I gasped as his words made sense.

Zara was howling in agony while the tears I had managed to control till then flowed down my cheeks blurring my vision.

I pushed him away and ran blindly to one of the empty classrooms.

Locking the door behind me, I sat on the floor hugging my knees while I cried my heart out.

Yes I was the one who slapped him.But that was only because I hated him for torturing me for past three years. I did like him, albeit it was a very small part in me. I wanted to try, but he was way too reckless, way too unapologetic for my liking. I wanted him to take it slow; I just wanted him to understand what I was going through.

I wasn't eighteen yet, he should have known and given me time especially because he and the rest of the pack were the ones who turned me into a stupid cowardly weakling.

No person on this planet deserved to go through the pain of rejection, not even the devil himself. Moreover, he had gone so far as to remind be of all my miseries.

Everything about that ill fated day came rushing back to my mind once again - Arie's kidnapping, Dad's death, my own near death experience with the rogue... every single thing still vivid and clear.

A knock at the door brought me to my senses. Hurriedly wiping my tears I stood up and opened the door.

Big mistake.

I should have known for there he stood in all his glory, the Master of my Miseries. He had come to rub more salt on my wounds.

"I..." He began hesitantly.

I did not stay there a second longer unable to hear the same painful voice again and again. I ran towards the school gate occasionally bumping to someone or the other. But thankfully. I heard no footsteps behind me.

I ran back to the pack house and avoided whoever came in sight. I went straight to my Mom and began to cry in her arms again.

I didn't think she would be much of a comfort until I felt her arms wrap around me.

She wiped the tears from my face and kissed my forehead. Somehow that simple gesture seemed comforting.

Part of me just wanted to be petted and hugged. All I wanted then was to be loved and cared for. I hugged her back and told her all that had happened.

"Nellie was right Mom, she was right. He rejected me. He is everything a mate shouldn't be. He rejected me and left me to die! He doesn't care a whit about me!" I cried cuddling up to her my tears spilling all over my jumper. Mom said nothing but held me close to her as she patted my back sympathetically.

I heard her steady heart beats as she held me close and eventually I fell asleep.

It was already evening when I woke up. I was surprised to see myself in my own room, however I quickly let that slide when I noticed the time.I shot out of bed and hurried to the kitchen to prepare the pack dinner. Nellie was in already in the kitchen when I entered.

She smiled feebly noticing my puffy eyes and red nose. I wondered if anyone else apart from Aden and I knew what had happened.

"Want to talk about it?" She asked. I simply shook my head and began helping her. Part of me was relieved no one knew about it yet.

She nodded. "Whenever you are ready."

I couldn't answer that. No one in the world could ever be ready to face rejection. Hell, I was still hoping this was just a nightmare which would be over by morning.

So we silently busied ourselves preparing dinner. The Ceremony was to be held two hours later followed by the pack dinner.

I just giving the cake the final touches when Nicole trotted in like a runway Barbie.

I didn't have to look up to know who the person was. The nose- numbing perfume and the noise of her heels told it all.

"So, so, so looks like the poor bitch is slaving under the delusion she will impress us all." She sneered, clearing trying to instigate me into doing something reckless.

I said nothing and continued icing the cake.

No violence. I told myself. No murder.

But Nicole didn't understand that. Either the bitch was dumb or she had lost the last few remnant brain cells when Aden banged her last night.

Wisdom told me to go with the latter.

Not getting a response she came closer. "Bitch, I am talking to you."

"Yes?" I asked, my gaze was still fixed on the floor.

"YES? Where are your manners you ugly piece of dirt? I am your LUNA! How many times do I need to remind you that?" She shrieked into my ear causing me to jump about a foot in the air.

"Luna? The filthy liar!" Zara growled in both disgust and hatred, "what a despicable excuse of a werewolf!"

" I..I.."

My apologies were cut short when someone barged into the room causing my head to snap up. However, I regretted doing that instantly.

It once again turned out to be the sole cause of my nightmares.

"Nicole?! What on earth are you doing here?" He asked, irritated for some reason. "Aren't you supposed to be in your own room getting ready?"

"Oh I was, Darling. Just going over the arrangements one last time." She said trying to sound innocent. "I want your ceremony to be perfect."

It was clear he was trying to hold back an eye roll. But maybe I was just imagining things. "You didn't have to." He deadpanned.

"Apparently," she continued with the smug look still plastered to her face,"This slut here isn't working hard enough. She could surely do with a few lashings, couldn't she?"

I winced at the mention of it. Alpha Jason had treated me to a few dozens last year. The memory itself was too painful to recollect.

"She's not a slut." He didn't look at me, but for a second I swear I saw something flash through his eyes. He turned away before I could decipher it. "Leave her alone, Nicole. What she does isn't your business."

Warmth flickered inside me until I noticed his icy expression. Did he really not want me, then? This bond—did he hate it that much?"

No, I didn't want to believe it.

But I was tired. Tired of being ignored. Tired of being dismissed. Will this coldness ever end? His behaviour did nothing to allay my fears, either.

Nicole seemed upset and opens her mouth to say something when she decides the better of it. Instead, she shot me vindictive look as she leaned forward to kiss him.

"Stop it!" Aden pushed her away as soon as their lips touched. "Aren't you doing this to merely prove a point?"

I wanted to rip her arm off as she ran a finger over his chest, undeterred. Couldn't she take the goddamn hint? "Come on, don't be like that, baby. Is her pathetic ass being here putting you off? I've so much planned for us tonight. You'll forget her in no time."

Zara howled in agony at the mental picture. I shuddered. I had to clench my hands into fists to stop myself from screaming. My head hurt. I was done. Utterly, truly so fucking done.

"I'm busy." I dimly heard him say. There was something cryptic in his voice. "By the way, Nicole. you reek of him. You aren't fooling anyone."

A slight nudge from Nellie brought me back to my senses. "Hey, are you okay? You seem. . . pale."

I shook my head again, silently willing him to look at me once. Just once. One sign of hope. But he didn't. And watching the way, Nicole clung to him, he didn't need him. Tears burned my vision. I dashed out of the kitchen towards my room. As I left, sparks shoot through my shoulder when I accidentally bumped into him. I glanced at the way he froze at first, then his features hardened. Glared. Muttering an apology, I was out of there in a flash. Sitting on the bed, I cried till I could cry no more.

Wiping my tears away, I stood up. Anger and grief was surging through me with equal force. This was the last time I shed tears for that heartless monster. He hadn't once acknowledged me, not once did he look at me. It was on purpose, I knew. His jaw was clenched, so he must have felt something. But it was against his will. Judging by his expression, he hated that feeling. The vulnerability, I brought out in him.

Or whatever the stupid bond brought out in him.

Soulmates thought the world of each other, protected each other. They fucking died for each other if the need arose. But I ended up with a closed off asshole who had already said he wanted nothing to do with me.

I knew what would happen if I stayed- slowly and steadily my wolf would weaken and pine for him. I wouldn't die if I didn't accept the rejection, but I sure as hell would come close. Rejection would hurt my wolf, the proximity would hurt me. This place itself was hurting me. Here, I was dying every damn day. And why? Because I had latched onto the hope that I'd find my soulmate here and find my happily ever after.

Nicole was right about that. I was pathetic.

There was only one way to protect myself.

No, I would leave this hellhole and make my own way in the world. I would learn to be myself again; be the Kiara I was as a kid.

Be the Kiara no one could ever subdue. . .