Ariana

I watched as he removed his watch and placed it on the table before turning to look at me.

"Why are you here?" I asked, staring back at him without blinking or shying away as usual. 

He looked a bit surprised but his expression quickly turned unreadable. "You're questioning me why? I own this house in case you forgot."

Hmmmph, always so arrogant. Before I used to excuse his corkiness and arrogance as something he got from being raised in the number one family of the pack and finally getting to lead the pack himself.

But now, I can't make any excuses for him. This was the kind of person he was.

"You should return to wherever you've been spending all your time and day," I said and turned to lie on the bed. 

He stayed quiet for some time and I thought he wasn't going to bother me again but soon he joined me in bed.

He slid his arms around my waist and pulled me to him. I stayed still. Too scared to breathe or move. 

"You've been cranky a lot lately, what's wrong? Is this still about the anniversary?" He spoke softly into my ears.

A tone I had never heard him use before. 

I shook my head, not daring to answer. He kissed my nape and slipped his hands into my nightie.

I knew what was coming next and I dreaded it, I couldn't afford to be intimate with him after all he had done. He'd been with another she-wolf and that was an insult to Nara. 

"Don't pull off such a stunt again. Scaring my mom and sister like that wasn't a nice thing to do, that wasn't very mature of you".

"They called me in between council meetings to tell me about you passing out, thankfully I already knew you were faking." He said and kissed my neck.

I heard a loud bang on my head and I quickly turned to look at him. Was he really serious right now? He thought I was faking it???

He called me fainting due to the emotional stress and turmoil he put my wolf and me in a stunt? He thought I'll stoop so low to get the attention of his family?

"Are you being for real right now? You thought I was faking?" I scoffed and glared at him.

"Of course, you were faking. What would make a she wolf as strong as you faint for no reason?" He asked.

He wasn't actually joking, Damian was serious, he was really being dead ass. He actually thought so low of me.

"To answer your question, a she wolf as strong as me can actually faint if she's been facing severe emotional distress caused by her mate." I fired back and turned my back on him.

He didn't say anything else, I didn't know if he was too stunned to speak or irritated by my guts but I didn't look to check if it was either.

I simply closed my eyes and pretended to sleep. He must have thought I was really asleep because he didn't try to touch me again thankfully. 

I woke up the next morning and I turned to the other side of the bed to see that it was empty. From the faint smell of his scent, I could tell he had left a long time ago.

Maybe his lover must have called him again. I sighed.

I freshened up, had my breakfast, and got ready to leave the house. I wanted to get some moonstone jewelry for my mom since she was going to be discharged later today.

She needed it for protection since her wolf was still very fragile. 

I got outside and bumped into Riley waiting for me.

"Riley...what are you doing here?" I asked, looking pleasantly surprised.

I came to help you run some errands, I can see you're going out already so can I tag along? 

I've finished my training today.

"Are you sure? You know you really need to start training more seriously if you actually want to win the Gamma contest. It'll be a blessing if you clinch the title of first female Gamma of our pack." I said and she beamed.

"Trust me Luna, I'm more ready than you can ever imagine." She replied, smiling widely.

Luna..... the title tugged at my heart. The same title I was going to lose in the coming days. 

We left for the market and we were still shopping when a she wolf that looked rather unfamiliar bumped into us.

"I'm so sorry Luna", she rushed to pack the contents that had fallen from her bag and that was when something caught my eye.

It was a watch, clearly Damian's watch, and this she-wolf, she had bumped into me on purpose so I could notice her. This must be the famous Lily. 

"I'm really sorry Luna, I wasn't looking and I just mistakenly bumped into you. You know I was shopping for my pup, he's so precious and I got lost in my motherly role." She said.

I could sense the mockery in her voice but I wasn't going to give her the attention or satisfaction she craved.

"Riley let's go.." I said and meant to leave but she held my hand back.

"I'm really sorry Luna and I just got back to the pack so I'd really love it if we can be friends. My name is Lily, Lily Maxwell." She said offering her hands for a handshake. 

I took one glance at her hands and wriggled free from her grasp. 

"Don't you ever touch me again," I warned.

"You useless bitch seducing my brother wasn't enough for you and now you're trying to harass his mate and Luna." Riley thundered.

"Well, well, well, well. So you knew who I was from the start. I must say you're very good at pretending, Luna." She retorted laughing mockingly.

She stood in front of me and began whispering in my ear. "Since you already know who I am, there's no need to hold back any longer."

"As you know, I am back now with my pup. He's Damian's only son and heir, so I'll advise you to step away and let us be."

"You and I know he doesn't love you, he loves only me and he has been in my bed every single night since I came back."

"He can't seem to get enough of my body, he told me he loves how tight I am and how I grip him nicely. He also said you're very boring in bed and..." 

I pushed her with all my strength before she could complete her words and she came crashing to the floor. 

My eyes were red with anger. Zara was threatening to tear her apart. How dare she come to mock us to our face? 

I raised my hand to slap her but someone stopped me and pushed me violently to the ground.

I raised my head to see it was Damian who pushed me and he looked mad with anger.

"How dare you lay a finger on her" he asked his voice laced with fury.

Ariana 

I looked at the man I called my mate holding another woman and comforting her. He was talking to her and treating her with such kindness and softness I had never experienced from him before.

Even though it really hurts and it breaks my heart, if anything she was right earlier. 

Indeed he didn't love me and she was the love of his life. If it wasn't clear before, it was clear now.

He didn't love me, he pushed me to the ground because of another woman. He didn't help me up and he was comforting another woman right in front of me.

I stood up, dusted my clothes, and tried to leave. I wasn't going to stand here and watch him humiliate me in front of everyone. 

"Don't you dare move. Apologize to Lily." He said and I turned to look at him.

"Apologize to her why? You want me to apologize to your mistress?" I fired back with tears in my eyes.

I couldn't hold it back any longer. I knew she must be happy since I've given her the satisfaction of seeing me cry but I didn't care any longer.

Damian looked confused and almost panicked realizing I had caught on to his infidelity. For a moment I thought he was going to apologize but he didn't.

"Apologize to her, I saw you push her down, that was very rude of you." He said not batting an eyelid.

"Over my dead body. You heard me right, over my dead body will I apologize to your mistress." 

"She harassed me first, she came after me to tell me how you've been banging each other since the day she came back to the pack. I would rather die than apologize to her." I said.

"Is this true?" He asked looking at her lovingly.

"No I didn't, she and Riley came unto me first and attacked me. You clearly saw her push me. She's lying against me." Lily replied and started crying.

"Sshhh, I believe you." He whispered, rocking her back.

I couldn't take it any longer, I couldn't watch them display their love before me. 

"I curse the day I met you," I said and spat at them.

I turned and left with Riley. A large crowd had already formed around us in the market but if I still knew Damian well, I knew nothing that happened here would make it to the news, he valued his reputation that much.

I sent Riley away and went home alone. I needed to be alone. Damian had humiliated me in front of everyone.

He has chosen his mistress over me in Luna in the presence of everyone in the market today. That was a big slap to my face and shame was overwhelming.

My heart was threatening to explode. I couldn't bear the pain any longer. 

My wolf was in agony, she was right to say we should leave before he kills us, because this felt like I was being stabbed with a thousand knives.

"Arrggghhhhhhhhh" I screamed and things came shattering in the room. 

I didn't care about the mess, I only cared about the rejection notice I was going to serve Damian if he got back today.

I rushed to fetch it from where I had hidden it. I couldn't wait any longer, I had to get him to reject me today so he could live happily ever after with his lover.

I needed to get away from him. I no longer wanted to be anywhere near him. 

My hands trembled as I looked at the notice. I was looking at my freedom. I'd be free from this cursed mate bond and this tainted love. 

My phone rang and I picked up without looking to check the caller ID.

"Ari dear, are you fine? Riley told me what happened." Luna Loretta's voice blared into the phone.

"I'm fine mother but I'm seeking a rejection from Damian today. I'm tired of this sham of a marriage and this damned mate bond." I dropped the bombshell and she gasped.

"Please Ari, don't do anything rash, think this through." She pleaded.

"My decision is final Mom and the only reason this has been delayed this far is because I'm constrained by the blood oath. I'm seeking a rejection from Damian today." I responded and dropped the call before she could respond further. 

I sat on the floor crying for hours before I picked myself up and went to shower. 

I arranged the house since it was a mess and packed away the broken glass on the floor. 

"It doesn't have to be messy, I'd just make a clean break from him and we'll go our separate ways. He'd be grateful I'm giving him a chance to be a family with Lily and their pup." I told myself.

After a long while I heard the door to our bedroom open and he walked in gracefully. 

He didn't say anything to me and I didn't say anything either.

I was actually now nervous to bring up anything about rejection. 

"What you did in the market today was very disgraceful. It doesn't say well about you as a Luna. As my mate and Luna, you must learn how to conduct yourself properly outside."

"I already had my men clean up your mess but never repeat such disgrace ever again." He warned. 

"Your mother is out of the hospital, Ryker and I helped her settle in." He said after I didn't respond.

I heaved a sigh of relief. Now that I knew my mom was out of harm's way, I wasn't scared of anything.

"I bought you your favorite chocolate." He said and handed it to me. I collected it but I didn't open it.

"Who was that woman today? The one you held so lovingly in front of me, your mate." I questioned and he froze. 

"She's no one you should be worried about, come here." He cooed and tried to kiss me but I dodged it. 

I pulled away from his embrace and brought out the rejection notice placing it right in his palms.

"Damian, I want a rejection. This is the rejection notice, reject me and free me from this torment." I requested and his eyes darkened.

Ariana

"Damian, I want a rejection. This is the rejection notice, reject me and free me from this torment." I requested and his eyes darkened. 

I swallowed hard expecting him to say something. He looked pissed and not happy like I was anticipating.

"Da....mian?" I stressed expecting him to say something, anything at all because the silence was slowly suffocating me. 

He hugged me again and we just stayed like that for some time. I couldn't breathe or move. 

What was this? Why was he hugging me? Was he hugging me as a way to thank me for letting him be with the love of his life without holding back?

Why was he even delaying the rejection? My mind was a mess as I thought about all the "what ifs" and "whys".

"You're much skinnier now. Haven't you been eating well?" He asked, patting my hair softly.

Oh, he'd notice. Since the day I found out about his affair, I had barely eaten anything good because the taste of food was now bitter and I didn't have enough appetite.

"Uhhh...I don't know." I replied with a puzzled expression on my face.

Why was he asking this now in the middle of such a serious conversation?

"Don't worry, I'll make sure you eat now. I don't want you looking so skinny at the rite of passage warrior ceremony." He said.

"Uhhh.... In case you didn't understand me earlier, I want you to reject me. I'm tired of this sham of a mate bond." I replied pulling away from the hug.

Did he hit his head somewhere? What was his problem?

"You don't have to starve yourself and talk about petty things like a rejection just because you're angry at me. I told you I'll make it up to you." He said and tried to peck me but I dodged the kiss. 

"I'm not angry and this isn't about doing something petty to get your attention. I want you to reject me so I can be free."

"Let's end this bond. It's better for you, me, and your first love." I repeated firmly so he knew I wasn't joking. 

He just smirked. "You want me to reject you? You think you can break our bond that easily?"

What did he mean by that? I was giving him a free pass to be with his lover and pup without guilt and he wasn't dancing at the opportunity instead he was stalling.

"Yes, I want you to reject me and yes it is an easy thing to do. Just stamp your blood on the rejection notice or say the words and it's done." I shot back at him. 

He laughed. A deep laughter that sounded across the room, it seemed genuine only that it wasn't. 

"Since it's that easy, why can't you reject me then?" He mocked raising his eyebrow.

Why was he doing this? He knew that I couldn't reject him myself so why was he taunting me?

"Damian... you know exactly why," I said and the words left a bitter taste in my mouth.

"I don't know... enlighten me, Ari." He shrugged.

"You know I can't reject you because of the blood oath...the binding ritual.... You know the consequences." I stammered.

"Exactly, since you know the consequences don't push anything." He responded coldly and made to leave for the bathroom but I held him back.

"Wait..." I said and he turned around.

"Why are you doing this? You clearly don't love me. You're in love with Lily so why can't you reject me and go be with her freely?" I said near tears.

"Ariana" he started, his voice steady, "things between me and Lily aren't as they seem." He said, grabbing my arm.

I yanked my hand free from his touch. All the anger and rage I had tried to bury deep in me churned in my gut. 

My eyes were burning as I glared at him, forcing the words out one by one. "Then what is going on between you two, Alpha? Tell me." I screamed.

I didn't care to end things peacefully anymore, he was falling to be reasonable so I didn't have to act with caution. 

"You think I don't know you drove through the rainstorm to pick Lily from the airport the night she returned." 

"You abandoned me several times to be with her and I know you've been sleeping with each other because you always carry her scent when you come home. And her pup, tell me he isn't yours?" I screamed with tears in my eyes.

Did he think I was a fool or what? What did he take me for?

I watched as his expression darkened and he raised his voice to say "You claim you love me, you're my Luna, but you don't even trust me".

Trust? 

Was he really talking about trust right now?

"Trust? How dare you talk about trust". My knees wobbled, and I staggered back. I shoved him hard, my voice rising to a raw, wounded sound. 

"On our third anniversary, I set a candlelit dinner, and I prepared a gift, but my mate rented out the entire Moonbay, setting off fireworks with his lover and their pup and you dare ask me about trust?" 

"Did Riley tell you this?" He asked between gritted teeth. 

My tears spilled before I could stop them. At last, he had admitted it. I wasn't making the wrong decision, this was the right one, he had confirmed my suspicions. 

"Since the day I became your Luna, I learned to keep your lair tidy, I learned to cook, I learned your routines. I did everything I could so I would not fall short of a powerful Alpha like you". I sobbed uncontrollably. 

"You've never done anything personal for me or treated me with love but I've seen the way you treat Lily. You value her and her pup over me. What am I to you?

"You're my Luna", he replied in such a calm manner that made me feel with rage.

"I don't want to be your Luna anymore Alpha Damian Zeus, I beg you in the name of the moon goddess to reject me and set me free from this unending emotional turmoil," I replied crying. 

I rushed and placed the rejection notice in his hands. "You don't have to say the words if you don't want to, just stamp this notice with your blood and the mate bond will be broken. I already stamped it with mine". I said amidst tears.

He looked at me long and hard for some moment and before I knew what was happening the rejection notice began burning. He had used his powers to burn it.

"No".... I cried out trying to salvage it but it had been reduced to ashes.  

"I am the Alpha. Only I dictate when a Luna is released. Your request is denied." He said icily.