Eve's Pov
The sly smile on Ryan's face sent a shiver down my spine. He looked different, somehow, and I couldn't help but feel that something was off. Something had changed, something was not quite right.
"If you will allow it, Alpha," Elder Kain spoke up, his voice quavering slightly as he addressed Ryan. "I believe that it would be wise to mark your mate now, before the moon goddess."
Ryan's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I thought the reward for my sacrifice would be announced.
But as he stood in front of the assembled pack, he raised his voice. "I have made my decision," he said, his tone clear and confident. "I have chosen not to take a mate."
The words hung in the air, and I felt my heart drop into my stomach. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I had expected many things, but this was not one of them.
I felt a surge of fury boiling up within me, as hot as lava. How could he do this to me, after all I had done to help him become Alpha? I had sacrificed everything for him, and now he was turning his back on me.
"What do you mean?" I cried, my voice trembling with rage. "You are supposed to make me your Luna, to bond with me. How could you change your mind now?"
"I am your Alpha," he said, his tone unyielding and cold. "You will obey me."
The anger was coursing through me like a raging river, threatening to wash me away. I could feel my wolf inside me, pacing back and forth, ready to break free. I took a deep breath, fighting to stay calm. I couldn't lose control, not now.
"I can't just obey you," I said, my voice shaking despite my best efforts to control it. "We have a bond, a connection. You can't just break that and expect me to be okay with it."
"I'm sorry," he said, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of remorse in his gaze, “Fine then, you're right. I have made my decision. I, Ryan, Alpha of Feral Heart Pack, hereby reject you, Eve, daughter of Alpha Kayden, as my mate.”
I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. The words were like a physical blow, and I struggled to breathe. He was actually rejecting me, severing our bond and throwing me aside like I was nothing. I felt like I was going to be sick, the room spinning around me.
"You can't do this," I managed to choke out, my voice hoarse and barely audible. "You promised."
He met my eyes, his own dark and unreadable. "I'm sorry," he said again, "but I have to do what's best for the pack. You're a threat to the Alpha of Feral Heart Pack and by extension the pack itself, you are therefore banished from the pack. Leave before sunset else, I'll have your head in place of your freedom."
His words were like a death sentence, and I felt like I couldn't breathe. He was kicking me out of the pack, stripping me of everything I had worked for, everything I had sacrificed. He was sentencing me to a life of loneliness and isolation, all for no just reason.
"You can't do this," I repeated, my voice breaking. "I am the Alpha of this pack, you can't banish me." I said, my voice gaining more confidence.
“You rejected it remember? Now I'm the Alpha and it's time to begin my reign.” He declared, a sly smile on his face.
I had thought that he cared for me, that he wanted to be with me. But now, I knew that I had been wrong. He had never truly cared for me at all.
My fury gave way to a cold numbness, a sense of utter devastation. I knew that I had to do something, to stop this before it was too late. But what could I do? I was powerless, I was just a pack member now, nothing more.
Just as I was about to give up all hope, a voice whispered in my mind, the familiar mental touch of Elder Kain. "You have been very foolish, child," he said, his tone scolding but also tinged with pity. "You gave up your birthright to a rogue, and now you're nothing more than a lowly pack member. And worse, you're his prey. You need to run while you still can."
His words hit me like a slap to the face, but I knew he was right. I had been foolish, and now I was in grave danger. But where could I go?
Without a word, I severed the mindlink and ran, heading for the only place I knew I might be safe: the edge of the territory, where I would no longer be subject to the rules of the pack. I was running blind, not knowing where I was going or what I would do when I got there. But I had to get away, to escape before it was too late.
Just as I was gaining momentum, a rogue wolf leapt out of the undergrowth, blocking my path. It was a massive beast, its fur matted and its eyes a burning crimson. Its scent was foul, reeking of blood and violence. I knew instantly that this was a rogue, a wolf that had been cast out of its pack and driven to the brink of madness. And now, it was standing between me and my only chance at escape.
I shifted into a battle stance, my hands becoming claws, my instincts taking over. But as I prepared for the coming fight, I realized something was wrong. My senses were overwhelmed by the stench of rogues, and I couldn't focus. I realized, with a sinking feeling, that I had no chance of survival without my sword. I was completely defenseless against the pack of rogues.
As the battle raged on, I felt my wolf instincts taking over, the rage building within me until it was a burning inferno. I slashed and tore at my enemies, leaving them broken and bleeding on the ground. But as the last rogue fell, I realized that I was not the same. I was drenched in my own blood, life slowly slipping away from me.
In that moment, I made a decision. I had seen what my father had done, taking his own life rather than be killed by his enemies. I did not want to suffer the same fate, to die at the hands of rogues so I slit my own throat and waited for death to come as I replayed everything that had happened.
*******************************************
Present
As the darkness closed in around me, I thought it was the end. But then, I saw a shadow appear in the corner of my vision, a figure standing tall and still.
I squinted, trying to focus on the figure, but my vision was blurred by the blood that covered my eyes. But as the figure drew closer, I could make out glittering eyes, a shade of blue so pure it seemed to have captured the moonlight itself.
I could only make out the silhouette of the man, not his face or anything but I could feel danger oozing from him as he trotted towards me slowly.
He stood above me staring at me, not doing anything, just staring and I stared back until the darkness took over.
Everywhere was blurry when my eyes blinked open for the first time since I died. At least that was my best guess, the handsome stranger must've seen how pitiful I looked and decided to show me mercy by making my death quick and painless.
‘Handsome wolves are so much deadlier than the average ones. First my mate and that handsome stranger. I must stay away from them all in this life.’ I decided as I made a mental note to stay away from them.
All that had happened prior to my death came back to me in waves as my eyes briefly adjusted to the unrecognizable place. It was like a meadow, white hues that made it difficult to see through but the place had a tranquil feeling and when I finally sat up, I realized I had been lying on a bed made with flowers.
My hands instinctively went to my throat where I had slit open and all I could touch was a smooth skin.