3. Arabella

Chapter 3

Arabella

" H i, Maverick," I approach him with a smile hoping we can discuss our mating before we go into the formal ceremony in front of everyone. After his cold look while we were in front of everyone I'm afraid of what will happen.

"Go away, Arabella," he snarls, giving me a nasty look before turning his back to me.

I take a quick look around to see if there is anyone else in the room yet before trying once more to speak with him. "Did I do something wrong? We barely know one another. I promise I can be a good mate for you." I'm aware it sounds like I'm begging but at this point, the list of options is growing narrower by the minute. I barely know him except from rumors but we can get to know one another over the decades or even centuries we will have together.

"You are a disgrace to the Seraphim, heck to all Angels. Your magic barely works. How would you make a good mate?" His voice is cold as he turns to look at me.

"My magic works for the most part, there are small times when it acts up but I've been working on it and it happens less and less. I would make you proud, and grow to love you and care for our family should we choose to have one, one day." I can say more, do more, but the only other thing I can think of is to tell him that I will submit to what he wants but I can't do that. I won't be like my mother in that sense.

"From the stories I have heard that isn't true. Sure, you may believe you would make a good mate but would you submit to me? Listen to what I tell you and accept the life I would give you?" He stares at me like he already knows the answer.

"I would try to submit to you." The words taste wrong coming from my lips. I don't want to give up who I am and will be for someone else. I should be accepted for how I am, it's the one thing I fought for with my family. I had to give that up at home. I don't want to do it again. "I don't care about my rank in this world. I would be a Dominion if that's what you wanted for me." If we are mated he will technically rise to my rank but we could always choose to remain at his.

"This has nothing to do with rank, Arabella," he laughs. "Will you or will you not submit to me?"

"I...," I mumble trying to find the right words. I don't exactly want to share my family drama but I think it's the only way he will understand. "I've watched my mother submit to my father my whole life. I've been tossed to the side and not treated like I'm my own person within my own family. I want a happy family in my future not a controlling one. I will do my best to follow your wishes but I have my own wants and needs that need to be considered and come first as well."

"That's what I thought," he shakes his head. "I don't know if we would be the right fit together."

"We won't know if we don't try," I answer in a whisper. A small amount of hope still lingers. I know if we communicated and worked together we could make this work. There is always a chance. Staying positive is the only outlook I have right now.

Maverick looks like he is about to answer but closes his mouth when the door opens again and two more couples walk through the door. We remain on the far side of the room, close enough to appear like we are a team but not far enough to look like there is an issue between us.

Another thirty minutes pass and twelve more couples come to join us in the room before Malach appears. The silence in the room is deafening by this point. No one is talking all too nervous about what comes next. I have the longest time sitting here wondering what will happen. Will Maverick accept me and give this a shot or reject me outright? It's tense and I'm terrified.

"Thank you all for waiting here patiently," Malach smiles as he looks between all the different couples. "This is one of our most successful mating ceremonies to date. So many couples were chosen by the Divine, and it is a moment of celebration. Now, I know that mixed with the fear you all are feeling is also a sense of whether this is the right partner for me. That is a decision for you to make. You can trust in the Divine, or you can hope that in time and with help, your mate can improve themselves to be what you wish. It is your choice to make."

He pauses and looks around at each of us before stopping on me for longer than others and giving me a soft but sad smile. It's like he knows something that I don't and it makes me panic more. I am already terrified that Maverick will reject me, now it feels like that really is going to happen.

"Let's go out there and continue this ceremony." Malach turns his back and exits the room expecting all of us to follow without question. Maverick and I are the last to exit as we had taken the back of the room far away from the others. Being the last to exit the room helps my anxiety slightly. It means more time before I have to stand in front of my father and accept my mate in hopes he does the same. I know if Maverick rejects me I will be blamed. That isn't something I can handle at all.

"Let's welcome our first couple onto the stage, Seraphim Arabella and Dominion Maverick," Malach calls out as his assistant pushes us forward.

I had really hoped the two of us coming out last would have saved us from going first. It would have been a small mercy buying me a little bit more time.

"The ceremony goes in order of power. As a Seraphim, you have the highest power, so you are first," Malach's assistant answers, somehow knowing my confusion when I never commented out loud.

Instead of trying to put it off any longer, I move onto the stage with Maverick following behind. Trust in the Divine is my only option now. I have good qualities and Maverick should know that. He has to give me a chance. Especially considering how close our fathers are. He wouldn't just risk his and his father's position by rejecting me and angering my father. Right?

Malach has been talking for some time while my thoughts took over. Going back and forth on whether I am about to be rejected or not keeps my mind occupied as I wait for the moment to come. Maybe I could reject him first. I have a second mate, after all, the Divine also connected me with Warrick. If I reject Maverick I could go find Warrick and live happily ever after. But could I do that? Could I wreck Maverick's life before giving him a chance? No, I don't think I could. I'm too nice for that and I believe that everyone deserves a chance.

"I reject Seraphim Arabella as my mate," Maverick's voice rings out loud and clear pulling my attention to him. I gasp, my jaw dropping open as I watch him. I thought when we talked he was reconsidering rejecting me, but it's clear that wasn't true.

I want to argue, to tell him to reconsider, but no words come to me. I snap my jaw shut, hold my head high, and try to keep the tears at bay as I watch him.

"Are you sure that's what you want?" Malach questions softly, leaning closer to Maverick. His eyes are hard as he stares my mate, or well my rejected mate, down.

"Positive. I, Dominion Maverick, reject Seraphim Arabella for her lack of control over her powers and her unwillingness to be submissive."

The rejection burns, right before a sharp pain hits the center of my chest. With his official decision, the bond between us snaps in half. It's a true testament to my control as I stand still through the pain instead of doubling over from it. I swallow my scream not wanting to give Maverick any sort of satisfaction.

I watch as Maverick turns and walks away without looking back. A scuffle sounds from the audience and I see Maverick's father fuming and storming out. I want to avoid looking at my father but it's impossible, he is silent in the crowd staring at me. I can tell how angry he is though I'm sure no one else notices the tightness in his jaw. I will pay tonight for this, that's for sure. With one final look at everyone, I walk off stage and out of the building, my father behind me screaming at me to stop. I don't listen, instead choosing to ignore him. The only thing I feel right now is numb, and I need room to breathe, sort through my emotions, and wrap my head around what happens next. Pulling out my wings, I take to the sky, flying to the one place I know I'll be safe—my great-grandmother.

"Bella, Sweetheart, what are you doing here?" Great-grandmother Aurora questions, her voice full of concern.

The second I see her the dam breaks and the tears fall. Unable to hold them back I collapse to my knees in her doorway and cover my face as I sob.

"Oh, Sweetheart," she drops to her knees in front of me, pulling me in for a hug. "He wasn't worth it. Any man who doesn't see your worth isn't the one for you. Let's get you inside and get a cup of tea, then we can talk."

My great-grandmother helps me rise to my feet, guiding me into her kitchen and helping me sit in a chair at the table. I watch as she moves around the small room getting everything for our tea. It takes a bit but slowly I'm able to get control of my emotions and the tears slowly stop, allowing me to clearly see the kitchen once more. The white cabinets stand out from the teal walls. The large window above the sink is open, allowing fresh air to enter and circulate around the room. Closing my eyes I take several deep breaths, letting the fresh air enter my lungs.

"Thank you, Memaw," I smile, opening my eyes.

"You're welcome, Sweetheart. You know I'm always here for you no matter what." She places a cup of hot tea in front of me. My hands immediately grasp the mug, letting the heat help relax my muscles. "I want to give you some information while you're here."

"Information?" I inquire, tilting my head.

"Yes. About what is to happen next," she answers with a soft smile. "You will most likely be sent to RISE Academy."

"That's the reform place, right?" I have heard about it; everyone has, but only some get sent there when rejected, I thought. Not that rejections happen often, as it is.

"Yes, Reform Institute of Self-Enhancement is where most rejected angels are sent. It's not a bad place. If anything, it's just somewhere safe that angels can go to improve themselves, and many times, their mate takes them back." I watch as my memaw takes a sip of tea before nodding at me to do the same. Bringing the steaming cup to my lips, I let the honey chamomile soothe my lungs before taking a sip.

"So the rumors are true? It's an academy where I have to go and change myself to be what my mate wants?" My voice shakes, and I take another sip, hoping the tea will calm me. I don't want to change myself and my ways just to make someone else happy. "I should be accepted for who I am."

"I know, Sweetheart. You are perfect as you are, and in time, your mate will see that. Let me give you some history of RISE Academy before we talk about what to expect." Memaw reaches across the table and pats my hand in a loving gesture. "The Academy was created many, many centuries ago when our ancestors faced the first mate rejection. No one had thought it was possible until it had been done. That first rejected mate was left alone, shunned from society, and ended up dying from loneliness well before she ever should have. It was only a few years after her death when another rejection took place. Our ancestors didn't want to see another angel die well before their time and decided that there needed to be a safe place for the rejected to go and learn in hopes their mate would take them back."

"Why do they assume it's the rejected angels' fault?" I snarl, clenching my hand in a fist. I hate that we get blamed. It's not my fault I'm different. "Maybe the person doing the rejection should go to the school and fix themselves for thinking they are superior."

"I hear you, Sweetheart, but that's just not how our society works. The rejected gets blamed, even if it's wrong," Memaw sighs. "I wish it were different, I really do. Ready to keep going?"

"Yeah," I sigh. "Hit me with the rest of our messed up past."

"With the Divine's blessing, our ancestors reached out to the other races to see if they had the same issues. As other races provided their input, the leaders decided there was enough of a need to create a safe place for the rejected to go. That is how RISE Academy was created. It's a safe place for people to go, to discover and better themselves. Please don't view this as a bad thing for yourself if anything look at this as an opportunity to thrive in an environment away from your father and his expectations. You, my sweet great-granddaughter, are going to thrive while attending RISE."

"Thank you, Memaw," I give her a soft smile, reaching across the table to grasp her hands. "I was terrified, and still am, of what's to come, but knowing that you believe in me is everything I need."

"I'm so happy to hear that," she grasps my hands in return. "You are the brightest young woman I have ever known. You, Arabella, were meant to thrive in this life and I have every belief that you will do just that."

Both of us turn our heads at the same time when we hear my father shouting from a distance out the open windows.

"ARABELLA!!!!" he shouts, his voice carrying. "YOU GET YOUR WORTHLESS PIECE OF SHIT ASS OUT HERE RIGHT THIS SECOND! HOW DARE YOU EMBARESS THIS FAMILY LIKE THAT!"

I knew he was going to be angry. I already know what is going to be coming but it's worth it. Everything I've done is worth it if it means I'm free.

"He got here faster than I expected," Memaw chuckles. "One last thing. You may find out things about yourself and your past while at the academy. Do not be scared. Do your research and learn everything you can. You were blessed by the Divine with extraordinary powers and bloodline. Do not fear it. Embrace it. Promise me?" She demands, her eyes widening as my father kicks in the front door behind me. "You must promise me, do not fear yourself, and trust the Fallen."

"I… AHHH!!," my sentence is cut off as I scream when my father grasps my hair, yanking me off the kitchen chair.

"I told you that you would be punished if rejected. You are a disgrace to our family, the Seraphim, and the angels!" he snarls, pulling me behind him and toward the door.

"Let her go, Castiel!" Memaw shouts behind us. She tries to grasp my arm and hold me back but my father's grip is too tight on my hair and it only causes me further pain.

"Oh shut up you crazy old woman!" he shouts at her. "Stop filling my daughter's head with your nonsense. You are probably why she was rejected. Letting her believe she can think for herself and not follow what her father and even her mate tell her. This isn't a woman's world. It's a man's." He shoves me in front of him out the door before pushing my great-grandmother away from us. "Stay away from my daughter or you won't like the consequences!"

"MEMAW!" I try to fight his hold but it's too strong. "I promise, Memaw! I promise to keep an open mind!" It's the only thing I can give her as my father drags me away toward our house. I see the smile and acceptance my great-grandmother gives me as we walk away and it gives me the strength I need for what's to come.