Chapter 4

Zero’s POV

MATE! This is my mate. The one I’ve been longing for.

I stood frozen by the doorway, unable to move my feet, stunned by the surprise the Moon Goddess had given me. And yet, it made me the happiest woman alive.

My heart pounded rapidly. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. We locked eyes, as if we had entered our own world where only the two of us existed. His gaze seemed to explore every part of my being, and I was doing the same to him.

Even though I don’t have a wolf soul, being one of them, I know there’s a pull between us. I want to lick those luscious lips of his. His broad shoulders look so inviting. And his emerald green eyes—I want to stare at them every second of every day. But just when I thought I was finally living the fairytale they always talked about, it all ended before it could even begin.

I was snapped out of my daydream when I saw the woman sitting on his lap, kissing his neck—the spot where I should have marked him. She smirked at me, tauntingly. My mate moaned and groaned under her touch. Maybe she knew I was her Alpha’s mate.

I held back the tears threatening to fall from my eyes. I squeezed them shut, refusing to cry. After all these years, I’ve endured so much.

So why should I break down now? I’ve survived far worse. I opened my eyes again and met my mate’s gaze. I waited for him to say something—an apology, maybe—but what I heard instead shattered my entire world.

"I, Titus Callum Black, Alpha of the Black Forest Pack, reject whoever you are as my mate and Luna of this—"

I didn’t let him finish. I already knew what he was going to say.

I ran. As fast as I could. Out of his office, out of the Pack House. I ignored Synn’s voice calling after me. If she were in my position, would she have been able to turn back?

I was drowning in the pain my mate had inflicted on me.

"I, whoever I am, accept your rejection!" I screamed while running, barefoot. I knew my feet were already scratched and wounded, but I didn’t care. I just kept running, not knowing where I was heading.

The rain poured heavily, adding to my misery.

Exhausted, I fell to my knees, screaming in agony as pain stabbed repeatedly through my heart. I clutched my chest, curling up as the unbearable pain consumed me.

What is this? What’s happening to me?

"Ahhh! It hurts! It hurts so much!"

I gasped for air, feeling like my heart was being ripped apart over and over again.

"Mate! Our mate… he tried to mark another she-wolf."

I froze.

Who said that? A voice had spoken in my head.

Am I cursed?

"Idiot! I am your wolf!"

W-Wolf?

I have a wolf? But… how? They injected me with wolf’s bane repeatedly.

Synn once told me that my wolf might have died because of it.

I heard a whimper in my mind.

She feels it too—the rejection.

"Of course, I do," my wolf said, whimpering.

Her cries echoed in my head, making the pain in my chest even worse.

Drained from running, I collapsed onto the wet grass. I had no more strength left.

Tears streamed down my face, blending with the raindrops falling all around me.

Why does this always happen to me? Do I deserve this? Did I do something terrible in my past life?

"No, human. Even though I just woke up, I know we did nothing wrong," my wolf answered.

I gave a sad smile.

At least… I still have my wolf now.

"Ahmm… wolf? What’s your name?" I asked weakly.

For the first time in my life, I was feeling so many things at once—pain, hurt, sadness… but also excitement?

Because even after everything, I know I will survive.

This world is full of surprises, and only the strong can make it through.

I let out a bitter laugh as I recalled what had just happened.

Was it really that easy for him to reject me?

"Hey, I don’t have a name, just like you. I can’t remember anything from our past either."

Her response was laced with the same sadness and grief I felt.

Weakly, I forced myself to stand.

I need to find a place to rest.

I can’t go back there. Not after experiencing that fleeting moment of happiness, only to have it replaced by heartbreak.

"Wolf, can you tell me why you only spoke to me now?" I asked while sniffling.

My entire body was covered in mud, including my hair.

Even though I had just met my mate, I knew I was already deeply in love with him.

Is this how the mate bond works?

Why didn’t he feel the same way?

I’ve seen mated wolves before, even in the hellhole I came from. They protected and cherished each other, just like Synn and Styx.

"I don’t know either, human. But when I heard our mate’s voice and the rejection, the barrier blocking our connection suddenly disappeared."

I nodded, even though she couldn’t see it.

"It felt like I was waking up from a long sleep, and the first thing I saw was the rejection of our mate. That must have triggered our bond," she explained sadly.

I took careful steps forward, finally feeling the pain in my injured foot.

What do I do now?

My last hope of finding my family just vanished.

First, my mate—no, my ex-mate.

And now, my wolf, who also remembers nothing.

It feels like I’m lost in the dark, walking an unknown path.

Yay. I love my life.

"Do you think I can shift, Wolf?" I asked as I limped forward.

I’m sorry, Synn, but I have to leave.

I can’t bear to see him every day. It will only hurt me more.

"No, you can’t, human. I’m still too weak."

I heard her yawn.

Wait… she’s going to sleep? No, no, no!

"Wolf! Wolf! Please, don’t sleep! Don’t leave me!" I whimpered.

I don’t want to be alone. Not again.

"Shhh. I promise, I’m still here. I won’t disappear. I just need to rest, okay?"

She reassured me, but I still felt a pang of fear.

What if she leaves me like everyone else did?

I hate being alone. It’s terrifying. It’s painful.

Even though I had no idea where I was going, I kept walking.

I was drenched, but I didn’t care.

I forced a small smile when I saw a cave in the distance.

Finally, a place to rest.

I didn’t hear my wolf anymore. Maybe she had fallen asleep.

Crawling inside the cave, I collapsed onto the cold stone floor, too exhausted to move.

The damp air chilled my skin.

My vision blurred as I stared at the ceiling of the cave.

Darkness.

That’s all I saw.

Just like my life.

Like the prison I came from.

Will I ever escape this nightmare?

Why does it feel like I’m still trapped?

Every time I take a step toward happiness, darkness always pulls me back.

I just want to be free.

"I reject you as my mate!"

"I reject you as my mate!"

"I reject you as my mate!"

Zero’s POV

“Hah! Hah! Hah!” I panted, jolting awake. Even in my dreams, he haunts me. His painful words echo over and over in my ears, in my mind.

Why does that nightmare follow me even here?

I hugged myself as I woke up in the middle of my rest. I sobbed, tears streaming down my face once again.

I feel like I’m alone all over again.

I coughed twice, as if something was stuck in my throat.

My entire body burned with fever. If only I could handle this... If only I could live... If only...

---

Titus’s POV

“I, Titus Callum Black, Alpha of the Black Forest Pack, reject whoever you are as my mate and Luna of this—”

I didn’t finish my sentence because she ran.

I don’t want a mate! Mates make us weak!

I heard my sister’s voice screaming, calling after the girl.

“You rejected my mate! How could you, human?!” Callum, my wolf, growled inside my head.

Tsk. He already knew I never wanted a mate, yet he still insisted on this!

I don’t care about my mate. All I need is a she-wolf to stand as Luna for my pack, even if she isn’t my true mate. And Cassandra Rain is more than willing to take that position, even without the bond.

“I only need my mate, Titus, but you rejected her. You know what’s going to happen because of this!” Callum growled, his voice sharp. Every word he said was laced with warning.

Then, as soon as he finished speaking, he cut off our connection.

Stubborn wolf.

Before he left, he sent me an image of our mate’s beautiful yet pained face, right after hearing my rejection.

I shrugged it off and continued what I was doing with Cassandra.

She kissed me again, and I kissed her back. I was getting lost in the heat of our kiss when suddenly, my mate’s face flashed in my mind.

What?

I shook my head and refocused on Cassandra.

But then—

BANG!

The door to my office burst open.

My furious sister stood there, her wolf almost taking over, though she was fighting to keep control.

“What did you do to my best friend?!” she shouted, her Alpha voice ringing through the room.

Cass almost flinched on my lap, but I held her waist firmly.

I tried to growl at my sister for disrespecting her Alpha, but strangely, no authority came out.

“Are you disrespecting me, Synn?!” I roared.

My voice boomed across the entire Pack territory.

But it had no effect on her.

Styx held her back, but her burning gaze was fixed on me.

“What. Did. You. Do. To. My. Best. Friend?” she asked again, emphasizing each word.

She completely ignored my outburst.

Annoyed, I decided to answer.

“I rejected her,” I said casually.

My sister’s face darkened.

“YOU. WHAT?!” she screamed, making all of us flinch—even her mate.

“Babe, stop it. He’s still your Alpha,” Styx tried to calm her down, gripping her shoulders.

But Synn just glared at him and pushed him away.

“You’re defending this womanizer?! Fine, go ahead and stay with him!”

She turned on her heel, marching toward the door.

But then she paused.

She turned back to me, her eyes blazing with fury.

“Mark my words, KUYA! YOU JUST MADE THE WORST DECISION OF YOUR LIFE! I, SYNN NEZA BLACK, reject this Pack and my title as Beta Female! I am ashamed to be your sister.”

Her declaration shocked everyone in the room.

“Y-you’re k-kidding… b-babe… right?” Styx stuttered, his voice shaking.

But my sister—stubborn as ever—just shrugged and scoffed.

“I’d rather be a rogue than stay here with worthless people like you. Oh, and Kuya, write this down in your notes—YOU REJECTED THE WRONG WOMAN.”

With that, she stormed out.

The entire room fell into stunned silence.

When Styx finally realized what had happened, he ran after her.

I was left standing there, frustrated.

What the hell did my sister just do?!

I knew there was something different about my mate, but because of my pride, I followed my mind instead of my heart.

She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. No one could compare to her—not even Cass.

And now, after my sister’s words, I was starting to doubt myself.

Am I wrong?

Did I not weigh all the possibilities of being with my mate?

“Baby, shhh… I’ll take away all that tension in your body,” Cass whispered, trying to soothe me.

She kissed me again, slipping her tongue into my mouth.

Frustrated, I followed my instincts and kissed her back hungrily.

I was right. I made the right decision.

I am the Alpha. No one questions my choices.

Not even my sister.

I traced Cass’s jawline with my lips, trailing down to her neck.

Shit.

I don’t feel anything for her.

But I need a Luna.

I will mark her.

Right now.

My canines elongated, and I sank my teeth into Cass’s neck.

I didn’t expect what happened next.

She screamed in pain.

Her body convulsed violently before collapsing to the floor.

W-what did I do?!

I stared at Cassandra in horror.

Blood gushed from her neck, the wound burning as if being consumed by fire.

Without hesitation, I called for the Pack Doctor.

“Pack Doctor! In my office, NOW!”