Chapter 3: Banished And Broken

IOANA’S POV

A glaring bright red mark on her neck was a trophy she displayed to me with smugness.

No, it can't be—maybe it's not him. I shook my head. My dizziness increased, and the world spun like a wheel out of control.

I had hardly recovered from the rejection.

My body ached and trembled every second I stood under the harsh lashes of the bitter icy wind penetrating my body, freezing me in place.

But no matter how much I wished this was a dream, how much I wanted to slap myself to wake up, everything around me was vivid—too real to be true.

The corners of my lips cracked, blood seeping out, stinging me.

It wasn't a dream.

I wanted to cry, but no tears came out.

The door behind Gabrielle creaked open once more, and he came out, painfully shattering whatever deceit I dunked myself into.

Ramon adjusted his collar, buttoning it up, but not before I saw the red scratch mark on his neck.

He gave me a cold look, like I was a stranger, like the numerous nights under the moon whispering to each other were false, like the butterfly kisses he placed on my lips never happened.

My stomach churned. At this moment, I never felt so alone—so out of place.

A clear division between us. Over there was the happy family—the respected Beta couple, my parents, the elders, my perfect sister, and my… their son-in-law.

But here I was, the outsider, shivering in the desolate cold. I let out a bitter chuckle.

'What was I expecting? It has been like this since forever. I was always the nuisance—the unwanted child.

The stain on their pristine prestige.'

And those words never struck me so closely like they did now.

My vision blurred, my heart tightened. It was as if something was lodged in my lungs—I couldn't breathe.

It was like the sky had fallen over my back, bending me under its weight.

But perhaps I was still stupidly hopeful. It flickered like a candle about to be snuffed out.

My gaze trailed over them one by one—people I once saw as my loved ones. Respected elders.

My sister. My mate.

Perhaps my mother would say something. Isn't it said a mother's love never fails?

'Please don’t fail now.

Don’t abandon me.'

With a silent plea in my eyes, I stared at her, but she silently averted her gaze away.

My father watched in silence, but his stance told me everything I needed to know.

My mate looked at me with disgust, as if I were a revolting bug he needed to be far away from.

Just then, a shrill voice spoke.

"Ioana, in fact, don’t blame them. It's for your own good. If you stay here, it won’t do you any good."

She stepped forward.

"Honey, don’t—"

My mother stopped her. Gabrielle turned, flashing her a wide smile.

"It's okay. I don’t believe my sister will hurt me. Right, sister?" She blinked.

It was only then Ramon moved. He shot me a glare, a warning.

"She displays some concerning rabid behavior. I’d be careful if I were you."

His words brought another round of stares my way, sharpening in vigilance.

My hand clutched my ribs, my breath becoming labored. I swallowed down the lump that had grown increasingly difficult.

'Is that what they think about me?'

It was more than disheartening. Each word chipped at my heart, making it more and more fragile each second.

She sauntered toward me. Immediately, she turned, her back to them. Her expression changed.

The contempt. The smugness.

It merged, transforming into something else—something darker.

She came closer to me, her perfume overpowering my nose.

Her freshly manicured hands gripped mine, her nails digging into my arm.

I gritted my teeth, swallowing the painful grunt that almost spilled out of my lips.

Meeting her eyes, her lips curled up, her coated maliciousness fully displayed.

She drew closer until I could feel her breath on my sensitive ear.

"Baby Ioana," she cooed, her words dripping with mockery and venom.

"Haven't I told you? What the Alpha needs is a strong wolf by his side, and unfortunately, my dear sister, that wolf isn’t you."

She chuckled, withdrawing, her final words like poison.

"So pathetic."

I flinched.

"Ouch!" She recoiled sharply away from me.

"Gabrielle, what's that?"

"Are you okay?"

"What happened?"

The porch, which seemed like an insurmountable barrier, was crossed just like that.

But it reminded me of the painful truth—until my heart became numb.

Gabrielle held her arm to her chest.

"It's nothing."

But another mark was revealed—a bright red one.

Ramon asked, "What’s that?"

Everyone’s attention turned toward it.

"Is that…"

My mother snatched Gabrielle’s hand, revealing it to the scrutiny of everyone.

"It looks like a pinch mark." The area around it was swollen, with beads of blood.

For the first time since I arrived, my father turned to me, bellowing.

"It's you! An evil girl! Did you pinch your sister?"

"I didn’t!"

"I said it—she's not normal!"

"I—"

"Why did you go close to her? You know how she behaves!"

"It’s not me!"

"We’ve had enough of you!"

"Take this!"

Something slammed into me—it was my bag.

"Get out of here!"

"How could you do that to your sister?"

All my words were swallowed by their accusations, raining down on me.

'I’m innocent.'

My silent plea drifted helplessly in the wind.

With nobody to listen.

No one wanted to listen to my words. As always.

I scoffed, but it sounded weak and feeble even to my own ears.

'What did I expect?'

"You've done enough!"

I should have known. I would never belong here.

"Get out of here! If she can do this to her own sister, what else isn't she capable of?"

"You made the right decision—a wise one to banish her, Elder."

Those were the words of my father.

I bent, my muscles creaking, screaming in protest.

But they all vigilantly stared at me, indifferent and uncaring of my state.

My mother shifted backward, protectively placing Gabrielle behind her.

But at this point, I was completely numb. Perhaps my heart had received so much shock that it couldn’t take it anymore.

My fingers curled around the frayed, worn handles of my bag, slinging it over my shoulder with a grunt.

'I won’t break.'

I choked on a sob.

'No. Not in front of them.'

I straightened my back, slowly exhaling shakily.

My fingers curled into fists, clenching them by my side.

My eyes dazed.

'Where would I go? How will I cope?'

But it didn’t matter.

Anywhere would be better than here.

And like that, I staggered away into the dark.