"Why are you back so soon?" The girl asked, her head tilted to the side.
"I am done with what I went to do, it wasn't important, so we didn't see the need to dwell on the matter anymore" the man responded, he was evasively avoiding meeting her gaze.
"Okay, do you want to continue watching the stars or?" She asked, clearly trying to get rid of the atmosphere, she realized as soon as he got here, that he was acting weird and he seemed rather– different, she couldn't place her hand on what exactly seems to be the problem, but she knew that he didn't want to be with her, so she decided to give him an avenue to walk away.
The only reason she could think of, as the reason he had been acting weird, was because of the news he heard, it was probably not as meagre as it seems and he didn't want to get her worried, so he came to reassure her and then take care of the problem.
After reassuring herself, she walked towards him and held his hands, placing them in hers, in a somewhat comforting manner.
"If you have something to take care of, then go ahead, no need to worry about me" she gave him a smile and squeezed his hands warmly.
However, immediately she uttered those words, the man immediately yanked his hands away from hers, his eyes filled with contempt.
The girl clearly saw the look flash through his eyes, and just that made her heart ache uncontrollably. But she knew that something definitely was the matter, so she walked closer to him, but he also took some steps back away from her. The girl swallowed in fear, she walked towards him again, just to be sure that she wasn't dreaming the first time, but she got the same reaction as before, he even looked so impatient now– like she wasn't worth his time.
Just that was enough to make all her defenses crush into pieces, a tear dropped from her eyes, her hands, turned fists were holding her clothes.
She could see that he was treating her like a plague on his side, and that hurt her deeply. She decided to stay where she was, to prevent him walking away from her.
What's wrong?" She asked cautiously, staring at him with glassy eyes and a confused expression.
"No..Nothing..Nothing is wrong, I just" he said as he clutched his chest, it was obvious that he was in pain.
Seeing this, the girl's instincts took over, as her feet rushed to his side.
"Are you okay" she asked, her brows knitted in worry.
She was about to hold him, when he growled and shouted at her
"Stay back!!" he snapped at her.
The girl whimpered in fear, and she immediately took a few steps back, tears falling from her eyes.
"Sta..stay away from me, you... Just stay" he said, panting as he said each word.
"Don't stress yourself, I'd stay away from you, but can you, at least go see an healer" she asked, her face full of worry.
She didn't even mind the way he talked or treated her, she was simply worried about his health.
She knew he was a strong wolf, so it can't be easy for him to be this weak, so that showed that he was poisoned, she was absolutely sure that the poison was very strong, if not he wouldn't be this weak.
"Arielle?" He called out her name. His chest heaving as he tried to steady it.
"Yes?" She answered immediately, her face now filled with panic and fear, at what was going on with him.
The man was shocked at how, all the emotions in her eyes were directed at him, she didn't seemed worried about herself, just him. But he knew he had no other choice but to do this. For the same of his brother, he had to end it once and for all.
"My mate" he called out.
Arielle's eyes widened in surprise, Her heart pounded as she stood before him, her eyes locked into his.
She had always felt a deep connection to him, and she was convinced that he was her mate, but hearing him say it with his own mouth, brought joy to her heart. But as she gazed into his eyes, she saw something that made her blood run cold.
"I reject you, Arielle as my mate" he said, in laboured breath, clearing suffering from the rejection he just did.
His eyes has turned red in pain, but he could only endure it and hope that the rejection does not hurt her as much as it hurt him.
Arielle's word crumbled as he uttered those words. Ache gnawed at her heart, like a festering wound that refused to heal.
The weight of rejection was taking a toll on her, it was crushing her, she found it really hard to breathe, she couldn't even think.
Her heart raced, pounding in her chest, her eyes were hot with unshed tears.
Her senses dulled, as if the rejection muted her incoming wolf instincts.
'What did I do wrong? Was it something I said or did?' she thought.
Her vision blurred as pain slammed into her. She had never shifted before, but the rejection ignited a deep, primal agony that felt even more painful than what she would have gone through, if she had her wolf.
Even though her tears were clouding her vision, she saw Lucian, her love, her soulmate and her mate walk away from her.
He walked away, not thinking of the hurt she was going through, he walked away after doing this without giving her an explanation, he walked away from their love, he walked away from their destiny.
She was preparing to chase after him, to ask him what she did, to ask him why he did that, to ask him where their love went, to question him.
She needed answers, she couldn't let this go without a valid reason, but then, she let out a gut wrenching scream, and a howl came out of nowhere.
Even with all this going on, Lucien never looked back once, he continued walking away from her.
Arielle felt so much pain in her core, more than she felt when Lucien rejected her, she felt her bones start to shift painfully.
She widened her eyes in horror, she knew what exactly was happening, so she turned, fleeing into the forest even with the pain, she ran.
The trees around her swayed, everywhere was so fuzzy and fast.
However, she continued running, until her legs bucked and she collapsed.
As she was losing consciousness, she realized that the rejection had awakened her wolf and that wasn't a good thing. She had forced her wolf out.