Submission is Not My Style novel Chapter 3

KALI

"I always have a choice."

The words sound strong, but in truth, it’s hard to breathe. Hard to think. His scent lingers around me, wrapping me in invisible chains, suffocating me.

Travis. Travis. Of all people.

My mate.

I want to scream. I want to claw at my own skin and rip the bond away as I meet his stunned gaze, watching as he blinks rapidly, his lips slightly parted, as if struggling to process my words.

"What do you mean by that statement?" His voice lacks its usual cocky edge. It’s uneven. Almost… unsure.

A cruel smirk tugs at my lips despite the horror twisting in my stomach. “It’s exactly what you think,” I say, waiting for the realisation to sink in.

His jaw clenches. His fists curl at his sides. A flash of something—fear—flickers in his blue eyes before he masks it with fury.

"You wouldn’t dare reject me, Kali," he snarls, his body radiating dominance. "You wouldn’t dare reject your mate. Do you have any idea how many women in this pack would kill to be in your position? To be my Luna?"

His arrogance snaps something inside me.

Lucky? LUCKY?

I let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “Oh, Travis,” I say, shaking my head. “Do I look like any of those women to you?”

His nostrils flare, and I know he doesn’t like my tone. But I don’t care. Because I refuse to submit.

"Kali, I am your mate, and—"

"I, Kali, reject you, Alpha Travis, future Alpha of the Red Night Pack, as my mate and Alpha." His eyes widen in horror, but I don’t stop. "I refuse to submit to you—now and forever."

The moment the last word leaves my lips, it happens.

Pain.

Blinding, suffocating, unbearable pain.

A strangled cry rips from my throat as my knees buckle. My entire body seizes up, like my bones are shattering from the inside out. I clutch my chest, gasping, drowning in agony. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt before, worse than any beating, worse than any punishment I’ve endured.

Across from me, Travis collapses to the floor, his hands clawing at his chest, his face contorted in agony. His breath comes out in ragged, broken gasps, his entire body trembling as if he’s fighting something he can’t control.

I force my gaze up, my vision blurred with unshed tears. And that’s when I see it—his eyes, glowing a deep, dangerous shade of gold.

His wolf is taking over.

His body convulses, his growls turning guttural, inhuman. He’s losing control, and my stomach drops because I know what this means. If he doesn’t accept the rejection, the pain will never stop.

“Travis,” I gasp, my voice hoarse. “Accept it.”

His head snaps up, his breathing ragged, his pupils dilated.

“I will never accept this,” he snarls. His voice is deeper, rougher, his wolf barely restrained.

I scream as another wave of pain crashes over me, my body curling into itself. "You have to," I choke out. "Or we’ll both die from this. You know I have nothing to lose if I die. Unlike you."

For a moment, he hesitates, his entire body shaking, his wolf fighting against him. But then, after what feels like an eternity, his lips curl back in a snarl.

"I, Alpha Travis, future Alpha of the Red Night Pack, accept your rejection," he spits in fury. "And I reject you, Kali, as my mate and Luna."

The pain lessens instantly, like a crushing weight lifting off my chest. I gasp for air, my body still trembling, my limbs weak. But I can breathe.

Slowly, I push myself up, my limbs weak and sore.

Travis remains on the ground, panting heavily. But when he finally lifts his head, his expression is deadly.

“You’ll regret this,” he growls, his voice low, dangerous. “Do you have any idea what you just did?”

I meet his glare, my lips curling into a bitter smirk. “Yeah,” I say, brushing the dust off my clothes. “I just saved myself from a lifetime of hell.”

His eyes darken, his entire body vibrating with suppressed fury as he pulls himself up. "You’ll pay for this, Kali. You don’t get to humiliate me and walk away." He spits.

I roll my eyes, unimpressed. “Oh, Travis, I know your ego is bruised, but don’t worry.” I lean in slightly, lowering my voice mockingly. “I won’t tell the rest of the pack that I rejected you. You can still pick one of your little playthings and pretend she’s your mate. Grace, maybe? I bet she’d be thrilled."

His nostrils flare, but before he can respond, I turn on my heel and walk away. Thankfully, he doesn’t stop me.

The moment I step outside, the cold night air hits me, and I inhale deeply, trying to steady my pounding heart. My body still aches, and a hollow, empty feeling settles in my chest.

My wolf is silent.

And despite everything—despite knowing I made the right choice—a part of me feels like I just shattered something inside myself that will never be whole again.

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