MARIA.
I was so excited. My long-time wish had come true. Thank you Moon goddess. The Alpha is finally mine.
But my smile immediately faded as he moved past me and headed towards Patricia. I turned slightly and saw her hands were now bleeding. How did that happen?
"Maria! I know you don't love me but I am trying my best for you to like me."
That was it. I knew it, Patricia was never going to change. This was who she truly was. I was a fool to believe she would help me out. I wanted to stand up and speak but my dress was already torn, standing up now would only reveal my nakedness to the world.
"I'm so sorry!" She continued as tears streamed down her eyes.
They flowed naturally like she was hurt. Such an actress. Soon enough, people started gathering and we became the center of attraction.
"You stepped on my dress Patricia…"
"Enough! Apologize to her now." Alpha Darren cut my words short as he fumed with anger. "You already pierced her hands with your nails, isn't that enough."
Why was he angry? I am his mate, or didn't he feel that too. Whereas I wasn't the one who pierced Patricia's hand.
"I won't!"
*Crack*, a hand connected to my face, causing me to tilt my head to the side, as my flesh was burning. I looked up and saw my father.
"Dad..I mean Beta Jeremiah.." I was never allowed to call him Dad.
Tears fell freely from my cheeks as I stared at him for an explanation.
"Have you not humiliated me enough? How could you defy the Alpha's order…" he closed his eyes and opened it immediately. "...Now Apologize to your sister!" He thundered.
"I won't!" I yelled at him.
*Crack* my checks burned hotter, I was sure his fingers were already imprinted on my face. My mate just slapped me.
"You would, because she is my mate! Your soon to be Luna!"
What? His mate? I stared at him intensely. There has to be a mistake. I was his mate and not Patricia. He could confirm the bond if he wants.
"N..No..I …I ..am your mate!" I muttered as my voice cracked.
"My mate?" He bursted out with laughter. "I had rushed over here, the moment I perceived the scent of my mate. It was lemonade, that was the scent. So how could it be you?"
Lemonade? I felt puzzled. I smelt more like lavender with a mixture of strawberries. How could my mate perceive Lemonade? And then it suddenly struck me, the gift— Patricia's gift, the satchet bag which was filled with the scent of Lemonade. Could she have….?
"Patricia, you witch…How could you have done that?" I yelled at the top of my voice.
I yanked off the sachet bag I hung on my waist and hurled it at her. " You Viper! You can have it.."
She threw her hands on her mouth as she gasped, bending down to pick the sachet bag from the ground.
"Dad..Mum..this is the satchet bag, the one I told you was missing."
"You thief.. how could you steal your sister's belongings?"
My father grabbed me by my hair but I clutched my dress tighter. He hit my hand vigorously on the table, and the pain shot up like a million needles piercing my skull. Blood oozed out of my head. The blood flowing from my hands kept staining my dress.
"I didn't steal it..she gave…" my words were cut short as he hit my head again.
Tears blurred my visions, as I stared at Darren for help. I knew he had always loved Patricia, it was no news. But at least he should save me.
My fingers closed around his leg with the last shred of strength I had, my nails digging into his skin as if that alone could anchor me to mercy. The ground beneath me tilted and spun; the world blurred into a haze of dust and pain, but I refused to let go. I couldn't see his face anymore, only darkness and motion yet I clung to him desperately, my lips trembling as my heart pleaded in silence before my voice finally broke.
"Alpha Darren," I gasped, the words scraping out of my throat. "I am your mate. Please… confirm the bond."
The answer came in cruelty. His other leg slammed into me, once, then again, the force jarring through my arms until my bones screamed. My grip weakened, fingers numb, but before I could pull back, he bent down and seized a nail from the ground. Cold metal bit into my finger.
I screamed, a raw, broken sound, begging him to stop, begging for mercy that never came. My strength drained away with my tears. At last, my fingers betrayed me and slipped free.
I barely had time to breathe before three hefty men grabbed me. My hands were shaking too badly, too weak to hold onto my dress. It slid from my grasp and fell to the ground as they dragged me away, leaving me stripped, helpless, and drowning in pain.
"I, Darren Copper, Alpha the Frost moon pack, hereby declare that Maria Moon is no longer a member of this pack!"
As soon as he said that, I began to feel a burning pain in my chest, making me weaker than I was already. I could feel the pack's link severing. I felt empty, I no longer belonged to a pack. I was now a rogue.
"You have twenty minutes to leave this pack or face the consequences rogue!. One of the hefty men, a gamma of the pack rudely said to me as he kicked me in my stomach.
I screamed as I felt the pain. But I knew the more they held me in their grip, the more they would carry out their threats and actually harm me. So With the little strength that I have left, I yanked myself off and did the only thing a rogue knows how to do.
I ran.