How dare he?
He had just tried to kill his mate, and now he was acting like nothing had happened? Worse, he was blaming Beta David? Pathetic!
"Alpha Rowan, I don't understand your intention," David said, his voice firm. "What do you mean? Everyone witnessed your madness."
Rowan let out a wicked laugh, "Beta David, what if I told you I was merely testing my mate? To see how she reacts to humiliation?" His golden eyes gleamed with amusement. "Would you believe me?" He scoffed. "No? Then why should I explain myself to you?"
Everyone exchanged uncertain glances. That was right. Rowan didn't owe anyone an explanation. He was the Alpha.
"Say it," Elara forced herself to look into his eyes. "Reject me."
His jaw tightened. Three simple words and this torment would end. He could rid himself of her forever.
Yet, the words wouldn't come. His wolf was protesting and making him feel warm, to mark Elara to be them. The rejection was on his tongue but his wolf lashed back.
"You can't do this to our mate. If you hurt our mates feelings I'm gonna sleep inside of you forever making you feel useless." Rowan's wolf said sharply inside of his head.
'Damn it.' this beast.
A rejection will weaken him, and if there was one thing Rowan Kael refused to be, it was weak.
The pack was already watching him closely. Waiting for him to take a misstep. His claim to the Alpha title was still fresh. If he rejected his mate, some would call it a defiance of the moon goddess. A dangerous omen.
If Rowan rejected Elara now, he wouldn't just be throwing away a mate, he'd be publicly spitting on the Beta's bloodline, the second in command.
He looked at Elara, she wasn't begging but waiting for him to reject her.
'Rejection is mercy.' the thought slid through his mind, 'She doesn't deserve mercy.'
No. If she wanted freedom. She'd have to earn it the hard way.
Good. Let her squirm.
When he was done with her, she would beg for rejection. Only then would he decide if she was worth the trouble of granting it.
Turning to the pack, Rowan raised his voice. "Everyone, I apologise for ruining the celebration. But I was never out of control, this was all part of my plan. And now, I declare before you all…" his eyes turned to Elara."Elara Blackthorn, daughter of Beta David, is going to be my Luna."
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"I expect you all to act as if nothing happened here." Rowan continued smoothly. "Now, please excuse us."
Without waiting for a response, he grabbed Elara and pulled her into his arms.
Elara barely had time to react. This was happening too fast. "Eli…" Diana called out, looking tense but Rowan didn't stop.
David remained silent, watching them leave. He knew Rowan wasn't acting out of love but this was about his pride.
Elara struggled in Rowan's grasp, trying to break free, but his grip only tightened.
"Let me go!" She hissed.
He didn't even look at her.
Elara clenched her teeth. Was this really her mate? The one she had dreamed of for years?
She had always believed in fate and was waiting for her mate. From a young age, she had imagined what it would be like to meet her mate. How would she feel at the first meeting? What would her mate look like, will he love her? She had seen many omegas in the pack rejected, cast aside, or forced into miserable life. But she had prayed her mate would be different.
She never expected her meeting with her mate would be a disaster. Never, in her worst nightmares, had she imagined Rowan Kael.
Elara had always been a ghost. Few knew her existence because David had kept her hidden. Not out of shame but out of necessity.
The day Elara was born, her mother died. Elders in the pack said, she's cursed to bring disaster to the pack. If this news were to spread everyone in the pack would have tried to remove her, that's why he had no choice but to send her to a place out of the pack. Later on, David married Diana's mother.
For years, she had lived a quiet life in a small wooden house. Learning to farm, hunt and survive on her own. The pack had forgotten her name.
She likes to stay alone. She should have stayed at the wooden house forever, if Beta David hadn't argued with her to come celebrate Diana's birthday party this year.
That was why no one recognised her when she came to the pack. And Rowan? He had likely never even heard of her before.
Until now.
Until this.
Rowan suddenly halted.
Elara blinked, snapping back to the present. They stood in a place full of red rose's bathed in silver moonlight. Wind gently swaying Elara's hair.
Rowan slowly turned his head, golden eyes gleaming as he looked at her.
For a brief moment, Elara was caught off guard. His gaze…it was, it was mesmerising!
Then, just as suddenly, he released her. She stepped back, fixing her clothes, brushing her hair out of her face. She refused to meet his eyes, cheeks burning. No. Absolutely not. She was not blushing.
Rowan smirked. "Are you done blushing?"
Elara stiffened, gripping the fabric of her dress tightly. "I am not used to this tone of yours."
"I see." He fell silent. Then, he placed his hands on her shoulders, forcing her to look at him.
"What are you doing?" Elara's heartbeat quickened. For the first time, she felt warmth from him. Genuine warmth. As if her mate was truly here. Her wolf stirred inside her, 'Eat him, make him ours.'
She swallowed hard, pushing the thought away.
"Why didn't you reject me?"
Rowan leaned in slightly, inhaling deeply near her neck. His breath was warm against her neck.
"You smell like a little Orchid." he murmured. His lips curled into a knowing smile. "Perhaps, it's the mate bond keeping me from rejecting you."
"I don't want to be with you."
"You are the reason I was exposed." He said coolly. "Now, even if I don't reject you, it stays the same. What does it matter? It's meaningless."
For a split second, Elara dared to hope. Maybe…just maybe, there was a chance he would change. That he would accept her.
However,
"In any case," Rowan continued, steeping back, "if I can't reject you…then, I will just play along. How's that?"
Elara's heart sank. Of course.
She let out a bitter laugh. "I knew it."
"Listen, Alpha Rowan. I know I'm not worthy of being your mate. I understand that. But I refuse to be your doll just because I'm an omega. I reject your so-called game." Elara said, looking at the bright moon.
Rowan tilted his head, amused by her words, "As if I was negotiating with you."
"What do you mean?"
A wicked smirk spread across his rosy lips. "Mrs. Kael, I'm not asking. I am ordering you to be my wife. My Luna. It's an honourable title."
A cold shiver ran down Elara's spine. Mrs. Kael. The words felt like chains wrapping around her. Ordering? He wasn't asking. He wasn't even pretending to give her a choice.
Was this her fate? To be bound to a man who saw her as nothing more than a pawn in his dirty twisted game?
There was no escape. Not from him. She thought of running away but what good would it do? He was the Alpha, he had all the power.
And yet, there was something even more dangerous. A tiny flicker of warmth.
Mrs. Kael?
She clenched her fists, digging her nails into her palms, her body burned with the urge to refuse no matter what.
"And what if I refuse?"
His fingers trailed down her arms. His touch is soft yet carries a dangerous aura. "You already know the answer."
A sharp chill ran down Elara's spine.
Rowan Kael, the kindest Alpha in the region. That was what everyone believed. But now, standing before him, she knew the truth.
It was all a mask.
Elara met his eyes, "You're full of schemes, Alpha Rowan."
"Is that so?"