Chapter 2

ASTRID’S POV

Something snapped within me.

Pain. Blinding, soul-wrenching pain tore through every part of my body. My knees gave way, and I dropped to the ground with a harsh gasp. It felt like the mate bond had been ripped straight out of me—my chest ached, my heart thundered, and my vision blurred with tears. 

Was this how it felt like to have your mate bond broken? If it was, I never wanted to feel it again, I would rather die than feel like a part of my soul was ripped out.

The hall fell into a cold silence as soon as I crumbled to the floor. Then came the whispers like I knew.

“Serves her right…”

“She really thought she was good enough?”

“She’s always been delusional.”

I could barely hear them over the howl of agony in my head. My wolf—she was howling in agony. Screaming. Begging for the pain to stop. I clutched my chest as if I could hold the pieces of myself together.

Then I looked up. Straight at him. Ren.

He wasn’t even looking at me. He stood there, his expression blank, eyes fixed on some random point in the hall like he couldn't bear to look at me.

“Ren…” I whispered. My voice cracked, barely above a breath. “Please…”

Still, nothing.

A rough hand grabbed my arm and yanked me to my feet. I stumbled, barely able to stand, and tried to pull away, but I was weak. Too weak.

“Let go,” I mumbled. “I—Ren, please say something…”

Nothing.

I searched his face for even a flicker of guilt, regret—anything. But he only stepped back as Alpha Williams came forward.

The Alpha’s sharp eyes settled on me. Cold. Calculating. He raised a hand and the guards froze but their grip still remained on me.

“She’s in pain,” someone whispered in the crowd, but no one stepped forward.

Alpha Williams spoke calmly, almost too calmly that it made my blood boil with anger at what they wanted to do to me. “Astrid Miller. This is no longer your home.”

Confusion warred with anger in me and I blinked. “W-What?”

“You were never Luna material. And now that we are receiving the royal Lycan family, we cannot risk their perception of our pack being tainted… by your presence,” he said. “It’s a shame that my son made a mistake in the mate bond. But mistakes must be corrected.”

My chest heaved as I stared at them. “You’re throwing me out? Just like that? After everything I’ve endured? All the years of suffering?” My voice raised by an octave, the sound shrill and carrying through the tense atmosphere.

Alpha Williams raised a brow. “You should be grateful we are giving you the dignity of walking out instead of being executed for disrespecting the Alpha’s will.”

There were a few nods of agreement in the crowd and truly, I realized how unwanted I was in this pack.

“This is wrong,” I cried. “This is not justice!”

“Poor little Astrid,” Amelia’s voice cut me off, her voice taunting. “Maybe if you weren’t always pretending to be more than you are…”

Laughter echoed around me. Some scoffed. Others looked away in pity but I could only look at Amelia with shock in my eyes. Even her.

“You all watched me work and suffer,” I shouted. “You saw it. You all knew what I went through! And still—”

“Silence,” Alpha Williams ordered. “Guards.”

The guards stepped forward again.

“Please…” I begged, struggling in their grip. “Please don’t do this. Ren! Say something!”

He didn’t flinch. Didn’t blink. Instead, He turned his back.

For some reason, that hurt more than anything.

Alpha Williams gave the final command. “Drag her out of this pack. Make sure she understands the consequences of stepping above her rank. Leave her at the edge of the forest.”

“No!” I cried out, my legs kicking weakly. “No, please, I have nowhere to go!”

My pleas meant nothing. They dragged me through the hall like I was nothing. The laughter followed me and I could only stop my thrashing about after a while.

I was thrown into the dirt just beyond the protective barrier of the pack and left to die.

The gate slammed shut behind me.

“You step back in, you die,” one of the guards spat. “Consider this mercy.”

They vanished back into the walls, and I was alone.

It was cold. The wind sharp and the sky was dark while the trees loomed like shadows, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

I lay there for minutes. Maybe hours. I didn’t know. I'm not sure I wanted to know. My chest heaved as I tried to breathe, my throat sore from screaming.

My hands trembled as I pushed myself off the ground. My dress was torn, stained with dirt and blood. My locket was still around my neck and I sighed in relief. At least I could have this… they didn't take this from me.

I touched it with shaking fingers. “Moon Goddess… why?” I whispered.

The trees rustled and I froze.

Then, I heard a howl.

Holy shit. It was low. Menacing. Close. I jumped, stumbling back. My heart lurched.

Rogues. They were vicious these days and attacked packs… they would tear me out since I was out of the safety of silver hollow.

My legs moved on their own. I ran. Faster than I ever had. Branches scraped my skin, roots caught my feet, but I didn’t stop.

I ran. And ran.

The howls followed. Closer. Louder. Seeming like they were right behind me.

Now, I could barely breathe, my lungs burning as my legs gave out beneath me. I hit the ground hard, panting, gasping, desperate to catch my breath.

Tears streamed down my face as I pushed myself up again, but I couldn’t. My body had reached its limit.

The howls seemed to close in on me and the dark sky did nothing to illuminate the forest. I crawled back on my butt, pressing my back against a tree.

“Please…” I whispered, voice hoarse and broken. “Moon Goddess, help me… please…”

Another howl. This time… just behind me.

My eyes widened. They’d found me.

I shut my eyes. “Please… don’t let me die like this.”

Silence.

Then…footsteps.