journey as a wolf. I have prescribed some medicines to help ease the transition and ensure it happens smoothly."

My father nodded with gratitude and said, "Thank you, Dr. Donovan."

The doctor gave a reassuring smile and then exited the room. As the door closed behind him, Alpha Mark, Killian's father, stepped forward. He was an imposing figure, tall and broad-shouldered, with a commanding presence that befitted his status as the pack's Alpha. His dark hair was streaked with silver, a sign of his wisdom and experience. His eyes, a piercing shade of blue, held a mix of authority and warmth. He spoke with a deep and resonant voice. "My son would like to speak with Thalassa in private. I would ask that the rest of you give them some space."

My parents exchanged a look and nodded in agreement, silently expressing their trust in this moment. They left the room, and I was left alone with my mate.

The room felt heavy with tension, and I couldn't shake the overwhelming awkwardness of the situation. Killian approached the bed with a conflicted expression, and it was clear that he, too, was struggling to come to terms with the unexpected revelation.

In a voice that was both cold and deliberate, he began, "Thalassa, I need to be clear about something. I cannot accept you as my mate. This... bond between us is impossible. It's a mistake, a curse, or whatever you want to call it."

The words hit me like a physical blow. He continued, "I'm in love with your sister, and nothing will change that. I can't be with someone who's cursed, and I will never accept you as my mate."

His words continued to pierce through my heart like shards of ice. His voice grew even colder as he spoke, making it clear that there was no room for compromise. "You're not worthy of becoming the future Luna, and I can't imagine being with someone like you. It's your sister who is worthy of that role."

His rejection was like a dagger to my heart. The depth of the pain I felt was indescribable. It felt like my world was falling apart, and the pain of being compared to my sister, who had always been the favored one, intensified the ache in my chest.

My voice trembled as I responded, "Killian, you can't understand what's happening, and I don't even fully understand it myself. But we're bonded, and I can't change that. I didn't ask for this, and I never wanted it, but it's the reality we have to face."

"I don't care, Thalassa. I won't be with you. I won't be your mate. I won't accept this bond. I need to reject you."

The finality of his words was like a death sentence for my heart. The man I had despised for so long was now the one who held my heart in his hands, and he was determined to shatter it.

My wolf, dormant and silenced by Dr. Donovan's intervention, stirred within me, and I could feel her anguish. She longed for the connection with her mate, for the bond that was meant to be unbreakable. But it seemed that fate had a different plan for us.

Killian's words had left me in a state of shock, and his declaration that he would reject me felt like a crushing blow. As I tried to come to terms with the pain of his rejection, he abruptly turned and stormed out of the room, leaving me alone and vulnerable.

After what felt like an eternity, my parents returned to the room. They exchanged worried glances, and it was clear that they were aware of what had happened between Killian and me.

My mother said, "Thalassa, you have to understand. Your sister's happiness is at stake here. You need to make this sacrifice for her."

My father nodded in agreement, his expression pained. "Your mother is right. It's a complicated situation, but you know how much your sister means to us. We can't let her down."

My voice quivered as I spoke up, "Why is it always me who has to sacrifice for her happiness? Why am I the one who has to bear the pain and the burden? This time, I won't agree to it."

My words hung in the air, filled with frustration and resentment. It was a breaking point for me, a moment when I couldn't take it any longer. The unfairness of it all had built up over the years, and now, I was refusing to accept it.

My mother's face contorted with anger, and without warning, she slapped me across the face. The sting of her hand on my cheek was a physical manifestation of her disappointment and anger. Her voice, laced with fury, matched the intensity of her action. "How dare you speak like that, Thalassa? You will do what's best for your sister. You will agree to this, no matter how hard it is for you."

My cheek stinging from the slap, I couldn't hold back my words. "But Killian is my true mate. This bond... it's something I can't control. The moon goddess has chosen him for me."

My father, his face filled with sorrow, tried to reason with me. "Thalassa, Killian doesn't love you. He loves Marina. He's made that clear. You and Killian together would never work. You'd both be miserable."

The unfairness of it all continued to gnaw at me. "What if Marina has a true mate somewhere out there, and one day she finds him? What will you do then?"

My father's voice was filled with conviction as he responded, "That will never happen. Killian and Marina are perfect together. Marina is meant to become the future Luna."

The finality of my father's words left me feeling trapped, as if I had no say in my own destiny. I realized that arguing with them was futile. They were determined to ensure Marina's happiness, regardless of the pain it caused me. They would force me to accept Killian's rejection, and I would remain alone and mateless for the rest of my life, a fate that felt more cruel with each passing moment.

The weight of the situation bore down on me, and it was clear that my parents and the pack's Alpha and Luna had made up their minds. I was just a pawn in this complex game of politics, and there was no room for my feelings or desires.

My father's voice held a somber tone as he spoke, "I've already spoken to Alpha Mark, and the rejection ceremony will take place tomorrow, during the full moon. You should prepare yourself, Thalassa."

My father's words felt like the final nail in the coffin of my hopes and desires. The rejection ceremony, traditionally held during a full moon, was the official and irreversible separation of a mated pair. It was a solemn event where the bond between mates was severed, and the pain of rejection would be felt by both parties. The thought of going through this ceremony with Killian was a nightmare.