Rejected

Book Title: Fangs and Flames: The Alpha's Mistake

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CHAPTER 2 — Rejected

As if that wasn't enough, Scarlet heard Luna Supreme ask about her from Rhys, who seemed to have forgotten all about her. 

"Uh…"

Before Rhys could say anything, the simple-looking Omega lifted her voice. "The alpha has a plan for her." 

Murmurs filled the air. It was the audacity, for Scarlet. 

On closer look, Rhys' Luna looked familiar. Scarlet tried to recall where she'd seen her, but her thoughts were interrupted. 

"And that is? We did not come here to witness..."

"Exactly," he cut in. "You came to witness my crowning and that of my Luna," Rhys interjected, finding his voice now.

Lady Supreme's brows furrowed. "Lady Scarlet, right?"

"It is no joke, Luna Supreme. However, the one who is my Luna is my mate. The goddess blessed me with one. As much as I should have chosen Scarlet, my wolf needs its mate."

Scarlet scoffed. The first sound to leave her lips since this whole charade occurred.

Rhys directed his gaze at Scarlet. "Scarlet, I have not forgotten what you did for me. As such, I wish to take you as my mistress. To compensate you for…"

With a hint of scepticism, she couldn't help but interject his proposition. Just as Rhys was about to continue, she confidently raised her palm, interrupting his goody-two-shoes speech, and flashed him a friendly smile. 

"I don't need your sympathy or pity, Rhys. I decline."

Gasps rippled through the silence that followed. Everyone found it annoying, yet drama-filled. While many sympathised with Scarlet and some only watched to see how things played out. 

Not wanting to look weak or dumped, Rhys decided to play a different ball game altogether. 

"Then, you do not mind if I reject you?"

"What the…"

"On the contrary, it is I who will be rejecting you." Scarlet intercepted Lady Cross. 

The air was filled with gasps, amazed at her audacity. Everyone had expected her to cower, break down, throw a tantrum, or worse, but instead, Scarlet's smile never faltered. 

Her body felt weak. Her bones threatened to break, making her knees give way. Her eyes squinted, her vision getting blurry as a pang of headache raked her head. Still, Scarlet was all smiles.

That was what all the years of training to be a leader had taught her—a mask, a facade for any situation. 

Her heart, though painful, felt satisfied from the shock in Rhys' eyes when she refuted him.

"I, Scarlet Shawn, reject you, Alpha Rhys August, Alpha of Cresent Moon Pack, as my chosen mate."

Scarlet felt the world tilt on its axis. The ground seemed to vanish beneath her feet as a wave of nausea washed over her. 

Rejection. 

It was a raw, primal wound that tore through her very being. How could he choose her? Elara, a stranger, over her, his chosen mate for the past three years?

Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision. But Scarlet was no stranger to adversity. She swallowed the sob that threatened to escape, straightening her spine and raising her chin in a gesture of defiance. 

She would not crumble. Not here. Not in front of them all.

Scarlet remained tenacious, despite the searing pain coursing through her body. As her pupils dilated, her wolf let out a pained groan, not only from being rejected but from a deep sense of betrayal. 

"I, Alpha Rhys August, accept your rejection."

Unfortunately, she had lost everything. Regrettably, the regulations governing the wolf community and the modern world were not particularly favourable. 

She was well aware that she had lost more than just a business—her very own business, her reputation, and her fame.

She had a mischievous grin adorning her lips. 'Tsk, watch out, Rhys. I'll be back for what belongs to me.'

With an air of confidence, Scarlet gracefully turned towards the entrance and strolled out, her head held high, her smile never faltering as her hips moved to a silent melody, one full of revenge and pain.

************

Arriving at her room, Scarlet wasted no time packing her luggage and belongings. The last thing she wanted was to spend another minute in that vicinity. 

Her head spun. A seething headache raked over her head. She held her head, staggering back until she sat on the bed to catch her breath. 

She wished to shout—scream, but she forced the feeling down. The last thing she wanted was for anyone to see her weak.

"Urgh!" She winced, fighting to stay in control as her limps suddenly felt a tad heavy. 

The minutes flew by. Soon, an hour had gone by.

Rather than questioning it, Scarlet chose to believe the rejection made her that way.

Not wanting to disturb her hurting wolf, she fixed herself, keeping her facade as she walked out to the front of the pack house and handed over her things to a driver waiting for her in front of her car.

Exhaustion gnawed at her, her legs heavy with fatigue. But the thought of returning and spending the night in this place, of facing the pitying glances and whispered gossip, spurred her forward.

"Drive," she ordered. 

Kickstarting the ignition, the driver, unaware of everything happening, simply nodded and set off on their journey. 

All through the ride, Scarlet's mind raced through the events of the evening, oblivious to her surroundings or the eyes gleaming in the dark. 

With every passing second, her body grew weaker, exhaustion gnawing at the back of her mind.

When the car screeched and came to an abrupt stop, she was thrown forward, her head slamming into the seat in front. 

"Ow," she cried out, reaching with her right hand to massage her head when she peered ahead. "What's going…"

Blocking the path were five black and white wolves, their eyes gleaming dangerously at the car. The driver's forehead furrowed. "My apologies, Miss Shawn. I'll check."

With that final note, he opened the car door, stepped out, and glared at the wolves. His eyes shone, changing colour briefly. 

"What's the meaning of this? Don't you know who it is I am carrying?" He turned his head in Scarlet's direction. 

His big mistake.

The next second, when he attempted to look at the wolf, a figure flashed before him and with it a slash!

His eyes widened. He reached for his throat, as blood gushed out like a fountain, spraying the car and ground. 

"What the…" 

Scarlet struggled to keep her eyes open, adrenaline surging in her body. 

She unlocked her door, stepping out. 

At first glance, Scarlet knew what this was. 

Growl!

A blood-stained black wolf with white stripes stood before her. In its front were five others, all glinting and growling. 

Roar!

Scarlet flinched. She turned her head to the side, and a couple of others stood behind her. 

"Really? Rejecting me wasn't enough?" she asked, her voice loud and full of defiance. 

"No. Taking you out will be."

Scarlet whipped her head in the direction of the voice, her eyes narrowing on the hooded figure walking out of the forest from her left. 

She swallowed, trying to clear the lump that formed in her throat, but all she noticed was the blur in her eyes. 

'What is happening to me?' Scarlet questioned inwardly. 

"Relia? Are you there?" For the first time since the rejection, Scarlet tried to feel her wolf. 

"Present." Although her wolf responded, Scarlet sensed her weakness. "We've been drugged," she managed to inform Scarlet. 

With a sudden burst of awareness, her eyes snapped open as she stumbled backwards. "No… How?"

"Finally figured it out?" 

She raised her eyes and let them rest on the hooded face. "You."