No scent

### Chapter 1: Chapter 1

This book is under revision! Chapters with numbers in the title are older versions and will be redone soon. Thanks for sticking with me while I polish the story 💙

Born a werewolf, but born without a sense of smell. For River, it’s a flaw no one can ignore—not even her Fated Mate. Rejected and heartbroken, she fights to prove herself in a world that measures strength in ways she can’t. But when a powerful figure enters her life, everything she thought she knew about fate, love, and loyalty is challenged. Can River rise to the challenge—or will she be left behind?

Complete Chapters 20 Rating 4.7 ( 180 reviews ) Age Rating mature {"language":"en","storyId":1380912,"genres":[{"name":"Fantasy","path":"/genres/fantasy"},{"name":"Romance","path":"/genres/romance"}],"authorName":"T.S. Cobbe","authorPath":"/TSCobbe","status":"complete","lastUpdatedAt":1778410743,"chaptersCount":20,"rating":4.7,"reviewsCount":180,"ageRating":"mature"} Rejection (edited) ..

River had watched Keith from afar, her pulse quickening. He was Yorick’s friend, yes, and the next Alpha of the neighbouring pack—but today, he had asked to meet her on the playground, alone. Her heart whispered that perhaps… maybe he wanted her as his chosen mate.

But those hopes shattered the instant he spoke.

“I, Keith Moonshine, Alpha of the Moonshine Pack, hereby dissolve my bond with you, River Whiteclaw. I no longer recognize you as my Mate or as the future Luna of this pack,” Keith declared, his voice so cold it could freeze every spine in the area.

The words sliced through River like a blade. No… this couldn’t be real. He wouldn’t. Not there. Not like that.

“Keith… what do you mean by this?” she whispered, her voice trembling. Her throat felt raw, as if her body already knew the answer would rip her apart.

Keith’s face was carved from stone.

“Your brother once told me you had no sense of smell. When I first scented you, I knew immediately you were my Fated Mate. You couldn't even recognize me. That should have been my first warning. And today, the moment I saw you again, I realized you weren’t made for me.” His jaw tightened, the words tasting like poison on his tongue.

River’s stomach twisted. He had known. He had known from the start—and still, he despised her for it.

He stared into her tear-streaked face, his expression unreadable, though inside, his wolf snarled in fury at him. Had the Moon Goddess truly chosen her? How could a woman so weak, so flawed, ever be Luna of his pack? Worse—how could she, unable even to scent, be the mother of his heirs? An Alpha required strength, not weakness.

“You will never be my Luna,” he growled. “A Luna must be flawless. And you are not.”

Tears stung River’s eyes. Her fists trembled, nails biting into her palms, and her ears burned hot with rage. Flawed? Because of something I could not change? Because of something the Moon Goddess herself allowed?

“You don’t want me because I can’t smell?” Her voice cracked, then sharpened with fury. “Well, I don’t want you because you’re an arrogant, insufferable prick!”

She wiped her tears away with her sleeve, though her hands shook, and lifted her chin despite the weakness flooding her limbs. “I, River Whiteclaw of the Whiteclaw Pack, accepte your rejection. I would rather be alone for a hundred years than be Luna to you.”

The instant the words left her mouth, agony slammed into her chest. Her knees buckled. It felt like her heart was shattering into dust… like she had been hollowed out and left with nothing but pain.

Keith staggered too, clutching his chest, but he forced the pain down. He swallowed it and left her to drown in hers, alone in the rain.

Half an hour later, River was still curled on the soaked earth. Her sobs were hoarse now, her body heavy with grief. She reached for Rain, but her wolf was silent.

Please don’t leave me too. I can’t lose you as well.

No response. Just a void. Rain’s silence was worse than the rejection—it felt like her very soul had abandoned her. She was born to be Luna. To guide. To belong. Now what was she? Nothing. Empty.

Meanwhile, her brother Yorick lounged on the sofa with the television on, a bag of crisps within reach. He grabbed a handful, but nearly spilled them when the front door burst open and his old school friend stormed in.

“Keith?” Yorick shot to his feet. “What’s going on—and where’s my sister?”

Keith avoided his gaze, mumbling, “I wouldn’t know.” He stared at the puddles forming around his sneakers rather than meet Yorick’s eyes.

Yorick’s patience snapped. He had looked forward to seeing Keith all weekend, to the easy friendship they had shared since childhood. But the man standing before him now was a stranger—cold, arrogant, insufferable.

“Where is she?” Yorick pressed, his voice edged with a growl.

Keith jutted his chin, pretending strength he didn’t feel, though the sting of rejection gnawed inside him. His eyes flicked to the window, where rain lashed against the glass.

The meaning clicked in Yorick’s mind. His wolf snarled, teeth bared. “She’s out there? In the rain? What the hell have you done?”

“I rejected that mongrel,” Keith spat, his words low and vicious.

Yorick’s blood boiled, heat rising in his chest. He seized Keith by the collar, shaking him, baring his fangs. “You did what ?” he growled, voice raw with disbelief.

“I rejected River… She was my Fated Mate,” Keith said, his tone flat, as if stating a fact could excuse his cruelty.

“You rejected my sister?” Yorick’s hands tightened, knuckles white. “Selene herself paired you, and you dared defy her? You should be grateful I care more about my sister than ripping you apart…otherwise you wouldn’t still be standing.”

Keith stumbled back from the force of Yorick’s grip, but his eyes were cold, unflinching. Yorick shoved him, fury boiling over, and stormed into the night, the rain pelting down around him as if the heavens themselves raged alongside him.

Heavy rain poured down as Yorick followed the faint, familiar scent of his sister. Something River herself would never be able to do.

He found her curled on the sodden grass, trembling.

“River?” He crouched, laying a hand on her shoulder.

Through choked sobs, she gasped, “He rejected me.”

Her own voice sounded foreign to her, like it belonged to someone else. Rejected. The word alone felt like poison in her mouth.

“I know, little sister,” Yorick said softly, fury tightening his jaw. “Come on. You’ll catch your death out here.” He reached for her, but she slapped his hand away.

“I don’t want your help.” Her defiance was hollow, her body too weak to back it up. She didn’t want pity. She didn’t want anyone to see her broken like this.

“Still, I’m taking you with me.” His tone brooked no argument. He scooped her up effortlessly, and she finally leaned into his warmth, too tired to fight.

As Yorick carried her back, River pressed her face to his chest. She should have felt safe. But all She fell was emptiness. If even her Mate wouldn’t want her, how could she ever belong?

Once River was settled on her bed, Yorick stormed down the hall, his mind blazing with a single thought.

Who did Keith think he was—to wound my sister, to defy Selene?

He pounded on the guest room door. Keith answered, and Yorick’s fury erupted.

“Do you think it was normal to reject your Fated Mate?” he roared. “The Goddess doesn’t make mistakes!”

Before Keith could answer, Alpha Wolfgang himself stormed past Yorick, his own fury unleashed.

“What have you done?” Wolfgang thundered.

Keith staggered backward, collapsing onto the mattress, fear sweating from his skin as the two men towered over him.

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### Chapter 2: Chapter 2

River changed out of her soaked clothes into a soft pink woollen pyjama. The muffled voices in the hall reached her ears, the tension thick enough to taste. She rushed out and planted herself between her father and Keith, pressing a hand to Wolfgang’s chest.

“Dad—stop. He rejected me, and I accepted it. If you’re going to be angry, be angry with me.” Her voice wavered, her eyes brimming.

Wolfgang’s stern gaze faltered when he saw his daughter’s tears. “Did you really accept it?” he asked, voice rough with regret.

River nodded her head, the smile she mustered was brittle. “Dad…keep in mind Keith rejected me, not his father. Send the warriors. They need them.”

Wolfgang exhaled, torn. He cupped her cheek for the briefest moment, letting softness flicker through. “Sweetheart, you’re far too good for this world.” Then his eyes hardened as they locked on Keith. “I’ll send men…for your father’s sake. But I will never forgive you for breaking my daughter’s heart. Go, before I cause a war by killing you.”

Keith nodded quickly, his bravado gone. “I’ll leave… right away.”

Wolfgang rested a heavy hand on River’s shoulder and guided her. In the kitchen, he pointed to a chair. “Sit. I’ll make you hot chocolate. I’ll keep my promise and send warriors—but that boy just made the biggest mistake of his life.”

He busied himself at the stove, the clink of metal the only sound for a while. Then he exhaled, shoulders sagging. “Oh, how I wish your mother were here. She’s always been better at this than I am.”

“Dad…” River’s voice cracked as tears spilled again.

Wolfgang hurried over with a roll of kitchen paper, tearing off a sheet with a quick, clumsy tug. “Here, darling,” he murmured, offering it to her with a nervous smile.

She blew her nose loudly, cheeks hot with embarrassment, then muttered, “Yeah. Be glad he rejected me. Who would want a mate who can’t even smell the bond?”

The instant she said it, regret flooded her. Her father’s eyes darkened with sorrow.

“Sweetheart—Shit,” Wolfgang cursed, spinning back to the stove as the milk boiled over. He grabbed the pot bare-handed, slamming it onto the counter with a loud thud. River flinched at the noise and hurried to his side.

Her gaze dropped to his hands—red and raw from the heat. Without thinking, she reached out and took them in hers, holding them gently. “Does it hurt?” she asked softly.

“I’m fine,” he lied, though his eyes lingered on her swollen, tear-streaked face. “It doesn’t hurt half as much as what you’ve been through. I’d take it from you if I could. No one deserves this. Not my daughter.”

River squeezed his hands, a quiet determination mixing with her tears. For a moment, the noise, and tension of the world faded, leaving only the warmth and strength of her father’s presence—and the unspoken bond between them. She let herself lean into him for a heartbeat before pulling back.

“Thank you for trying… But I just want to go to bed,” she whispered, her voice barely carrying over the soft hum of the kitchen.

Wolfgang watched her retreat with slumped shoulders, the weight of helplessness pressing down on his chest. He stood there a moment, staring at the spot she had just left, before pulling out his phone. His fingers hesitated over the screen, as though the act of calling might make the moment more real. Finally, he dialled.

After a few rings, a familiar, soothing voice purred through the line. “Hello, Wolfie. What’s up?”

“Sweetheart… River’s just been rejected. By Alpha Evan’s son,” he said, his voice heavy with both anger and worry.

A pause. Then Tina’s voice sharpened with concern. “Oh no. Where is she?”

“In her room. I tried to comfort her, but…” He exhaled, the sound full of frustration. “You know I’m no good at those things.”

“You tried—that’s already something,” Tina said softly, the worry threading through her words. “I’ll come home. She needs me.”

Wolfgang’s chest loosened slightly, gratitude flickering in his eyes. “See you soon, sweetheart,” he said, a faint hope threading through his tired voice.

He ended the call and leaned back against the counter, rubbing a hand over his face. For a brief moment, the kitchen was quiet again—just the low hum of the refrigerator and the spilled milk cooling on the counter.

Upstairs, River lay in bed, the weight of the day still heavy on her chest, but somewhere deep inside, the warmth of her father’s care lingered with her.

Luna Tina arrived within the hour. She found River curled beneath the blankets, the sound of muffled sobs filling the room. Tina sat on the bed.

“River, come out from under there and talk to me.”

The crying paused for a moment, then returned, harder.

“Sweetheart, I know how much this hurts. Rejection is cruel. But I’m here. Please, talk to me?”

“No,” River whispered, broken. “I can’t.”

Tina’s own eyes welled. She slipped under the blanket and gathered her daughter close. River sobbed until her breath finally evened, exhaustion winning. Tina tucked the blanket tighter around her, whispering against her hair, “It will get better, sweetheart. Selene will give you a second chance. She owes you that much.”

“No, she won’t. Nobody wants a broken wolf.”

“No,” River turned away from her mother. “Leave me. I need to be alone.”

Tina exhaled and crawled out of the bed. She hesitated with her hand on the doorknob. “If you want to talk… or just need a hug…I’m here for you.” Then she left the room quietly, her own tears falling as she closed the door.

That night, Tina cried in Wolfgang’s arms. He held her silently, though she felt the dampness on his cheeks too. She didn’t press him—he would deny it. She knew this pain could not be taken from their daughter. Only endured. Still, she clung to hope. Wolfgang was her second chance, the truest blessing of her life. Selene would not abandon River.

Four months later, Keith’s rejection was just a bad memory—a memory she had used to make herself stronger. She carried that strength with her even into the quiet of breakfast.

Wolfgang hid behind his newspaper, his fingers occasionally drumming on the table. Tina sorted through the post, muttering quietly as she stacked envelopes. Yorick munched lazily on a slice of toast, butter smudging his fingers, barely glancing up from the plate. Bjorn, the eldest, presided over the table with the arrogance of a future Alpha.

Tina frowned at a letter sealed in gold. “An invitation. From the Moonlight Pack.”

The room stilled. She read it, then glanced at River with sympathy. “It’s for Keith’s wedding. And his Alpha ceremony.”

At the sound of his name, pain clawed through River’s chest. Already? He had found someone else? Tears stung her eyes, betraying her.

“I’m not going,” she said quickly.

“We’ll say you had urgent matters…”

“No. Tell the truth. That I still can’t get over his rejection. Everyone thinks it anyway.”

“River…” Tina sighed, but River saw it—the pity in their eyes. The pity she despised.

“I'm leaving,” she muttered, shoving back her chair. “I’m not hungry.” She stalked from the room before anyone could stop her.

Another Month Later River sat at breakfast, her fingers hovering over a plain envelope Tina had just handed her. Her hands trembled as she tore it open. She scanned the first line, and the paper slipped from her fingers onto the table. No. That couldn’t be right.

“I’ve been accepted,” she whispered.

Bjorn snatched the letter, scanning it with a sneer. “Warrior training for the royal house? You? You’ll last a month,” he said, leaning back in his chair, amusement twisting his features.

Heat rushed to River’s face. He had always doubted her, always mocked her, always certain she would fail.

“Let me see.” Yorick leaned forward, plucking the letter from Bjorn’s grip. His grin was sharp but proud. “Royal warrior training…good for you sis.”

Bjorn’s eyes narrowed. “You think you can handle that? Don’t make me laugh. Scentless or not, being a warrior isn’t for the weak.”

Yorick elbowed Bjorn in the arm.

River pressed her fingers into the table, her nails biting into the wood. “I’m not weak. I’ll do this.”

Yorick leaned back, arms crossed, smirking at Bjorn. “Don’t scare her off, big brother. She’s already braver than you ever were at her age.”

Bjorn huffed, leaning forward. “She’s scentless! How’s she supposed to guard if she can’t even sense danger properly?”

River’s stomach twisted, fury sparking alongside the fear. “I’ll learn. I’ll be better than you think.”

When Bjorn snorted, Wolfgang slammed his fist onto the table, rattling the dishes. His Alpha voice boomed.

“Enough! As future Alpha, you will not speak that way to your sister—or any pack member. If she wishes to try, she has my support.”

Bjorn opened his mouth again, clearly unimpressed.

Tina smacked the back of his head before another word could leave it.

“Bjorn,” she snapped, “keep that attitude to yourself. I didn’t raise you to tear down your sister.”

She turned to River, her expression softening, worry flickering in her eyes.

“I’m not happy about you wanting to become a warrior,” she admitted quietly. “But I won’t reject you for it either. Just… be careful.”

Wolfgang turned to River, his tone gentler now. “Are you certain? Warrior training is brutal.”

River inhaled, steadying herself. “I want nothing more.”

Wolfgang studied her for a long moment, pride, and sorrow mingling in his eyes. Finally, he nodded. “Then go. Make us proud.”

For the first time in months, River felt a weight lift. The ache of rejection lingered, but it no longer defined her. This was her chance to forge something new.

As she finally stood before the gates of the training centre, River’s chest heaved with a mix of fear and anticipation. Her heart pounded—not just from nerves, but from the knowledge that this step marked a new beginning.

Tina wrapped her arms tightly around her, holding her as if she could shield her from the world itself. “I’m proud of you, River,” she whispered against her hair, the warmth of her embrace seeping into River’s bones. “Be brave… but remember, you’re never alone.”

River clung to her mother for a heartbeat longer than she probably should have, letting the comfort and love wash over her. Then, slowly, she pulled back, meeting her father’s eyes. Wolfgang stepped forward, his Alpha presence softened by the quiet pride in his gaze.

He drew her into a firm hug, one hand resting on the back of her neck, the other around her shoulder. “You have my strength with you,” he murmured, his voice low but steady. “Go show the world what River Whiteclaw can do.”

Tears pricked at River’s eyes, but they were not tears of despair. They were the kind that rose from courage, from hope, from the unshakeable bond of family. She straightened, inhaled deeply, and let the warmth of her parents’ support fill her, carrying her forward.

Keith may have broken her once, but he would not define her. This—this was her choice, her path, her beginning. With one final glance back at her family, River stepped through the gates, ready to face whatever came next.

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