Chapter 2 The rejection
\## CADEN'S POV
The puck slid across the rink they set up in the back of the gym, I hit it hard, it slammed into the goal and all the guys cheered. We gathered at the gym pack which wasn't far from the hall where the party was ongoing.
"That's our Alpha," Marcus said, grinning. "He never misses."
I didn't answer, I just grabbed another puck. Hockey is something that is cleared in my head. It always did. From the focus, the control and right now I needed it badly.
Because I could still smell her. That human. Selene, the scent stuck to my jacket from standing too close outside, I took the shot but this time I missed it completely.
"Whoa! Caden Wolfe missing a shot? Impossible!” Derek laughed. "First time for everything." He added
"Shut it." I grabbed another puck, this time I tried to focus. But my wolf was pacing, I felt restless and somehow I knew something felt off.
My eyes caught her at the hall entrance, Selene? What is she doing here again?
I told her to go home, she should be gone, she should be far from here and far from me or was she thinking I would want to continue the kiss?
She just walked inside the party hall, still dripping from the punch. Her hair wet, that navy dress stuck to her, as she looked around. Searching for what exactly I couldn't tell.
What was she doing? I told her to leave. Told her things would get worse if Brielle finds her here but here she was again.
Stupid girl, gonna get what she deserves.
"Your girlfriend's looking for you," Marcus said. He meant Brielle, she stood by the punch table with her friends and her eyes watching Selene like prey.
"Yeah. I see her." I handed Marcus my stick. " I'll be right back."
I moved through the crowd before Brielle spotted her, before she made another scene as one was enough tonight.
Selene saw me, her jaw got tight, She stubborn but no match to Brielle
I reached her first, grabbed her elbow, and steered her to the side exit.
"What are you doing here?" I kept my voice low. "I said go home, change your clothes and relax at home, is that too hard?"
"You don't tell me what to do." She yanked free from my grip.
"You're making this worse." I repeat trying hard to hold the tension growing in me. I don't know what is wrong with me but I was losing it around her.
"What's worse? You said Brielle went too far, you came outside and then you just left."
"Because there's nothing else, I could do to change what she had already done”
"Liar!”
My wolf didn't like that, I didn't like her calling us a liar.
"Liar? Now listen to me Selene, go home."
"No." She stepped closer. "Not until you explain to me, not until you tell me why you couldn't confront her to stop bullying me. Why can't I feel free in their campus all because of her. It's simple, Caden, I don't want much from you, just tell Brielle to stay away from me."
"I don't protect anyone and I don't warn Brielle on who she bullies or not!."
Her hands on my chest, the touch burned through my shirt. Heat spreads everywhere and my wolf surged up, roaring.
Mate? Mate?
No, this wasn't real, it can't be possible.
But the bond snapped anyway, it was like rope pulling tight and I felt her. Everything, the anger, her pain and all of it crashed into me.
Selene's eyes went wide, I saw her hands shaking against my chest.
"Caden?" Her small voice, scared. "What is this?" She grasped.
I grabbed her wrists, meant to push away but my hands just held her, I felt her pulse racing.
The bond pulled tighter, my wolf wanted closer, for me to mark her, claim her as mine and make everyone know she was ours.
But she was human, a weak human with nothing. Everything an Alpha couldn't have.
Brielle my girlfriend on the other hand was strong, a strong beta wolf, from a powerful family. Everyone expected us together, I also expected her to be my Luna, it made sense.
This didn't make sense, this was wrong and I won't take it.
"Let go," Selene whispered but she didn't pull away.
I should have listened, I should have dropped her and walked off. But her eyes held me there, that look in them was hope and that hope would kill her.
"You feel it too," she said.
I couldn't lie, the bond wouldn't let me. "Yes."
"What is it?"
"Nothing?." I replied to her harshly, "It's nothing."
"You're lying."
"Doesn't matter." I dropped her wrists, stepped back. "Doesn't change anything at all”
"How can you say that?"
"You're human” it tasted like poison saying it. " A weak human, with no pack, no power and nothing to offer as a mate”
She flinched hard.
"I'm future Alpha, I can't be tied to you, it doesn't make any sense, and it won't be."
"Someone like me." Her voice went dead.
"Right." I kept going. Pushed deeper. "You don't belong here. Never will."
Tears came but she blinked them back.
"Then why follow me outside?"
"Mistake."
"Why say Brielle went too far?"
"Another mistake."
"Why lie?"
"I'm not." I moved closer. I saw her breathing speed up. Smelled that scent again. "I, Caden Wolfe, future Alpha of Crescent Pack, reject you as my mate."
The words sat there. Heavy. Final.
Selene went white. Stumbled back. Hand to her chest. Made this small broken sound.
The bond shook. Started tearing.
The pain hit instantly, it was sharp. Like my chest ripping open. My wolf howled, it was thrashed, but I kept my face blank.
"Understand now?" I asked. "No us, it can't be and never will be."
She couldn't talk, just stood there with her hand on her chest. Breathing fast, her eyes wet and tears mixing with dried punch.
I turned before I took it back, before my wolf could stop me.
Brielle watched from across the gym, she saw everything with a cold.
I walked straight to her. Grabbed her waist, and pulled her close. She made a sound but wrapped her arms around my neck quickly.
"Caden, what—"
I kissed her, this time bard and made sure everyone saw, I made sure Selene saw.
When I pulled back, I spoke loud. Made every werewolf hear.
"Brielle Knox is my chosen mate. My Luna."
Brielle's eyes lit up, she kissed me again and pressed closer.
Behind her, Selene dropped to her knees and hit the floor. Mia ran over, the human girl crumpled.
The bond finished tearing, the pain worse than my first shift. Worse than any fight, it was worse than anything.
But I kept my arm around Brielle and kept smiling, I had to keep playing future Alpha.
My wolf screamed I just made the worst choice of my life, I had no option than this.