Betrayed

In the eerie moonlit forest, a woman in a tattered wedding dress raced desperately, the chilling darkness nipping at her skin. Her heart pounded in terror as the gnarled trees loomed over her, their branches coming at her in all directions. Despite her stumbling and tripping over roots and rocks, she pushed herself to keep running, the fear of the unknown shadows propelling her forward toward an uncertain safety. This woman is Gabriella. Unfortunately, a beastly sound reverberated from behind her and she tripped over vines.

Her lips trembled as the damp cold seeped into her bones, causing her to shiver uncontrollably.

And then the black shadows appeared, looming over her and chanting

“For you are a cursed one, the dark ones will come for you!”

The chants continued till Gabriella woke up with a terrifying scream.

Her chest hyperventilated as beads of sweat trickled down the sides of her face.

She bit her lips in anger, squeezing the bedspread as if to rip it into pieces.

Then a voice came to her “The same bad dream Gabe” her wolf Inker said softly.

With a deep sigh, Gabriella let go of her bedspread and sobbed “It’s not my fault for being cursed Inker… and if the dark ones are not coming to take my life yet then the dream should stop!” She voiced out angrily but still with a low restraint for fear of waking anyone up.

“No one is coming for you, love. And have you forgotten what day it is? Our mate is marking us today, the only solution to our problem” Inker informed and with that, Gabriella’s expression immediately changed.

She sprang up from the bed and looked at the date she circled on the calendar.

Like every other werewolf’s dream of finding their mates to complete them, Gabriella dreamed of such until her 16th birthday. The day she found out that she couldn’t live a normal life like others, the day she lost her first boyfriend.

After getting proposed to by her crush on her birthday, the poor boy coughed out blood and died immediately.

Her stay in school wasn’t easy with the incident from that night but she didn’t give up.

Until three more boys died because of her. She became so broken and this gave her father the confirmation he needed to start neglecting her, and her stepmother wasn’t excluded. Her father went bankrupt when she was born and her mother died when she was 5 hence, everyone started calling her cursed officially on her 16th birthday.

She was despised by all, including her family. But one day she came across a seer of their kind (A werewolf blessed with this gift) who told her that the curse can only be lifted by mating with her one true Mate given by the moon goddess.

And finally, she found a mate at the age of 22.

Gabriella arranged her dress for work with a smile on her face before she hurried off to the kitchen to make breakfast. Despite being in her own house, she’s treated like a slave and made to work to earn her money. The only thing keeping her in the house is to have a roof over her head. She has tried running away many times but her father always found her because if she’s gone, who will cook and clean for them?

No sooner had she finished setting the table than her stepmother appeared behind her, followed by her father and stepsister Olive.

Gabriella said her greetings with a warm smile only to be welcomed by critics “Do you have a secret savings somewhere girl?” Her stepmother snorted.

With a confused glance at her father, she dared to question what she meant.

“To see that you’ve not left for work by this time only means that you are becoming very lazy! I have no money to waste on you if you get fired just so you know” her father added.

“That’s not what happened father, I wanted to make a break—“ she tried explaining but was cut off by Olive.

“Again with the excuses as if she’s the good daughter” she rolled her eyes as she pulled a chair out for herself.

Gabriella retreated with her head bowed, she’s used to this hostile environment and has stopped trying to be loved by them.

After all, her life might end anytime soon and they wouldn’t care since she’s the cursed mateless girl. Prey for the dark ones.

With a heavy heart, she returned to her room to prepare for her beautiful day. She took a quick look at herself in the mirror and at the blue eye necklace resting on her chest.

“Protect me always like Mother said” She kissed the necklace and set off.

On her way out, a text came on her phone and she swiped up with a broad smile.

“Don’t keep me waiting today love”

“I can’t wait to see you after work, Kyle” she texted back immediately.

“Daddy, I told you that I’ll be needing some funds for my new business but you haven’t made a move yet. Mum, please talk to your husband” Olive whined.

She has always gotten everything on a platter while Gabriella has always worked her ass off.

Hearing that from the living room, she tucked away her phone and left the house.

“Poor thing” Olive commented with a sneer.

>NIGHT<

Gabriella worked with enthusiasm all day long with her wolf motivating and cracking jokes to calm her nerves about her plan with Kyle.

Finally, her shift was over and she went to her boyfriend’s place.

Her eyes gleamed with joy as the elevator door spread open.

She entered the passcode and walked into the room carefully.

A nice calming music danced into her ears and she smiled at the bed of roses in the room. Gabriella picked one up with excitement and thrill as she made her way further into the bedroom. She paused when she saw the door open slightly.

With a blush on her face, she pushed the door open carefully only to be welcomed with the most heart-wrenching scene ever.

Her bag dropped off her hand along with the rose she picked up. On the medium-sized bed are Kyle and her stepsister Olive, having the best sex of their life. Only then did she hear their relentless moan amidst the calm music.

Her heart sank to the lowest pit of her stomach and her eyes widened in horror.

“Kyle?” She called out shakily, loud enough to be heard.