The crowd was laughing. Not everyone, but enough that the sound echoed through the great hall. I heard Lydia's high-pitched giggle, heard others making jokes about the defective omega who'd been stupid enough to think she could be Luna.
I needed to complete the rejection. I knew that much through my pain. Until I accepted his rejection, the broken bond would continue to torture both of us. But the words stuck in my throat. Saying them felt like signing my own death warrant, like giving up the last small piece of hope I'd been clinging to.
"Say it," Marcus commanded, and there was impatience in his voice now. He was probably feeling pain from the broken bond too, and he wanted it finished so he could stop hurting.
I lifted my head and looked at him. Really looked at him. This was the man the Moon Goddess had chosen for me, the person who was supposed to love and protect me. Instead, he was the one causing me more pain than anyone ever had.
Something shifted inside me. Beneath the pain and humiliation, I felt anger stirring. Not the helpless rage I usually felt when people hurt me, but something colder and more certain.
"I accept your rejection," I said, and my voice came out stronger than I expected.
The bond broke completely. The pain intensified for a moment, so sharp and terrible I saw stars. Then it began to fade, leaving behind an emptiness that felt almost worse. I could feel the place where the bond had been, like a phantom limb that ached with absence.
Marcus staggered slightly, probably feeling the same thing. But he recovered quickly, his face settling back into its usual arrogant expression. He turned to Lydia, who immediately wrapped herself around his arm.
"Let's go," he said to her, dismissing me completely. "This gathering is boring."
They walked away together, Lydia shooting me a triumphant look over her shoulder. The crowd parted for them, then slowly people started talking again. The gathering resumed like nothing had happened, like my entire world hadn't just collapsed.
I don't know how long I knelt there on the floor. Time felt strange, like it was moving too fast and too slow at the same time. Eventually, hands touched my shoulders, gentle but firm.
"Come on," Cassidy's voice said in my ear. "Let's get you out of here."
She helped me to my feet. My legs felt like they belonged to someone else, weak and unsteady. She kept her arm around me as she guided me through the crowd. I was vaguely aware of people staring, whispering, some laughing. I kept my eyes down and let Cassidy lead me.
We made it out of the great hall and into the cool night air. I sucked in deep breaths, trying to clear my head. The physical pain of the rejection was fading to a dull ache, but the emotional damage felt like it was just beginning to sink in.
"I need to go to my room," I said, my voice sounding hollow and strange.
"Okay," Cassidy said softly. "I'll help you."
We walked slowly through the pack house. It was late enough that most people were either at the gathering or already in bed, so we didn't run into anyone. Cassidy kept talking in a low, soothing voice, though I couldn't focus enough to understand what she was saying.
We made it to my basement room. Cassidy helped me sit on my thin mattress, then knelt in front of me, her face full of concern.
"Nessa, I'm so sorry," she said, tears in her eyes. "He's a monster. They're all monsters. You deserve so much better than this."
"I'm fine," I lied. It was what I always said, no matter how bad things got. I'm fine. I'm okay. I can handle it.
But I wasn't fine. I was so far from fine I couldn't even see fine from where I was.
"You don't have to pretend with me," Cassidy said gently. "What he did was cruel and wrong. No one should have to go through that."
I wanted to cry. I wanted to scream. I wanted to rage against the unfairness of it all. But I couldn't seem to access any of those emotions. I just felt numb, empty, like I'd been hollowed out from the inside.
"I should get back," Cassidy said reluctantly. "They'll notice if I'm gone too long. But Nessa, if you need anything..."
"I know," I cut her off, managing a weak smile. "Thank you, Cass. For everything."
She hugged me tight, then slipped out of my room, closing the door softly behind her. The moment I was alone, the numbness cracked and everything came flooding in.
I curled up on my mattress, pulling my knees to my chest, and finally let myself cry. Great, gasping sobs that tore through my chest and left me shaking. I cried for the mate I'd briefly had and lost. I cried for the hope that had been crushed. I cried for twenty years of pain and abuse and loneliness.
But mostly, I cried because some part of me had actually believed that tonight might be different. That maybe, just maybe, I'd been given a chance at something better.
I was so stupid.
The tears eventually slowed, leaving me exhausted and empty. I lay on my mattress staring at the damp-stained ceiling, feeling the phantom ache where the mate bond had been. My wolf was silent now, retreating back into the quiet place she usually occupied. She felt hurt and confused, betrayed by a mate who should have protected us.
I don't know when I fell asleep, but I woke to someone pounding on my door.
"Get up!" A harsh male voice shouted. "Alpha wants to see you. Now."
My heart jumped into my throat. Alpha Thorne wanted to see me? That was never good. I scrambled off my mattress, still wearing the brown dress from last night. I ran my hands through my hair, trying to make myself presentable, then opened the door.
One of the pack warriors stood there, a large man named Derek who'd always looked at me with distaste. "Alpha's office. Five minutes. Don't be late."
He turned and left before I could respond. I closed my door and leaned against it for a moment, trying to calm my racing heart. Why would Alpha Thorne want to see me? Was this about last night? Was he angry that his son's mate had turned out to be a worthless omega?
I didn't have time to worry about it. I splashed water on my face, tried to smooth down my dress, and hurried upstairs to Alpha Thorne's office. My whole body ached from yesterday and from sleeping on the thin mattress. The emptiness where the mate bond had been throbbed with each step.
I reached the Alpha's office exactly five minutes after Derek had knocked on my door. I stood outside the heavy wooden door, gathering my courage, then knocked softly.