chapter 5

The warmth of strong arms wrapped around Georgia, pulling her from the abyss of unconsciousness. She was barely aware of the soft murmurs, the gentle hands smoothing back her tangled hair.

"Georgia… Can you hear me?"

The voice was familiar. Soft yet urgent.

Her eyelids fluttered open, but the world was blurry. Shadows danced around her, and her body felt like lead, too weak to move. A shiver wracked her frame, and something warm was draped over her.

"You're safe now," the voice whispered.

A face came into focus. Big brown eyes filled with worry. A familiar warmth.

"Anna…" Georgia rasped.

Anna’s face crumpled with relief. "Oh, thank the Goddess!" She pulled Georgia into her arms, hugging her tightly. "I thought I lost you!"

Tears slipped down Georgia’s cheeks. The weight of everything, the rejection, the humiliation, the pain, came crashing down all at once. A broken sob tore from her throat, and she clung to Anna as if letting go would shatter her completely.

Anna rocked her gently, whispering words of comfort. "You’re not alone, Georgia. I’ve got you. I’ll always have you."

For the first time in a long time, Georgia let herself believe it.

Georgia’s breath hitched as the memories kept coming, suffocating her.

She had never belonged. Not to her family. Not to anyone.

Her father had once looked at her with pride. But after Seraphina was born, his love disappeared like it had never been there.

Her mother? Cold, distant. I always choose Seraphina. Always looking at Georgia as if she were a mistake.

And that night… the night she had thought her fate would change…

She had worn a dress, one of the only beautiful things she had ever owned. Anna had gifted it to her, so excited for her to finally stand out at the Alpha’s banquet.

But her mother had taken one look at her and scoffed.

"That dress doesn’t fit you. Give it to Seraphina. You can wear something else."

Seraphina had smirked, stepping forward without hesitation.

Georgia had stood there, frozen, as her mother stripped the dress off her and placed it on her sister. She had been forced to wear something old, something plain, something that made her feel invisible.

Like always.

But that humiliation was nothing compared to what followed.

That same night, she had waited in excitement and fear, hoping to meet her mate, the one person destined to love her. The one person who would finally make her feel like she mattered.

And she had found him.

Only for him to reject her. Publicly. Brutally.

"You?" He laughed, eyes full of disgust. “The Moon Goddess must be playing a cruel joke. I would rather die than be mated to you."

Then… then came the worst part. The part she never spoke about.

A shadowed figure. A rough hand. A muffled scream.

Her fingers clenched in Anna’s shirt as she came back to the present, her body shaking.

"Georgia…?" Anna’s voice was hesitant as if she was afraid Georgia might shatter right in front of her.

She forced herself to loosen her grip.

Anna pulled back slightly, brushing damp hair away from Georgia’s face. "I searched for you. The moment I heard what they did, I went looking."

Georgia blinked, trying to process the words. "What…?"

“After they threw you out. After they found out you were pregnant…"Anna’s throat tightened. “I knew something was wrong. I knew you wouldn’t have just run away like they claimed."

Georgia felt like she had been punched.

They had told everyone she ran away? That she abandoned the pack on her own?

Anna’s hands tightened around hers. "I asked around, I searched the borders, I…." She exhaled sharply, looking down. “I thought I lost you."

Georgia stared at her, the weight of those words settling deep.

Anna had searched for her. She had cared. When no one else did.

And yet… it didn’t change the emptiness inside her.

She swallowed, her voice hoarse. "I should’ve just died that night."

Anna flinched. "Don’t say that."

“It’s true."Georgia’s lips trembled. "Why was I even born? To be thrown away? To suffer? My father never loved me. My mother treated me like a burden. Seraphina got everything, and I…"Her voice cracked. "I got nothing."

Anna cupped her face gently. “You have me. And you have your babies."

Georgia squeezed her eyes shut. Her babies.

She had fought for them. Suffered for them.

But even now, a part of her wondered, had she done the right thing?

She had survived. But for what?

She took a deep breath, the heaviness suffocating her. "I think I need to kill myself."

Anna’s grip on her tightened instantly.

"No. No, Georgia, you don’t mean that."

She closed her eyes, surrendering to the weight pressing down on her chest. The darkness felt comforting, like a lullaby pulling her under.

Somewhere in the distance, Anna's voice trembled.

"Georgia? Hey, stay with me. Georgia!"

But her body felt heavy. The world blurred.

Then, blackness.