Chapter VII

The day of Ellean's 18th birthday was gorgeous. The sun shone brightly, not a cloud in sight. Ellean glanced out the window, her lips curved up in a slight smile. The snow glistened in the sunlight. Oh, how she longed to go out and run in it.

Rolling out to the kitchen, Ellean started the coffee. Maybe today, she would find out who her mate was. Most of the pack would find their mate on their 18th birthday. Ellean had always longed for this day. Her heart pounded excitedly as Ellean let her heart dream for a brief moment. Then, shaking her head to dispel the thoughts goes back to making breakfast. It wasn't like anyone would remember the disabled young woman who worked in the kitchen day in and day, birthday. To everyone else, it was just another day. To Ellean's parents, it was a day they'd rather not remember.

As Ellean rolled around in the kitchen, a scent came through the air, her favorite, to be exact. Chocolate, apples, and a hint of pine. Ellean's head lifted as she sniffed some more, breathing in deep. It was a wonderful scent. Ellean wanted to wallow in it.

Just as Ellean turned her wheelchair around, she met Chase's dumbfounded eyes.

She stops and stares at Chase as he stares at Ellean. Chase shakes his head.

"Fuck no, this isn't happening. I will not have a mate that is crippled. Or can't hear anything. I will not accept that."

Turning around, Chase leaves through the door as Ellean blinks, thoughts whirling around in her head.

Even before Ellean could pull her thoughts together, Alpha Ben, Luna Sophia, Chase, and Jenny bust through the door.

Before she could react, Jenny had raised her hand and slapped Ellean across her face causing her head to whip to the said as Jenny shrieks.

"You. YOU SLUT! You will not be Chase's mate. He's mine. I will not let you have him."

Ellean signs frantically

"I didn't know! I'm sorry!"

Chase snorts, "There is no way I will ever accept you. All you are good for is cooking."

He sneers, looking Ellean up and down. "You can't even hear, and you can't walk. So what good are you?"

Ellean bows her head trying to curl up into herself. She just wanted to find a hole and crawl into it. And leave the pain behind.

Ellean yelps when someone yanks her head back by her hair. Looking up into Luna's eyes as she snarls down at Ellean.

"You will accept my son's rejection, am I understood?"

Ellean nods trying to hold back her tears. She just wanted it to be over with so she could go back to cooking.

Chase tugs on her chin with his fingers to face him, holding her in a tight grip.

"I Chase Smith reject you Ellean Warren as my mate and Luna."

Ellean's grey eyes are filled with tears as pain sears through her body. The pain was terrible. She had never felt this kind of pain. It felt like someone had ripped out Ellean's soul. She instinctually knew it was part of the bond being broken.

Shakily her fingers sign, "I accept your rejection."

Chase smirks as he lets Ellean's chin go. "Good. I don't want to hear anything more about this. It's over."

Sliding his arm around Jenny, Chase heads towards the door, satisfied that it is over.

Ellean's tear-filled eyes watch them walk out. Her heart felt broke even more so when Jenny looked over her shoulder at her and smirked.

Lowering her head, Ellean hopes the Alpha and Luna will leave. But it seems it wasn't going to be her lucky day.

Alpha Ben steps up to Ellean, looking down at her.

"Get back to work, and forget this ever happened, do you hear me?"

Ellean bows her head towards the Alpha in respect even though rage is buried deep in her heart and nods.

After they left the kitchen, Ellean allowed her tears to fall down her face. The pain pulsed in her body. Fingers curling, Ellean swore she would never forget this pain ever. But, Ellean would find a way to get away from this hellish place one way or the other. She had no idea how or when, but she would.

Turning around, Ellean starts cooking again, her face calm but a heart full of hatred and bitterness.