That Crazy Witchcraft

7. No Regrets - They Don't Work

Thea threw herself down on her bed. She hadn't even waited for Greyson to answer. It didn't matter if he did or didn't. She rejected him. When a wolf rejects their mate, the connection is broken. You feel an immediate, agonising pain which can go on for several minutes but it can take a good few days before everything that links you to your mate is removed. It helps if the other accepts your rejection, without it the pain can last up to a week.

It was even worse than Thea expected but she managed to make it through by giving nothing away. With the help of Ned who helped her to her feet and even managed to find a bag of ice for her throbbing eye before escorting (practically carrying) Thea upstairs. She managed to convince everyone she fell when dancing and hurt herself, explaining her pain and the eye and why she was leaving the party early. Greyson on the other hand apparently broke a few lounge chairs and apparently made quite a scene and had to be pulled away by his little cronies.

"Well stuff him!" Elaia huffed. "We should have knocked him senseless for hitting you."

"I know Elaia, but hitting the next Alpha wouldn't exactly look good would it?"

"I would say a lot of people would understand. I get the impression he is always very nasty to you?"

"Yeah, he is. At least this last year anyway. Probably around the time he realised I was his mate. What was the Moon Goddess thinking pairing us together?"

"I'm sure she had her reasons. I can't imagine what they might be, but I'm sure she had 'em."

"You OK?" Ned asked as he hovered in the doorway looking like he was in Forbidden territory by being in her room.

"Not even a little bit," she smiled, still holding the bag of ice to her face. "But I did the right thing." She looked nervous. "Didn't I?"

"Well you did what I would have done. You gave yourself a chance to be happy. You deserve to be happy." He looked down at his hands. "I am sorry that you were ever mated to him in the first place."

Thea lifted herself off the bed slightly to look at him. "Thanks Ned," she smiled. "I am sorry if I ruined the party for you."

He held his hands up. "Not at all! You did nothing wrong. It was Greyson the prick. Just wait as I tell the guys about -"

She couldn't explain why but Thea was suddenly nervous. "No!" She shouted, one hand out as if she could stop him. "Can we... I mean would it be alright if... I just don't want to tell anyone yet. About Greyson and me and the whole 'mates' situation."

Ned looked confused. "Why not?"

Thea sighed and looked down at her hands which were wringing the bedsheets. "I don't want to spoil the occasion. Tristan just found his mate and Amirah is amazing. They deserve to be happy and to celebrate. And finding out about me will just put a damper on things. And it might put a strain on Tristan and Greyson or even Daddy and Alpha Hanson." She shook her head. "It's just better this way."

"For everyone but you," Ned pointed out.

"Ned, you have to promise me," she said, rushing to the door of her bedroom where he was still standing. "Promise me you won't tell anyone about what you saw. I just want to pretend it didn't happen. Pretend that everything is ok and that I never met my mate. As far as anyone needs to know, I am still waiting to find him."

Ned chuckled. "They are going to notice Thea. I mean for one, what if Greyson tells everyone?" He folded his arms.

"You think he is going to tell everyone that I rejected him? He thinks I am a nobody. He -" Thea stopped, feeling a horrific pain in her chest. She doubled over in pain and let out a blood curdling scream.