Chapter 1 : Cruel Fate

Milana

Every werewolf is blessed with a mate handpicked by the Moon Goddess, and so is their line of destiny. Because of that, I have someone, too. I long for him, even though I have never met him. I was ready to love and accept my fated mate as he was, even if he was a nobody and had been considered trash all her life.

"You ungrateful child! Are you so busy that you can't even take care of the housework?!" Wanda scolded. "She really is lazy and useless!"

Wanda was my foster mother, the woman who had brought me to live with her family after my parents died. I was only seven years old at the time.

No, I didn't curse back at her. Just let out a long sigh as I started to clean up the messy house. The people in this house lived like pigs. They'll do anything and leave everything in a mess when they're done. Guess who's going to clean up the mess? Milana Adams, the useless orphan they brought into this house eleven years ago, of course.

This kind of cursing is my daily bread. Even so, I've always respected Wanda and her husband like my own parents. I had no one else and was quite grateful that the Gamma family would shelter me. Every time, Wanda would treat me harshly, much different from the way she treated her children. Every night, I imagined her treating me gently so that I could fall asleep peacefully.

Just a little while longer. I just had to hold on for a little while longer. My 18th birthday was only two days away. I'm going to meet my mate and move out of this house to live with her. I don't mind that my mate is also an omega, and we have to work hard, serving the pack until we die, but living with someone who wants, loves, and accepts me would be so much more fun than being here.

I did everything quickly, washing the dishes, sweeping and mopping, and tidying up the messy middle house before dinner. My dinner was the leftovers left by this family after they'd had their fill. The portions were always very small, but I had gotten used to it and was grateful to still be able to eat and live up to this point.

Afterwards, I went into my room, which was actually a warehouse, but I managed to organize it by moving some things out of the way so that one corner was comfortable enough to be a place to rest. A few years after first coming here, I finally stopped sleeping on an old carpet because I bought a thin mattress; at least I'm no longer shivering in winter.

Tonight, I can hardly keep my eyes closed. Memories of Mom and Dad make my chest tight. Back then, they always said that when I turned 18, they would be the first to know and would be proud when they saw me shifting to my wolf for the first time. I would turn 18 two days later, and they were already gone. I missed them so much, and before I knew it, tears were rolling down my cheeks. Exhausted, I fell asleep before I could wipe them away.

I always woke up earlier than everyone else to cook breakfast. If I'm lucky, I'm done before everyone wakes up, so I can take a little for myself. Wanda would get so mad if she found out I was eating, I'd get punished. I would leave for school before the family finished breakfast because Riana, their daughter who was about my age, wouldn't want to be seen walking with me.

Upon arriving at school, the rumours about it being Magnus, the future Alpha's birthday, soon reached my ears. Some girls were gossiping giddily with their friends, hoping that one of them would become the mate of the popular and gorgeous manwolf. Who would have thought that the handsome one was only a day older than me?

I entered Math class and, as usual, sat in the corner, avoiding everyone, including the teachers' questions. I looked at the whole class, which was noisy because the class hadn't started yet. Before I knew it, it was already the last semester, and I would be graduating in a few months.

"Look at that girl. She looks miserable. Isn't she so ugly and too skinny?" a girl scoffed.

"With looks like that, no one would want to be her mate," said another girl.

The insults were followed by coquettish giggles. Without even turning my head, I knew who was speaking and who the insults were directed at. They had been bullying me since elementary school.

It was Riana and her friends. Riana was a Gamma-born who lived under the same roof as me, Wanda's favourite daughter. I was an only child and had always hoped to have a sibling. Unfortunately, my parents left before that could happen, and back then, I had hoped to get along with Riana. If only that had happened, my life would have been so much better.

This morning, she wore a pretty yellow summer dress with embroidered butterflies and small flowers in the hem of the dress, layered it with a semi-transparent white cardigan, and let her long, shiny brown hair down her back. I didn't like her nature, but I admit she was very pretty. She looks like an angel, but her behaviour makes her insecure satan herself.

Today, she looked better than usual; it wouldn't be surprising if she was one of the girls hoping to be the mate of the future Alpha. They were quite close, so they may have been dating for the past few months and often went out together.

Math class ended earlier than usual. Mr. Brown closed the class with some advice about youth and not letting the wrong associations ruin our future. Cliché.

The most annoying thing always happened during the break between classes. I had two choices, either leave early and hide in the restroom, or leave late and enter the next class late.

All because I had to avoid Riana and her friends. Even after more than ten years of them calling me names, I never got used to it, and it still hurt me.

I never got used to it, and it still hurts me. Riana knew she was hurting me the most when she told me I was bad luck and used this taunt whenever other taunts didn't work.

I really didn't understand how such a pretty girl could be so cruel when I'd never done anything bad to her. Riana was quite popular and did it so that all her followers enjoyed making fun of me. At the same time, the other students didn't want to interfere, leaving me shunned by everyone.

This day passed like any other. Dark.

My hope that things would change tomorrow since it was my birthday, which would open up the opportunity to meet my mate, was my encouragement.

Exiting the school gate, I looked up and saw a cloudy sky. I decided to take a shortcut to get home faster.

I turned the corner and spotted Joan, the future beta and Magnus' best friend. Sure enough, she was talking to the future Alpha, who was looking at me expressionlessly. She never did that because, for the most popular student, I was invisible, except when she took part in throwing the verbal bully attack.

My heart beat faster as unreasonable thoughts passed through my head. It's his 18th birthday today. Is it possible that I'm mated to him?

"This is shitty. How come I mated to a filthy weak omega.."

"What are you going to do?" asked Joan.

"I'd reject her," replied Magnus quickly.

"You must be joking," Joan replied.

He must not have been told who the girl was. I tried to walk faster because I didn't want to hear any more of their conversation, and it was also better for me to get home and spend the day. I'll go to school again tomorrow, hoping that Magnus isn't my mate because rejection is really scary to me.

"You," Magnus called. I stopped walking and turned around.

There was no one else on the narrow street, and I was sure he was calling me. Somehow, his voice sounded more melodious than usual. I stopped walking and turned to him. The young man stepped closer to me with an expression that was hard to read. As the musky scent emanating from his body grew stronger, I realized that he was someone the Moon Goddess had chosen to be my mate.

However, what I heard from his mouth before this made my heart beat fast in anticipation. That meant she was going to reject me.

I saw him smile wryly before saying, "I, Magnus Barrett, reject Milana Adams as a mate."

I gaped for oxygen and collapsed to the floor, clutching my aching chest. Not only did my feelings hurt when I heard the one destined to be my mate utter that rejection, but even though it was only for a moment, my heart seemed to be squeezed from the inside as I realized that now the future would no longer be what I had hoped for.