Clara Fisher didn't sleep that night.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw him.
Those cold golden eyes.
That sharp voice.
Those cruel words.
"I reject you."
She turned in her bed, clutching her chest as if it would stop the ache inside.
But it didn't.
If anything… it felt worse.
"Why can I still feel him?" she whispered.
Wasn't rejection supposed to break the bond?
Wasn't she supposed to feel… nothing?
But instead—
Her heart raced like he was still near.
Her body reacted like he was still watching her.
And deep inside her… that strange, faint presence stirred again.
"Clara!"
The door burst open, and Selena rushed in without knocking, her long hair slightly messy like she had run all the way.
"You didn't come out this morning. I was worried!" she said, walking straight to the bed.
Clara quickly sat up, wiping her face.
"I'm fine."
Selena raised an eyebrow.
"You look like you cried all night."
Clara forced a small smile. "I said I'm fine."
Selena crossed her arms, clearly not convinced.
"Don't lie to me. Did someone say something again? Was it those girls? Because I swear—"
"It's not that," Clara cut in softly.
Selena paused.
Then her voice lowered. "Then what is it?"
Clara hesitated.
How was she supposed to explain this?
That the Alpha…
the most powerful wolf in the pack…
was her mate?
And he rejected her like she was nothing?
Selena sat beside her, her expression softening.
"You can tell me anything, Clara."
Clara swallowed hard.
And then, quietly, she said—
"I found my mate."
Selena's eyes widened.
"What?!"
Clara let out a shaky breath.
"And… he rejected me."
Silence filled the room.
Selena froze.
Then—
"WHO?!" she snapped angrily. "Who is that stupid boy?!"
Clara looked away.
"…Alessandro de Luca."
Selena's anger vanished instantly.
Her face went pale.
"The… Alpha's son?" she whispered.
Clara nodded.
Selena stood up abruptly, pacing the room.
"No, no, no… this is bad. This is really bad."
"I know," Clara said quietly.
Selena ran a hand through her hair.
"And he rejected you? Just like that?"
Clara nodded again, her chest tightening.
Selena clenched her fists.
"That idiot!" she snapped. "Does he even know what he just threw away?!"
Clara gave a small, bitter smile.
"He knew. That's why he did it."
Meanwhile…
On the other side of the territory—
Alessandro de Luca stood at the edge of a cliff, staring into the distance.
His jaw was tight. His fists clenched.
"Still feeling her?"
The voice behind him was calm, slightly amused.
Alessandro didn't turn.
"I thought rejection was supposed to cut the bond completely," Pierre said, stepping beside him.
Alessandro exhaled slowly.
"It should."
Pierre glanced at him.
"But it didn't, did it?"
Silence.
That was all the answer he needed.
Pierre smirked slightly.
"So… your mate is still in your head."
Alessandro's eyes darkened.
"She's weak."
Pierre shrugged.
"Maybe. But she's still your mate."
Alessandro finally turned, his expression cold.
"I don't need a weak mate."
Pierre raised an eyebrow.
"Are you trying to convince me… or yourself?"
Alessandro's gaze hardened.
For a moment, tension filled the air.
Then suddenly—
Alessandro flinched.
His hand went straight to his chest.
Pierre noticed immediately.
"What is it?"
Alessandro's breathing changed.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
The faint bond he had tried to ignore suddenly pulsed—
Stronger.
Darker.
Unstable.
And then—
A whisper.
Not his.
Not human.
But clear.
"Mine…"
Alessandro's eyes widened slightly.
Pierre stepped closer.
"Alessandro?"
Alessandro looked toward the forest—the direction of Clara.
For the first time…
There was something different in his expression.
Not rejection.
Not anger.
But something far more dangerous.
"…Something's wrong," he muttered.
Back in her room…
Clara gasped suddenly, gripping her chest.
Selena rushed to her.
"Clara?! What's happening?!"
Clara's eyes flickered strangely.
Her breathing became uneven.
And deep inside her…
That faint presence was no longer weak.
It was awakening.