They gaped at me in shock, their beautiful faces contorting into scowls as reality sank in—I was a mate to one of them. Hayes and Zylon didn't just dislike me. They often taunted me, calling me acne, twig, weak, and using mean names. Their cruel laughter still echoed in my mind.
"Mate," I whispered, my voice trembling as my fingers fidgeted at my sides. Hayes was the first to emerge from his stupor, a devilish smirk spreading across his lips, making my skin crawl with unease.
"We share a mate, brother," he said, his rough voice oozing contempt as he stalked toward me. Every step of his was swift and graceful yet heavy with menace. Zylon remained rooted in place, his piercing blue eyes, usually so cold and sad, locked onto me. I could have sworn there was a flicker of sadness in them, a haunting contrast to the disdainful expressions of his brother. Without warning, Hayes connected his grip on my shoulder, his nails digging painfully into my skin, and shoved me against the cold, unyielding wall.
A stifled cry escaped my lips as shock and disgust painted his face. My heart plummeted.
"We have decided not to accept you," he growled, his words a low, venomous whisper.
"We can never accept a weak, she-wolf like you." Tears began to stream down my cheeks, hot and stinging. I barely managed to keep myself upright.
"And she must not tell anyone that we are mates," Zylon said to his brother, as if speaking directly to me was an abomination. The hope I had all faded. Hayes commanded me not to tell anyone of our bond, his alpha tone resonating with the weight of authority, sealing my fate to silence. Stunned, I pressed against the wall, unable to move.
Just then, Begonia and Mary strolled in, their laughter bright and carefree. They went for Hayes and Zylon, kissing them deeply and ignoring my presence. I felt a sharp, burning pain blossom in my chest as fresh tears streamed down my face.
When they finally pulled away, they strolled past me, the girls clinging to the arms of my mates as if I were nothing more than a ghost.
"What's wrong with her?" Mary sneered, a mirthless grin on her lips.
"Ignore her," Hayes replied dismissively, his voice dripping with contempt.
The world around me faded. I was lost in hurt and confusion. I thought I saw my mom approaching, her face etched with concern, asking me questions I couldn't find the strength to answer.
...
Every encounter with my mates was a bitter reminder of my pain. I was caught in a cycle of sadness as I witnessed them, only a week after Luna's party, flirting and kissing other girls in the morning training sessions. The only acknowledgment I had received from them came when Begonia ruthlessly bested me during practice, leaving me crumpled on the ground and unable to rise.
"I'm going to be Luna of this pack soon," she had hissed in my ear, her voice thick with malice as she landed a punch. "Prepare to be banished, weak bitch.""Warrior wolf, my foot! Looks like the blessing skipped a generation!" another girl had shouted from the sidelines, her words twisting the knife deeper.
Hayes and Zylon had laughed, their cruel jeering ringing in my ears as I turned to leave the training ground. My head hung low, bruised, and limping. Beth and Ael supported me, though they could not interfere in training. I glanced at my mates, their gazes icy and faces contorted in scowls.
Everything I thought I knew about mates—all the stories my parents told—had unraveled before my eyes. A mate was supposed to be someone you couldn't live without. I couldn't endure staying in the pack any longer, not with the constant ache of heartbreak weighing me down.
"I swear I will kill that bitch. She has it out for you, and the two future alphas stood by while she beat you like that!" Beth shouted, her face flushed with fury. Ael was tense at the wheel as he drove us home, his knuckles gripping the steering wheel tightly. When we arrived home, I opened the car door and climbed out, wincing with every movement. Ael called my name, but didn't stop. I stumbled upstairs when I heard Tate's voice cut through my haze. Turning to him felt impossible; my eyes clouded with tears. Suddenly, a firm hand grasped my elbow, and I turned to find Tate's concerned expression searching mine.
"What happened? Who did this to you?" His voice was low, laced with a dangerous edge.
"It was just sparring, and as usual, I got beaten up," I sighed, and more tears flooded down my cheeks.
"Why did you go to training? You're weak," he said softly, brushing my tears away with his thumb. Ouch. I was indeed weak, and my bones were not strong, but hearing it still hurt.
"I hate that sickness. It's the reason I'm weak." When I was two, a rare sickness attacked all the children under two years old in the pack, and they all died. I'm the only one who survived, but it left me weak.
Tate's eyes softened, and he enveloped me in his arms. I collapsed further into his embrace, sobbing freely. Tate led me upstairs to my room, carefully assisting me as I cleaned my scrapes.
"Take a shower, then come downstairs. We're going to watch a movie," he said.
I headed to the shower, letting the warm water wash over me, but when I stepped out, dressed in my pajamas and making my way downstairs, an intense burning sensation gripped my chest. It was agonizing. I felt as if I couldn't breathe and that my body was aflame. My mates were having sex with other girls. I struggled to stifle my cries, fearing my brother might hear and probe me for answers. But I couldn't hold back the sobs any longer.
"Rue?" I heard Tate's voice call out. Overwhelmed, I rushed to the kitchen and slipped through the back door. Closing my eyes, I surrendered to my wolf, allowing her to take over. She shifted for the first time, and as she ran deep into the forest, I was astonished by the speed and power coursing through me.
Ria was overwhelmed with fury and exhaustion, ready to sever ties with her pack and her mates. After a week of holding onto a flicker of hope that they'd come to their senses and claim us, it was painfully clear that they had no intention of doing so. It felt like there was no reason to return, not anymore. I sank deep into Ria's mind, surrendering control as she took the lead.
Time slipped away, each moment blending into the next, until I finally felt the cool grass beneath my body. My legs trembled beneath me as I stood up, and I quickly scanned my surroundings. I recognized the landscape right away. We were at the border of the Jade Moon pack in San Francisco, where my beloved grandparents lived.
'Ria, you brought us here?' My voice quavered, struggling to keep back tears.
'Yes, it can be our new home,' she responded gently, and I found myself nodding, a glimmer of hope igniting within me. But just then, a rustle in the trees sent my heart racing. Before I could turn and flee, a tall, striking young man with short, coily hair emerged from the woods, his bright brown eyes appraising me with an unsettling intensity. I was naked, I realised, and tried to cover my breasts with my hands.
"What has the moon mother gifted us?" he smirked. He sniffed the air, and his playful tone instantly turned serious. I instinctively took a step back, fear washing over me.
"I... I'm not a rogue. U... um, my grandparents live here," I stammered, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tremor. The young man inhaled deeply, his expression darkening.
"You're not pack. Who the hell are you?" His tone was chilling, void of any warmth.
"Kyle, she's harmless. I can smell her fear," another voice chimed in. I turned to see a taller man with messy reddish-brown hair and warm hazel eyes stepping from the shadows. His gaze didn't linger on my body.
"Hello, there," he said with a gentle smile that slightly put me at ease.
"Hello," I replied quietly. He approached me, swiftly removing his shirt and offering it to cover my exposed skin. I took it gratefully, slipping it on, feeling the fabric wrap around me like a small shield.
"I'm Henry Vale. Future alpha of the Jade Moon pack, which is where you stand. And you are?" His tone was firm yet carried a hint of softness.
"My name is Ruby Rue Rothwell of Onyx Moon Pack," I said carefully, watching their reactions closely. They exchanged a glance, and Henry nodded, encouraging me to keep speaking. "I kind of ran away from home to visit my grandparents here," I admitted.
"How do we know you're telling the truth?" Kyle questioned, his eyes analyzing me deeply and searching for any signs of deception.
"She's telling the truth," Henry said firmly before Kyle could respond, his gaze pinning Kyle with a warning look. Kyle fell silent, and I felt a wave of relief.
"Who are your grandparents, Ruby Rue?" Henry asked, his demeanor shifting to a more serious tone. I shared their names, and to my surprise, recognition flashed across both their faces.
Henry and Kyle escorted me to my grandparents' home, a charming two-story house adorned with a picket fence and blooming flowers.
I will be happy here, I thought as my grandparents embraced and welcomed me lovingly