On my eighteenth birthday, I discovered that James Carter, the Alpha's son I had been crushing on for two years, was my Fated Mate. That same day, he rejected me. And told me. "You're too weak, and you spend all your time hanging around those pups. The thought of you liking me makes me sick." "I need a stronger wolf to be my mate, to become the Pack's future Luna. That person could never be you." In the pouring rain, I decided to leave the Pack and go to college in London. But I never expected I would meet my Second Chance Mate there, a powerful Alpha. And when I returned to my Pack, James had become a Rogue. Stella Stone POV On my eighteenth birthday, I found out that James Carter, the Alpha's son I had been crushing on for two years, was my Fated Mate. That same day, he rejected me and told me. "You're too weak, and you spend all your time hanging around the younger wolves. The thought of you liking me makes me sick." "I need a stronger wolf to be my mate, to become the Pack's future Luna. That person could never be you." In the pouring rain, I decided to leave the Pack and go to college in London. But I never expected to meet my Second Chance Mate there, a powerful Alpha. And when I returned to my Pack, James had become a Rogue. "I'll grow up!" He laughed and said casually: "Sure. When you turn eighteen, if you can awaken your wolf, I'll give you an answer." For that answer, I chased after him for two years. My entire youth was written with his name. Today, I finally turned eighteen. I successfully awakened my wolf and went to get that answer that was two years overdue. But just as I reached the Council Hall entrance, I heard voices from inside. I froze. The men's teasing voices came through clearly. "James, that's brutal, man." One guy was laughing. "Straight up choosing Grace as your mate. What if Stella really is your fated mate?" James's voice rang out with its usual lazy drawl and a hint of impatience. "Even if she really is my fated mate, I wouldn't choose her. Worst case, I'll just reject her. She's too weak, and she's always clinging to me. It's annoying." Another voice chimed in. "True. That girl's like a sticker, you can't shake her off. But why Grace?" James chuckled lightly, his tone dripping with arrogant certainty. "Grace has a powerful bloodline. Her grandfather was an Alpha. Marking her will help boost my strength. Plus, this way Stella will finally understand she's not good enough for me." "So you're choosing Stella's birthday to give her this surprise?" "Killing two birds with one stone." James's voice was ice-cold. "I'll make Stella give up for good, and let Grace know my intentions. I already had someone send her the ceremony notice. Today I'm just giving her a heads-up." "Damn, James! If Stella actually shows up and makes a scene at the mate ceremony, that'll be one hell of a show!" "She wouldn't dare." Those two words from James hit my ears like stones. So this was it. The answer I'd been waiting for with such hope was a carefully orchestrated humiliation. I was nothing but a weak, ordinary wolf who didn't deserve his status. The homemade cake I'd been holding dropped to the ground, a pathetic mess. The voices inside stopped abruptly. The door flew open. James stood in the doorway. When he saw me, there wasn't a trace of surprise in his eyes. I looked at him, this man I had loved for two years. At the same time, I felt the call echoing in my mind: Mine... fated mate... "Bad timing." His tone was flat. I didn't say anything, just looked at him. "So you really are... Well, that saves me the trouble." James pulled something from his pocket and put it away. "I'm going to become mates with Grace. So, Stella, as the Alpha's son of Silverstream Pack, I reject you as my mate." I bit my lip, fighting through the pain as I nodded. Then I turned and ran into the rain. I didn't cry. I didn't even look back once. The icy rain poured down on me. My mind felt clearer than ever before. So that was all I was to him, a weak wolf he looked down on. My two years of pursuit and devotion were nothing but a clown's performance. I rushed home. Brian wasn't there. I grabbed my phone and called him. On the other end, Brian's voice was full of concern. "Stella? What's wrong?" I took a deep breath. "Brian, I have made up my mind." "About what?" "What you mentioned before, about me going abroad for college. I agree." Silence on the other end for a few seconds, then Brian's excited voice came through. "Really? That's great. You finally came around." "Also..." I looked at the blurry moonlight in the distance. "That friend you wanted to introduce me to last time. Set it up. I want to meet new people." "No problem! Stella, whatever you do, I support you!" After hanging up, I let out a long breath. I'd given him two years. That was enough. I stripped off my soaked clothes and walked into the bathroom. Hot water poured down from above, washing over my body. My phone dinged. A message from James. "Next month on the eighteenth. Don't forget to come to my mate ceremony." I stared at that message for a long time. Then I typed two words and hit send. "Okay." After doing all this, I stood up and dragged a heavy box out from under my bed. Inside was everything I'd collected related to James over the past two years. Wristbands he had used. I had secretly picked them up and washed them clean. A wooden carving he had casually tossed to me. I had treasured it all this time. Our only photo together, where I stood in a corner of the crowd while he was front and center. I took everything out piece by piece and threw it into a large black garbage bag. Finally, I picked up the photo frame. The boy in the picture was full of spirit and radiance. I had naively thought that if I just tried hard enough, I could get a little closer to that light. Now I understood. Some people are just born to live in the shadows. I let go. The frame dropped into the garbage bag with a dull thud. I knew my two-year crush ended here.
James POV I received her reply while drinking at a bar with friends. Looking at the simple "Okay" on my phone screen, I couldn't help but frown. She was too calm. Too calm for the Stella who would wait five hours in the snow just to see me. "James, what are you looking at?" A friend leaned over to check, then snorted with laughter. "Yo, Stella replied? What's her angle? Giving up?" Another friend analyzed: "No way. You know this girl. She's got a scheming mind. She definitely heard everything!" "Makes sense! She's probably playing innocent and obedient to make us lower our guard, then she'll pull something big at the ceremony!" Everyone chattered away, quickly finding a reasonable explanation for Stella's behavior. I set down my drink and smiled. Of course. I knew Stella wouldn't give up that easily. Fine. I'd play along. I wanted to see what tricks she could pull. I tossed my phone on the table and told everyone: "Forget about her. Everything goes according to plan." Everyone laughed knowingly. Just then, the bar's private room door swung open. Brian walked in, his face stormy. "James, get out here. We need to talk." Brian's voice was seething with suppressed fury. I leisurely poured myself another drink without looking at him. "Talk about what? Your sister?" "You know I'm not joking!" "Neither am I." I swirled my glass. "Brian, control your sister. Stop letting her disgust me." Brian's fists clenched instantly, veins bulging on the backs of his hands. I didn't even bother looking at him again. I grabbed my jacket and stood up. "I have plans with Grace. No time for this." I walked right past Brian, deliberately slamming my shoulder into his. Leaving Brian standing there alone, trembling with rage. Brian POV Today was the Pack's assembly day. The Pack's adult members gathered in the Council Hall to hear the Alpha or the Alpha's son announce upcoming arrangements. Stella had promised to come, but she still hadn't shown up. I was worried, constantly glancing toward the Council Hall entrance. The atmosphere among the wolves was lively. Suddenly, there was a commotion at the door. James had arrived. He wore a leather jacket with Grace in a long dress beside him. Grace gently held his arm. The image immediately drew everyone's attention. James POV I ignored everyone's stares and walked straight toward a figure in the corner. Stella had arrived at some point. She wore worn jeans and a blue tank top, no makeup, quiet as an outsider. She'd lost weight. Her chin was so sharp it tugged at something in my chest. A strange feeling flashed through me, quickly replaced by disgust. Playing these pathetic games again. We walked over to her. Grace spoke softly. "Stella, I know you're hurting, but you can't force feelings. I've decided to become mates with James. You should let go." Stella POV James's friends immediately surrounded me, chiming in one after another. "Exactly, Stella. You've been chasing him for two years. Haven't you faced reality yet?" "It was one thing when he was single, but now he's decided to be with Grace. If you keep clinging, you're just embarrassing yourself." "You need to know your place. Unless you're James's fated mate, you have no right to become the future Luna." Apparently James hadn't told them that I was. That damned fated mate. And on the very day I discovered this fact, my mate rejected me. Maybe he thought being connected to me was shameful. Or maybe he just didn't want people knowing he'd rejected his own fated mate. Usually werewolves didn't do such things. I didn't break down or cry like I used to. I just looked up at them. I looked at Grace with her smile, then at James's friends. Finally, at James's cold face. I smiled. "Is that so?" "Then I wish you both happiness." With that, I turned and walked to a cushioned seat on the other side. James's smile froze. Grace looked stunned. The surrounding friends exchanged glances. No one spoke again.
James POV An indescribable irritation surged up inside me. I hated this feeling of losing control. Stella shouldn't have reacted this way. She should cry, make a scene, demand to know why I was treating her like this. Then I could smoothly throw all my cutting words in her face and make her leave my world for good. But she didn't. She just calmly offered her blessing and walked away. "James, this..." The people around me were at a loss. Grace gently tugged my sleeve. "James, did I say something wrong? Stella seems really upset." I suppressed that strange feeling and snorted coldly. "Upset? She's faking." Even as I said this, I couldn't help watching her. Stella sat in the corner. Brian walked over, his face full of worry as he spoke to her in a low voice. Stella shook her head, even wearing a reassuring smile. That smile made me angry. Brian suddenly looked up, glaring at me furiously. He moved Stella behind him protectively and strode over. "James!" Brian's voice crackled with towering rage. "What do you mean, saying all that in front of everyone?" I looked at him. "I'm just showing everyone my choice. What's the problem?" "Cut the act!" Brian was so angry he could barely speak. "The things you have done to Stella, don't think I don't know. Are you even human?" "What did I do?" I couldn't help raising an eyebrow. "I'm just having my mate meet everyone early, so certain people stop clinging to fantasies they shouldn't have. I'm helping your sister face reality sooner." "You." Brian raised his fist to swing at me. "Brian!" ...... Stella POV I rushed over and grabbed his arm. Looking at my brother Brian, I gently shook my head. Attacking the Alpha's son in the Pack wasn't a smart move. I was leaving the Pack, but I didn't want my brother to betray it. Seeing this, Grace quickly hugged James's arm and said softly to Brian: "Brian, don't be angry. It's all a misunderstanding. James didn't mean any harm." As she spoke, she seemed to lose her balance, her body tilting. The coffee cup in her hand slipped, and the entire contents spilled perfectly onto my clothes. "Ah!" Grace gasped and immediately grabbed a cloth to wipe the stain on my chest. "I'm so sorry, Stella! I didn't mean to. Please don't be mad." I felt her hand seemingly wiping but actually pulling hard at my clothes. My shirt got dirtier with each wipe. I swatted Grace's hand away. "Don't touch me." Grace stumbled back a step. Her eyes instantly reddened as she looked at James with a pitiful expression. "James, I..." James's anger flared. He pulled Grace protectively behind him and snapped at me. "Stella, what's your problem! Grace apologized. What more do you want?" I looked at him and found it laughable. Without saying anything, I pushed open the Council Hall door to leave. I saw a dark shadow charging toward the pups playing outside! A rogue! I whipped my head around and shouted at James. "James! Rogue attack! The pups! Go protect them!" You're the Alpha's son. You should protect them. But he looked toward the rogue's direction, then glanced at Grace beside him. Then I saw him move. His action had a clear target. Protecting Grace first. Those pups didn't matter to him as much as a single hair on Grace's head. I didn't have time to think. I lunged straight for the nearest little one. The poor thing was curled up in a trembling ball. The rogue's claws were already swinging down. Forgive me. I had no combat experience and hadn't gotten familiar with my wolf yet. All I could do was turn my back toward the attack. "Stella!" Brian's heart-wrenching shout was drowned out by the massive impact. Searing pain exploded from my back. I was thrown into the air and slammed hard into the ground. The pup in my arms was completely unharmed, lying obediently against me. My consciousness began to blur. The last thing I saw was James, having dealt with the rogue, looking down tenderly and anxiously comforting Grace. I felt a kind of sorrow. Not just for James's neglect of me. But because, as the Alpha's son, he was so indifferent to the Pack's pups. Would someone like him become a better Alpha than his father?
Stella POV When I woke up, I was lying in the Pack's infirmary. My left arm was covered in thick ointment. "Stella, you're awake!" Brian's haggard face appeared before me. "Brian..." As soon as I spoke, I realized how painfully dry my throat was. Brian quickly helped me sit up and handed me a glass of warm water. "The healer said your arm wound is very deep, you have a broken bone, and there's residual toxin. You'll need treatment for a while." His voice was hoarse, full of self-blame. "It's all my fault. If I'd been faster..." "It's not your fault." I interrupted him. I remembered very clearly. This was James's choice. That was the real source of my injury. In the face of danger, as the Pack's Alpha heir, he hadn't prioritized saving those pups. What a failure. "Are the pups okay?" I asked. Brian's expression instantly darkened, his fists clenching at his sides. "Don't even mention it!" I immediately tensed. "Were they hurt?" I loved the pups. Being with them made me feel relaxed. Actually, the Pack's pups should be cared for by the Luna. But the current Alpha was a madman. After his mate died, he refused to let anyone take that position. Fortunately, I had some experience caring for the little ones. He ground his teeth. "No, they're all fine. I mean James. You protected those pups. You should be praised. But that bastard didn't even look at you and took Grace back to her place first. He didn't say a single word to the Alpha about what you did." I fought hard to keep my tears from falling. Fine. The more cruel he was, the cleaner my break would be. I stayed in the infirmary for three days. James never showed up once. It wasn't until the fourth afternoon that the door finally opened. James walked in. "You're awake?" His tone was as casual as if greeting an ordinary friend. I ignored him. He didn't care and continued on his own. "Grace has been terrified these past few days. She kept asking about you. She's not feeling well, so she asked me to come check on you." So it wasn't that he wanted to come. Grace told him to. "Let me take you outside for a walk. Get some fresh air." James said this while directly helping me up. I didn't resist. I wanted to see just how heartless this man could be. Behind the infirmary was a long slope. James walked with me, chatting about things from our childhood. I didn't say a word. He suddenly stopped and looked down at me arrogantly. "Stella, what game are you playing now? Acting pitiful for sympathy?" Just then, a gentle female voice came from nearby. "James." Grace had arrived. She wore a long dress, her face somewhat pale, looking quite pitiful. James's eyes lit up instantly. All his attention was drawn to that figure. He pushed me aside and walked toward her. "Grace, what are you doing here? I told you to rest at home." His voice held a tenderness I'd never heard before. But he'd forgotten something. We were standing at the top of the slope. That push made me lose my balance instantly, and I fell sideways. "James!" I cried out in alarm. However, James's eyes and heart were completely focused on Grace. He didn't hear my shout at all. I could only curl up my body as much as possible to reduce the impact. But when I tumbled into a clump of grass, something suddenly bit into my arm. "Ah!" The piercing pain made my vision go black. I looked closely. It was a silver spike. This seemed to be some kind of specially arranged trap. The commotion finally got their attention. James turned around. Seeing me on the ground in a pathetic state, his brows furrowed tightly. Grace covered her mouth, gasping. "Oh my God, Stella, are you okay? How did you end up here?" She hurried over, crouching down to help me with a concerned expression. "After the Pack was attacked by rogues the other day, they set up these traps around the territory. Didn't anyone tell you? James, quick, pick Stella up and take her to get bandaged!" James stood there without moving. He looked down at me on the ground, his gaze cold. "I won't touch any woman besides you." I lay on the cold ground, hearing those words, and suddenly I laughed. I laughed until my whole body shook, tears streaming from my eyes. I'd loved him for two whole years. In the end, in his eyes, I was just another woman, one who would dirty his hands if he touched me.
Stella POV "James, how can you say that? Stella's injured." She crouched beside me, trying to help me up. "Stella, don't blame James. He just cares about me too much." I braced myself with my good right hand and slowly climbed up from the ground, pulling out the silver spike from my left arm. The previously healed wound tore open again, starting to burn with pain. I didn't acknowledge Grace's outstretched hand and didn't spare James a single glance. I kept my head down and limped toward the infirmary on my own. As I passed him, I left him with just one sentence. "Putting dangerous things like this in places like that could easily hurt Pack members!" James was furious. "Look at her!" He said coldly to Grace. "Always like this, acting like the whole world owes her something. It was her own carelessness, and she still has to blame me?" Grace sighed softly, leaning into his embrace, her voice weak and aggrieved. "Don't say that. It's all my fault. She must hate me now." James held her tighter, his chin resting on top of her head. "It has nothing to do with you. She's the one with twisted thoughts. She deserves it." I hadn't gone far. Their conversation drifted into my ears, every single word. I didn't stop walking. I just smiled. They really were a perfect match. One stupid, one cruel. When I got back to the infirmary, Brian saw my disheveled state and exploded. "What happened? Where's James?" I calmly told him what happened. Brian's eyes went red with rage. He was about to shift and charge out. "I'm going to kill him today!" "Brian." I stopped him. "There's no point." "Fine. We won't deal with him." Brian took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. "Stella, I've finished the paperwork for going abroad. The flight is on the eighteenth of next month. Once your arm's a bit better, we're leaving. We're going to Paris, far away from these terrible people." The eighteenth of next month. I remembered. That was exactly the date of James's ceremony. I nodded. "Okay." For the next few days, I focused on healing. James never came again. Grace, however, kept sending food over every few days. I didn't even look at it. Threw it all away. A week later, the wound on my arm finally healed completely, and I went home. The Pack's pups came specifically to see me. So I took them to play in the forest. But Grace tracked me down. "Stella, I'm so glad to see you've recovered well. That puts my mind at ease." I couldn't be bothered with her. Grace didn't mind and kept talking. "You know what? For our mate ceremony, James had tons of roses flown in. He said he wants to give me the most spectacular ceremony the Pack has ever seen." I still didn't respond. I knew about those roses. They cost a fortune. I guessed James had diverted some funds from the Pack's accounts. This would mess up the Pack's cash flow, but no one cared. The Alpha didn't care. James didn't care either. Grace was losing her patience. She leaned forward slightly and lowered her voice. "Stella, stop pretending. I know you're not willing to accept this. You followed him around for two years, and in the end, the future Luna position is mine. I'd go crazy too if I were you." I glanced at her. "Are you done? Then get lost." Grace's smile vanished completely. "You!" She bit her lip, then smiled again. "Stella, do you think you're so noble? You think your love is some precious thing? Let me tell you. In James's eyes, your two years of pestering disgust him more than wolf shit on the side of the road." She stood up, looking down at me from above, her eyes full of a victor's smugness and contempt. "You'll never win against me. Because you're too weak. James could never love you." With that, she turned around, swaying her hips as she prepared to leave. The place where we were playing had a pond. In summer, I'd bring the kids here to swim. Well, they swam. I couldn't swim at all and could never learn. I was hopeless in water. Grace walked to the pond's edge and gave me a strange smile. Then her body tilted backward, and she fell straight into the pond behind her. "Help! Stella, why did you push me!" Grace flailed in the water, screaming for help. I didn't react in time. "I didn't..." Just then, a tall figure rushed out.
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