Elara
I kept running till my legs felt numb and without warning, my left leg tripped over a tree branch I didn't notice causing me to fall headfirst on the forest floor.
The pain seared through me like waves from my head down to my toes, but it couldn't compare to the one in my heart. So this was the feeling of betrayal? I've read about it in books but never imagined I would get a taste of it, and oh, God, it tasted so bad.
Tears rolled down uncontrollably.
Betrayed.
Broken.
Rejected and homeless.
My eyes were hazy and covered with blood that drifted from the wounds on my forehead. I was brutally beaten by friends and relatives I called my packmates, the disgust on their faces was clear, I've been a fool all this while thinking they had accepted me. Turns out it was only because of my relationship with the pack heir.
As I lay unmoving on the forest floor, barely holding on, tears rolled down my blood-stained face as I remembered the circumstances that led me to this awful situation.
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My nervous hands ran through the blue silk gown Kaelen specially chose for me to wear tonight for the grand occasion. I was excited yet nervous, 'What if the moon goddess doesn't choose me as his mate'.
'Nobody knows for sure but I think you have a ninety percent chance of getting chosen'. I turned my head around only to find my younger sister, Lyra, casually munching on an apple. She only knew how to eat, I rolled my eyes.
But wait, the last time I checked Lyra can't read minds right? Did I really say that out loud? I buried my face in my hands out of embarrassment, only to hear Lyra's annoying voice again.
'If you really were to get chosen', she shook her head, 'I can only pity the future Alpha, he is surely going to grow old before his time'.
That was it. I've had enough. Grabbing the closest thing next to me, a pillow, I dashed after her and she made a run for it.
'Annoying me is your specialty right? Thank goodness mum isn't around to save you today' I screamed. She made a turn towards the living room, thinking she could outsmart me by closing the door but I was faster and stronger.
When Lyra noticed she couldn't outrun me anymore, she came to an abrupt halt. I looked at her warily, slowing my steps, who knew the tricks she would try to play this time.
She placed her left hand on her chest to calm her rapid breathing, raising her right palm to a few centimeters away from my face. she looked at me with a smug look 'If you beat me, I'm going to expose you to mom, remember the deal we had'.
The pillow still in my hand froze mid-air. This little witch, still hasn't forgotten about that night. Defeated, my hands fell loosely by my sides as I glared at her. She stared up at me with those doe eyes that made it impossible for anyone to stay angry at her.
'You'd better go dress up for the big event tonight' she squealed and practically dragged me to my room so I could get ready.
^^^
The full moon cast a silver glow on the centre of the village pack which has been transformed solely for the grand event tonight. Lanterns strung from ancient trees flicker with warm golden light giving the place a sacred feeling.
A great bonfire was lit at the centre, its flames licking the sky, while drums echo a primal rhythm that stirs something ancient in every heart, mine included.
The pack has gathered, hundreds strong. Wolves in both human and shifted form scattered across the clearing, dressed in ceremonial garb, adorned with moonstone, feathers, and braided leather.
This is the Lunar choosing. A rite held only once every generation.
At the far end of the clearing, atop the ancestral stone carved with runes of the First Alphas stands Kaelen, the newly ascended Alpha. Tall, broad-shouldered, his silver eyes gleam like twin moons, reflecting the light of destiny.
A wolf's claw pendant hangs from his neck, the symbol of leadership passed down through blood and challenge.
Tonight, he must find his fated mate, not by logic, not by desire. Though I wished it were by desire. But by the pull of the moon and the bond written in their souls.
To me, Kaelen was not just the pack's leader, he was my childhood friend, and as time went on, we developed deep feelings for each other. I was not a high-ranked wolf and the fact that I was a mere healer's daughter only added to the humiliating degradation my pack members subjected me to.
As an omega, it wasn't expected of me to attract the future Alpha's attention but everything changed the day we met at the lake.
We became close friends after I healed him of a leg injury and that was the first time I used my powers too. My original way was to stay alone with my family but his silver eyes always had a way of dragging me out of my comfort zone and that was how it started.
The pack members didn't dare bully me again because Kaelen announced that anyone who did was trying to challenge his authority as the future Alpha. This action gained me a good number of haters from the pack especially Marra, the beta's daughter, and her minions.
They were never friends with me anyway so I didn't care. She always looked for opportunities to pick on me but I simply ignored her, I only wanted peace and she was trying to deprive me of it.
I was brought back to reality by Elder Garrick's voice who raised his staff and declared 'By the heart of the goddess, the Moon Mother who sees all hearts, let the Fated reveal begin!'.
One by one, those of age stepped forward, each with hope in their eyes, some with longing, others with fear. The circle grows quiet as Kaelen descends the bais barefoot, letting instinct guide him.
As he walks, the air thrums with energy. His heartbeat matches the drumbeats. He closes his eyes. Whispers of the goddess swirl around him like mist on the moor.
Then….a scent.
With my eyes intent on him and reading his every move, I knew he had perceived it.
At this point, my heart threatened to leave its ribcage. Everywhere went still. I wasn't sure about whose scent he had perceived but I knew one thing for sure.
If it was not mine, I was going to be deeply hurt.
I prayed.
Hoped.
He opened his eyes. My heart stopped.
Marra pushed me aside, deliberately standing in front of me to block me from Kaelen's sight. Then I heard her scoff 'Someone thinks she's going to be chosen, you better go back now or you might not get that freedom later'.
She was really getting on my nerves but I kept calm, knowing fully well that this wasn't a matter of who stood in front. I returned my attention to Kaelen, though I wasn't clearly seeing him, thanks to Marra, but I could tell he was walking towards us.
Then…just then, my wolf, Jane, purred. 'Mate'.
I was panicked at first, but seeing him come to a stop in front of me. I forgot how to breathe.
A silver thread of moonlight stretched between us, visible to everyone present. The sacred bond.
Gasps echoed through the crowd. The drums fell silent.
Kaelen looks at me with affection evident in his eyes, his voice was low, but sure.
'I have found her'.
I subconsciously pinched myself to make sure I wasn't hallucinating but then I watched in shock as his hands made their way to my face. 'I knew it would be you'. With that, he pulled me into a hug.
My joy knew no bounds as I enthusiastically hugged him back, joyful tears streaming down my face.
I heard a loud gasp. 'No, it can't be true. There must be a mistake somewhere, he's mine! You witch!' Without pulling out of Kaelen's embrace, I clearly knew whose voice would sound like that.
Marra.
Kaelen stroked my back, trying to calm me down. 'Thank goodness it was….'
He didn't get to finish his statement when a guard came running in.
'The beta's wife is dead! The beta's wife, Stephanie, is dead'.
The words rang in my ears before sinking in…the Beta's wife…isn't that Marra's mother?