Ariana
"Damian, I want a rejection. This is the rejection notice, reject me and free me from this torment." I requested and his eyes darkened.
I swallowed hard expecting him to say something. He looked pissed and not happy like I was anticipating.
"Da....mian?" I stressed expecting him to say something, anything at all because the silence was slowly suffocating me.
He hugged me again and we just stayed like that for some time. I couldn't breathe or move.
What was this? Why was he hugging me? Was he hugging me as a way to thank me for letting him be with the love of his life without holding back?
Why was he even delaying the rejection? My mind was a mess as I thought about all the "what ifs" and "whys".
"You're much skinnier now. Haven't you been eating well?" He asked, patting my hair softly.
Oh, he'd notice. Since the day I found out about his affair, I had barely eaten anything good because the taste of food was now bitter and I didn't have enough appetite.
"Uhhh...I don't know." I replied with a puzzled expression on my face.
Why was he asking this now in the middle of such a serious conversation?
"Don't worry, I'll make sure you eat now. I don't want you looking so skinny at the rite of passage warrior ceremony." He said.
"Uhhh.... In case you didn't understand me earlier, I want you to reject me. I'm tired of this sham of a mate bond." I replied pulling away from the hug.
Did he hit his head somewhere? What was his problem?
"You don't have to starve yourself and talk about petty things like a rejection just because you're angry at me. I told you I'll make it up to you." He said and tried to peck me but I dodged the kiss.
"I'm not angry and this isn't about doing something petty to get your attention. I want you to reject me so I can be free."
"Let's end this bond. It's better for you, me, and your first love." I repeated firmly so he knew I wasn't joking.
He just smirked. "You want me to reject you? You think you can break our bond that easily?"
What did he mean by that? I was giving him a free pass to be with his lover and pup without guilt and he wasn't dancing at the opportunity instead he was stalling.
"Yes, I want you to reject me and yes it is an easy thing to do. Just stamp your blood on the rejection notice or say the words and it's done." I shot back at him.
He laughed. A deep laughter that sounded across the room, it seemed genuine only that it wasn't.
"Since it's that easy, why can't you reject me then?" He mocked raising his eyebrow.
Why was he doing this? He knew that I couldn't reject him myself so why was he taunting me?
"Damian... you know exactly why," I said and the words left a bitter taste in my mouth.
"I don't know... enlighten me, Ari." He shrugged.
"You know I can't reject you because of the blood oath...the binding ritual.... You know the consequences." I stammered.
"Exactly, since you know the consequences don't push anything." He responded coldly and made to leave for the bathroom but I held him back.
"Wait..." I said and he turned around.
"Why are you doing this? You clearly don't love me. You're in love with Lily so why can't you reject me and go be with her freely?" I said near tears.
"Ariana" he started, his voice steady, "things between me and Lily aren't as they seem." He said, grabbing my arm.
I yanked my hand free from his touch. All the anger and rage I had tried to bury deep in me churned in my gut.
My eyes were burning as I glared at him, forcing the words out one by one. "Then what is going on between you two, Alpha? Tell me." I screamed.
I didn't care to end things peacefully anymore, he was falling to be reasonable so I didn't have to act with caution.
"You think I don't know you drove through the rainstorm to pick Lily from the airport the night she returned."
"You abandoned me several times to be with her and I know you've been sleeping with each other because you always carry her scent when you come home. And her pup, tell me he isn't yours?" I screamed with tears in my eyes.
Did he think I was a fool or what? What did he take me for?
I watched as his expression darkened and he raised his voice to say "You claim you love me, you're my Luna, but you don't even trust me".
Trust?
Was he really talking about trust right now?
"Trust? How dare you talk about trust". My knees wobbled, and I staggered back. I shoved him hard, my voice rising to a raw, wounded sound.
"On our third anniversary, I set a candlelit dinner, and I prepared a gift, but my mate rented out the entire Moonbay, setting off fireworks with his lover and their pup and you dare ask me about trust?"
"Did Riley tell you this?" He asked between gritted teeth.
My tears spilled before I could stop them. At last, he had admitted it. I wasn't making the wrong decision, this was the right one, he had confirmed my suspicions.
"Since the day I became your Luna, I learned to keep your lair tidy, I learned to cook, I learned your routines. I did everything I could so I would not fall short of a powerful Alpha like you". I sobbed uncontrollably.
"You've never done anything personal for me or treated me with love but I've seen the way you treat Lily. You value her and her pup over me. What am I to you?
"You're my Luna", he replied in such a calm manner that made me feel with rage.
"I don't want to be your Luna anymore Alpha Damian Zeus, I beg you in the name of the moon goddess to reject me and set me free from this unending emotional turmoil," I replied crying.
I rushed and placed the rejection notice in his hands. "You don't have to say the words if you don't want to, just stamp this notice with your blood and the mate bond will be broken. I already stamped it with mine". I said amidst tears.
He looked at me long and hard for some moment and before I knew what was happening the rejection notice began burning. He had used his powers to burn it.
"No".... I cried out trying to salvage it but it had been reduced to ashes.
"I am the Alpha. Only I dictate when a Luna is released. Your request is denied." He said icily.
