Trial and rejection.

Fear struck me as I spotted a guard approaching our cell. Did Bianca heal me only to cause fresh wounds again? Pouring water on my body, she said.

"Welcome home.” just as the guard reached us.

"What's going on?" the guard asked, seemingly uninterested in helping.

"Nothing. I'm just helping my new friend take a shower." Bianca replied, water running down my body, sending cold shivers.

The guard called Bianca forward, and they began whispering. It seemed like they were having a disagreement. Was the guard defending me? I wondered. A bell rang, interrupting them.

Bianca turned to me, mocking.

"Time to take a shower, friend." and she went out.

The guard opened the door, instructing me to go and shower as it was not optional.

As I stepped out, I asked her for directions, but she remained silent and took the other way leaving me to wander around. Finally hearing Lia's voice, she guided me, and I turned left.

Entering the shower area, I saw several ladies in towels, many covered in tattoos as they eyed me. Finding an unoccupied shower, I hesitated before removing my clothes, revealing the scars that covered my body.

I walked to the unoccupied shower, feeling the scrutinising stares of the other girls. Gossiping about my appearance and the shower,

"She sure didn't.”

"So she thinks we left that shower intentionally?"

"Yeah right, smart pants.”

"Oh her body, gross!", they made spiteful comments.

Ignoring them, I turned on the water and started washing my body. Suddenly, a girl pushed me, and I landed on the floor on my butt, as there were no doors, just a shower point.

"It's her favourite shower." one of the girls clarified, and they laughed.

Lia's anger was evident as she asked.

'We won't let them get away with it, will we?' I calmed her down, reminding her that we had the Alpha to deal with.

Sensing Lias’ calmness I got up, wrapped a towel around my body, and faced their mockery about the scars on my skin.

When most of them were done, I hurriedly washed in the unoccupied shower but not the one I was first. Afterward, I lotioned up with a new lotion as there were plenty, dressed back in the prison uniform and rushed to the door, only to find it locked

.

"Hello!" I called out, hearing footsteps but receiving no help.

After several trials I fell to the floor, tears streamed down my face freely.

'What did I do that the goddess decided to punish me this way? I've always been a good girl. Is it a crime to be kind?' I cried to Lia.

'No, it's not. We don't deserve this.'

'We truly don't, but it seems like we are hated by the goddess.' I said, then out loud.

"So what's next, goddess? First, you made me the daughter of peasants who were in a pack as slaves and treated me like trash. Then you took them away. As if that wasn't enough, you decided to take my sister from me. And now, you let them wrongly accuse me and have me in prison. What's next, huh? Rejection? Or maybe to serve the Lycan King for eternity, the one who beheads his servants for a silly mistake? Will you be happy then?" I shouted in anger.

I had enough of this.

'Not rejection, please.’ Lia pleaded. I knew she just wanted to be accepted by her mate and live a peaceful life, but this turn of events had weakened her even more.

'If he decides to reject us, then I can't prevent it.' I said to her, hoping she would understand.

'No, please don't accept his rejection. Please promise me we won't accept his rejection.' she begged. Nodding to try if he decides to reject us, I cried myself to sleep.

****

I was seated on the bed, contemplating my pathetic life and considering ways to end it. The guards found me in the bathroom earlier and dragged me. Punishing me with the restriction of outdoor activities for sleeping there so my cell mates were outside with everyone else while I was left here alone.

Bianca apologised saying she did that to make the guards believe I was mistreated as they only send new prisoners to her cell if they wanted the prisoners to be bullied.

She also promised to assist me learn how to use my hidden powers. Suddenly, a guard came and called me out saying my trial was in fifteen minutes.

"Trial?" I asked, a glimmer of hope appearing. Perhaps I could be released, but where would I go?

Dismissing that thought, my sole focus was on freedom. The guard threw an old, long dress on me, explaining it was necessary for the trial as they don't allow prison clothes inside. It reminded me that I was alone, no one even cared to bring me clothes for my trial.

We walked a distance, and upon entering the court, I spotted Aiden and Lola and Aidens’ parents.

They never liked me from the start.

The judge, a woman, began the proceedings.

Lola spun a fabricated tale, painting me as a murderer and a witch. Aiden supported her version. When it was my turn to respond, I requested to speak to Aiden alone and didn't utter a word to defend myself.

Outside Aiden coldly revealed that Lola was his mate and they had found out just the time I brought her home. That was the reason he didn't want her at his pack.

"But you tried to look so kind and begged me to let her stay or you'll leave with her." he mocked.

"And I fell for your kindness and let her, I swear I haven't even eyed her in any intention but the time you kept refusing me to get close to you. I got depressed I mean you were already 18 and didn't want your mate to fuck you? You made me think something was wrong with me then who better than my other mate to calm me down." he revealed.

He explained how he even promised to accept Lola and reject me but she refused because I was her friend, until yesterday when she let him mark her because she realised I was a selfish bitch.

"And to be with her I have to reject you." he added.

"No please don't, I am begging you. With all this I'm going through an rejection is going to shutter my wolf. Remember the witch said Lia will go to deep slumber if..."

"I don't give a fuck about your weak wolf.” he said determined.

I continued pleading and I heard Lia crying from the inside pleading too. I tried to touch his hands but he pushed me which landed me in a handsome man's arms. He was tall and masculine I stood firm and faced Aiden who now said.

"I Aiden Shadowclaw, Alpha of Shadow Claws reject Elara Sinclair as my mate and Luna.”

I nearly fell as the handsome man caught me with one hand and his other in his pocket.

Staring in my eyes he said.

“Rejections only make you stronger." I continued staring in his green eyes, which held a kindness I hadn't encountered.

He revealed his other hand as he tried to wipe tears from my face but as his hands landed on my cheeks, I felt a lightning shock and that's when I heard Lia whisper.

'Mate.'

Stared in my teary eyes for a brief moment, then pulled away abruptly and left almost running.

The prison guards returned, informing me the judge awaited. Wiping away tears, I tried to focus on the case.

'I can't believe we have a second chance mate.’ Lia said sounding a little happy.

'Lia now is not the time, we are going to prison after all. I am just glad he's the reason you didn't go into deep slumber.’ I said.

The court sentenced me to two years at the palace to serve the Lycan King. I opposed because it was better in prison than in the palace. My plea fell on deaf ears. They said after the two years I will come back for a second trial as the judge believed I was still in shock.

****

Royal guards came for me, and in no time we were outside. I watched Aiden open the car door for her.

'He's not even that cute.’ Lia said. The reason I loved my wolf was that no matter how broken she was, she always tried to keep us strong.

The guards showed me to the car and in no time we were already at the palace.

I was greeted by two maids who ushered me into my new room which was downstairs. As the maid closed the door behind her I threw myself on the soft mattress as the prison one's weren't that comfortable.

The guards mentioned they were going to pick my stuff so I just waited bored as I wished I had my phone.

'Do you think we should run back to city B?' I asked Lia, as I was thinking of going back to city A.

I was in city B for years after my parents passed as I was pursuing a career in acting. I returned here two years ago as I was about to be crowned a Luna of the ShadowClaws pack since Aiden had taken his father's responsibilities. I only agreed because I loved Aiden and he was the reason I was able to get a scholarship in city B and lived a peaceful life.

I just don't understand why he changed so suddenly, remembering how he fought his own parents to let my parents work for their pack because he loved me, now I understood the word

"People change".

'No! We have money saved up, let's get our phone, take more freelance work and we'll go to another city where we can start out fresh.’ she suggested.

A knock interrupted, as the maid from earlier signalled that the King called for me. I followed her out fixing my curly short dry hair which was messily cut.

As we reached down I was shocked at what I saw.

The handsome man from earlier, the one who turned out to be my mate, was seated in the king's seat.

Still not able to say a word as he didn't look handsome here, rather intimidating.

I just stood there shocked and now from up look he must be in his late twenties, he ordered me to sit.

"Sit down, now!" He ordered in a cold tone and I sat on a chair. He asked the other lady to leave, leaving the two of us.

He stood up and walked towards me, then around my chair, while I sat there quiet as chills ran through my veins.