Azura's POV
I stood outside Rhydor's doors, my chest heaving. My fists were clenched so tight my nails were literally digging into my palms, but I barely felt the sting. All I felt was fire.
The two guards stepped in front of the door, blocking my way.
"The Alpha doesn't want to be disturbed," one of them said.
I looked him dead in the eye. Then I looked at the other one. My voice came out low and dangerously calm. "Move."
They didn't budge.
I took a step closer, my heart pounding against my ribs. "I defeated Isadora, a high-ranking wolf, like she was nothing. Do you really think you two will be any harder than she was?"
The guard on the left shifted his feet, looking uneasy.
"I could snap you both without breaking a sweat," I bluffed, though I meant every word.
The two guards exchanged a look. They knew I was the one who had survived the arena. Slowly, they stepped aside.
That's what I thought.
I didn't thank them. I just shoved the heavy doors open and marched inside.
Rhydor was sitting at his massive desk. Papers were spread everywhere, and he was holding a quill, writing something. He didn't even look up when I slammed the door.
I stopped in the middle of the room, my breath coming in short, jagged bursts. "We need to talk."
He kept writing. It was like I was a fly on the wall.
My jaw tightened until it ached. "I said, we need to talk!"
Still nothing. He just dipped his quill in ink and kept going. I stepped closer, my anger boiling over.
"Why did you do that?" My voice cracked, and I hated myself for it. "Why did you lock me up in front of everyone? Why did you make me look like a criminal?"
He finally stopped. He set the quill down slowly, leaned back in his chair, and looked at me. His face was like a mask of ice.
"Are you done?"
I stared at him, my eyes stinging. "No, I'm not done! You humiliated me. In front of the entire pack. How could you do that?"
He said nothing. He just watched me with those amber eyes, looking bored. It made me want to scream.
"If you don't want this bond, I don't want it either!" I shouted. "Let's just end it. No more games. No more pretending."
That got to him. He raised his head, his eyes locking onto mine with a sudden intensity. For a second, I thought he was going to argue. Instead, he stood up.
He didn't walk toward me. He walked to the window and stared out at the forest, his back to me.
"Do you think I want this?" his voice was low, vibrating with his own anger. "Do you think the rejection is even working?" He let out a bitter, ugly laugh. "It's not. The bond is still there, and it's your fault."
My breath caught. "My fault?"
He turned to face me then. "You don't have a wolf, Azura. The bond won't break because your wolf isn't there to snap her half of the connection. So yes. It's your fault."
My chest felt like it was being squeezed by iron bands. I could barely breathe. "I want to leave," I whispered, my voice shaking. "I want my old life back. I don't want to be here anymore."
He tilted his head, a mocking smile on his lips. "Now you want to leave? When my father told you to move in, you sat there like a quiet little mouse. And now you're throwing a tantrum?"
He turned away again, dismissive. "I don't have time for this. When you're finished acting like a child, get out."
Something inside me snapped. The last thread of my patience just broke.
"I hate you!"
The words exploded out of me. He stopped. He turned around slowly, his eyes dark. Then he started walking toward me.
Each step was slow and deliberate. He stopped right in front of me, so close I could feel the heat coming off his body. He leaned down, his face inches from mine.
"I hate you, too," he whispered. The words were like poison. "I hate that the Moon Goddess chose you. I hate that you were even born."
I swallowed hard, but I didn't look away.
"And I hate your parents," he hissed, "for giving birth to something like you."
The room went silent. My vision blurred. Not because I wanted to cry, but because those words were like a physical slap to my soul. He mentioned my parents. The only people who ever truly loved me. And he hated them just for making me.
My hand moved before my brain could even think. The slap cracked through the quiet room.
SLAP.
The sound echoed through the room. His head turned to the side from the force of it. He didn't move. He didn't strike back. He just stood there.
I stared at him, my hand still stinging, my chest heaving. "You will never be my mate," I said, my voice cold and steady. "And you will never be my Alpha."
I turned around and walked out. I didn't look back. I didn't stop until I reached my room.
I yanked the door shut and just slid down to the floor. And then, I broke. Sobs tore out of me, raw and loud. I pressed my hands over my mouth, trying to muffle the sound, but it didn't work. Everything hurts. My chest, my throat, my heart.
I hated him so much, but for some reason, the things he said felt like they were killing me.
I don't know how long I sat there. Minutes? Hours? Until I heard a knock on the door.
It was soft and hesitant.
I froze, my breath catching in my throat.
Another knock came in.
I wiped my face quickly and stood up on shaky legs. But I couldn't do it. I couldn't talk to anyone.
So I turned away from the door and threw myself flat on the bed, burying my face in the pillow. I cried until my eyes were swollen, eventually falling into a deep, heavy sleep.