Rejected By My Mate, Chosen By Fate
Chapter 35

I arrive at the Grand Hall just in time and catch sight of Alpha Richard with a glass of wine in his hand.

Luna Elsie is seated beside him looking a bit tense and I can understand why. It must be her sixth sense kicking in, through the telepathic bond that is sealed after being marked and mated. Both can feel it when the other is in danger.

This special connection doesn’t exist between Zephyr and I because though he forcefully mated with me, he never imprinted his mark on me and besides, he did reject me, breaking whatever bond we might have shared. I try to shake the thought away, deciding it better to focus on the issue at hand.

I look to the other side and see Alpha Turner also holding up a glass of wine, looking like he was just about to make a toast. Margallo was seated beside her father, she was beaming with smiles, probably excited about how well her “brilliant” plan was going. Well, not on my watch.

I push through the crowd just in time as Alpha Turner proposes his toast.

“I propose a toast to my lovely daughter, Princess Margallo Daisy Remus on her 18th birthday which also happens to be the joyous occasion of her mating ceremony. A toast to my soon to be son in-law, Kayden and to their happy life together.

A toast to us, as we seal our relationship and finally become family as of today and finally, a toast to Alpha Richard’s long life and prosperous reign.” Alpha Turner said, the last words sounding awkwardly ironic to me.

The room was nearly drowned out by the sound of clapping and my eyes widened in primal fear when Alpha Richard brought the glass to his lips.

I rush to the centre of the room and shake my head frantically.

“Evelyn?” Elsie and Kayden called and Ana’s voice followed as well.

Both stood up from their seats and threw puzzled looks at me while murmuring filled the room.

Margallo’s victorious look had quickly faded from one to shock which soon transformed to a sour look.

“Who is the girl and how dare she interrupt such an important activity?” Alpha Turner raged, glowering at me.

Having everyone’s attention fixed on me made my lower belly churn. Now that I had gotten the attention I desired, I had absolutely no idea what to do next. I couldn’t even tell them about what I’d found.

“Father, this is Evelyn. She’s just a mute confused girl and she does these kinds of things often so pay no attention to her.” Margallo countered but thankfully, her father was not ready to listen or let this go.

“No dear daughter, this is your special day and I will not allow someone like her to ruin it. She has to state the reason for her interference or I’ll personally see to it that she is severely punished and learns good manners in the coming days.” Alpha Turner said and Margallo rolled her eyes.

“There’s really no need for that Alpha Turner, she’s a member of the royal family. I’m sure that something must be amiss and that’s why she would do something like that. Let’s hear her out at least.” Alpha Richard defended and a small smile lit my face.

“Evelyn, what is it?” Alpha Richard questioned, concern showing vividly on his face.

I searched for Emily in the crowd and when my eyes fell on her. I moved towards her and requested her to bring my notebook and pen via sign language.

She nodded and left instantly.

“This is just a waste of our time, this girl apparently is just seeking unnecessary attention.” Alpha Turner whined and I quickly started to realize where Margallo must have gotten her bad behavior from.

Emily thankfully returns quickly with my notebook and I scribble a simple sentence on it before passing the note to Alpha Richard who takes it from me with a puzzled expression.

I had simply written on the note. “Don’t drink the wine, it’s poisoned.” I felt that would be the easiest way to convey the truth and save him because as it stood, there was no time for much explanations as Alpha Turner already seemed ill at ease with me.

Alpha Richard’s eyes widened in shock when he read the note and he looked back at me in shock.

“Is what you’ve written here true?” He questioned and I nodded my head. Elsie didn’t ask many questions but simply took the note from the Alpha and read it instead.

She gasped when she saw what I had written on it, her eyes widening in shock.

“What’s on the note? What on Earth did this ill mannered girl scribble on the note that has you so riled up?” Alpha Turner questioned, not hiding his anger.

“The note says that my drink is poisoned.” Alpha Richard revealed and everyone in the Hall gasped before murmuring filled the air once more.

“Silence.” Alpha Richard demanded and everywhere went quiet once more.

“Poisoned? This mute girl is standing here and accusing me of trying to poison you and you’re letting her? I’ve never felt so insulted in my life. I never would have come here if I knew I would be accused of such a vile thing. You can’t possibly believe her. I’m the Alpha of the Prime Wood Pack and your brother is taking my daughter as his mate today so why would I do such a thing while knowing that it would cause so much pandemonium and ruin my daughter’s mating ceremony? Do you really think I would want to poison you, Alpha Richard?” Alpha Turner questioned hotly and I really couldn’t blame him.

The situation is so complicated and this is exactly what Margallo wanted. Exposing that the drink is poisoned would be indirectly accusing Alpha Turner of being responsible because he was the one who offered it to Alpha Richard.

I shake my head frantically, trying to let them know that that wasn’t what I meant but I’m ignored.

“No Alpha Turner, of course not. I would never think such of you. I sincerely apologise for Evelyn’s behavior, please forgive her and do not feel offended. Forgive her for the sake of the relationship that is about to be formed between our families and our packs.” Alpha Richard pleaded and I felt like facepalming myself.

Margallo instantly took advantage of the situation.

“No daddy, I won’t allow this. I won’t allow some low life girl to get away with insulting my dear father. How could she accuse you of such a thing? Alpha Richard, with all due respect, I cannot become part of a family that doesn’t respect me or my father. Asking for forgiveness for her mistake just isn’t enough, you have to prove to us that you have complete faith in us or else, I’m sorry but this mating ceremony can’t take place otherwise.” Margallo said, beginning to shed crocodile tears and I stared at her in horror. She was going to try to blackmail Alpha Richard into drinking the poisoned wine!

I shook my head frantically, trying to get him to not believe a word Margallo was saying.

“Yes, I totally agree with Margo, you should honour our toast by drinking the wine. If you do that, you’ll prove to me that you have complete trust in me and this relationship that’s about to be formed.” Alpha Turner said and I tightened my hands around my dress. This couldn’t be happening, please let this be a terrible nightmare. Please let this be some bizarre dream that I’m going to wake up from any minute now.

“Of course, Alpha Turner. I trust you completely and thus, I’ll honour our toast.” Alpha Richard said with a smile and brought the glass to his lips but Elsie thankfully stopped him this time.

“Richard, wait a bit, at least try to listen to what Evelyn has to say. She would never lie about something like this or play games with us. If she thinks the wine is poisoned then she must have a reason, I’m sure.” Elsie said, frantically.

“Elsie please calm down, worrying will only worsen your health. I’m sure the wine isn’t poisoned and Evelyn must have just misunderstood. A new relationship is about to be formed today so it’ll be better if we can at least establish some trust. Alpha Turner is on our side.” Alpha Richard tried to convince Luna Elsie who still seemed pensive, and for good reason as well.

“Yes Luna Elsie, I’m completely appalled that you’re choosing to believe this obviously misled girl over me. Listen to the Alpha and disregard her words so we can quickly have this toast and go straight to Margallo’s mating ceremony. When the two youngsters are enjoying their first night together, then we can get back to this little wolf and decide the best punishment for her.” Alpha Turner said and something about the way he said it made me cringe.

“Very well, let’s get back to things, by drinking to seal this new bond between our families.” Alpha Richard said and I breathed heavily, an unknown chill running down my spine.

I only had a minute to think about the important things and that’s really not enough time to think things through and come to a reasonable decision. I only thought about my new family and all they’d done for me since Zephyr decided to kick me out of the pack.

I didn’t want to imagine what Elsie would have to go through if she lost her mate at such a crucial time in her life. It would crush her and only the goddess knows if she would be able to survive it.

She would lose everything, her beloved mate, her child’s father and her position. Her baby would never be able to know the kind of honourable man his or her father was and it would be all because of me, I couldn’t let that happen.

And in that moment of impulse, I made a decision with my heart once more, just like I had always done.

With the last bit of strength I had, I rushed over to Alpha Richard and grabbed a tight hold of his hand, bringing it towards me and stopping him from sipping the poisoned wine. The glass would have fallen and shattered into pieces if his grip on it hadn’t been so hard.

The luscious red liquid painted his lips but thankfully didn’t get into his mouth. Before he or anyone else could reprimand or stop me, I directed the glass to my lips despite the Alpha still holding on to it and I closed my eyes and gulped down as much as his grip would allow. If anyone deserved to die, then it’s me. I’m the bad luck, since I came into their lives, only bad things have started to happen. I’m the cause of everything so it’ll be better if I go, not just from this palace but from this world as well.

The tangy taste of the wine as it cascaded down my throat brought a warm blush to my cheeks. The euphoric moment didn’t last long though, a sudden pain hit me, just like a dagger had been pierced into my heart.

My breath hitched in my throat and I found myself gasping for air as a sharp, indescribable pain took over my belly. The twisting feeling in my intestinal walls brought about a rush of nausea up my throat, a heavy lightheadedness overtaking me.

I heard the sound of something falling to the ground and crashing and the sounds of people either gasping or screaming but with my consciousness quickly depleting, it was hard to tell.

My body felt heavier than usual and I lost my balance, knowing that I would hit the ground any minute but not being in control of anything.

I faintly heard my name being called before warm hands wrapped around me, somehow breaking my fall.

The thick haze that took over me was blinding. The twisting pain in my stomach is ever increasing and my pain is reflecting on my face. The nausea finally gets the upper hand and I convulse, throwing up a warm liquid.

I could feel things going on around me but all sounds had suddenly been blocked out by my subconscious, death the only unmistakable feeling that seemed to exist and pervade my being.

I saw it, no, felt it. A wave of darkness surrounded me, inviting me to give in and give up on life. It was tempting as I felt a cold and uncanny feeling, surreal to all living beings overtake me and then I quickly realized what it was.

It was simply death that came to collect. It is finally time to give up my miserable life and for some reason, I seem to have no regrets.

I knew it would be better if I finally left their lives so they would get the peace and happiness they deserved. And thus, I took the inviting hand of death, not daring to look back and immediately I did, everything finally went black.