Laura
“How dare you say that?! Who do you think you are?” Alaric threw me at the concrete wall of the building.
The impact was very strong. Maybe because he has the strength of the future Alpha and because I don’t have the strength of a werewolf. I don’t have a wolf. That only makes me weak. A normal human strength was all I had.
I silently groan at the pain caused by his act. I tried to hide it by fiercely glaring back at him.
“I don’t have the right? Wow! Just wow!” I smirked. “I’ve had enough of your cheating activities, Alaric! I am your mate, and I am going to claim it!”
“Whoa!” Alaric smirked back, clenching his jaw in great anger. “You are my mate, but not until I rejected you.”
My eyes widened in shock. Is he going to reject me? He can’t do that! Rejecting his mate will tear up a big part of his strength. And he was the future Alpha of our pack. If he did that, he would weaken himself and our pack would be led by a weak Alpha. That could not be!
“You can’t do that! Just because you hate me doesn’t mean you'll reject me!” I tried hard to strengthen my voice. “You can’t be selfish! The future of our pack was in your hands—”
“What future does Remus hold? We had a Luna who didn’t have a wolf. You are lower than an omega! A rogue must be better than you!”
That hurts. That was extremely painful. Because it was true. What future holds a weak Luna like me? What kind of pup could I bring in our pack if I, myself, was a weakling? The mighty Remus pack will probably fall. And I don’t want that to happen.
“And do you think Ivy was a better replacement?” I fought back my tears.
I looked away. I might be a fool to ask. I already knew the answer, but I still chose to get hurt and heard it from him.
“Why not?” Alaric smirked. “Ivy may be a daughter of a delta, but she is better than a daughter of a beta who can’t shift at all. You are nothing better but a woman. I couldn’t turn you even if I wanted to. Why? Because you already have the blood of a werewolf. It’s dominant, but still, you can’t shift! What a shame!”
I choked the invisible lump in my throat. I tried hard not to break down. He was right. What good was there in me being a daughter of a beta but who can’t shift at all? What good is there in me?
I was fifteen when I met a witch in the forest, near Crescent Town. She said I was favored by the Moon Goddess. That I should just wait, I should patiently wait for the better days.
But will it ever come?
I hope it will. I really hope so! That’s why I was still holding in the thought that I am going to be a Luna someday… That was what the witch was talking about. That’s why, no matter what happens, I should not give up my right to be the future Alpha’s mate. But what is happening now?
“I made a decision,” Alaric breathed. I could see from his eyes that he was having a second thought about it. But he covered that emotion with fury.
No!
I yelled inside me.
He can’t do this! He was not supposed to do that.
“Don’t do this, Alaric! It will weaken you. It will ruin the future of our pack,” I begged.
But Alaric seemed deaf to my pleading. He took my neck and grasped at it, aiming to strangle me. That will only strengthen his rejection of me. The harsher the physical pain he inflicted on me, the stronger the validity of the rejection will be.
“I… Alaric Red,”
“No…” I shook my head back. I tried hard to pull his hand away from my neck. I tightened my eyes together, as if it would help me not to hear what he was going to say.
“…the future Alpha of the Remus pack,” His hand tightened on my neck. I felt like I was drowning. I was out of breath. “…rejected you, Laura Morton. I don’t want you to be my Luna. And you’ll never be my Luna. Bear that in mind!”
Alaric let go of my neck and furiously gazed at me. I fell down on my feet, coughing while keeping my breath. I was near my end. I almost choked. And Alaric did it.
I can’t believe he did it! My own mate tried to kill me.
“Weakling!” Alaric spit in disgust.
He quickly left. And as soon as he was gone, my tears slipped away. I felt the excruciating pain caused by my mate's rejection. It felt like I had been stabbed in my chest numerous times. I felt my heart was bleeding.
I was bleeding, figuratively.
I looked up above as the sun fell. Darkness started to cover the place. Soon, the moon will rise.
“Is this the blessing that Saskia was talking about? Is this how you favored me?” I hissed at the night sky. Tears flooded into my face. “Is this really my fate? Why did I have to be born in this world when you’re just going to make things hard for me?! I should not have been born! I should not have been born!” I cried as the great moon shined brightly at me.
It feels like the moon was mocking at me… mocking at my misery.
I went home just when I thought Mom and Dad were already asleep. I cried hard enough to make my eyes swollen. And I can't let my parents see me. I don't want to break their hearts even more. I haven't brought any good to our family. I don't have a wolf. Now, I have been rejected by my mate. What worse else could happen?
"I'm glad you're here, already."
I almost jumped off upon hearing Dad's voice. He is David, the Beta of the Remus pack. They respected him just like how they respect our Alpha. But things changed when I turned thirteen, and I couldn't shift. The members of the pack started to look down on him. And it got worse when I turned eighteen. And I really feel bad for my parents. I know, even though Dad wasn't saying it, he was dismayed.
But what can I do? It's not as if I wanted it. It's not as if I can choose my fate.
"I'm sorry, I am late. I had some stuff that needed to be finished at school."
"Did you cry?"
Dad quickly cupped my face and examined my eyes.
"No… it's windy today and my eyes keep tearing whenever it's windy. You sure know that because I don't have immunity to the impurities of the wind."
Dad let out a deep sigh. "Alpha Evo wants to talk to you. But since it's late already, we had better face him tomorrow after school. Don't be late. We need to be at his office tomorrow."
I nodded and smiled at Dad.
'I'm sorry, sweetheart…'
I was stunned. I knew I heard Dad's voice, but I am sure that he didn't open his mouth. Was the voice inside my head?
"What are you sorry for, Dad?" I asked. I wanted to confirm it.
"Huh?" Dad seemed confused.
'Did I say it aloud?'
There's the voice again.
"Yes, you said it aloud. Or maybe it's in my head?"
Dad's eyes grew wider. His lips broke into a broad smile. He was extremely surprised.
"You heard me in your head, sweetie!" he exclaimed.
"Gosh!"
I couldn't believe it either. I could hear him in my head. And I am sure it's not ordinary for humans. Does that mean I am making progress?
"That was good! I am going to talk to Evo tomorrow, but you still need to come to his office after school, okay?"
I nodded excitedly. Knowing that I had made progress was such great news for me, for my family. I had a long day today and getting this kind of news was great enough to lighten my mood.
I could still hear Dad rejoicing in his heart and couldn't wait to tell the Alpha and Mom. And I was as happy as he was. I could jump for joy.
And I didn't hold it in. I jumped into Dad's arms and hugged him tightly. Dad gave me a big hug too. I could hear his mind.
'Thank you for your mercy. We're at your grace, Moon Goddess. We hope Laura's progress will continue. Even if it's too late, we are still grateful to you.'
I smiled to myself. My heart was swollen with joy. Dad was right, even if it was late, we are still grateful for the progress. I now wanted to believe Saskia's words.
I went to my room and quickly jumped on my bed. My heart might be shattered into pieces, but I guess I can get over it quickly if I try to forget him and focus on myself. I must focus on myself. I need to work on my progress. I need to work out to strengthen this newly found ability I got.