Another chance

Althea's POV:

I stared at him, hoping that everything he just said was a lie. But he didn’t take it back.

“Take it back.” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Please, take it back.” I pleaded, and all eyes turned to me.

Summoning what little courage I had left, I began to take slow steps toward him. My fingers jabbed against his chest as I demanded. “Are you kidding me?” I asked, tears streaming uncontrollably down my face. “How? When? And why?” My voice cracked as I stumbled over the words.

The crowd in the square blurred around me as Zane’s voice rang out. “A cursed mate? A jinx? You think I would ever accept something like that as my Luna?”

I stood frozen. My lips parted to protest, but no sound came out.

Zane wasn’t done. He stepped closer, his silver-gray eyes colder than I’d ever seen them. “Althea, you’ve been nothing but bad luck since the moment you were born. Your mother died because of you. And now you think you’re worthy of being my Luna?”

The murmurs in the crowd turned into outright whispers. My knees gave out, and I crumbled to the ground, clutching my chest as the pain of rejection tore through me like wildfire.

Tears blurred my vision, but through them, I saw him turn away. He walked straight to Riya, unbothered by the pain he just inflicted on me. And then, as if the universe hadn’t humiliated me enough, he leaned in and kissed her—deeply, passionately—right there in front of everyone.

“I choose Riya as my Luna.” He declared.

The crowd erupted in cheers, their support for Riya was sad but expected. My heart shattered into a million pieces as I watched him hold her hand, a wide smile plastered across her face.

I don't remember how I got back home. All I knew was that I ran, blind with tears, until I was locked in my room, shaking with anger and grief.

Why? Why did I allow myself to hope?

When morning came, the ache in my chest didn't lessen. If anything, it had grown worse.

I laid on my bed, staring at the ceiling, memories of Zane flashing through my mind. His laughter when we’d shared stolen moments by the stream. His promises under the moonlight. His touch.

And then, the memory of him with Riya. His lips on hers.

I tried to push it all away as I forced myself to get up and dress. My duties didn’t pause for heartbreak, and I couldn’t afford to show weakness. But as I went about my chores, my movements were devoid of the energy I’d once had.

The market was my last stop that day. I needed to purchase some food items for the kitchen, though every step I took felt like I was dragging a boulder behind me.

I didn’t see them at first—the group of women who had always found joy in tormenting me. But their voices cut through the air as I approached the vendor.

“Well, well, look who’s here.” One of them said, her tone dripping with mockery. “The rejected mate.”

My grip on the basket tightened, but I kept my head down, hoping they’d lose interest if I ignored them.

“She probably thought the Alpha prince would save her from her pathetic life.” Another chimed in, laughing.

Their words stung, but I bit my tongue, unwilling to give them the satisfaction of a reaction.

“Maybe her mother died because she gave birth to a jinx.”

I froze.

My hands trembled as I slowly turned to face them, the anger boiling inside me threatening to spill over. “What did you say?” I asked, my voice low and shaking.

The girl who’d spoken stepped closer, a smug smile on her face. “You heard me. Your mother couldn’t bear the shame of having you, so she died to escape it.”

Suddenly, my hand connected with her cheek. The slap came before I could stop myself. 

For a moment, there was silence. And then chaos.

The girl lunged at me, her friends joining in as they dragged me to the ground. Punches and kicks rained down on me, and I struggled to fight back, but they were too many. Pain exploded across my ribs, my arms, my legs.

When it was over, I laid in the dirt, barely conscious.

As I came to my senses, it finally dawned on me. There was nothing left for me here. No mate. No family. No future.

I can't stay in this pack any longer.

That night, as the Pack scrambled to defend against a rogue attack, I made my move. I slipped out of the house unnoticed, my heart pounding as I darted into the Silvervyle Forest.

The night air stung my battered skin, but I didn’t stop running.

Keep running, I told myself. Don’t stop.

The further I went, the angrier I became—angry at Zane, at Riya, at the goddess who had dared to give me hope only to rip it away.

“Why?” I whispered, tears streaming down my face. “Why would you do this to me?”

A sudden rustling behind me snapped me out of my thoughts. I turned, my heart racing as a rogue wolf emerged from the shadows, its eyes glowing in the darkness.

I took off again as the wolf’s snarls grew louder, closer.

I didn’t see the hill until it was too late. My foot caught on a root, and I tumbled down. Pain exploded in my head as I hit a rock at the bottom, blood pooling beneath me.

I tried to move, but my body refused to obey. The rogue’s growls faded, but it didn’t matter.

I was done.

Tears slipped down my cheeks as I stared up at the nearly full moon in the sky. “Give me another chance.” I whispered, my voice trembling. 

“Please, give me another chance. I promise to make them pay. I’ll make them both pay.”

The world tilted, And then, I blacked out.