Chapter 5

It's been almost a week since I was last seen in school. I'm very sure my best friends are worried to death. There's little or nothing I can do about it, though, as I am not allowed to have visitors or visit people.

After the incident with Bettany, I stayed out of her sight. I do my chores on time and return to the barn.

I wanted to remain as low-key as possible—not like she cared. And there was a time Aiden came looking for me, demanding to know why I hadn't been in school. Of course I lied; it's not like he will fight for me or something.

It has been made pretty clear to me. I'm all alone in this cruel world. I didn't even try to fight it or be depressed. Though there were times I wished I were better.

Wishes bring back bad memories and mental breakdowns. So I didn't dwell on them too much either. So far, Ava has been pretty nice to me. She sneaks into the barn once in a while, and we sometimes eat together. It hasn't been any better, though; it just got a lot easier to have someone to talk to in the whole castle.

And, oh, I forgot, in three days from now, I'll be an official adult. I plan to leave this goddamned, forsaken hell. I've thought about it; since I have no wolf, I'm human. So, I can as well live among them. Somewhere, no one knows my origin.

I'm tired of everything—of the pack, of my bullies, of the barn. And even though I'm aware I'll be heartbroken leaving my best friends alone, at least they've got their mates. I'm sure they will be fine.

I'm thinking, though, that I should ask Ava to let us leave here together since we both have no wolves. Then we'd live free from all these probably get married like humans and have kids.

Whatever it is, I'm sure leaving here is the best thing to do. And I'm also aware that after crossing the border, we turn rogue. I don't mind; I've never been treated like one of them in the first place.

With that in mind, my spirit felt better. Though I've been having this tingling sensation all over my body since yesterday, Probably it's the wounds that are yet to be healed completely. Pushing those thoughts aside, I looked outside my room and was awed by the sunset.

It has always been a beautiful view to watch the sun set. I love watching it. To me, it means the sun is trying to hide. Giggling at my explanation, I sighed, content to watch the horizon.

I plan on running through the woods tonight. Ava and I have developed this habit since we bounded. But tonight, I plan to go alone.

Later in the night, while everyone was asleep, I sneaked outside, trying not to create a sound that would alert others. Thankfully, guards are not spotted around the barn, making it easier to leave without worry.

I was finally away from the barn, and now inside the woods, I could hear my breathing. Tonight, the forest was unusually calm; there were no birds chirping, and even the trees were still. Everything felt as if I were being watched.

I liked it even more. Walking deeper into the forest, I was headed in no direction. Suddenly, something moved past me like lightning. I stilled, my heart beating erratically. Maybe it was a bad idea to come out alone.

I had no idea what was going on. Trying to calm my beating heart, a sweet scent hit me hard in the nose. not sweet like candies, but sickening sweet.

I tried to look around for what I was perceiving, and the first thing I noticed was a pair of scarlet eyes in the dark. It felt like my heart had jumped into my mouth. I was scared and supposed to run, but my feet refused to move.

"Anna, run!" Wait, I heard a voice in my head, or was I hallucinating? "Anna, run!" This time, I was sure it was coming from within. And with the sudden surge of adrenaline pumping madly in my body, I sprinted. I had no idea where I was headed, but I'm not about to get myself killed.

I needed to know who I was speaking to, so I asked, "Who are you, and why are you in my head?" "Focus, Anna; a vampire is chasing you; you have to run more." She shouted.

Now I'm more agitated. "Who the f*ck are you?" still running and about to start crying. I began to wonder: is this my end? I didn't even get to say goodbye to Ava and my best friends.

"I'm Arora, your wolf."

"Wait,what!!!" I shouted and suddenly stopped, forgetting there was a beast trying to kill me. "You're what? I'm an omega with no wolf. "So who are you?" I was beginning to lose my mind.

"I'll explain everything to you later, but right now you have to change to fight that beast; if not, we are both dead."

Without waiting for me to process whatever she had said, the tingling sensation came with full force that brought me to my knees. My blood was boiling, and my bones were snapping, taking on a different form. I can see my hands deforming and fur sprouting out. This pain is worse than hell, I was sure. My clothes began to shred into pieces, and bit by bit, my body turned into that of a giant white golden wolf.

I gasped in awe, and before I had time to admire myself, I fell into a deep sleep.

Three days later...

It's been three good days since I last heard from my wolf. After seeing her turn into a giant white golden wolf, I remembered nothing. Probably she fought with the vampire herself, or we ran away. But the next day, I was back inside the barn. I guess she brought me back.

But like that, she shut me out as if she had never existed in the first place, and I can see it. My auburn, wavy hair got longer and thicker. I'm no longer tiny, and my body is as clear as a baby's skin, free from the old bruises and scars. My green eyes got clearer and more shiny.

I'm happy; I got to meet my wolf, even if it was once, which means I'm no longer an omega and probably even bigger than most wolves. Plus, today is my eighteenth birthday.

I dressed up and got ready for school quickly. I made my way out of the barn and jogged along to school. I haven't told anyone I'm a full werewolf yet, not that they care. I plan to tell my best friends and Ava today, though.

I got to our school gate and exhaled loudly. This is my first day in school after the incident, and although I've got no bruises or scars on my body again, I still wore a long-sleeve shirt and pants, trying to hide. It didn't do much as I've gotten thicker, though. I'm sure people wouldn't notice, of course.

I entered Beverly High School, and my nose was hit with the most amazing scent I've ever smelled. I couldn't help but follow where the scent was coming from—a mixture of citrus, honey, and the smell of earth. It made my mouth water.

Getting to where the scent stopped, I looked up and saw Aiden have the same look as mine. I was shocked and confused. I've never felt this way before—butterflies erupting in my belly—and I knew at this instant what it was.

"Mate," we both said in unison, and we both were visibly shocked by the confession.

The moon goddess is at it again; she derives her joy from mocking me over and over again. I mean, how can Aiden, the worst person ever, be my mate?

Suddenly, I was hit with a memory that's not mine from the moment he was born until now: his deepest and darkest secrets, his greatest desires, and his fears. I was left shocked. Did we just imprint?

I looked up at him and confirmed it; he had the same look as me—we were f*cking imprinted.

Still in disbelief but happy at the same time, weirdly, I wanted to rush over to my mate. Right this moment, I forgot he was my tormentor. All I wanted to do was mate with him, a desire so strong that it made my knees turn jelly.

He stopped me immediately with a cold expression on his face, making me freeze.

"I, Aiden Steve, soon to be alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack, reject you, omega Anna Fanning, as my mate and future Luna." He said it with the same cold expression on his stoic, hard face.

Nothing prepared me for the pain that hit me with full force. I was hurt. more hurt than when I became a slave at the pack house or when I was constantly bullied by members of the pack house.

With one hand on my chest and a voice barely audible, I asked him. 

"Why?" He scoffed and said, "You don't expect me to have an omega as a mate and Luna."

With that, I broke down in the tears I'd been holding, and I swear, I saw his expression change a little, or so I thought.

He turned around and started walking, not waiting for my response. "I, Anna Fanning, daughter of Ace and Dakota Fanning, accept your rejection." I sobbed and yelled at him, and he froze after my confession, much like mine.

But only I knew how much pain I was in. I turned around and left. I decided that I'm never going to be someone to be thrown around anymore, wolf or no wolf.