Chapter 2

Astrid's POV The pain of my mate rejecting me slammed into me making me gasp as I rocked back, my body shaking and vibrating. l had heard of people rejecting their true mate yet I had never thought that it would happen to me. Somehow I had thought surely the moon goddess wouldn't be so cruel as to give me a mate that wouldn't care for me in addition to all my troubles. I had been wrong. I didn't even know how it was possible for a wolfless omega like me to have a mate like Xavier. I wasn't as strong as Lyra so why me? What I knew was that I was in a world of pain. To think that if I had a wolf the pain would have been twofold of what I was feeling now. Guess there was a good side to being a wolfless omega after all. Xavier wrapped his arm around Lyra and the stab of pain in my chest made my knees weak beneath me. I wanted to crawl under my covers and hide. But I had been doing that my whole life. Hiding because I was a powerless omega, hiding to avoid the people who would hurt me. Hiding because maybe if I lived quietly enough they would let me live in peace. But none of that had worked anyway. I was done with that. I stood up to Xavier. My mate who had rejected me. "I used to love you," I told him knowing that I might still love him but it didn't matter anymore because to him my status mattered more than our mate bond. Tears filled my eyes as I continued speaking. "We had so many beautiful memories together. But that only blinded me to the monster you have become." "Monster? You bitch." Lyra lashed at me, her claws tearing across my face. "He is my mate, not yours!" Blood dripped down my face staining my hand as I cupped my cheek. Xavier watched on unmoved as his girlfriend assaulted me. This was not the sort of mate I wished to have. "You can have him," I told Lyra before turning to face Xavier. "I also don't want you, Xavier. I also refuse to accept you as my mate." I saw the shock on Lyra's face and the anger on Xavier's. He bared his teeth at me. "Do you think you have any choice?" It was as if no one had ever rejected him. "I am an Alpha. Soon, I will inherit this pack. You think I want a mate as weak and useless as you are?" I didn't say anything as I watched him waiting for him to finish what he had to say. He looked at me from head to toe with barely concealed hatred. "The moon goddess has made a big mistake." I smiled. At least I had gotten to him as he had me. "Don't worry, Xavier, I will remedy that. I, Astrid Nightshade, rejec—" "Stop!" We all collectively froze as the growl of Xavier's father, Alpha Finn, filled my room. He walked in authoritatively, his dominant aura making all of us apart from Xavier bow. Alpha Finn was the one who had brought me to this pack and while he was always busy with his pack duties to notice how bad the bullying got, he was always caring and nice to me whenever we interacted. I had come to even see him somewhat as a fatherly figure. "Alpha." I bowed lower. "Alpha Finn." Lyra echoed. "Dad, what are you doing here?" I raised my head in time to see Alpha Finn give Xavier what had to be the harshest glare I had seen him give his son. "Stopping you from making the biggest mistake in your life." What? Alpha Finn wanted me to be his daughter-in-law? From the look on his face, Xavier didn't seem to like the idea one bit. However Lyra spoke first, her voice high-pitched and nearly hysterical. "Alpha, she is an omega. She's not suitable for him. I should be your daughter-in-law, you already accepted me." Really? I thought she and Xavier were just seeing each other casually. But it made sense for him to accept her. She was beautiful. Strong and not an omega. Alpha Finn looked at Lyra with obvious pity. "The moon goddess obviously disagrees." Lyra's anger grew. "But—" Alpha Finn didn't let her finish. "I'm still speaking to my son, you will not interfere." Xavier looked from his father to me to Lyra, his confusion obvious. "Dad, what are you saying?" Alpha Finn merely raised his hand, his countenance firm and unshakable. "Shut up. You have said enough." I just watched everything happening around me with wide eyes up until Alpha Finn took my hand, his gaze kind and sincere. "I know my son has said a lot to you but I want to apologize on his behalf." Lyra made a sound of outage and Xavuer looked at me with so much anger that if looks could kill, I would be six feet under. I focused on the Alpha in front of me apologizing to me, an omega. "Alpha." Alpha Finn smiled at me softly and in that smile, I saw the man that had always had my back no matter what. "My son is an immature child who doesn't understand the gift of finding one's true mate. I will explain it all to him." I was confused. Why was he taking my side over his son's? I didn't dare look up at Xavier whose anger was so great that I could feel him vibrating with it. Alpha Finn's hold on my hand tightened slightly bringing my attention back to him and away from my thoughts. "Trust me." Growing up here, he had been the nicest to me. How could I not trust him? I nodded. He beamed at me making me feel even safer. "Thank you, Astrid." He kissed my forehead. "Now off you go, I arranged a surprise for you in the gardens for the celebration of your birthday." I knew he was just getting rid of me so he could talk to Xavier but the fact that he remembered that it was my birthday made me want to cry. "Thank you very much." I said. Alpha Finn nodded and I stepped out of my room. I should have gone straight to the gardens to collect my gift but I found that I couldn't. Something was tightening in my chest and I was surprised to discover that I was worried for my mate. Xavier might have rejected me but I had not accepted his rejection or rejected his well in return. The bond was still there on my chest, hurting from his rejection but still there. So I hung around. Just close enough to overhear them. Lyra was wailing. "Alpha Finn, please don't separate me from Xavier for that whore!" I was a virgin but the truth had never stopped Lyra from saying all sorts of things about me before. "Enough!" Alpha Finn growled, obviously losing his anger and patience for her. "She will be my daughter-in-law and if you know what is good for you, you will not utter another word against her." Lyra didn't say anything anymore but her sobs were loud enough for me to hear them clearly from where I stood. Xavier growled, making goosebumps travel up my hand. "Will you silence me too Dad?" Alpha Finn was silent and Xavier continued. "I will never touch her. She is a weak omega who will destroy this pack." My heart lurched in my chest at his words. For Xavier would I never rise above my station? Would he forever see me as a weak omega instead of his mate? Alpha Finn seemed to be outraged at Xavier's words. "You dare oppose me?! Fool. Stupid idiot. Follow me right now to my office!" I barely hid in a nearby room in time to avoid them seeing me. Once their footsteps faded, I slumped against the door, my heart pounding and racing in fear. What would Alpha Finn do to punish Xavier for opposing him?