KAELYNN LESTER POV:
Grant's bewilderment lasted only three seconds before it was replaced by a deeper fury.
He sprang from the bed, his tall frame casting an oppressive shadow in the moonlight as he stalked toward me.
"A better proposal?" he sneered, closing the distance between us. "What right does an Omega have to make a proposal to me?"
I didn't retreat, even though the Omega instincts inside me were screaming, telling me to flee or submit. I forced myself to stand straight, meeting his gaze.
"Because this proposal," I said, deliberately emphasizing the word, "is good for you, for me, and for your beloved Effie Blackburn."
At the mention of Effie's name, Grant's steps faltered. A complex mix of emotions flickered in his eyes-guilt, and the anger of having his secret thoughts exposed.
"What do you mean?" he asked, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.
My goal was clear: not just to get away from him, but to make him publicly and willingly "reject" me, severing this cursed "fated mate" bond for good.
The obstacle was his Alpha pride and the bond ordained by the Moon Goddess. Simply asking for a rejection would be seen as weakness, another form of playing hard to get.
"I mean, you don't want to mark me," I stated the fact calmly. "You're only performing this ceremony because of the pressure of our families' alliance, because of your duty as an Alpha. Your heart is with Effie."
"Shut up!" he growled, as if my blunt words had stabbed him.
"If you mark me, you'll be betraying her. You will live with that guilt forever," I continued to press, each word precisely targeting his weak spot.
"And I," I paused, meeting his burning gaze, "do not want to be a substitute, nor do I want to be marked by an Alpha whose heart belongs to someone else."
That sentence completely ignited his fury and wounded his pride as an Alpha. He had never imagined that one day he would be so "rejected" by the Omega he despised.
"So, my proposal is," I said, word by word, delivering the shocking statement, "that we perform 'The Rejection'."
The air in the room froze. The anger on Grant's face stiffened, replaced by utter disbelief.
"What did you say?" he asked, almost thinking he had misheard. "A rejection? You want to reject me?"
"No," I shook my head, correcting him. "You reject me. I simply accept. That way, you can be free from this unwilling engagement to pursue your true love. And I can gain my freedom."
I framed it as a deal that was entirely beneficial to him, completely hiding my hatred.
Grant stared at me, trying to find any trace of a lie or a joke on my face. But all he saw was cold calmness.
His inner wolf was snarling, the fated bond making him instinctively want to possess me. But his rational mind, and his love for Effie, were deeply tempted by my offer.
This conflict threw him into a momentary confusion. I had to strike while the iron was hot.
I turned and walked to his ornate desk, where various documents and stationery were laid out.
My eyes fell on a silver letter opener. Silver. It was poison to werewolves, a weapon, but also a sacred object in rituals.
In my past life, even touching silverware would cause a burning pain. But now, the will for revenge overpowered my body's weakness.
Under Grant's astonished gaze, I picked up the letter opener. The cold touch sent a slight burning sensation through my fingertips, but I paid it no mind.
I lifted a lock of my long, dark brown hair and, without hesitation, sliced it off with the blade.
In werewolf culture, cutting one's hair is a symbol of making the most solemn of vows.
I placed the severed lock of hair on the desk and pushed it toward him. "This is my oath. I, Kaelynn Lester, willingly accept your rejection."
Grant's breath hitched. He looked at the lock of hair, then back at me, his expression incredibly complex. He realized I wasn't joking.
He had never seen such a resolute Omega. This completely overturned his understanding of me.
In the end, the desire for freedom and for Effie triumphed over his Alpha possessiveness and his wounded pride. He made his decision.
He took a deep breath, as if summoning all his strength, and in a hoarse, cold voice, began the ancient ritual: "I, Grant Freeman, Alpha of the Freeman Pack..."
As he spoke those words, I felt a sharp tearing sensation deep in my soul, as if something was being forcibly ripped away. It was the pain of the bond breaking.
I gritted my teeth, digging my nails deep into my palms to keep myself conscious.
He looked at me, finishing the vow word by word, "...reject you, Kaelynn Lester, as my mate."
The intense pain was followed by an unprecedented sense of relief. I felt the shackles that had weighed on my soul for two lifetimes shatter in that instant.
I lifted my head, meeting his complicated gaze, and responded in a clear voice, "I, Kaelynn Lester, accept your rejection."
The ritual was complete. From this moment on, we were strangers.
I turned and walked toward the door without a second glance. "Since the ritual is complete, I believe I should go pack my things. My dowry-I won't be leaving a single piece behind."
