My mood was spoilt and this was as a result of that frustrating discussion I had with Alpha Sylvester. It nearly caused me, my usual dip in the stream but I refused to be sorrowful. So I discarded my clothes and into the stream I walked, splashing, determined not to permit myself any depressing thought. My wolf was laughing as we had fun splashing around in the water.

'Hope you have started your chores?' The voice permeated my consciousness, making me stop my thrashing in the water and look around but seeing no one, I realised that Alpha Sylvester had spoken to me through mind - link. The fun went out of my bath and I stepped out of the stream, down cast.

'Cheer up. It is not all bad', wolf Milly said.

I ignored her. Afterall, she was happy to have that God forsaken Alpha as her mate but I was not going to accept that except there was something in it for me - some way I could use it to my own advantage and work my vengeance on him. But how could my wolf and I have contrary feelings concerning the same person Were we not supposed to be one?

I was so deep in thought that I did not see my friend, Samantha until she was upon me.

'Happy birthday, dear friend. When I didn't see you in the quarters, I knew you'd be here, your most favourite place'.

'Thanks alot for your best wishes, Samantha' I said. 'And yes, I came for a dip'.

'You look sad', she observed, 'What is the problem?'

'Nothing', I said, trying to inject cheerfulness into my voice.

'You are not a good liar', she said. 'Spill'.

'I saw my wolf today', I blurted for want of something to say.

'And that made you sad?' she asked incredulous.

'No, it did not', I said quickly. 'I am just not used to it yet'.

'But of course, you're not. But you will soon be though. It is such a joyous occasion. Cheer up. Things are far better than you are imagining', she said sounding uncannily like my wolf.

I made an effort to smile, trying not to recall the mate I have been cursed with because that was what he was - a curse, but it came off as a grimace, which she quickly smoothened out and replaced with a smile.

'I recall when I came into my own wolf...', Samantha started.

It was a story she never stopped telling anyone who would care to listen.

Samantha was two years older than me but you wouldn't know it from the way we related to each other. On her eighteenth birthday, she had been running round in the open air, happy to be eighteen, when suddenly, she fell on all fours and a piercing pain shot through her as she screamed in confusion, not knowing what was happening. She felt as though her whole body was being ripped apart and she twisted in anguish. This attracted other more experienced wolves, who came to try to ease her pain. 'Take in air', they advised 'now release it'. She kept taking in air and releasing it, howling and growling from the pain she felt. It felt like she was dying. Then all of a sudden the pain ceased and she found she was moving on all fours. She looked at her limbs and they were not hers at all and then she realised what had happened. She had transformed. She was filled with joy. She felt free and strong and able to take on anything and anyone. She felt able to conquer and she leapt into the forest and kept moving all around, flaunting her wolf. The people who had gathered to help her with the experience laughed, happy for her for getting her wolf and being able to transform. Not all werewolves could do that. After that first experience, however, transforming became less painful but more pleasurable and exhilarating. Two years later however, she was yet to find her mate.

'Do you know who your mate is?' she asked, the question I had been dreading.

'Who needs a mate?' I asked, feigning nonchalance. 'You have not found your mate yet, I am not in a hurry'.

That topic was too distasteful to me and definitely not what I wished to talk about on the day that was supposed to be the happiest day of my life as a werewolf but which was fast turning into a nightmare.

'Go ahead to the stream', I said too brightly. 'I have chores. We shall see later at the party', and I hurried off, because I could no longer hold back the tears that were already stinging my eyes. I felt her eyes follow me. She must have wondered why I did not offer to wait for her so that we could get back together like I normally did. But I just did not want to break down before her and I did not want any show of pity which would most definitely cause me to shed more tears.

I wanted to start my chores when I had the mind link again.

'Come and see me right away'. It was Alpha Sylvester.

What did he want now? I wondered.

I scurried to the throne room. And as soon as I got there, he dismissed the officials he had been speaking with which surprised me, making me suspicious.

'Yes?' I asked wondering what was so important or private that he wanted to speak to her about that he had to dismiss those men.

'I feel that you have something to ask me!' he said without preamble.

'I do? What about?' I asked confused.

'Don't tell me you have not found out yet that I am your mate?' he asked leeringly.

'My wha...', I started, then my eyes grew very round as what he had said sunk and the implication dawned on me. 'You mean you knew I was your mate all this while , yet you never once told me or even gave me a clue? I asked, shocked again at his callousness. He knew of my birthday and of this and had kept it to himself, treating me like dirt.

I had wanted to hide this information from him, for how long before he smelled it, I did not know but for as long as possible had been my plan, but now that he knew, I was going to have to make the best of it.

'Well, now you know, what are you going to do about it? Are you going to call off your engagement to Cathania and claim me?' I asked hating to ask but having no choice because I needed to prepare a great defense against that. His next words showed me I needn't have bothered being afraid.

'Hell, no', he laughed mirthlessly. 'Look at you and then at me. I am a very powerful Alpha who is feared and respected by all and you think that I will stoop so low as to accept a lowly, weak maid like you, as my Luna? I'll be a laughing stock', he said looking at me condescendingly.

I could not take my eyes from him as I absorbed his every word.

'I could take you as my sex slave if you are that desperate to be with me, and If I want', he further said and I felt my heart sink to the bottom of my stomach.

Oh no, moon goddess, let him not want because I definitely do not want that, I prayed silently but not giving anything away.

'But I do not want!' he said and I offered silent thanks to the goddess for hearing my prayers. I was so relieved his next words rolled off me. 'I cannot forgive you enough for your crimes to want to be with you in such an intimate manner.

So, I, Sylvester Falcon Merryweather, Alpha of the Moon Ville pack reject you, Millicent O'Brien Harry as my mate'.

I clutched my heart. The pain was piercing. I didn't know why I should feel such pain, afterall, I had no feelings for him, and I could feel my wolf reeling and wringing from the force of the pain of his rejection.

I straightened and looked him straight in the eye.

'And I, Millicent O'Brien Harry accept your rejection, Sylvester Falcon Merryweather wholeheartedly'.

Sylvester's eyes were round as saucers. It was clear he had not expected that response from me and I laughed inwardly. He may have thought that I would go down on my knees and beg, being an orphan with no where to go and all.

'I exile you from this pack. You have just today to stay here. And that is because you still have to do your chores at my engagement party. After that, I do not want to see you here anymore!' he thundered.

'Your command shall be gladly followed!' I said, very pleased to see the shock reflected on Sylvester's face. He could not have given me a better birthday gift than his rejection but it was clear that my wolf Milly did not agree with that but I couldn't care less.

Alpha Sylvester's POV

Her reaction was totally unexpected and disturbing. What is wrong with Millicent? I thought, as I watched her walk away with her head held high. It almost felt like she was happy to be exiled. Why should she when she had no where to go? She had not gone out of the Pack since I brought her here.

'And why not?' Ezra my wolf challenged. 'You have not given her a reason to want to remain here with us'.

'And I do not want to', I said irritably. 'She has to suffer for what her father did to me!'

'Listen to yourself! You sound like a broken record. Repeating yourself all over again. Why must she suffer for the crimes of her father? She is not her father afterall and may not be aware she is paying for her father's sins!' Ezra was really furious. I knew it was because he hadn't wanted Millicent out of our territory, because he still considered her our mate and harboured the hope that I might change my mind and claim her.

'I understand how you feel Ezra, but you must realise that she has nothing to offer us. She is too weak to be my Luna. I need a Luna who will complement me so that together, we will be indestructible! I explained.

'And you think Cathania is the Luna that will do that for you?' Ezra asked.

'I don't think! I know!' I was getting angry with Ezra. Why wouldn't he support me in this?

'Why did you have to make her leave? She could still remain here as your maid', my wolf suggested.

'It would make everything awkward!'

'How so? Are you saying you have secret feelings for her? Feelings you are afraid to admit because you think it will make you look weak?' he asked.

'Hell no! Feelings for that ...that wret..ched ... maid?' I asked angrily, actually stuttering in my fury.

'We could have been with her right now. We had her with us but you let her go. We could have had her now and enjoyed every second of it. if you are sincere with yourself, you will admit that we could have had great fun mating with her', Ezra ranted in frustration.

'Shut up! I do not want her. Not now, not ever and I do not want to set my eyes on her ever again! She should be thankful she got off lightly. I could have treated her far worse!' I howled at Ezra.

'How much worse would you have treated her? You gave her hell while she was here!'

'At least I didn't make her my sex slave like I had originally intended!' I hissed at Ezra.

'Maybe, that would have been better', Ezra muttered and I felt him smack his lips with his tongue. 'But I guess that would have taken something from you. Something you are not ready to give or accept!'

There was no reasoning with the damn wolf and I was getting too exasperated with his continual convinction that if I allowed Millicent stay, I might fall in love with her, that will never happen and the earlier Ezra knew that, the better for everyone.

I went into my study to go through some correspondence but surprise of all surprises, I found I could not concentrate. My thoughts kept returning to Millicent and the joyful look on her face when I exiled her. I thought back at the look of disgust in her face when she had entered my office on a previous occasion and had seen me together with Cathania. Other females would have blushed and been aroused but she had been disgusted. I can still see the disgust in her face and hear it in her voice as she said, 'I knocked but you were obviously too busy to hear it'

This will not do! How can an Alpha like me be distracted with thoughts of such as Millicent. It is really quite unlike me. As I recalled that occasion, I wondered if I had secretly wanted her to be jealous of my relationship with Cathania or to arouse her. Preposterous! If I wanted to arouse her, or wanted her in any way, I'd just take her and she would be unable to do anything about it. I was the Alpha afterall.

I remembered that I needed to speak to my twin about some matters bothering on the security of the pack so, I called him.

'Brother how is the situation at the border?' I asked.

'I was going to call', Christopher said simultaneously with me. 'I believe congratulations are in order. Heard you are getting engaged today'.

'Thank you', I said but before I could say any other thing, he spoke again.

'I am sorry, my hands are tied at the moment and I won't be able to attend your party. The Pack comes first as you know'.

'Yes, apology accepted', I said. 'About the borders, anything we should know?' I asked again and soon we were engaged in a discussion that soon led to us arguing as usual. For the first time, I actually enjoyed the argument because it put my mind off alot of unwanted thoughts.

Christopher can really be very contradictory. He was always contradicting me. I do not know if our interests were not aligned or he just likes antagonizing me. It was good that he was not running the pack with me but guarding our borders. Else, I do not know how we would have managed the pack together without tearing each other apart first.

Being an Alpha was not an easy thing at all. There was so much to take care of.

'Daniel, summon a meeting of the council members. Something has cropped up. Christopher told me something we need to take very seriously'.

'As you command, Alpha but is there any need for that right now?' Daniel asked.

'What do you mean by that? Are you questioning my orders?' I asked in a very quiet voice which everyone, especially my Beta knew, was the calm before the storm.

'I'm sorry, my Alpha', Daniel replied hastily. ' I do not want to be presumptuous, but I thought that since this was a special day, your engagement ceremony, you might want to postpone it till a later date. Tomorrow preferably?'

I had totally forgotten where I was being distracted by unwanted thoughts. My rising fury calmed at the logic behind his words. 'You're right', I conceded. 'Still inform them that we need to meet tomorrow at noon. And Beta?'

'Yes, my Alpha?'

'Thank you for reminding me. Now we need to get prepared for the special occasion. Come help me get dressed!'

Millicent's POV

I went about my duties as though nothing out of place had happened. My wolf was wounded by Sylvester's rejection. I know that wolf Milly had looked forward to being with the Alpha but thank goodness, it had not worked out that way but I still feel for my wolf and this was another case against Sylvester. He had hurt my wolf by breaking the wolf bond between us.

I was asked to serve at the party. I had wanted to come to the party with any cloth I could lay my hands on. I was not particular about clothes in any case, but, Samantha would hear none of it.

'I am supposed to work the party', I insisted.

'So?' she asked her friend.

'So, there's no need over dressing for the occasion ', I said reasonably. 'I will end up getting stained in any case and the cloth will be ruined. I am a maid, let me dress like a maid!' I insisted.

'Okay. Then be a well dressed maid at this particular party. Aren't you supposed to be the personal maid to the Alpha? Then make the guest realise that our Alpha takes care of his own', she smiled.

If it were because of the Alpha, I would attend the party in rags to put a more dent on his reputation, I thought. But it will do no good and since this is my last night here, I better make the most of it and ensure I am remembered, not as the shabbily clad maid but the pretty maid.

'A penny for them?' Samantha said smiling at me.

'For?' I asked, distracted. Then, 'Oh. They are not worth that, I promise you'.

'Were you thinking about anyone in particular? Has anyone caught your fancy yet?' Samantha asked, still smiling.

'No. I have no time for that nonsense and you will do well to stop bugging me about it', I snapped.

'What is wrong, Millicent? Since this morning, you have been in a foul mood. Can it be because you found your wolf but are yet to find your mate?'

The mention of mate only served to antagonize me further but I took deep breaths. It was not Samantha's fault that I was mated to that horrible Alpha Sylvester. And she didn't even know about it. So it was not fair taking out my anger and frustrations out on her.

'I told you before and I am telling you now, I am not interested in having a mate nor any one for that matter'.

'You said so this morning and that is what is so surprising. The morning of your birthday when you are supposed to be so happy', Samantha said thoughtfully. 'But before today, you have always said you wanted a very strong mate who will help you soar higher than our Alpha. What happened all of a sudden?'

'Samantha', I said in exasperation. 'For the nth time nothing happened', and to divert her, I hastily changed the topic. 'I have decided to dress well to the party. It is my birthday afterall', I smiled.' Will you help me with it?'

'That's more like it! And to answer your question, of course I will,' Samantha said. 'Come let's get you dressed'.

The dress, Samantha brought out for me was body hugging, accentuating my curves. I was not voluptuous but I have full firm breasts and well shaped buttocks. my waist is tiny, my stomach flat.

Samantha then proceeded in releasing my flowing dark hair, brushing it vigorously, then picking a strand from either side of me, she let it fall on the each side of my face. Then she made a little bun in the middle and allow the rest fall freely down her shoulders. She made me up expertly and when I looked at myself in the mirror, I could hardly believe that the person starring back at me was myself. My light brown eyes were huge and very expressive and my lips were full and sensual. I wore a sandal that had a low heel to enable me work the party.

'Wow! you look beautiful', wolf Milly whispered to me.

'Samantha, I must admit you have really transformed me', I said meaning it.

'Thanks, but I really didn't do much. You have lovely light skin and with your beautiful dark hair and all your other attributes, it came out astonishing and that is how you look, dear friend', she smiled, planting a kiss on my cheek.

'Thank you', I said, touched. I felt bad that I was keeping so much from her friend and if I didn't tell her that I was going away - that I had been exiled, Samantha might never forgive me when she finds out later because definitely would, then she would think that I took our friendship for granted or was never sincere in my relations with her.

'What would you say if I told you that I was going away?' I said. Samantha must have thought I was kidding because she couldn't see any reason I would want to leave given my circumstance.

'Going away? To where? Why?' she asked bemused.

'I don't know but I can no longer endure what I have to pass through in this pack', I said and before Samantha could ask me questions I wasn't ready to answer, I continued, 'And you have always teased me about a mate. Who knows, maybe my mate isn't in this pack and I might meet him where I am going'.

'But I have not found mine as well but I am still here hoping. But it seems you are more anxious about it than you have been letting on', Samantha said eyeing her playfully. 'I thought it was odd for you not to want a mate. Now I know it is all a pretense but you need not do that with me. We are friends, you know'.

I smiled feeling worse for leading her to believe I was leaving to search for my mate but I consoled myself that it was all for Samantha's own good. The less she knew, the better!

'Maybe I should go with you. I need to find mine as well'.

'No, no. Please stay here!' I hastily dissuaded her from it. 'It will not be right for the both of us to leave like that. You might leave later but not now and you are having fun in this pack, so why leave? You will find your mate or he will find you eventually'. And so that Samantha does not start having more funny ideas, 'And oh, before Linda ma'am gets angry with me, I have to leave for the party right away! Thanks so much for the make - over'.

'Anytime. But it looks like you are serious about leaving', she said eyeing her friend.

Here we go again, I thought, growing impatient.

'And I know you don't know anywhere and you've always said you were an orphan', she continued. 'Also, you belong to Alpha Sylvester, has he permitted you to leave? Or are you running away? Going rogue?'

I could see that there was no way of escaping it, so I decided to speak the simple truth.

'Alpha Sylvester, has exiled me!' I blurted.

'What?' she asked wide eyed 'What did you do?'

'Maybe he got tired of seeing my ugly face or of maltreating me, who knows? He didn't really say and I didn't think it wise to ask', I joked. At least I hope it sounded like a joke.

'How can you make a joke of this?' she asked seriously. 'It is a serious matter!'

'Would you have me crying?' I asked resignedly. 'It is my fate and I have come to accept it. What else can I do?'

She thought for a while, and I could see that she was very sad on my account and angry with Alpha Sylvester.' I cannot make the Alpha change his mind, though I can guess why you might not want me to know you've been exiled. So the least I can do is to help you with a place to work, so that you don't feel too lonely. It will keep you busy and your mind creatively occupied. You can find other better places later'.

'Really? Where?' I asked, excited at the information and glad that I had decided to tell her I was leaving and why.

'It's a company owned by my father's friend. You might go there and try for employment. The pay might be small, I'm not really sure but at least you will sustain yourself with it', she said as she gave me the address of a company in another pack. 'I had wanted to go there but it had been my father last wish to remain here', she said slowly and I knew she was remembering her last moments with her late father.

No One knew better than I, the pain of losing a loved one. I hugged her, and vowed that I was going to tell her eventually how I came to be in the Moon Ville Pack and how my mate rejected me but that day was not today.