Chapter 9 The Unexpected Rejection

• The walk to the birthday banquet was quite far. The ceremonial hall was on the other side of the pack close to the busy areas, and the house I stay in was near the outskirt of the pack.
• *murmur*
• *murmur*
• As I near the banquet, I sense the glances around me outside, along with their whispers. I can already imagine how worse the stares would be once I step inside.
• And indeed, the stares of the pack members literally pierce every part of my face and body. The moment I stepped in, the chatters had suddenly ceased and all eyes snapped in my way.
• Even without meeting any gaze, I understand the unspoken question lingering in the air.
• ‘What is she doing here?’ Their eyes all seem to convey the same words.
• I unconsciously gulp at the attention. Perhaps feeling some sort of challenge from their gaze, my back straightened up and my gaze remain forward with bolder steps towards Jared and my family in front of the moon goddess statue.
• ‘’I heard Miss Sienna pleaded the Alpha to invite the Luna.’’
• ‘’They’re twin sisters after all.’’’
• ‘’What sister kills her other sister out of jealousy?’’
• ‘’Hmph! The Luna is sure lucky to have kind sister like Miss Sienna.’’
• ‘’Miss Sienna is truly kind.’’
• From the surrounding whispers along, I denoted that Jared must have listened to my twin sister, Sienna. Or else, I wouldn’t be finding myself here just like the past.
• ‘He must really like her.’ I thought sadly as I climbed the small set of stairs and stand before Jared and my family.
• ‘’Selena!’’ A pale Sienna happily greets me from the wheelchair with my elder brother glaring behind her.
• ‘’....Sienna.’’ I hesitantly nod, opposite her enthusiasm.
• ‘You still look beautiful...as always.’ I observe my twin sister’s sick countenance. It has been a long time since I last saw her, and even though she appeared thinner than before, her beauty still shone radiantly.
• Blonde hair that seemed to glow like gold, and oceanic blue eyes that sparkled like the jewel sapphire under the lights.
• According to my parents, Sienna must have inherited the blonde hair from our lineage because none of them had blonde hair that shined like hers. My mum had dirty blonde hair, while I and my brother had brown hair like our father’s.
• ‘’I wish I can hug you, but my legs....I’ve been on the bed for two years so forgive me, little sis.’’ Sienna laughs lightly, but I couldn’t match her happiness and just remain silent.
• ‘’Your sister is speaking to you, Selena.’’ Simone calls out on my attitude, but I straightly ignore him and shifts my gaze to Jared on the side.
• ‘’I’m here.’’
• Right now, I wasn’t in the mood to please anyone, especially not my family. Perhaps, tomorrow I would regret my actions and later apologize, but now, I just want to return to my bed and shut out this reality.
• Sienna did not deserve the complicated feelings I bear towards her. She was also innocent in this situation.
• Jared held my gaze for a moment with a familiar indifferent expression, different from what I saw the previous night.
• ‘’May I make announcement, pack members.’’ He suddenly speaks up after turning away from my stare. Puzzled, I watch as the entire hall murmurs ceased and everyone focus their eyes on him.
• ‘’I, Alpha Jared Henderson of the Northern Moon pack reject Luna Selena Monroe as my mate and Luna.’’ My mate announces loudly to the spectating pack members, regarding me with cold eyes. ‘’As the Alpha, I also strip your right as my pack member.’’
• In other words, I have now become a werewolf with no pack.
• A rogue.
• ‘’W-Wh...’’ I did not expect this development. A rejection and banishment? ‘’Wait, Jared....’’ I try to intervene, but he retorts with a sharp edge.
• ‘’This is your punishment for your crime towards Sienna, rogue.’’
• ‘’B-But I-I didn’t do anything....’’I defend myself. ‘’I-I am innocent.’’ I also stare at my family, in hopes that my words would reach them, but they acted the same as Jared, regarding me with cold eyes, void of warmth and affection.
• Just like always.
• If only I had the evidence....
• Something clicked suddenly in mind. Right, the evidence.
• I snap my gaze towards Sienna who flinched at my fervent gaze. ‘’Sienna, tell them. Tell them that I was innocent on that day. You told me to wait near the border. We wanted to explore the human society on our birthday together.’’
• I almost wanted to smile when I suddenly realized. Why haven’t I thought of this?
• Sienna was the evidence, my evidence. She could tell everyone what truly happened on that day and the reason I was near the border. She could prove that I was innocent.
• ‘’T-That...’’ Sienna stutters at my words and timidly avoided with my gaze. ‘’I-I can’t remember...’’
• ‘’W-What?’’ I widen my eyes at her words.
• ‘’I-I have no memories of what happened on that day, S-Selena.’’ Her voice shakes as she continued avoiding my stunned gaze, perhaps from guilt. ‘’I’m sorry.’’
• ‘’N-No...’’ I shake my head in denial. ‘’You-re lying. Tell me you’re lying.’’ I close the short distance between us, but Simone, perhaps sensing my intention, swiftly stood protectively in front of her, blocking my path with a loud scoff.
• ‘’How heartless can you be, Selena? Sienna doesn’t have all her memories, yet the first person she calls out on the hospital bed was you.’’ He glares. ‘’Besides, we all know that Sienna doesn’t like the human society as much as you do. How much lies will you continue to tell us, Selena?’’
• ‘’B-But...she said so. Sienna told me to wait....’’
• ‘’Enough!’’ My father suddenly yelled from his spot beside my mother, and his indifferent gaze was directed towards me.
• ‘’Dad...’’
• ‘’I have no criminal as my daughter.’’ His words were brutal, stopping whatever I wanted to tell him, and also shattering my heart to more pieces.
• ‘’The Alpha’s words are the law of the pack. You are no more a member of the Monroe family. Pack your things out, and don’t cause any more troubles.’’
• My eyes trembles at the rest of his words. I shift my gaze to my mother, who turned away from me without hesitation. My brother continued, acting vigilant towards me, and Sienna whom I expected to at least help my situation, avoided my gaze.
• No one, not one of my family members was on my side. Even the kind and beloved Sienna.
• ‘’P-Please Jared.’’ I still did not give up and turn to my mate for a last hope. ‘’Y-You have to believe me. I am innocent. This is a false accusation.’’
• I even try to convey my feelings to him through the mate bond, only to realize that I couldn’t connect to Jared. Our incomplete mate bond was broken from his rejection. The impact of it deeply hurts, but I have been trying to ignore the pain because of this sudden banishment.
• Jared didn’t look in my way and turn to some pack members. ‘’Take her away.’’
• ‘’P-Please don’t...I’m begging you, all of you.’’ I wanted to reach him, but my steps suddenly halted on the spot, and my body starts to tremble. Bristles of fur began to appear on my skin, and before I knew it, my vision shifted a sharper one.
• Snarl
• My werewolf takes over on the spot.