The Curse Of Rejection
Search For Happiness

AYSU

“What?“Aysu was beyond startled after hearing the hot gist Magnetino rushed to inform her about. She shifted her position on the bed, and with all seriousness, she asked, “Are you sure about that?”

Magentino nodded, the blondeness of his hair glowing thanks to the sunlight that peered into the room. “Her name is Mayana. She is the last woman he was with. It seemed they were in a serious relationship back then. And now that she is back, she might want to get back with him.”

“I see.” Aysu chastised the feeling of betrayal growing in her soul but she could not do so for long. Neither could her face hide her true feelings about the situation. With an ugly sneer on her lips, she looked towards the window and asked, “Is she still there?”

“She hasn’t left his room since she arrived.”

“That’s fine. You don’t have to report this issue to me anymore.”

“But-”

“And make sure word doesn’t spread. I have to maintain a good image regardless of what Alpha Ximun has chosen to do with his life.”

Magnetino, who she had grown a little fond of over the past few days, settled at the end of her bed, his eyes carrying concern. “Are you sure about this? Are you going to ignore him while he taints the sacredness of your bond?”

“If it wasn’t for the curse, I wouldn’t be bonded to such a man.” Aysu sighed, her breath reminding her that she was yet to brush. “I just want to enjoy the bliss of being curse-free. I don’t think that’s a lot to ask for.”

“Do you really think the curse has been broken?” From her few talks with Magnetino, she found out that everyone in the kingdom was indeed knowledgeable about the curse their Alpha King possessed. In fact, they had details of all the women he was with in the past and were aware of the nature of the rejection for each relationship.

Aysu thought that the people of Tarmish Pack were intrusive with the things they had to say about her cursed life, but Alpha’s Ximun situation was way worse. Even a snake on the street would have something to say about him.

Magnetino continued with his words of concern, “According to everything I have heard so far, solving the curse may be more complicated than mating with someone that has equal number of rejections. So, do you think it is advisable to stay away from the King?”

“I hope all I know about breaking the curse is all there is to it,” Aysu responded. “It sucks enough that I am stuck in this place, and with a so-called mate that entertains his ex barely days after his wedding ceremony. So, at this point,” she got up after she searched for her slippers with her feet, “I prefer being on my own than attempting to develop a mate bond that I don’t care for.”

“You are a really sad woman, Aysu,” Magnetino blurted and Aysu’s frown caused him to startle with apology. His head instantly bowed, he pleaded, “I am so sorry, I should be more careful with my words. I-”

“You are right,” Aysu stopped his cute rambling. “I am a sad person.” Her legs dragged towards the closest window. “Ever since I turned eighteen, my life has turned into a huge mess that always manages to ruin my soul. Everything I knew about feeling happiness is now a distant blur and it is really hard for me to replace that happiness.”

“How do you intend to replace happiness?” he asked.

“That is a good question. I ask myself that every time I think about what it means to be happy.” The lovely breeze caressed her face and the fact that wasn’t enough to plant a smile on her face saddened her soul even more. She then looked down and saw some wolves strutting into the palace, it seemed the people of Night Crimson Pack were more open to the idea of their wolves walking about in the daylight. “How do I make myself happy? What do I do to replace that happiness? But then, will I ever be happy?”

“Hmm.” Magentino’s hum was heavy. “I wonder the same as well because I am mostly unable to make myself happy.”

She turned to face him. “So, how do you feel joy?”

“I reach out to people for help.”

Her eyes narrowed. “How so?”

“I have my people whose company always drives away my sorrow.”

“What happens when they are not there?” Aysu had no such people. Even in her father’s house, she barely socialised with those she considered family because the fact that she was an orphan was always printed in the back of her head. She chose to be careful in how she related with even her father.

“I either use my memories with them to fuel myself out of sadness, or I binge-watch movies. Sometimes, I take a walk.”

“A walk sounds nice.”Aysu recalled the very long one she had after her first, disastrous meeting with Alpha Ximun. It was somewhat refreshing despite how that night went. “I can do that while I am here. But I need more things. I really wish to feel happiness once again. I want my heart to flutter because of simple things and I want to feel a genuine smile on my lips.”

“I think we can replace something for you.”

“Make sure it is something that doesn’t involve seeing or bumping into Alpha Ximun,” Aysu warned, her recently dyed, black hair falling to the side.

Magentino smiled and Aysu appreciated his help and company. Then, she hoped that he would be around for a long time because he really was a huge distraction from the stirring that kept dancing in her heart thanks to the mate bond.

Later that day, when dusk arrived, Aysu opted to take a walk with the hope that she would replace something amusing while strolling. But it seemed that it was a bad idea. Or perhaps, sneaking out and choosing to walk alone was the bad idea.

Because, as she slowly moved, all she could think about was Ximun. The image of his unique handsomeness imprinted in her head, she wondered if he was still with the Mayana woman who was supposedly the one he showed much love to.

She then wondered if he was as confused as she was concerning their mate bond. As it was, each time she tried not to dwell on their bond, her heart and mind did the opposite and chose to think about him as though he was a long-time lover.

While wishing that Alora was awake, Aysu sighed and momentarily planted her focus on the cluster of trees she was walking past. That led her to discover that there was a branched path towards her right.

That path had more trees, that was all there was to it. But a strong pull and desire in her heart urged her to move closer to that side. So, while she wondered whether her heart was faulty or sick, she followed its lead, her careful legs itching with weird excitement.

Seconds later, she was walking into the depths of that forest and soon, a manly grunt reached her ears.

Aysu, who was already certain that she was lost, breathed a sigh in relief and attempted to replace the source of the grunts that was periodically followed by swoosh-like sounds.

“Hello,” she gently called. “If you are not the figment of my imagination, please signify.”

Aysu got no response to her ridiculous utterance, so she kept walking until she reached a particular end where a cluster of leaves built a wall. Once she managed to walk past that mass of green leaves, a hot spring, beautiful green scenery and the naked, sweaty broad back of a man greeted her.

“Hi.” The man who was yielding a sword with a warrior stance turned and she finally understood why her heart was acting funny. With emptiness in her eyes, Aysu halted her steps and from a distance, she said, “Ximun.”