Chapter 3

Maeve POV

The sunlight hit my face as I turned around on my bed. I reached for my alarm, but I couldn’t find it. I frowned, wondering why it’s not here.

“Mom!” I yelled loudly but hissed afterwards at the headache that followed it.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” a deep voice said and immediately I sat up. A slight migraine hit me as I blinked repeatedly, trying to get used to the light, and I saw a half naked man. At first it was all confusing, but flashes of last night ran past my brain. I look down at my naked self and the small bloodstain on the bed sheet. I bit my lips in shame.

“This is not how I plan to do it with my mate,” I murmured, scratching my hair. A deep, dry chuckle left his lips as he scorned me.

“I’m sorry, mate?” he asked. I took a deep breath, making sure I was not mistaken, but I was not. That was what Liza was howling yesterday and the scent. I should have realized I met my mate last night, and it only makes sense it is Alpha Ario. I have never met him, but I have heard a lot about him. Father is going to be so happy. He is my mate. He is the second most powerful pack. We could merge our pack and rule together, we would be unstoppable.

“Yes, mate,” I said, innocently. He looked at me in disgust, dragging me by my arm.

“Tell me, what charm did you use on me? Why did I care for you? Why did I bring you here?” he asked, a confused look in his eyes. But I was even more confused.

“I don’t understand. Is your nose not working properly? I am your mate,” I said, ignoring the fact he dragged me harshly and hurting my arm.

“Mate? I see you are one of those shameless whores trying to claim they are my mate,” he said, his hand tightening on mine. My heart beats loudly at his harsh words.

“You don’t call me names, especially when I haven’t done anything to you and why would I lie?” I snapped, my heart still hurting.

“Well, you can never be my mate. I don’t have a mate, so you better stop pretending. I am sure your father taught you better than that,” he growled, and his words were hurting me more. What does he mean? Can’t he feel the bond as I am? Can’t he smell me?

“What happened last night was a mistake, there is no way I would have slept with your cheap ass, do yourself good and stay away from me, you are not my mate, you can never be my mate, and you can try that trick on another Alpha,” he snapped, pushing me harshly and I watched as he walked out, leaving me on the cold floor. It took a while to process what had just happened. My wolf was whimpering, and the bond was crying as my mate rejected me. He didn’t need to say the words, but he just rejected me. I never imagined meeting my mate like this, not in my wildest dream.

“Always stay strong, only cry when we are not with you. As long as we are with you, never shed a tear,” I whispered, what my parents always told me since I was five. I stand up, looking around for my clothes. After finding it, I put it on, wearing my shoes. Then I looked around for my purse while trying to ignore the stain because if I had to look at it one more time, all the training my father gave me would be out the window. I turned on my phone and I had several missed calls, mostly from my dad. He even sent me a lot of voice notes.

“Oh shit,” I whispered, running out of the room. Coming out of the room, I realized I was in the hotel. I grit my teeth in anger. He had the balls to bring me to a hotel, rub me of my virginity and reject me, all in one night. I have never felt so stupid in my life. I breathed out, dialing Mary’s number, but she wasn’t picking. I got outside the hotel and I immediately noticed everyone here is human, so that means I am in a human city. I hope the woods are not far from here, I thought, running.

It was easy to run, even in heels. People stared at me, and I bumped into a few people, but I didn’t mind, and I continued running. I smiled as I saw the woods. When I got there, I removed my clothes and shifted. I took my purse and clothes in my teeth, running to the pack. I just hope Mary is safe and in the pack. I know I am already in so much trouble, but hopefully they won’t be that mad.

***********

I have been running for a few minutes now, and I got to the border, and everywhere was quiet, too quiet. I shifted, putting my clothes on, and then I walked down, but there was no single person at the border. I took a deep breath, and the awful smell of blood rushed into my nose. I walked down the border, heading to the pack house, my heart beating fast. Something is wrong; something is very wrong. Suddenly, I stopped in my tracks, a loud gasp leaving my mouth. There is a dead body everywhere, in every freaking place. The warriors, familiar faces, and wolves, which I definitely recognised. I couldn’t hear a heartbeat from them, and I knew they were all dead.

I ran to the pack house, hoping my parents were alive. I was scared, confused, and wondering what had happened. They were all fine last night, so what happened? I got to the pack house and found more dead bodies; everyone is dead. The tears I have been holding fall from my eyes, hoping this is a dream.

“Mom! Dad!” I yelled, running everywhere, hoping someone would answer me.

“Mom!” I yelled, entering the study, but nobody was here.

“If this is a joke, please stop it!” I yelled, seeing terrifying bodies. Who slaughtered them like this? What happened here? I cleaned up my tears. Running outside of the house, everywhere I ran, all I saw were more bodies. The air is so cold, giving me goosebumps on my skin, and the air smells like death. I ran to my mother’s garden, and getting there, I got the shock of my life.

“Mom!” I yelled, running to her body. She was on the floor, barely breathing. There was no blood on her, but her breathing was slow.

“Mother,” I cried, putting her head on my lap and embracing every warmth she had in her body.

“Run,” she whispered. I could barely hear her, and it seems she has been fighting for her life.

“What happened? Why is everyone dead? What happened to you?” I cried, holding her cheeks. Her blue eyes look up at me, her eyes holding so much horror.

“Run Mae, run and never look back,” she said with every strength she had in her. And I was even more confused. She seems okay; she is still in the pajamas she wore the night before, so why is she sounding like this?

“Where is Father?” I asked, looking around.

“Listen to me, Mae,” she cried, holding my hand.

“I can’t be here anymore longer, but promise me you will survive.” She cried, clenching my hand.

“I will if you survive, mother,” I cried, hearing as her heartbeat slowed down.

“I love you, Maeve; don’t forget you are special,” she said, smiling at me softly. And I watched with my heart filled with so much sadness as her hands dropped; her body became lifeless, and I couldn’t hear any heartbeat.

“Mom,” I whispered, a loud cry leaving my lips as I drew her close. This is not how I want to celebrate my birthday; this is not the present I want from my parents as a birthday gift. I know everyone is dead, and I know father is dead; that is why mother died; her mate is dead; and the pain of losing a mate is terrible. But who killed them? Who killed everyone? What happened when I wasn’t here?

“We have to leave, Mae; I sense danger,” Liza said. I sniffed, closing her eyes, then I kissed her cheeks.

“I love you too, mom, and I promise to survive,” I whispered, standing up. I shifted, running out of the pack as fast as I could; even when I left the pack, I never stopped running. Suddenly, I heard a loud boom, which made me wiggle in pain. I ignored the things falling on me, as I was more focused on blocking my ears. After the ringing in my ears stopped, I stood up, and the boom sound was from my pack. There was fire and smoke.

“It is planned work,” Liza said. She is right; they killed everyone and bombed the place. Father has a lot of enemies; anyone could have done this. They just killed everyone and left not one alive. Even if anyone were alive now, they were surely dead.

“Let’s leave, Mae; I still sense danger,” Liza said.

“Where do we go?” I asked.

“Anywhere, but let’s leave first,” she said, and with that, I ran far away from the pack, not stopping once. I had no idea where I was going, but I just wanted to get away. What I didn’t know is that this is just the beginning of my sorrows, and I might never find happiness again after this.