Torn Between Mates

ublic Hu

a's

ject me in this manner? My eyes ache from tears, but I'm not going to let them go. Not in this place. Not before the whole pack. I refuse to allow them to witness my breakdown. But I'm already broken on the inside. (Aria's POV) The next thing I know, I'm running, and I'm not sure how I managed to leave the meeting grounds. I push myself harder as my feet bang against the dirt walk, attempting to get away from the heartache, the pain, and the humiliation. It's all too much. I rush deeper into the forest, not caring where I'm going, and the trees blur around me. All I have to do is leave. I need to stop feeling like my world is collapsing and take a moment to ponder and breathe. But, the rejection follows me and keeps repeating in my head no matter how far I run. "I reject you, Aria, as my mate." I fall close to a clearing, my knees slamming on the floor. The suffering is irrelevant to me. The pain in my chest is even worse than that. I bury my face in my hands and finally allow the tears to fall, and my entire body trembles. Why me? Why is it me every time? The weakest member of the group has always been me. The one who is not a part. It's worse now, though. The one person who was meant to be mine has now rejected me. The one individual who was meant to embrace me regardless of the circumstances. "Why me?" I stutter, sobbing uncontrollably as my voice cracks. "What makes me the weak one every time?" I don't anticipate a response. In any case, no one is around to listen. Like I always have been, I am alone. But then, from behind me, I hear a quiet voice. "Aria?" Luna. I don't raise my look. This is not how I want her to see me. But, she kneels next to me and puts a soft hand on my shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Aria." Although she says nice things, they only make my chest hurt more. I shake my head, tears still streaming down my face. "It doesn't matter," I choke out. "He was right. I don't deserve to be his partner. "Don't say that," asserts Luna. Aria, yo