Two guards marched ahead of Romilda in cold silence.
Not a word spoken nor a glance spared.
She followed anyway, her heart thudding with equal part of fear and hope.
"Martin requested her... Martin." The thought warmed the ache inside her chest.
"Maybe he believed in her. Oh...Romilda get your act together," she giggled inside her.
Maybe last night hadn't ruined everything.
As they approached the Alpha estate, tall pillars and stone wolves looming like judges and the air grew heavy.
A deep, commanding voice halted their steps.
It was Alpha Luther.
The guards immediately bowed. Romilda quickly bent her head, palms sweating.
"So," he hissed, voice sharp as a blade,
"I hear my son wanted to meet with you."
Romilda bowed quickly. "Y-Yes, Alpha."
His golden eyes glinted with malice.
"I hope you understand… you are not to bother him after what he is going to tell you."
Her heart skipped.
What he intends to tell me?
Her curiosity flared hotter.
"Yes, Alpha," she whispered. "I only came because he asked."
"Good," Luther said. "Remember what I told you."
The guards nudged her forward, and the Alpha's gaze burned into her back like a curse.
The moment she stepped into the chamber where Martin waited, a strange pull surged through her chest.
Her matebond.
It hit her like a bolt of lightning the instant he said her name:
"You wanted to see me?"
Her stomach fluttered, her heart leapt. She could feel it, an invisible thread connecting them, binding her to him in a way she had never experienced before.
"Martin. You're my mate." she whispered, voice trembling with excitement.
She rushed forward, unable to stop herself. Her arms flung around him in a hug but he went rigid under her touch and immediately pushed her away.
"Martin…?" she stammered. "W-what's wrong? Don't you feel it?"
Romilda stumbled, breath ripping from her lungs.
"Martin?" she whispered, stunned. "Why aren't you happy?"
His jaw clenched. He stared at the floor, voice flat dead.
"I, Martin Blackthorn… reject you, Romilda … as my mate."
The world shattered.
Romilda's knees buckled. "No… please look at me. Why?"
Pain twisted across his features but he wouldn't meet her eyes. "I can't. I'm sorry."
Before she could reach him again, guards seized her arms and dragged her out. She screamed his name, voice cracking but Martin never turned.
The castle doors slammed behind her. And standing there, waiting, was Alpha Luther.
"The future of this pack depends on my son," he said, circling her like prey. "Someone like you would drag him into ruin."
Romilda's throat burned. Her tears tasted like iron.
"He needs a strong Luna," Luther continued. "A wolf blessed by the Goddess. And that," he leaned in, eyes cruel, "will never be you."
He stepped back, speaking with chilling ease.
"Stay away from my son… or you will regret refusing to disappear."
Romilda collapsed against the cold dirt path as he walked away. Shame clawed at her chest. Her dreams lay crushed beneath his bootprints.
"Why am I such a failure?"
She forced herself up, her legs trembling and staggered home.
Martin stood frozen long after the guards dragged her away.
The echo of her broken voice clung to the walls like a curse.
His chest burned a fire that no breath could quench.
His wolf banged against his ribcage, snarling and clawing:
"Mate! Bring her back! Go to her!"
Martin squeezed his eyes shut, nails digging into his palms until blood beaded.
The pain inside him didn't stop, it only sharpened.
Rejecting her was killing him.
"Romilda…"
Her name escaped as a broken prayer.
The door slammed open.
Alpha Luther strode in, satisfaction gleaming in his cold golden eyes.
"So," his father said with a cruel smirk,
"the deed is done."
Martin didn't answer, not without his voice cracking under the truth.
Luther circled him slowly, like a vulture pleased with its feast.
"You should be celebrating, not crying like a weakling," he spat.
"You have done this pack a great service today."
Martin's jaw locked.
"She was my mate," he growled softly.
Luther barked a short laugh.
"No. She was a curse wearing the face of a girl. Worthless. Weak. Barely even wolf enough to shift! You severing that bond is the first hopeful thing for this pack in years."
Martin's hands shook harder.
Hope?
It felt like he had just severed his own soul.
Luther leaned close, voice dripping venom:
"You will choose a Luna worthy of the Blackthorn legacy, one blessed by the Goddess herself. Romilda was never destined to stand beside you."
Martin stepped back, breathing shaky.
His wolf was pacing, growling, bleeding.
"She… she felt like destiny," Martin whispered.
Luther's expression darkened.
"Destiny?"
His eyes flashed.
"Destiny is what I decide. And if you ever dare speak of her again, consider your reign as an Alpha dead."
"We are done here." he growled and angrily left the room.
***
Priscilla rushed toward her. "Romilda! What happened? Why are you.."
Romilda could only shake her head. Her voice was gone. Her heart was gone.
Her mother placed trembling hands on her face, eyes filling with grief. "Rest, sweetheart. We'll talk later."
Romilda turned toward her room but froze.
A faint pulse rippled through her body. The floor vibrated beneath her feet. Her reflection in the hallway mirror flickered.
For a split seconds, Her eyes glowed blood-red.
A voice, wild and powerful whispered from inside her mind:
"We are not weak." Romilda gasped.
The voice… was hers but not the her she knew.
Romilda's vision snapped into place as she jolted awake, breath shaky.
Her head throbbed like someone had struck her with a hammer.
"Romilda!"
Her mother's face filled her sight, eyes tired, worry carved deep into them. The moment she saw Romilda awake, her shoulders sagged in relief.
"Oh thank the Moon Goddess," she whispered, brushing Romilda's hair back.
"You scared me."
"I'm sorry," Romilda croaked.
"No." Her mother's tone sharpened. "You have every right to struggle. I'm your mother, I will worry."
She pressed a warm cup of ginger tea into Romilda's trembling hands.
Romilda inhaled the steam as the warmth soothed her aching head.
"What happened?" her mother asked gently. "At the Alpha's estate?"
Romilda stared into the cup, breath catching. The rejection hit her again like a blade digging deeper.
"H-He… Martin rejected me," she whispered.
Tears spilled — fresh, hot, humiliating.
Her mother's expression shifted from sorrow… to fury.
"He rejected… you?"
Her voice shook, rage simmering beneath each word. "How could they do that to my daughter?"
"I'm so... sorry. I couldn't even protect you, im such a bad mother. " Priscilla whispered, voice cracking.
Romilda wiped her tears fast. "Please don't… it's not your fault."
"But I should have protected you," her mother choked out. "I should have.."
"No!" Romilda forced herself upright. "You've never been a bad mother. Don't ever say that."
Her mother hugged her tight, the only place left where Romilda didn't feel like a mistake.
Behind that embrace…
A vow was forming.
Fierce. Dangerous.
No one would hurt her child again.
Romilda pulled away to take another sip — but her mother was already turning, eyes cold with determination.
"I'll be right back," she said stiffly.
Romilda blinked. "Mom? Where are you going?"
"Just get some rest and don't worry to much, " she shut the door.
A storm was heading straight for the Alpha.