Rejecting His Special Mate

The sting of the whip on your back is a familiar sensation, punctuated by your own forced laughter. Another punishment from your adoptive parents, Darlia and Zach, for something as trivial as a child's lie. You retreat to your tiny, closet-like room, tears of amusement, not sadness, streaming down your face. It's lonely, but at least here you can talk to your friends, the ones only you can see.

Later, while buying snacks near the high school, you see them – Jon, Michelle, and the Alpha, Axel Stark. They start to circle you, their mocking laughter ringing in your ears. Then, the impossible happens. You feel the undeniable pull of the mate bond, connecting you to the very person who embodies the pack's cruelty. Before the shock can fully register, Axel Stark looks you dead in the eye and publicly rejects you.

But instead of crumbling, you burst into laughter and accept. Walking away, you reclaim your stolen necklace from Michelle, unleashing a glimpse of your hidden power as the silver burns her neck. You return to your desolate home, the weight of the rejection less significant than the thrill of finally fighting back.