4. Saved?

Callista.

Farris takes me to the back of the pack house, away from all the wolves, and shoves me into the kitchen through the backdoor. Gripping the counter, I try to catch my breath and slow down my racing heart. A thousand thoughts rush through my head. My dress is torn, and the coldness of the night mingled with the panic in my being makes me shiver. My arms and legs have scratches on them. My throat hurts from screaming.

“What was that?” I ask Farris with a shaky voice, “What did just happen?”

Farris’s face is stoic, but his eyes are stern. He grips my chin and tilts my head to look at him. It hurt, but I didn’t tell him.

“Did you know those men?” he asks.

“I mean, I’ve seen them but n-no, I don’t–”

I gasp as Farris grabs me by the shoulders, jerking in surprise as he leans in to sniff my scent glands. This is so unlike him, he’s always so gentle with me.

My mother's accursed words from before ring in my head. Farris is not my mate, I realize. If everything had gone according to plan, I'd know that now. But no, having him as my mate is forever going to be a dream. Farris must be mad that he's not my mate, that's the only reason I can give to him looking like this. I feel a pang in my chest. 

But then his grip tightens. 

“Farris, please, you’re hurting me.” I squeak, fear making my voice higher pitched than usual. This day just keeps getting worse. “Farris! I'm sorry I'm not your mate, and you have every right to be upset, but this is getting absurd, let go of me, please!”

But Farris just looks at me strangely. 

“Who would have thought?” he whispers, “How could someone as beautiful as you be one? Well, I suppose it goes with the territory.”

I am so very confused. What even is going on?

“What…?”

He grips my arms tight and pushes me against the wall. I gasp, my breath leaving my chest at the force of it. Now, I'm starting to get afraid. What is Farris going to do to me? He'd never been violent. 

“Farris, stop, please!” I cry out. "What's wrong with you? Why are you acting like this?"

Just then, our Beta, Kennedy, comes up behind the stage with an anxious expression, searching for the Alpha.

“Alpha, I managed to calm them down.” He stares at me with disbelieving eyes, “Is it true? Is she…?”

I don’t like how Kennedy refers to me as ‘she’ when he knows my name, and I am standing right in front of him. On top of everything happening, I feel objectified, as I am some sort of property. I try to free myself from Farris’s arms.

“Stealer,” Farris says in a low voice. “Yes. She is.”

A jolt runs through my body, making me stand still. It cannot be. That's only a legend, they aren't real, and I certainly cannot be one. 

“I can’t believe that she’d be–”

“I’m not a stealer!” I yell frantically, shaking my head. Cold fear rushes through me. “I’m not. Stealers aren't real, they're just myths! I’m still waiting to find my wolf! What would I know about that kind of thing?! I’m not, Farris, please believe me, I’m-”

Farris ignores my pleas, instead, he hurls me at the Beta like I’m trash.

“Lock her up in the compound, you know the cell,” he says, without so much of a glance at me. I gasp when my wrists are locked in handcuffs, and my own pack mates start to drag me towards the pack house.

“Farris?! Farris, WAIT! Please!” I scream, “I’m not a stealer, I swear! I’m normal! I’m normal and I love you, baby, please! Stealers aren't real!” Sobs fall from my lips, and this time the pain I feel is my heart breaking. This time, the tears don’t burn but are ice cold. 

***

I sit in the cold jail cell, huddled on a concrete bench, hugging myself. It’s dark down here save for one dim light and smells of mold and fear. My eyes and throat hurt from crying but I cannot stop. There is not a single soul down here, and I am truly alone. Too tired to keep sitting, I slide onto the concrete floor.

The cells all around me are empty, and the door to mine is double padlocked with silver, so I have no way of escaping. I am left here to ponder about my own misfortune.

I cannot be a stealer. It’s impossible. Stealers were creatures of myth and legend. Bad omens, the worst kind of creature to exist according to the stories, but not real. I'd never heard of a stealer existing anywhere in North America, much less the rest of the world. Even the legends are so obscure that I barely know what a stealer even is. I believe it has something to do with unmated men and widowed pack members. On top of everything, the topic is a large taboo.

These people are accusing me of being something that I had no clue about.

The ceremony resumes, and I hear the faint melody from even down here. They are going on with it as if my life hadn’t just been upended. My parents doing that, I can understand, but Farris? I thought Farris loved me enough not to throw me in a cell over a freakin fairytale. It’s like a needle stabbing at me. I bury my face in my hands, a fresh wave of tears overtaking me. I don’t deserve this, what have I done to deserve this?

The ceremony ends. Laughter and cheer of celebration fills the air. I hear footsteps approaching.

Scrambling to my feet I fling myself at the bars, coming face to face with Farris.

“Why would you do this to me?” I demand. "I'm not a stealer!" 

The anger that plagued his handsome face earlier is gone, and it’s poker blank.

“I have to keep you separated from the unmated members of the pack, Callista. Please understand the situation, I’m doing this for your own safety.”

I blink at him, confused. Is that all there is to this?

“Okay,” I reply, trying not to give into hysterics and be sensible. “Okay. Can I come out now? Please? Can you take me away from this? You know, I didn't finish my ceremony. Everyone started to go crazy, and I didn't get to do the closing rights. I should come out and finish it, right?” I try to smile, “It was kinda scary but I'm sure this was all a misunderstanding. If I go through with the ceremony, maybe we'll find out that we are mates, and I'll turn into my wolf." 

But Farris shakes his head. “Callista,” He says, his voice heavy with a sense of finality, “We cannot be mates.”

It felt like the whole world had fallen down on me.

“Why?” My voice is a whisper.

“Can’t you understand?” There it is, the anger, “You’re the goddamn stealer. Every unmated wolf, every damn widower desires you. Everyone would want to get their grubby paws on you and I will not stand for it. I cannot be with you anymore. I’m the Alpha, I need to have a loyal wife by my side, not some doll every single man wants. “A stealer,” His cold gaze burns through me, “Does not deserve to be the Luna.”

I cannot speak, I cannot feel. I am but a statue, my mind refusing to function.

"Farris," I try to talk sense into him. "Stealers are not real." 

"They are plenty real. I didn't believe the tales at first, but with you standing in front of me, I know they are."

"Maybe I'm just a late bloomer, maybe my wolf is slow to come out. That doesn't mean I'm a stealer!" I protest. 

"Callista, those men descended on you like wolves on a deer carcass. That had never happened to any girl before. What more proof do you need?!" Farris nearly screams, but I'm too busy shaking my head to listen to him. 

"There has to be something wrong here. I cannot be a stealer."

“I don't have time to deal with your denial. The only way for a stealer to be less dangerous is to get mated to someone. Or find your true mate. Considering the last option is unlikely to happen overnight,” He looks away, “I need to make some calls and,” He closes his eyes, shaking his head, “It’s over, Callista. We’re done. You and I, forget about it.”

"No, No, Farris! You can't do this to me!" I scream, now getting angry. "You can't mate me to someone I don't want to! I get to find my mate like everyone else. Farris! Farris, don't you dare leave me! Farris, come back! Comes back! Don't do this to me! Farris!"