AN ALLEY FOR A HOME

CHAPTER 3: AN ALLEY FOR A HOME.

EVERLY:

I staggered back with the weight of his hurtful words and false accusation. Tears blurred my vision but I could still see her; the she devil Isabella. My gaze darted to her, as she stood watching the scene unfold with thinly veiled delight.

“I can't believe this,” I whispered, with trembling voice. “Someone’s feeding you lies, Alpha. Please, don’t do this.”

Viktor sneered. “No one’s feeding me anything, Everly. I see you for what you are—an embarrassment. Isabella has nothing to do with this.”

“Of course, she does. You just made it clear by mentioning her name.”

When he realised he has fucked up, he gritted his teeth and turned away.

I turned to Isabella, my fury boiling over. “You did this, didn’t you?”

She tilted her head, her expression mock-innocent. “Me? I’m just looking out for Viktor. He deserves someone who can elevate him, not drag him into mediocrity.”

“You lied to him!” I shouted. “You’ve always hated me, but this? This is beyond cruel!”

Isabella shrugged, her smile widening. “Hate is such a strong word, dear sister. I simply pointed out what everyone already knew. Viktor deserves the best, and you... well, you’re not it.”

The crowd seemed restless, their eyes darting between us. Some looked sympathetic, while others gazed at me with judgmental eyes.

“Everly.” Viktor’s voice drew my attention back to him. “This is over. Accept the rejection and leave the pack.”

I froze, my breath hitching. “Leave?”

He nodded, his expression hard. “You don’t belong here anymore.”

My wolf howled in protest, the bond between us tearing like fragile threads. Pain surged through me, making it hard to breathe.

“You can’t do this,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “You’re my mate, Alpha. You’re supposed to protect me.”

“I don’t owe you anything,” he replied coldly. “This is for the best.”

For a moment, I thought I might collapse under the weight of his rejection. But then I saw Isabella’s face, her victorious smirk, and something inside me snapped.

“Very well then.” I said, my voice stronger than I expected. “I Everly Gray accept your rejection. But I promise you one thing, you will live to regret this.”

Viktor’s brow furrowed. “Is that a threat?”

“I have accepted your rejection,” I said, standing taller. “You might despise the bond, but I don't. The Moon Goddess doesn’t make mistakes, Viktor. You’re the one who’s blind and you’ll get what's coming for you.”

The crowd murmured louder now, obviously surprised at my boldness. I was always known to cow before my bullies. Where did this boldness come from? .

Viktor’s eyes narrowed. “You’re making this harder than it needs to be, Everly.”

“Am I?” I shot back. “Or are you just too afraid to admit that you’ve been manipulated?”

His nostrils flared, but before he could respond, Isabella stepped forward.

“Enough, Everly,” she said, her voice dripping with condescension. “You’re only embarrassing yourself. Just leave already and move on.”

I turned to her, my anger boiling over. “You don’t get to decide my fate, Isabella. You’ve already taken so much from me—my family, my place in this pack—but I promise you, Viktor will never love you. He will eventually see you for who you are and dump you.”

Isabella’s smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. “You’re delusional. Viktor chose me over you. Isn’t it better to leave with what little dignity you have left?”

Before I could respond, Viktor stepped between us. “That’s enough. Both of you.”

He looked at me one last time, his gaze icy. “Everly, it's time to leave. You’re no longer welcome here.”

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing in the center of the clearing, the eyes of the pack heavy on me.

Not for once did my father bart an eyelid, nor say a word to defend me. He too choose Isabella over me.

I didn’t cry. At least not yet. I couldn’t give them the satisfaction. Instead, I straightened my shoulders, held my head high and turned and walked away, each step heavier than the last.

As I walked away from the only home I’d ever known, the pain of rejection tore through my entire being like a storm. But I felt a spack of defiance burning in me as I walked away. I will survive even this.

It's certainly not the end.

Not for me.

---

I found an alley and made it my home. The cold concrete floor ate into my flesh and as days turned into nights, hunger gnawed at me like a persistent pest. My once-pristine clothes were now torn and stained, and my hair hung in tangled strands around my face.

Each night, I would clutch my knees to my chest, shivering as the wind howled through the narrow space. My wolf was silent, maintaining her distant, as though she’d retreated to a corner of my soul to lick her wounds in private.

The rejection had left me hollow, but I refused to let it break me. Viktor didn’t want me. Fine. I would survive, even if it meant living like this.

This evening, all I wanted was to get some fresh air. After I left Silver Cross, I decided to get myself a job as a bar attendant. At least I needed to earn a living.

The bar was always crowded and noisy and sometimes I felt as if I would choke on the smell of tobacco and alcohol.

I wore headphones that shut off part of the city noise around me. But I could still hear some noise as I headed to the alley where I lived. Noise came from the alley that sounded a little disturbing. I stood and listened for a second then moved forward. I wasn’t particularly brave, but after so many months on the streets , you get used to the madness. It’s just noise, I kept telling myself.

However, this specific sound wasn't appropriate. I felt a peculiar cold go through me as my music stopped. I looked around and took off my headphones.

The sound of something grinding across metal was then audible to me. I stood motionless, feeling my heartbeat accelerating. My initial reaction was to turn around and leave, acting as though I hadn't heard anything. I ought to have done it. Rather, I continued walking, each step dragging me farther into the alley and away from the security of the congested streets behind me.

I could hear voices now—low, menacing—and something else. A growl.

I stopped as my breath caught in my throat. What the hell was that?

I couldn’t move.

The stench hit before I saw them.

Rogues.

I caught a glimpse of them as I peeked over a dumpster corner. They were three men but there was something strange about them. They didn't move in a natural manner and when I saw their bright, predatory eyes glint in the faint streetlight, I shuddered.

With unnatural strength, one of them slammed another man against the wall while putting his hand around his throat.

Then came the rough, guttural voice, which obviously belonged to the man with the glowing eyes. "You've crossed the wrong territory. Viktor will not put up with any kind of interference."

The other man gasped for breath and struggled. He looked around frantically, as though he was searching for someone, anybody, to assist him. However, nobody was approaching.

I should have departed before things worsened.

“You don’t have to do this,” the man pleaded, his voice shaking. “I didn’t—”

He didn’t finish his sentence. The glowing-eyed man shifted into a roguewolf and lunged forward, and with a sickening crack, the other man’s body went limp. My heart pounded in my ears, the sound drowning out everything else.

I stumbled back, and my foot hit something—a loose brick, or a piece of trash. I don’t know what it was but the sound echoed through the alley like a gunshot.

The rogue shifted back to human and three pairs of eyes snapped toward me.

Shit.

“Who’s there?” one of them snarled, taking a step toward me. His body seemed to ripple, muscles bulging beneath his leather jacket.

Panic surged through my body as I turned and fled. I didn’t care where I was going, as long as it was away from them. My legs burned as I ran and my lungs screamed for air, but I didn’t stop. I could hear them behind me, their footsteps pounding against the pavement as they got closer. And closer.

I cut through a narrow gap between two buildings, my shoulder grazing the rough brick as I squeezed through. But I froze when I saw a dead end.

No, no, no.

I turned around, pressing my back against the cold wall. I was trapped. The men appeared in front of me, grinning like wolves that had cornered their prey.

“Well, well,” the one with the glowing eyes said, his grin widening. “Looks like we’ve got ourselves a stray.”

“Looks like she doesn't belong anywhere,” his companion chuckled darkly behind him.

My heart pounded in my chest, but I forced myself to stand firm even as my legs trembled beneath me. “Leave me alone,” I said, forcing my voice to be steady despite the fear clawing at my chest.

The leader tilted his head, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Feisty, aren’t you? Too bad for you, we like our prey with a little fight.”

They lunged.

I dodged the first rogue, my instincts taking over. But there were three of them. A sharp pain erupted in my side as claws tore through my skin.

“Stay down!” one of them snarled, pinning me to the ground.

I fought back with all the strength I could muster. I felt my wolf as she stirred faintly, but it wasn’t enough. Just as I braced myself for the worst, a deep, commanding voice echoed through the alley.

“Enough!”

And that’s when I saw him.