Twice Rejected

Self consciousness

Koko's POV



Walking towards the woman we wanted to buy clothes from earlier, I began to hear whispers directed at me.



"Did you see her? Her eyes are just like a demon's."



"Not just a demon, I heard she was cursed too!" 



"Cursed? What do you mean?"



"I heard that she was driven from her pack because of the terrible things she had done there."



"And she dares come over to our pack to seduce our alpha?"



"But didn't they say that the alpha called her his mate? It was in the presence of his sentinels."



Then a familiar voice said in anger." Who dares to say such nonsense? Who gives you the guts to say that the alpha would call someone like her his mate?"



" That's what we heard, madam. The alpha called her his mate!"



"She is not the mate to the alpha! She bewitched him with her cursed eyes!"



"I thought so too. Everyone, let no one sell anything to this demon!"



"Yes, we shouldn't sell anything to her!" 



I wanted to look at the person with the familiar voice, but because I didn't want them to see my eyes, I quickly left the woman's shop. 



I was looking down as I walked briskly towards the exit. My eyes were streaming with tears and I wished I had just gone with Laci. 



If I only knew I would be facing mockery, I wouldn't have even stepped out of the palace. If these people could say all these things, I couldn't imagine what the servants would be saying.



As I was walking looking down, I almost bumped into someone. I immediately apologized, but it seemed the person was out for my blood instead.



"It seems that cursed eyes of yours aren't meant to see ahead, but to give bad luck! Don't let your filthy body touch me!" A woman said, pushing me away from herself.



I staggered backward and as I was about to fall, I was held back by a pair of strong arms. 



"Easy, lady. Are you okay?" A masculine voice asked.



"I… I.. am fine. Thanks for your help." I managed to say without looking up. 



The lady I almost bumped into moved closer to me. "You filthy thing! How could you touch me with your cursed hands!"



"Are you intentionally looking for trouble? This lady was pushed by you and she deserves an apology, but here you are raining curses on her?" The man defended me. I tried to stop him from talking, but he just patted my hands 



The woman scoffed. "Do you even have an idea whom you are defending? Take a look at her and see if you will still let her touch you!"



"I am not blind. I can see perfectly well. In fact, I have seen her ever since she arrived in the market with the Alpha's sister." He replied, stressing the last words.



"You… I don't care if she came with the alpha's sister. She is cursed! And she needs to leave our alpha alone!" 



"Then why don't you go and tell the alpha the same thing? Why are you making a lot of noise instead?" He asked.



"Who are you to talk to me like that?" The woman was getting furious.



"I can see you are dressed royally. Which means you must be a royal relative. Instead of airing your dirty linen in public, why don't you just trash the matter yourself?" He replied to her again.



The woman stomped her foot on the ground as she walked away in anger. I managed to catch a glimpse of her and it seems she is one of Niyol's aunts. 



I think her name is Aunt Maria or something. I guessed she must have seen me with Laci earlier and decided to instigate the curses.



I really didn't understand why they were being mean to me. I only wanted to be happy with my mate, but it seemed there would always be hindrances.



"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" The man asked again.



Still looking down, I shook my head. "I am fine. Thank you so much, sir, for your help. I'll have to leave now." 



As I turned to leave, he held me back." Hold on, I will escort you to the entrance. I will wait till your driver comes. They might come back to trouble you."



"No need, please. I… I will be fine on my own." I protested.



"Of course, you will be fine, but not on your own. Don't worry, I won't stay close to you. I will just stay a little distance away and scare off any mouth monsters coming your way." He insisted.



I almost laughed at his words, but I held back. I was in a serious situation. It's not something I could just be laughing at.



"I won't tell you to raise your head, but can I at least hold your hands so you don't bump into anyone!" He asked.



I really don't like the idea of someone holding my hands, but I hate that I might really have to raise my head if I wanted to walk through this market. It was getting busier.



"Alright. But you will have to let go immediately when we get to the entrance." I told him.



"Yes, your majesty!" He said, making a bowing gesture. I really couldn't hold the laughter in again as I let it out softly .



"I am not her majesty, please," I said, trying to stop myself from laughing out loud.



"I don't know your name, your majesty." 



"Stop calling me that. My name is Koko." I said.



"Beautiful name for a beautiful soul. And your humble servant is called Henry," he said.



"Pleased to meet you, Henry. And I am truly grateful that you stood up for me."



"It's nothing, Koko. At least it earned me a friend." Henry replied.



"A friend?" I asked.



"Aren't you going to be my friend? I already took you as my friend," he said.



"I don't think you would want to be a friend with someone like me."



"Someone like you? What is wrong with you? Is it because of what those women said? I don't care. I don't believe in those things."



I wanted to have a friend, but it sounded strange to my ears, because no one has ever asked me to be my friend.



I decided to test the waters. What if he really saw my eyes, would he still want to be friends with me?



I stopped moving and I raised my head slowly to look at him." Are you sure you don't care if I look different?" 



He stared right into my eyes and smiled." Now I can see what Niyol saw in you! Damn you are beautiful!" 



I was surprised at his words. Wait, was he talking to me or someone else?



"Are… are you still talking to me or is there someone behind me?" I asked. But he just mentioned my mate's name. 



"Of course, I am talking about you, silly," he said, smiling.



"You are beautiful Koko. It seems you don't look in the mirror. Maybe I should buy you one right now? Or we could just go over to any…"



"Please stop! I don't want to go anywhere. And I truly appreciate your flattering." I replied, shaking my head.



I don't want to ever look in the mirror. I knew I wasn't beautiful. The really beautiful one was Hanola and because of the constant spite from my mother, I stopped looking at the mirror ever since my father died.



That was when I was seven years old.



"Lost in thoughts again, Koko?" Henry's voice brought me back to reality.



We were already at the supermarket entrance. He was still holding my hands when a black sleek car drove in front of us and packed.



A smartly dressed man opened the back door and a long pair of female legs stepped out. I looked away because I don't want to be scolded by whoever was coming out of the car.



The woman was about to walk past us when she stopped.



"Henry? What are you doing at the entrance of the supermarket?" The strange woman asked.



I didn't dare look up.



"Ohh.. I don't remember the supermarket is owned by you." Henry replied, his tone was harsh.



I heard a scoff from the woman as she whispered into his ears." It will soon be mine, because I am going to be the Luna soon when I finally marry the alpha." 



I heard the words clearly, because I was close to Henry. My hands gripped his hands tightly as my heart began to beat faster.



Who was this woman and which alpha was she talking about? But Laci said this supermarket was built by Niyol, so who was this woman talking about?



"Although I heard he has one measly cursed girl who he assumed to be his mate. I don't care, because I am going to drive her out." She said, turning to leave.



The sound of heels was playing in my ears and it was like I was going to faint at any moment. 



Am I going to be rejected again?

Chapter 41 - Twice Rejected