The hall was bathed in a cold light as the figure of Alpha Cassian emerged from the shadows.
His presence commanded the room with an almost divine authority. Tall and charging, his form exuded a godly allure that made the air itself seem to bend around him. His every movement was imbued with an effortless grace, his long, dark hair cascading around his neck like a cloak of night. His piercing blue eyes, sharp and rigorous, surveyed the scene with a chilling detachment that made even the most arrogant of alphas take a step back.
Cassian wore a tailored suit of deep indigo, the fabric glistening with a subtle sheen that only added to his imposing presence. The suit fit him perfectly, accentuating his broad shoulders and powerful build. Every inch of him radiated strength and dominance, the kind that left no room for challenge. His jawline was chiseled, and his high cheekbones gave him an otherworldly beauty, making him seem almost untouchable.
He walked up to Mara with a measured stride. The crowd fell silent as his gaze swept over them.
"Move aside," he commanded, his voice resonating with a tone that brooked no argument.
Mara, her face pale and stricken with fear, stepped aside without a word. Cassian's gaze shifted to Elowen, who stood frozen beside her brother, her eyes wide with terror and awe. Her heart raced uncontrollably.
The sheer magnitude of his presence left her feeling small and insignificant, a mere shadow against his blinding light.
Elowen's inner wolf, always wary and cautious, suddenly flared to life. She felt a sharp, involuntary pull towards Cassian, her wolf's voice echoing through her mind with a single, stunned exclamation:
Mate!
The word reverberated through her senses, sending a jolt of shock and disbelief through her body. Her knees weakened, and she struggled to keep herself upright.
This godly alpha, whose very aura seemed to freeze the aura around him, was her mate. The realization struck her with a force that left her trembling. She could hear whispers of admiration and fear from the other alphas and omegas in the room, their voices low and awed.
So, this is Cassian—the infamous alpha, she thought, her mind racing. And he's my mate.
She has heard a lot about him but never saw him.
But as she looked up at him, her heart sinking, she saw something that made her blood run cold. Cassian's eyes, once harsh and rigid, now held a flicker of something dark and unsettling—hatred.
It was a look that cut through the shock and left her reeling. The hatred in his gaze was obvious, a stark contrast to the godly image he projected. It was as if he could see straight through her, seeing only a lowly omega maid.
Elowen's breath caught in her throat. Why would he hate her? They had never met before, and she had done nothing to provoke him. Was it simply because she was an omega, or was there something more to his disdain?
As the realization settled over her, the coldness in Cassian's eyes made it clear that her place was not with him—no matter how much her wolf yearned for it. The difference between the admiration and the hatred left her feeling lost and frightened, her hope for a better future suddenly slipping through her fingers.
Cassian's gaze hardened as he looked down at Elowen, his contempt barely concealed. "Pathetic omega," he muttered under his breath, the words like daggers to her heart.
Elowen's entire world seemed to collapse around her at those words. Her knees buckled, and she could feel a sharp, piercing pain in her chest—a pain that seemed to tear at her very soul. Her face flushed with a deep crimson, and tears welled up in her eyes. The humiliation and the cold disdain from Cassian made her feel utterly worthless.
Before she could fully grasp what was happening, Cassian took a step forward, his posture shifting from disdain to resolve. "Since you're so eager to be in my presence," he said, his voice loud enough to be heard by everyone in the hall, "let me make this clear."
The room fell into a stunned silence. Elowen's breath came in shallow gasps as she tried to steady herself, her vision blurring with tears. Cassian's expression was unreadable, his cold eyes fixed on her as he began the ritualistic vow of rejection.
"I, Cassian, reject you," he declared, his voice echoing with a finality that left no room for doubt. "You are unworthy to be my mate. I cast you aside."
"Ahhhh!!!!" The words struck Elowen with a force that felt like a physical blow. A heart-wrenching scream tore from her lips, a raw, agonised cry that reverberated through the hall. The intense pain of rejection overwhelmed her, a wave of despair crashing over her with such ferocity that she could scarcely breathe.
Her vision darkened around the edges, the world spinning uncontrollably. Her legs gave out completely, and she felt herself collapsing. As her body crumpled to the floor, Cassian's strong arms reached out instinctively, catching her as she fell. For a brief moment, she felt the warmth of his touch—a touch that was at once both tender and cold.
Elowen's mind was a blur of pain and confusion as she slipped into unconsciousness. The last thing she registered before the darkness claimed her was the harsh reality of Cassian's rejection and the coldness of his aura.