His frown deepened when he turned and found Julius staring at her with curiosity brimming in his eyes. But he could also see the conflict brewing within them. 

  It was not hard to tell what was going on when he knew that the brat down was of age now. Tonight.

  A small smile crept up his lips at the realization. He didn't need to do anything now. His deal with Midnight Pack would become a reality now. The girl has truly proven useful after all… Who would have thought?

  “Shall we join…” Dane began but was interrupted by Julius, whose gaze was still on Esme.

  “Who is she?” He asked. The scent of chocolate and vanilla had him surrounded, drowning out every other scent, and his sole focus at the moment was her. Everything around him seemed to have faded into oblivion, but he was still conscious of the people around him, knowing they weren't truly alone.

  “Esmeralda Hawthorne,” Alpha Dane responded. He needn't act as though he didn't know who he was referring to. “Esme for short,” he added.

  The other alpha looker between them utterly lost. 

  “Esme…” Julius said the name and felt his mouth water just by it, but it became a bother almost immediately. Without saying another word, he climbed down the stairs, his gaze locked on his beautiful blue eyes that stared at him with expectations and hidden excitement….? He frowned. 

  Shouldn't she be happy? Why was she hiding her executemet? He wondered, but then, he told himself that it wasn't a problem. At least she might be prepared for what was to come.

  He came to stop in front of her and saw her gulp down her saliva. He could literally hear her heart drumming, but he couldn't be sure it was out of excitement. He closed his and his Wolfe whine in his head space for doing so, but Julius ignored him. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Then he spoke,

  “Esme…” Esme's heart skipped a beat upon hearing her name come out so smoothly from his mouth. His scent that had already enveloped her now seemed to frown her, pulling her towards him and raising her hopes. 

  At that very moment, Esme didn't care about anything or anyone again. She could still feel the eyes on her–on them, but she didn't care. Right now, it was just her and her mate. She even made a mental note to thank the goddess once she leaves this hall.

  He took hold of her hand and gave it a gentle massage. If she had a wolf, she knew she would purr at his touch right now. The spark from it was nothing like she had ever experienced before. But, “I can not accept this bond…” his next words came, putting everything around them to a standstill and crushing her very being.

  The weight of his words hung heavily over her head. At first, she thought it was a joke he had uttered to lift the tension between them, but seeing how serious his face remained, everything, the world spun she staggered backward. Her hands slipped off his grip. Esem saw him instinctively reach out to grab her, but he forced them to hand back to his side.

  And without allowing her to collect herself fully, he added further shattering whatever piece if her heart remained intact.

  “I Julius Carter, Alpha of Midnight Pack, reject you, Esmeralda Hawthorne of the NightCrawler Pack,” his words were sharp and voice firm. Those near them heard this, and their eyes went wide as everything that's happening now made sense to them

  Esme's Pack members were also taken aback to know that Esme found her mate but even more shocked that he was alpha. But then, everything started to fall into place when he declared his rejection. Ophelia, who had heard this, smirked triumphantly. Who was Esme to get a mate before her?

  Meanwhile, Esme clenched her fists, refusing to show any weakness. She had expected this but allowed herself to become vulnerable like this just because of the mate bond. She smiled once again for the umpteenth time tonight, in self ridicule. 

  She looked up and met his gaze, eyes devoid of any emotion. Not even hurt, despite the turmoil within her. She then opened her mouth and accepted his rejection. There was no point in refusing it when he didn't even mind humiliating her in the presence of so many people. Her acceptance would also save her some face.

  “I, Esmeralda Hawthorne of the NightCrawler Pack, accept your rejection, Alpha Julius Carter of Midnight Pack.” Esme replied. She wouldn't let this break her. Not before all these people.

  As soon as she said that, she turned around and left in the hall. Her steps were neither slow nor hurried. Just measured. Like she was not affected by the rejection.

  Julius watched her go and felt the desire to go pursue her and comfort her. To explain himself, but he knew he had listed all rights to do that. “I am sorry, Esme…” he said in an inaudible voice, his fist clenching so hard his knuckles turned white. But he didn't move from where he stood.

  Meanwhile, Alpha Dane couldn't be any more irritated than he already was. Looking at where Esme had gone off to, he followed her. He knew where she was going, and that was the attic—her room.

  Esme sat on the floor beside the door, hugging herself and her face buried between her knees. Her shoulders trembled as her emotions took over, and tears streamed down like a waterfall. Her hair, once a beautiful ponytail, now looked disheveled and had taken the shape of a loose morning updo. Strands stuck to her face in an unkempt manner, but she couldn't care less.

  “I shouldn't have expected anything,” she cried. Her blues glistened with tears, a perfect semblance of the water's surface. “I shouldn't have. Why did I even…” she sobbed more. The urge to pull her own hair was strong, but she knew her poor hair was innocent.

  She heard footsteps approaching and from the sound of it she could already tell it was either Alpha Dane or Dawson and she didn't want to see either of them or anyone at all, so she quickly pressed down on the door putting her whole weight on it. Although it would do much to prevent them from yanking it forcefully, she wanted to know that, at least, this time, she tried to keep them out.

  She felt the slight push to the door, and she drummed rapidly. She closed her eyes and put more force to it as much as she could muster. When the push ceased, she immediately had a premonition.

  As if on cue, the sound of the lock turning was heard. 

  “Since you won't let me in, stay in there until you die,” she heard Alpha Dane's voice boom through the door and shivered, quickly trying to pry the door open but it was not responding. The mocking laughter of Dane was heard, and she gave up. Gave up on everything. He gave up on herself. Her belief in the goddess watching and protecting her—she also gave that up too.

  “If you truly are Hawthorne, breaking down something as simple as a door should be that hard. Prove yourself and come out,” Alpha Dane said, and the sound of his retreating steps followed and then–silence.