"I reject you, Jade," Paul said, his voice cold and detached. "I refuse to acknowledge any bond between us. You're nothing but a slave, a half-breed. You're not worthy of being my mate."

As he spoke, I felt a searing pain, like a hot knife twisting in my heart as he broke the mate bond before it could even form. The bond between us, the strange connection that had drawn me to him, began to fray and unravel. I stumbled backwards, my vision blurring,

Paul's eyes seemed to bore into mine, as he looked at me like I was beneath him, unworthy of the attention he was giving to me. "If you have nothing to say, please leave. I have work to get done and I can't do that with you staring at me like I kicked your puppy.”

I felt myself recoil like a wounded animal at his words. My eyes stung with tears, but I refused to let them fall. I knew I wasn't worthy of a mate, especially not the son of the pack Alpha, I was nothing to Paul, just a lowly slave. But the rejection still hurt, a deep ache that seemed to grow with every passing moment.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

I turned and stumbled out of the library, feeling like I'd been punched in the gut. The strange scent that had drawn me to Paul was gone, replaced by the acrid taste of rejection.

I turned and ran, my feet pounding the floor as I fled the pack house, forgetting all about the breakfast I was supposed to make. I would get punished for it later, but that was the least of my problems right now. I didn't stop until I was back in my small cabin, the door locked and bolted behind me.

I collapsed onto my bed, my body shaking with sobs. I had never felt so alone, so rejected. I knew I would never be good enough, never be worthy of love or acceptance, never have a mate or a family to call my own, but it didn't lessen the hurt I felt at being rejected.

As I lay there, I couldn't help but wonder what was wrong with me. Why was I so unlovable? Why was I so unwanted that even my parents didn't want me?

The questions swirled in my mind, taunting me with their cruelty. I knew I would never have the answers, but that didn't stop me from wondering.

As the hours passed, my sobs slowly subsided, replaced by a dull ache in my chest. I knew I had to get up, I had my chores and duties and I couldn't hide here forever, but I just wanted to lie there, lost in my misery.

The sound of footsteps outside my cabin broke the silence, and I knew I had to get up. I couldn't let anyone see me like this, weak and vulnerable.

I took a deep breath, wiping my tears away as I stood up. I smoothed out my clothes, trying to compose myself before opening the door.

But as I opened the door, I was met with a surprise. Emma, Paul's girlfriend, stood in the doorway, her eyes blazing with anger. She was flanked by her friends, Rachel and Sarah, who looked just as furious.

"Happy birthday, Jade," Emma said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "We brought you a little present."

I knew I was in trouble. I tried to step back, but it was too late. Emma and her friends pushed me out of the way and walked into my cabin, their laughter echoing through the small space as they stared at me sprawled on the floor.

"Well, well, well," Emma sneered, her voice dripping with malice. "Look what we have here. The little slave girl who thinks she can trap Paul and become the next Luna."

I stood up, trying to defend myself. "I... I don't know what you're talking about," I stammered, trying to back away. “I wasn't trying to trap him.”

Emma laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. I flinched, my heart racing with fear. I had to get out of there before Emma's anger turned violent. It wouldn't be the first time she hit me out of anger.

"Don't play dumb with me, Jade. I know all about your little stunt in the library. You think you can just waltz in there and seduce Paul? Please."

Rachel and Sarah snickered, their eyes gleaming with excitement.

I shook my head, my eyes wide with fear. "No, Emma, I swear. I don't know what's going on. I just followed the scent… I wasn't trying to trap Paul. I didn't even understand what was going on.”

Emma's face twisted in disgust. "The scent? You mean the mate bond? You think you're worthy of being his mate?”

"I'm telling you, Emma, she's just a dirty slave trying to climb the social ladder," Rachel said, her voice dripping with venom.

Sarah nodded in agreement. "Yeah, she's a pack slave, she's not even a real wolf. She's just a half-breed. What would Paul even want in someone like her?”

“I'm sorry….” I mumbled as they surrounded me.

"You're sorry? You're sorry for being a disgusting, half-breed slave? You're sorry for trying to trap my boyfriend with your filthy blood?” Emma sneered. "You're nothing but a slave, Jade. And slaves don't get to have opinions or feelings. They just do as they're told.”

Rachel and Sarah took a step closer, their eyes flashing with aggression. I backed away, trying to create some space between us, but with how tiny my cabin was, there was nowhere for me to run to.

"Don't think you can just waltz in here and steal Paul away from me," Emma spat. "I've known him my whole life, and I'm the only one who's good enough for him, not some filthy half-breed slave like you."

I shook my head. "I'm not trying to steal Paul away from you, Emma… I swear.”

But Emma wasn't listening, her face twisted in anger and revulsion as she stared at me. With a snarl, she launched herself at me, her fists flying. Rachel and Sarah followed close behind, their blows raining down on me like a storm.

I tried to defend myself, but I was no match for the three of them. They beat me mercilessly, their blows landing with sickening crunches.

As they left me lying on the floor, battered and bruised, Emma turned back to me with a cruel smile.

"Stay away from Paul, slave girl," she spat. "He's mine, and I'll do whatever it takes to keep him."

And with that, they were gone, leaving me to pick up the pieces of my shattered and bruised body.