Chapter 5 Rejection ceremony III

Aiden Miller stood like a statue in the dimly lit room, facing the she-wolf who had been his mate and Luna.

The air was thick with tension as they locked eyes, hearts pounding in the silence.

In a cold, emotionless voice, Aiden declared,

"I, Aiden Miller, Alpha of Red Moon Park, reject you, Amelia Lopez, as my mate and as my Luna."

His words cut through the stillness like a knife.

Amelia stumbled back, eyes wide in shock and agony.

The pain slammed into her chest like a flaming blade. It stole her breath, tore through her soul.

Her eyes searched his, desperately for warmth, for regret... anything. But there was nothing.

Only a cold, empty void.

She gasped, a choked sound, as pain tore through her chest. The bond between them was unraveling, violently, viciously.

Aiden was watching her. Distant. Detached. As if daring her to break.

"I, Former Luna of Red Moon Park, accept your rejection, Alpha Aiden Miller," she whispered.

A whimper escaped her lips as the final thread snapped.

A sob clawed its way out of her throat. Her heart shattered, piece by piece, and she collapsed onto the ground.

Clutching her chest, waves of pain racked her body.

Her daughter was gone. Her mate was gone.

And now, so was she.

Her lungs felt like they were closing. Everything around her blurred.

She caught a glimpse of Aiden-still standing, still cold, doing nothing-as her world blacked out.

When Amelia opened her eyes, she was in her room. Her body ached. She blinked, and saw Tracy beside a familiar woman, the healer.

"Tracy," she croaked.

Both women turned immediately.

"Luna, you're awake. How do you feel?" the healer asked gently.

Amelia's hand flew to her stomach.

"How's my baby?" she asked, ignoring the question.

The healer hesitated.

"The baby is okay... but your health isn't. You're extremely weak, and that could affect the pregnancy."

Fear darkened Amelia's eyes.

"Will I lose my baby?"

The healer's voice softened.

"The chances of miscarriage are very high. Until you're past the first trimester, you must rest as much as possible."

Amelia nodded slowly. Even though she had lost her mate and her daughter, she wouldn't lose this baby. Not for anything.

For Eva's sake.

"I'll bring your medications. I hope you recover soon," the healer said kindly.

"Wait," Amelia called as the woman turned to leave.

"Yes, Luna?"

Amelia's voice was barely a whisper.

"Don't let the Alpha know I'm pregnant."

The healer's eyes widened in shock, but she nodded.

"I'll see her out," Tracy said, walking the healer out.

Suddenly, the door flung open again.

Amelia looked up, expecting Tracy.

Instead, it was Sofia.

"What are you doing here?" Amelia asked, voice tight.

Sofia chuckled.

"So you pretended to faint just to make Aiden stay? Pathetic." Her mocking voice made Amelia flinch.

"We already broke the bond. He rejected me. I accepted."

"Oh, wonderful," Sofia smirked. "That makes room for me to be Luna. Especially now that I'm pregnant."

She cradled her stomach with pride.

Amelia froze.

Pregnant?

Aiden had been cheating on her?

He had been sleeping with her?

Tears welled up in her eyes.

Just then, the door opened again.

"What are you doing here?" Tracy snapped at Sofia.

"Do not address me like that," Sofia sneered.

"I'm going to be Luna of this pack."

"In your dreams," Tracy spat, glaring.

Sofia scoffed and stormed out.

Tracy turned to Amelia.

"The audacity of that woman... I hate her so much," she hissed, then noticed Amelia's blank stare.

"What happened? I saw Aiden rush out, and then found you unconscious. I had to call the healer."

Amelia's eyes brimmed with unshed tears.

"We broke the mating bond. He rejected me. I accepted."

"What?" Tracy gasped.

Amelia turned to the dressing table, picked up the divorce paper, and signed it with trembling hands.

"What are you doing?" Tracy asked.

Amelia ignored her. She walked to the wardrobe and began packing her clothes.

"Amelia?" Tracy asked again.

Amelia turned to her, eyes hollow.

"There's no place for me here anymore. My daughter is gone. The bond is gone. Sofia is pregnant. I'm leaving."

"What about the baby?"

"He doesn't have to know. I won't tell him. And I hope you won't either."

She zipped her bag and looked at Tracy.

"Promise me. Don't tell anyone. Not even James."

Tracy hesitated.

"But Amelia-"

"Please. Promise me."

Tracy swallowed.

"I promise."

Amelia picked up her bag and headed toward the door, but Tracy blocked her.

"You can't leave now, Amelia. You need rest, it's too dangerous."

"I'll be fine. I'll call you once I'm settled. If anyone asks, say you don't know where I am."

And with that, Amelia walked out of the house and out of the pack.

A few maids saw her go. Some people in the pack house did too.

She boarded a taxi and didn't look back.

She had wanted to go to her parents' house but wasn't sure she'd be welcomed.

They had warned her. They had never liked Aiden's family, old wounds ran deep.

But she had nowhere else to go.

The taxi pulled up in front of a house that felt like a memory.

She stepped out and paid the driver.

She stood there, staring at the house she grew up in.

She smiled sadly. She missed this place more than she could say.

She walked to the front door and paused.

Something inside her screamed "Don't."

But she pushed it down and knocked.

A moment later, the door opened and there stood Gloria, her sister.

"Amelia? What are you doing here this late?" Gloria's eyes darted to the luggage.

Amelia didn't answer.

"Gloria, who's at the door?" came a familiar voice.

Her mother.

A moment later, her mama appeared beside Gloria.

"Amelia..." her voice cracked with emotion.

"Mama..." Amelia choked out, tears already falling.

Her mother didn't say a word. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her daughter.

Amelia broke, sobbing into her mother's embrace. She needed that hug more than anything.

But the moment was shattered when their father appeared at the door.

"Amelia."

They pulled apart quickly.

Amelia lowered her head.

"Father..."

His voice was harsh.

"What are you doing in my house? Your beloved Alpha threw you out?"

He scoffed, eyes narrowing on the luggage.

"And the first place you thought of coming was here?" he sneered.

"Get the hell out of my house, Amelia or you'll regret the day I became your father."

TBC