DARK EMBRACE: LUNA'S RETURN

The sound of their mocking laughter swelled as they pushed me each time I tried to rise to my feet. My knees were all scratched up and the fresh bruises on my body hurt.

"How pathetic. You don't think you will end up having Alpha Nathan as your mate, do you?" Mai, the loudest of the four mocked.

Kelly squatted in front of me and reached out to cup my face in her hands. I tried to move my face away from her but she grabbed me by the hair.

Dragging my head closer to her, she cackled.

"Look at her face...oh no... it's all ruined."

I squeezed my eyes shut, I wanted nothing more than the ability to fade into thin air.

A punch to my nose made my eyes water, blood oozing out of my nose.

"Now, listen carefully. This is a warning. Stay the fuck away from Nathan. The next time I see you around him, I'll chop off your limbs, got it?" Stephanie said, her low timbre voice dripping with icy threat.

I gulped, curling in on myself.

Kelly straightened, folding her arms across her chest while she stared down at me.

"You understand what she said, don't you?"

I nodded immediately, tears rolling down my cheeks.

Sara, the shortest of the quadruplet kicked me on the side of the head and I fell backwards, my jaw throbbing.

"Use your words, alright?" She said, glaring at me with icy blue eyes framed by thick eyelashes.

"I-I understand," I mumbled, lowering my gaze.

"Right. Tonight is the mating ceremony. Stay indoors, okay?" Mai said. My stomach tightened.

If I stayed indoors, I wouldn't be able to meet my mate. I was officially nineteen years old. During the previous mating ceremony, I'd failed to find my mate. Truth was, I'd hoped that Nathan was my mate since he was into me, as much as I was into him. We'd known each other since we were kids.

But, we were different. I was a lowly slave in the pack, and he'd recently become Alpha of the pack at the age of twenty one.

Since he had not found his mate, I was hopeful that the moon goodness would seal our relationship with a divine bond.

However, what we had between us was more or less a secret. Only recently did the nasty quadruplet discover this secret.

I'd been bullied my whole life. With them discovering my secret, it had gotten a thousand times worse.

"See you soon, dump," said Kelly as she walked away with her sisters.

I stared at them from my position on the ground, my vision going blurry.

Blinking back my tears, I struggled to my feet. A crack of thunder was immediately followed by a sudden downpour.

I heaved a sigh, brushing my wet hair away from my face. I was miserable enough, catching a cold was the last thing I wanted at this point.

The moment I took a step forward, I doubled over. My ribs ached viciously.

A flash of lightning highlighted a figure standing a few metres away. I recognised him immediately.

"N-Nathan?" I breathed, my brows furrowed.

Another flash of lightning came. His blue eyes were cold, I realized. Something was wrong. I could feel it.

"How long have you been watching..."

"I..."

I stumbled forward, desperate.

"Nathan, it's not..."

He cut me off, his face expressionless.

"I, Nathan Amory, reject you, Sienna West as my mate."

I blinked, confusion welling up inside of me.

"W-what do you mean? We're not even-"

My eyes widened when I saw him unbutton his shirt, revealing an item I never thought I would see on him.

It was a pendant. It wasn't just a pendant. It was a pendant known for changing it's wearer's scent.

Once he took it off and tossed it away, a different scent flooded my senses. One that overwhelmed me.

Realization set in and tears welled up my eyes, my heart threatening to explode.

'I can't breathe, ' I thought.

I stumbled backwards, tears blurring my vision. At this point I was drenched, but was past caring.

"No...it can't be. Have you known all along? No...how long have you known?" I croaked.

"Two years."

"What?" I gasped.

"I never loved you, Sienna. The mate bond was weighing down on me. The only way to get over it was to be around you."

"Nathan..."

"I've never wanted you. You can't be my mate. I've had enough. You're weak. You're merely a slave. You are wolfless. You don't even have a fucking scent. You can't be my Luna."

Anger raced through my veins. I turned away from him, my chest burning.

Yes, I've been a fool.

Yes, I've been weak.

Yes, I've been in love with someone who didn't want me.

Yes, I'm wolfless.

I've been naive, tame and innocent.

I've swallowed my pride. I've taken blows.

"But, I'm done with it," I thought aloud.

"What?!" Nathan yelled above the sound of the pounding rain.

I halted and turned around, my fists clenched.

I stared at his handsome face, at the lips that had once kissed mine, at the eyes that had once gazed at me with affection.

And, I knew.

I was going to hate him for the rest of my life.

"To hell with you, Nathan Amory! I'm so glad we never had sex!" I screamed at him.

His eyes widened, his mouth agape.

"I hope you get what you deserve!" I spat.

When I started to leave, he yelled at me.

"Stop right there. It's an order!"

"You're not my Alpha. I don't have to listen to you!"

"You're still a slave, you must be asking for death."

"Not anymore, Nathan. From this point on, I am a rogue!"