Page 27 of Rejected and Regretted

Once I reached the building, I took a minute to breathe. Different emotions mixed inside me as I braced myself to take the first step inside. First, there was pride and excitement; I was very close to retrieving my family’s ancient relic. Then, therewas relief, as succeeding would allow me to leave this hellhole for once and for all. Yet, at the same time, I also felt reluctant. I didn’t know why, until I thought about Koen and my heart skipped a beat.

A grunt escaped me as I shook my head violently, hoping to rid it from my former mate. Stupid divine bond! It was insane how it still kept me magically tied to the bastard who rejected me, even after years, but I’d be damned if I’d let it steal my focus. My heart could be holding back, but my brain was set. I’d finish what I came here to do and leave Koen without looking back, putting an end to our story for good.

Sadly, my rush might have caused me to sing victory too soon.

Just as I was about to enter the packhouse, I felt a presence behind me. If my wolf senses had been at its fullest, I would have been able to react faster. However, I only had time to look over my shoulder, locking eyes with a man as I felt a sting on the side of my neck.

The adrenaline didn’t kick in nearly as fast as what I had been injected with, and I quickly felt my energy wane. My eyelids became heavy, but I fought to keep them open just long enough to identify my pursuer. As I did, my breath caught.

It was my childhood bully, Chad, whom I had caught staring at me the other day.

“Gotcha, little omega,” he cooed proudly, holding me in place as I started to collapse. “Nighty night.”

To the sound of his husky voice, his sinister grin imprinted in my mind, I slipped out of consciousness.

I had no idea what had happened, yet I knew I had to wake up.

As my senses started coming back to me, I forced my eyes open. When the world slowly swam into focus, I found it hard to identify anything but darkness. The chill of the night air seeped into my bones, and I felt cold like I hadn’t in years. It was obvious my werewolf abilities were failing me.

The only thing I could hear was the rustling of leaves overhead, stirring a sense of unease within me. Blinking away the haze, I began to remember the last seconds before I blacked out. As the image of Chad’s wicked smile echoed in my mind, my heart pounded.

Panic surged through me as I tried to move, only to find myself bound to a sturdy surface - a tree. There were ropes tied to my hands and ankles, keeping me secure in place. The more I struggled, the more my skin burned, leading me to believe my restraints had been infused with wolfsbane.

“Finally awake, Avril?” A voice reverberated in the shadows, and I desperately searched for the source. I was only able to see him when he moved closer, standing three feet away from me - Chad. “I was beginning to worry you'd sleep through all the fun. But now that you're awake, it’ll be much more fun showing you what I have planned especially for you.”

I struggled a little more, grunting in frustration when my efforts yielded no fruits. It had been a long time since I’d last felt this powerless. I didn’t miss the feeling at all.

“What the hell do you want with me, jackass?” I snarled, baring my fangs at him. My body might have been caged, but my tongue was still loose.

He frowned, igniting some sort of satisfaction within me. “You dare talk to me like that, filthy omega?” A growl rumbledin his chest, but it soon stopped. “No matter. I’ll teach you how someone like you should behave.”

Now, where had I heard that before?

“You know, it took a lot of patience,” he went on, “waiting for the alpha to be gone so I could find you. I went to your suite, but you weren’t there. How lucky I accidentally saw you leaving your friends’ room. It’s almost like the Moon Goddess wanted me to catch you.”

A faint scoff resonated inside my head, distracting me from Chad’s monologue - not that I had been paying much attention to it anyway. At the sign that Kea was coming back to the surface, I tried reaching out to her, but she was still too weak to respond. With our bloodline, we should have been able to filter out the poison already, but the wolfsbane in the ropes helped keep my animal side suppressed.

“I never liked you, Avril. You’ve always lacked respect. You’re terrible at everything, even at being an omega,” Chad continued. “But you’ve been pushing my buttons lately. Hiding behind our alpha, parading around like you’re someone. Then, you get my girlfriend in trouble for trying to put you in your place!”

Wait - his girlfriend? Maybe it was the mental fog, but it took me a moment to process what he was saying. Then, it dawned on me. Angelica was his girlfriend. And he was mad at me because of what Koen had done to her the night she ambushed me.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “You know, you two make a great couple. I’m surprised you’re not mates. You were clearly meant for each other!”

“I don’t know what you mean, but I don’t care. Tonight, I’ll make you pay for what your lack of obedience caused her.” He made a brief pause, taking another step in my direction. “I’ll force you to submit to me, little omega, and you will like it.”

As he inched closer, his eyes gleamed with malice. The realization that I was at his mercy finally sunk in, making my stomach turn. I fought to break free, paying no mind to the ropes burning my skin like a branding iron. But it was useless.

“Stay still, bitch!” Chad demanded, pressing his body against mine, using his weight to hold me in place.

His proximity was suffocating. As he grasped my side, I realized his touch was even worse than the ropes covered in wolfsbane. It made me want to throw up.

As his hands ran up and down my curves, I felt sick. Helpless. Weak. I was taken back to the many times I was pushed around, beaten, yelled at. I had suffered a lot in my childhood, yet I couldn’t recall ever feeling this frightened.

I begged Kea to awaken; to rise from her drug-induced sleep and help me. But all I got in response were grunts and whimpers. I was alone.

“I bet you’re enjoying this, aren’t you? You dirty little omega,” Chad sneered. “Tonight, you’re going to serve me, like an omega should. I can’t wait to hear you cry as I force you to take my cock,” he threatened, sending me into fight or flight mode.

And since I couldn’t flee, there was only one option left.

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