The Final Rite

The full moon shined throughout the darkness. On this supposed lovely night, a bound Ellie was getting dragged to the plaza for the last rite. Apparently, since it was such a big event to happen, Lila and Aiden decided to make this public, so everyone in the pack can formally welcome their future Alpha as the Alpha she was meant to be.

It truly left a bitter taste in her mouth, though… All those looks of expectations, the joyful expressions she was seeing on these werewolves? Before the rite, before she found out the true intentions behind it, they used to be directed to her, making her feel proud to be a werewolf of this pack, and wanting to live up to many expectations.

Tonight? Not even a glance came her way. No… All this attention was for none other than Maddie, who was especially giddy with what will happen next.

‘I hope she gets what’s coming to her soon. Her, and everyone else,’ Ellie thought, as she got tossed onto a familiar circle next to Maddie.

“Brothers and sisters of the Hermit Pack! Tonight, it will be a wonderful night for us all. Tonight… is the night when my daughter becomes the rightful Alpha of this pack!” Aiden shouted, resulting in cheers amongst the werewolves. “After a long time of humiliation- a long time of worrying for the fate of our pack- we can finally look towards a bright future! And relieve ourselves from a disgusting sight.” Ellie did not need to look up to know he was referring to her at that last part. “Join me, kin, as we witness the turning point of our lives!”

Howls and cheers erupted all around. Although Ellie realized how little all the other werewolves truly thought of her, to witness how happy they were to soon be done with her… It truly hurt her deep down.

“Then it seems we are all ready… To witness the final rite!” As soon as Aiden shouted that, the circle under Ellie and Maddie glowed. An act in which the adopted werewolf knew so well, and was far from prepared for.

As it had been during all those times before, searing pain spread out all over her body, as Ellie hunched over and held back pained screams, trying hard to maintain a calm expression on her face. Though this may be the last time the rite will be performed, she refused to give these mutts the satisfaction of seeing her in pain.

Likewise, as she glanced to Maddie’s side, she could see her ‘adopted sister’ also toughing out through the final rite, unlike the previous times they had undergone this event. Whether it was because this last rite was being done in public, where Maddie should not display such pathetic weakness, or because Ellie was trying to tough out this last one, she did not know, and she did not care. To hell with what goes on in her head- in any of their heads.

Soon enough, the light from the two magic circles erupted, ending the rite, as both werewolves fell to the ground. The sight worried the pack, specifically towards Maddie, as Steve rushed to his beloved.

“Maddie! Maddie, are you okay?” he asked.

Maddie’s fingers twitched as she slowly got back up. Many people held their breaths in anticipation for her answer. Next anyone knew, she slammed a hand down on the ground, creating a crater within, and let out a powerful howl.

“Oh… I am more than okay…” she spoke. “I feel… fantastic!”

At those words, the pack erupted into cheers and joyful howls for their mistress, with Steve hugging Maddie, and Lila shedding happy tears for her daughter.

Ellie, on the other hand, has never felt so empty- so weak- in all her life. With that last ritual done, she could barely move a muscle. And with no one in this pack expressing any sort of concern towards her… Never had she felt so broken in all her life.

‘All this time… All my time in this pack… befriending these mutts… training with them… Everything… What was it all for…?’ she wondered, a tear forming in her eye.

Breaking away from the hug, Steve turned and looked down on Ellie, a smirk on his face. “Oh Ellie… Ellie, Ellie, Ellie… How I so long for this moment,” he began, getting every wolves’ attention. “I didn’t even feel the courage to say this before, since doing it will hurt me just as much as it would to you. Such is the fate of mates. But now? Now, we are mates no longer. Your world is now Maddie’s, as hers’ is yours’.” He stopped in his tracks when he caught a whiff of something, and leaned closer to Ellie. After taking a few sniffs, he clicked his tongue. “Tch. Must be some leftover, lingering smell of your old wolf. Well, the final rite did just end; it wouldn’t be surprising to still smell it on you.”

“Stevy, won’t you hurry it up and end things with her already? I’m not one to be a spoiled brat, but I don’t like to see you hanging around with her any longer,” Maddie spoke. “… Even if it is to make her know her true place here~”

Ellie could only glare at her ‘sister’, before looking back at her ex, who let out a chuckle in agreement. “As you say, Maddie. Even I don’t want to be around this nobody any longer. Especially since I feel nothing for her.” Turning to the downed werewolf, he then said, “Ellie, you stray, pitiful dog… I no longer see you as my mate. In the name of our Moon Goddess, I reject you and whatever leftover bond we share!”

As soon as those words left his mouth, Ellie- already given up on everything these past several days- felt something in her break, more than anything else she had experienced before.

‘So this is… a mate’s rejection…’ she could only think, enduring the pain in her chest.

A scream suddenly rang out, catching everyone’s attention. Turning to the source, they were all baffled to see Maddie on the floor, clutching her chest like her life depended on it.