Twice Rejected
Chapter 23

Koko’s POV

I felt huge sweat dropping from my forehead. I tried opening my eyes, but I felt my body aching. It seemed I was lying on a wooden bed. No wonder my body was aching seriously.

I struggled to get up from the bed with difficulty and agony. When I looked around I noticed I was in a room. It was a dimly lit room with simple artistic designs.

Where was I?

I was filled with so many questions, but no one to answer me. I got off the bed and tried walking around to check if I would see anyone.

When I came out, I was surprised to see that I was surrounded by trees and shrubs. The house or rather hut was in the middle of the forest.

Where was I? How did I get here? Who brought me here and where were the people chasing me? These questions kept bothering me.

“Are you awake, little cupcake?”

I turned around to see a young looking boy at my back. My heart almost jumped out of my chest. I patted myself as I breathed in and out.

“My gosh! You scared the daylight out of me.” I managed to say.

“Youngsters nowadays are full of fears. You have such a fragile heart.” He said, with a sly smile.

Who was he kidding? Youngsters? Does he think he was old? And what does he mean by fragile heart?

I snapped at him. “Fragile heart? That’s because you are not the one who woke up alone from a terrible dream and saw yourself in a strange hut! Not only that…”

“Just when you think you are the only person in the house, someone just popped behind your back without coming through the door! No matter how brave that person is, their heart would become fragile because it’s not made of stone!.”

I didn’t know how I was able to say so many words, but I guess I was getting to my breaking point. Fragile heart indeed! Why wouldn’t my heart be fragile?

I had been battling with insecurities all these years. Not just only that, I had to face fear of the unknown for the past weeks.

What am I doing here? How did I get here? What are you doing here? And.. who the hell are you?”

“Calm down, cupcake. My grandma saved you at the forest from some heartless werewolves… What am I doing here? I don’t think you have the right to ask me that question. You are in my grandma’s hut. You are the stranger not me.” He replied my questions.

Oh, that’s right! I was the stranger.

“I am Andrea and you are?” He asked me, stretching his hands towards me.

“My name is Koko.”

“You are not from this pack, right?”

“Yeah. I was driven away from my pack.”

“You were driven away? Why?” Andrea asked.

Was he seriously asking me why? Was he blind? Can’t he see?

“Are you b…” I wanted to ask him if he was blind or just pretending not to notice anything about it, but I stopped myself at the last minute.

I looked at him again and that was when I noticed Andrea’s eyes were fixed on one spot. His eyes, though clear, were void of life.

He really was blind.

“Yes, I am blind Koko. But that doesn’t mean I can’t tell a special person. I have special abilities since I am blind.” Andrea said, displaying a huge grin.

“I am sorry…I didn’t mean to be rude. I am really sorry.” I said.

He continued smiling at me.” Why do you keep apologizing as if you did something wrong? You are making me feel guilty.”

I bit my lower l*p to stop myself from apologizing again.

As we were talking I heard footsteps and a croaked voice.” I see you have met Andrea. I hope he didn’t give you much stress?”

I turned to see an old woman, who I knew at once was Andrea’s grandmother that saved me.

“Of course not, ma. I… he actually made me feel better. And.. he told me you saved me from Gad’s men. Thank you for saving me ma.”

“Andrea made you feel better? That’s a first. The first impression people always have of Andrea is his rudeness, yet you say he made you feel better? Do you enjoy being cursed.” He asked, ignoring my appreciation.

“Let’s just say I am used to it. I am not complaining, because in a way they are correct.” I answered.

The old woman just smiled and said nothing more. I could see she went to buy food ingredients.

“I can help with the cooking, if you don’t mind.” I offered. That was the least I could do to thank her.

“Oh! That would be great. I am actually very tired.”

“Don’t worry, I will take care of the house. And… I just want to tell you that I am grateful to you for saving my life. I don’t know what I would have done without your help.”

Koko’s POV

“It’s obvious that you would have turned into a rogue.” She replied jokingly.

Though it was a joke, it was still the bitter truth. If she hadn’t saved me, they would have done all that they could to continue keeping me outside the border.

I knew Gad was bent on punishing me. And even my mother would have hunted me down too. Pathetic right? But that was the sad reality of my life.

I was shown the kitchen and I quickly prepared the meal. It was enough for three people.

After cooking the meal, we sat down and ate the food quietly. I found out that the old woman liked quietness during meals.

Of course, it was Andrea that whispered it to me. I smiled at him. I wasn’t used to talking with people because I had been secluded all my life.

We finished our meal and I sat down with Andrea and the old woman. The old woman cleared her throat and focused her attention on me.

“Why were those men after your life?” She asked.

“That’s because I am the black eyed curse that brought death to their future Luna… my twin sister.” I simply said.

I could see Andrea’s shocked expression, but at this point, I really didn’t care how people looked at me anymore.

I really didn’t care about being mocked anymore. All I wanted was for them to spare my life.

After hearing my story, the old woman sighed but didn’t say anything.

“How could a mother be so wicked and heartless towards their child?”

“It’s fine Andrea, I am used to it already,” I said, forcing a smile.

“How could you be used to torture and humiliation? Just stay here and we will take care of you.” Andrea suggested.

As much as I would have loved to stay, but I couldn’t. I was afraid that Gad might replace me here. It was too close to my pack.

“I appreciate your gesture, but I don’t think I can stay here. I will be putting you all in danger if they replace me here. I think it’s best if I just stay away from you.” I said.

” But…”

“Andrea, let the young woman be. After all, she needs to replace her way to that special person.” the old woman said.

” I have given up on all that!”

“But your heart hasn’t. I still feel the longing in that precious heart of yours. Just keep having fate. It’s nearer than you can imagine.”

I was also tired of talking about myself so I just got up, ready to leave the place.

I had to go far away from my pack and this place was too near for comfort.

“Thank you so much for saving me back there, but I think I need to get going. I need to go far away from here. This pack is too close to my pack and they might replace a way to capture me again.” I told the old woman as I bowed deeply.

She nodded in understanding.” I understand and I will not stop you. One thing I want you to know is that you are special.”

“Special? I think you are the third person saying this to me. I guess I just have to believe it then.” I replied with a bitter smile.

“There are some plants that just need watering and sunlight to show off their growth while few needs something special for them to sprout out in their glory,” she said, smiling.

” Something special?” I asked.

“Yes. Something special that would touch their inner strength to bring out what is hidden.” she said.” And you my dear are a part of the few. Don’t lose hope, you shall sprout out in all your glory very soon.”

I didn’t understand what she meant, but I still nodded my head in appreciation. She smiled at me, showing her aged set of teeth.

“Thank you so much and I appreciate it,” I said, bowing to her.

She just waved her hands at me with a crooked smile on her face. I felt a strong wind blowing on my face and I couldn’t help but close my eyes.

After a while, I opened them. And I was surprised at what I saw. It was truly magical that she could transport someone with the wind. And it seemed the people there did not even observe it.

As I was wondering and feeling surprised at the old witch’s power, I saw people running in a direction. There was so much noise in the place and it seemed I was close to the pack’s square.

It looked like they were celebrating something, probably, a mating ceremony.

I turned around quickly because I didn’t want any attention. I didn’t want anyone to notice me. I didn’t want to be humiliated in a new pack!

As I was trying to get away from them, I felt my wolf that had been silent for some time now. Strange, what could have brought her out?

As I was trying to get away from them, I felt my wolf that had been silent for some time now. Strange, what could have brought her out?

She was whimpering and whining. I couldn’t lay my hands on what she wanted, but it seemed she didn’t want me to leave. I tried to turn again, but she held me still to the ground.

I wondered how she could hold me with that weak body of hers.

“What are you doing? We need to get the hell out of here before these people see us. Do you want them to chase us or worse?” I told my wolf in my mind.

But she wouldn’t hear any of it.” What do you think you are doing? Just tell me what the matter is and stop pushing me towards them! I am the one receiving the insults!”

I was getting frustrated!

As I was trying to calm my wolf I felt a refreshing scent I couldn’t describe, drawing me towards the ceremony filled with people. The scent was becoming stronger as I drew nearer and then I saw a fine looking young man staring at me.

His eyes were filled with hate and anger when he looked into my eyes. There it goes again!

But then my wolf whimpered loudly and called out the word that I have grown to dislike.

“Mate.”

What the f**k! Was the moon goddess giving me a second chance? Was I that lucky? I know I was supposed to feel lucky and grateful, but taking a look at my new mate, I had to think otherwise.

I was feeling over the moon yet frightened to hear something different, something I knew but wished it wouldn’t be. As I looked back at the young man, I knew it was hopeless, yet I kept hoping, like the old woman said a while ago.

He looked like someone who held an important position. Well, not that I cared, but I wondered if he would accept me.

“What the hell did you just say, you demon!” I heard him screaming.

And there it goes all over again!

All the people around us looked at me and their faces were filled with horror. I steeled my heart against those hateful stares yet I couldn’t believe I was going to face another round of humiliation.

“I cannot have a mate like you! You are a demon and you want to use your power to confuse me! I reject you! You black eyed evil!” He said as he threw me a hateful and disgusted look.

I didn’t wait to be humiliated more. It was bad enough to feel rejected twice, but to be be cursed by my second chance mate? I was fed up! I didn’t think I was ready for that test!

I laughed as tears of sadness flowed down my eyes. Same eyes that made everyone hate me. Since he already rejected me, there was no point in staying here anymore.

“She is the black eyed curse girl from the neighboring pack! I heard the news when I went to visit my cousin over there.” One of the spectators said.

” Really? Tell us what you heard!”

“I heard she killed her father when she was just seven years old by lighting their house on fire!”

“What! At such an age, she is already a disaster!

“I also heard that she was jealous of her twin sister who was supposed to be married to the Alpha’s son and she poisoned her sister’s heart and when the doctors demanded her to replace it with her heart, she ran away!”

“Ha! What an evil child to come from the womb! I pity the woman that bore her!”

“I guess that was why she ran to this pack for refuge!”

” And now she wants to bewitch our beta, Darius!”

“It will never happen, you witch! No, witches are better than you! You are not only a demon but a cursed one!”

“Get out of this pack with your bad luck!”

The talks became louder and more biting. I was cursed and bad-mouthed. I decided to leave as fast as I could. I knew they would keep hurling insults at me.

I didn’t care, but I felt pain. I didn’t plan to be different yet I wasn’t even given a chance to feel accepted.

I bit my l*p as I bore the humiliation. I turned around and began running away from the place.

I didn’t want to have anything to do with this pack or any other pack. They were all the same. They would always see me as a curse. They would always fear and abhor me. To them, I wasn’t supposed to exist.

I just started running away, deeper into the forest.

Hopefully, I might replace a pack that I can live in.

“Get out of this pock with your bad luck!”