Bound by faith: the rise of a rejected mate

cent was more potent, every sound more distinct. My senses were more awake than they had ever been. "What's going on with me? I muttered to myself, uncomfortable. I could hear the voices inside the

ng to achieve?" To center myself, I inhaled deeply. "I'm looking for clarification. Why did you turn me down?" Dennis narrowed his eyes and sat back in his chair. "I have informed you. You're not strong. Instead of dragging me down, I need a Luna who would stand by my side. Though his words hurt, I didn't back down. "You don't have my trust." Dennis arched an eyebrow and smiled slightly. Why do you believe I'm lying?" I fixed my gaze on him, attempting to decipher his expression, but his face remained unreadable. "I heard you conversing with Raven. You mentioned that you must keep me near. That I am unable to learn the truth. Dennis, what truth?" Something sparked in his eyes for a moment that I couldn't quite place. It was neither harshness nor rage. Something was the case. More tender. But suddenly, in the same instant, his icy mask was back on. "You misinterpreted," he stated firmly. Melissa, you mean nothing to me. Avoid overanalyzing it. Though my heart tightened, I didn't give up. Why are you still so impacted by the mate bond if I'm nothing? Dennis, I can sense it. It's unavoidable, no matter how much you try to push me away. His jaw tensed, and I thought I caught a glimpse of pain in his eyes for a split second. However, he shook his head swiftly. "You're incorrect," he murmured. "I don't care about this bond at all." I felt offended and irritated, so I tightened my fists. "You're deceiving yourself," It seems like you have no idea what you're doing." I turned and walked out of the room, not waiting for an answer, my mind spinning with uncertainty and rage. I was called to the pack elders' quarters later that evening. I was nervous as I wondered what this was all about and made my way down the dimly illuminated hallway. Seldom would the elders summon anyone unless something significant was going on. Elder Marcus was waiting for me when I got there, his stern, unreadable face wrinkled. He motioned for me to settle in. "Melissa," he said gradually, his voice measured and quiet. "You don't know certain things about your history or your ancestry." I blinked, startled. "My ancestry? By what do you mean?" Elder Marcus looked around the other elders and then resumed his speech. "The demise of your parents was not an accident. They were a part of something far bigger that had an impact on Storm Packs and Moonvalley. I took a deep breath and felt a shiver go down my back. "What?" What do you mean?" "Your lineage i