Chapter 1

*Isabel*

"I, Alvin Greene, reject you, Isabel Turner as my mate." His voice was so firm and sure and loud. I swayed back from the pain that sliced through me even though I'd been expecting his rejection. Before the Alpha had gathered everyone in front of the pack house for the rejection ceremony, I'd known there was no way Alvin could ever accept me as his mate. It was such a shame knowing it wasn't enough to stop me from feeling like my world had suddenly crashed and burned to the ground.

I lowered my head, letting my purple hair fall down the sides of my face to block myself from the hundreds of eyes presently castigating me. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I forced my legs to not give out beneath me. Everyone knew Omegas were the least ranked in the pack. Constantly weak and always bullied, we were basically referred to as the pack slaves. Which was why I'd known from the start that a relationship with Alvin would never work no matter what the moon goddess thought.

He was the Alpha's best friend for crying out loud.

Not to mention, he was also involved with the Alpha's sister, Heather, who already despised me. And that was before knowing I was the fated mate of her supposed boyfriend. I swallowed the hot lump stuck in my throat, wishing that the ground would just open and swallow me whole. I was used to feeling unloved and unwanted. It wasn't a new feeling. I'd just never imagined that I could feel worse about myself than I already usually felt. Being rejected like this was humiliating on an entirely different level.

The Alpha turned his attention to me. I could feel his gaze digging into my tiny frame. "Do you, Isabel Turner, accept this rejection?" His voice was just as loud as Alvin's had been. This was it, I thought to myself. The actual moment everyone had been waiting for. The air seemed to come to a stand still and Injad the feeling a few people were even holding their breaths. Alvin and the entire pack might not want me but whether or not I would remain his mate was actually my decision to make.

The mate bond would not be completely severed if I didn't accept his rejection and everyone knew that. He might have erased whatever connection he had with me by rejecting me but I could still live with my connection to him if I wanted to. I didn't want to. They might think of me as no more than an annoying gum stuck to the bottom of their shoes but if there was anything I'd taught myself over the years, it was self respect.

I'd be damned before I chose to live the rest of my life, pinning after Alvin and letting myself get affected by everything he did. "I accept." I replied calmly. There was a collective sigh of relief as everyone began celebrating the successful rejection ceremony. I even saw Heather run to kiss Alvin from the corner of my eyes. I waited for the sharp stab of pain I always felt whenever I saw them together.

Nothing.

I managed to lift the corners of my lips as I have myself a rueful smile. I was finally free of them. The only thing I felt was a gaping hole in my chest, almost like my heart was no longer where it was supposed to be. My entire body suddenly felt so drained and exhausted and it took a second for me to realize I no longer felt any connection with my wolf. I should have known there was no way she could take the rejection from her mate so easily.

My forehead creased when the Alpha called the attention of the pack once more. I felt a foreboding sensation at the back of my neck when Heather gave me a subtle wink. The noise died down and Alvin stepped to the side of the podium, leaving me all alone with the Alpha. He cleared his throat, shooting me a disgusted look before turning his attention back to the pack. "It is my wish to declare that the council and I have decided to get rid of some of the pack slaves since it seems we now have a lot of them everywhere in the pack."

My heart dropped to my feet.

I could feel the excited murmurs in the air and I shivered in disgust, bile rushing to the back of my throat. Dear goddess, how have I ever survived living with such sick and vile people? I wanted to scream at them. I wanted to shake some sense into their empty heads and let them know Omegas were also wolves like they were and they didn't deserve to be treated with such disdain. I opened my mouth and closed it back when no words came out.

I was officially done with these people.

I met the Alpha's gaze. Do it, I dared silently. Banish me, I almost yelled. I'm finally ready to be completely done with all of you. His eyes narrowed and though he couldn't read my mind, he could clearly guess my thoughts from the expression on my face. I watched his chest rise and fall with the finality of what he was about to do. He gave me a wicked smirk. "I, Alpha John Ralphe of The South pack hereby declare that you are no longer a member of the pack."

I think I died then and went to werewolf hell.

There was no other explanation for the staggering pain that seared through me. I felt wave after wave of anguish, the noise from the crowd so loud in the quiet of my torture. I was officially a rogue. Empty. Numb. Alone. I didn't even have my wolf with me. Scalding tears strolled down my face as I doubled over in pain. I could only imagine what the rest of the pack could see.