Rejection…
The word carries its own weight.
Celeste felt like her tongue was seared by the word. It was as if the word was a hot coal that she had to spit out, or it would consume her. She could feel the lump in her throat, threatening to choke her, but somehow she managed to say it out loud without a pause.
Jeremy's body tensed, but he nodded slightly and didn't seem to be surprised. It was as if he had been expecting this, but that didn't make it any less painful. He looked up at her. She caught a fleeting glimpse of sadness in his eyes before he turned away.
In truth, they both knew that rejection was the only option.
Fate was playing a joke on them. How could she and he be both siblings and mates? They could only choose one.
It should not be a difficult decision, and both of them knew very well what they were going to choose eventually.
But when they had to choose, it was difficult.
And it was somehow painful. But neither of them would admit it. They had built up something between them these days. And now, before they could truly figure out what it was, they were going to shatter it.
"So… Are you going to perform the rejection ritual?" When the word came out of her mouth again, it still hurt. But it hurt less this time.
Jeremy's eyes met hers. "We both know there's no other way. We...have no future."
Their gaze broke.
They looked up at the sky, waiting for the moon to rise. Celeste's mind wandered. The moon's power over wolves was so strong during the full moon, yet tonight, even though it was still a round plate, its power seemed significantly weakened.
A small change had made a big difference. How strange was that?
"Do you ... know how to perform the ritual?" Jeremy asked, his voice shivering a little.
Celeste shook her head and looked back at him. Jeremy scratched his head, looking equally confused. Like a lost puppy.
For a moment, they both sat there, staring at each other. Like two fools.
Goddess, they were two clueless fools.
It was somehow funny. Unexpectedly, one of them smiled, and the smile contaminated the other. And soon, the smiles grew into laughing.
Jeremy and Celeste were standing outside Byron's cabin.
They shared a fleeting glance with one another before Celeste nodded her head in a resolute manner. With a slight gulp of air, Jeremy rapped his knuckles against the wooden door.
Ever since their conversation on the rooftop, they had both agreed that it was time to undergo rejection and break their mate bond. The only problem was, they had no idea what the ceremony entailed. After a discussion, they decided to consult Byron for guidance.
But they had no intention of revealing the true nature of their relationship to him, as this was a secret that need not be shared with others.
But since that heart-to-heart, something had shifted between them. The discomfort and awkwardness that had once plagued their interactions were dissipated, replaced by newfound openness and a subtle hint of sadness.
As they stood outside Byron's door, Celeste felt the fluttering of her heartbeat in her chest. She wasn't sure if it was due to the impending conversation about rejection or the prospect of delving deeper into the complexities of their bond.
They had debated whether or not to seek out Byron. Because that could expose their secret. But they were at their wits' end and did not know what else to do. They read books about werewolves and tried to find a clue. But nothing was mentioned. With no one to turn to, they finally agreed to ask their Alpha.
Even so, it took them an excruciatingly long time, almost two full days, to gather the courage to be here. They were both plagued by a strange sense of dread. The thought of exposing their secret was unnerving, but the longer they procrastinated, the more unbearable the uncertainty became.
Meanwhile, Celeste could sense that her wolf was regaining her strength. It was as if her wolf was biding its time, waiting for the right moment to strike. The prospect of her wolf's resurgence filled her with a sense of unease and … anticipation?
As her wolf had mostly recovered, Celeste could feel the invisible thread connecting her and Jeremy. And the thread was slowly but steadily pulling them closer together. At long last, they found themselves standing before Byron's door, braced for the inevitable moment when the thread would finally be severed.
The door creaked open, and Byron seemed a little surprised at the sight of both of them. Jeremy had made the phone call, and Byron was probably expecting only him.
His eyes darted back and forth between Celeste and Jeremy, making her a little exposed. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, trying to hide her discomfort.
But despite her unease, Celeste was happy to see Byron. It had been a long time since they last spoke.
She had heard that the Alpha had changed since the attack. She was told that Byron start to keep to himself, preferring solitude over the company. But now, as she looked at him, he seemed to be back to his old self – or at least, he was trying to be.
Jeremy coughed, and Byron stepped back to hold the door open wider. He gestured for them to come inside, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Come on in," he said, his voice warm and inviting.
Jeremy and Celeste walked in, taking in the cozy living room with its comfortable-looking sofa and armchairs. The scent of freshly-brewed coffee wafted through the air.
"Would you like something to drink? Coffee?"
"Coffee. Thanks." Jeremy and Celeste replied in unison. They exchanged a quick, awkward glance, unsure of what to say next. Celeste felt her cheeks grow warm, and she looked away, hoping to hide her embarrassment.
Byron didn't seem to notice the exchange between them. He nodded before heading back to the kitchen. After a few minutes, he returned with two cups of coffee, handing one to each of them.
He sat down on the sofa, taking a sip of it before looking at them both.
"So, you want to perform the rejection?"