A Rejection For Christmas

Isabella's POV: Two lines… There were two lines in the test that meant I was pregnant. A baby... My baby. I should be thrilled; I should be jumping up and down because my husband should be happy with this news, but the truth is that I am terrified. My husband, Alpha Jared Cain, did not marry me because he was in love or because I was his mate. He married me because his father didn’t let him reject me. I thought that would give our bond a chance, but I was wrong. Jared’s heart was already taken by the moment I appeared in his life. Kathy Barnes was the Beta’s daughter and Jared’s girlfriend since they were in high school. However, there was one rule that Jared had to follow, and that was to marry his true mate. Unfortunately for the golden couple, they weren't mates. An Alpha is strong if they have a Luna by their side, but not just any Luna; it must be the Luna assigned by the Moon Goddess, which is why Alphas rarely reject their mates. I met Jared during my interview to be part of the Silver Moon Pack. I was an orphan, left alone to be raised by humans, but I heard another voice inside me when I turned twelve. Tammie was my wolf and explained everything to me. She told me what I was and explained the importance of a pack; she also instructed me how to ensure our first shift and that I must keep it a secret. According to her, wolves don’t turn until they are eighteen, so I followed her advice and did as I was told. After I turned eighteen, she pressured me to find a pack; if I didn’t, I might become a rabid rogue. With her help, we ended up in the Silver Moon Pack. Everything was great, the Alpha seemed like a nice person, I thought I would fit in here, and then the door of the office opened and I saw him. Jared. As our eyes connected, I felt our bond form. Tammie howled happily, telling me that we had found our mate, our other half, the person who was supposed to love us the most, but instead of happiness, I saw anger on his face. His father quickly realized what had happened and prohibited Jared from rejecting me. He threatened him and told him that if he did, he would take the Alpha position away from Jared. After that day, my engagement with the Alpha was announced, and the beginning of my hell began. Jared didn't care for me at all. I tried to do everything, tried to keep the peace between us until he finally gave the bond a chance, but all he used me for was s*x. He sometimes came late at night; he clearly had been drinking, but since we are wolves, I can't say he was drunk. He told me how much he despised me, how evil I was, but at the same time, how attracted he was to my body. It hurt me deeply, but I gave in because I thought one day he would finally love me. Now, three years later, here I was, debating what to do with my pregnancy. I decided to give Jared one last chance. I would tell him about our baby, hoping he would finally realize that he must move on from Kathy. She must have a mate out here; it was time she went to look for him, and Jared focused on us. I took the test and hid it in my pocket. It was already Christmas, so the pack was covered in snow. Wolves don’t get cold easily, but I still loved to wear long coats, and they made me look fancier. Since I had lived with humans for a long time, I had gotten used to some of their traditions, so I decorated the pack house with different Christmas decor and lights. Jared told me he hated this, but I didn’t care. It was one of the perks of being Luna; I could do what I wanted, which helped with my loneliness. I didn't have friends in this pack; they all hated me because of poor Kathy. As I reached his office, I heard whispering on the other side of the door. My stomach churned; I knew what I would find, and I didn't want to face that reality. The voice on the other side sounded familiar, and I prayed to the Goddess that it wasn’t what I thought it was. He had told me he had broken things off with her. That was all I asked to help him pretend we were a happy couple to his father. Jared’s dad passed away a few months ago. He was the only person in this pack who ever treated me with kindness, and now he was gone. I saw a scene I had never expected as I opened the door. Jared and Kathy sat together, held hands, and stared at each other like they were about to kiss. "You don't have to do that, Jad. I know my place, and I was not meant to be your Luna," Kathy whispered. "You are the only Luna I want. I had to marry Isabella, but she is nothing to me but a good f**k," He replied. My heart clenched, and Tammie howled in pain. They weren’t kissing, but that could be so I wouldn’t feel the cheating pains. Still, Jared had made it clear that he didn't want me. I thought he would at least remain faithful, but that was until he brought Kathy closer and started kissing her passionately. The pain that erupted from my chest was something I didn't expect, but I did everything in my power not to grunt or whimper from it. I wouldn't give Jared the satisfaction of seeing me get hurt. “What is this?” I asked, trying to hold my composure. “You shouldn’t be here,” Jared said while he continued to look at Kathy; he didn’t even glance at me. “I shouldn’t be here?” I asked, outraged. I was the freaking Luna; I could be in his damn office if I wanted to. “I should leave; I don’t want to cause you any trouble,” Kathy said softly. I hated her when she used that tone because she was faking it. “She is your mate, Jared; I am nothing,” her voice cracked, and she acted as if she was about to cry. Oh, I forgot to mention, Kathy is a great actress, so even though she is the biggest b***h there is, everyone thinks she is nice and innocent. Especially Jared. Stupid Alpha. “You are very kind and considerate, Kathy, as always, but the one who is overstepping here is Isabella,” me?! “She should be in her room and not meddling in my affairs.” “I’m so sorry, Tammie,” I apologized to my wolf for what I was about to do next. “Please keep the baby safe.” “Do what you must; I think it is time,” she replied, and with her blessing, I felt stronger now. This would hurt, but we would get over this, however, if I stay in this pack I will put my baby and I at risk. His or her father doesn't want it, and if Kathy finds out about my pregnancy, she will do anything, so I lose the child. I couldn't risk it. “You know what Jared? You are right; I think three years of senseless marriage is enough, don’t you?” I said as I sat before them. Jared glared at me, holding Kathy close as if he were scared I would do anything to her while Kathy analyzed what I was about to do. “In honor of the holiday I wanted to give you a gift, it is Christmas after all.” “Stop with the sarcasm; only you celebrate this stupid thing,” Jared growled at me, so I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, yeah, but look at the bright side, you are getting something, a gift, and now stop interrupting me,” I shushed him, earning myself a death stare. If looks could kill, I would be dead by now, but since they can’t… “I, Isabella Thorne, Luna of Silver Moon Pack, reject you, Jared Cain as my mate and Alpha,” I felt the pain of the bond breaking, but held my head high, he was not going to see me in pain. “I also renounce to my position as Luna of the pack and cut all ties, from today on I am a rogue.” Tammie howled in pain, I knew she would be asleep for a while, she needed to rest after this. Jared glared at me; he didn’t seem in pain, while Kathy tried and failed to hide her excitement. “You rejected me?” He growled lowly. “How dare you!” “Ugh, stop with the Alpha ego and reject me already; I will send my lawyer with the divorce papers,” I said. There was an uncomfortable silence. Jared looked like he wanted to kill me, but I didn’t care, all I was worried about was my baby, and he will have a better life once I leave this pack. “I, Alpha Jared Cain, accept your rejection,” he finally said. “Thank the Goddess,” I exclaimed. “I’ll leave in an hour; feel free to announce to the pack that you have a new Luna.” I didn’t wait for them to answer; I turned around and left. Three years, I wasted three years of my life, but it is never too late to start again. I touched my belly, my baby was still small, that is why Jared can’t tell that I am pregnant. “I will take care of you, I promise,” I whispered and started packing. Fuck Jared, and f**k this pack. I rolled my bag and put it in the car. Even though several warriors saw what I was doing, they didn’t help me at all. I guess Jared already told them I would be leaving, and since they didn’t like me from the start, I shouldn’t be surprised. I started the car and began driving as I cleaned my tears away. Jared was an asshole but he was still my mate, I thought he would love me eventually, but I was wrong. As I reached the border, I started feeling uneasy. Something was wrong, and then I felt a hit to my car. Rogues… I was surrounded by them.