Chapter 3

Aria 

The day was about to end. My legs hurt as I continued running through the forest unstoppably. I didn't realize that I had been running for a while now. My head tilted up to the sky. The sun was about to set. Darkness would arrive in a while. And I have to go back to the house now before a tracker would see me.

I have always felt pressured being Ash and Cassie's sibling. Running through the forest helped me to be at ease. This was my solace. I would feel better after and ready to face the world again when I came out from the forest after a short sprint. 

However, the pain that I carried deep within my heart was still there. That pain shredded my heart into pieces. The rejection of my mate was more than the worst experience that I have had in my life. Being rejected by my mate was beyond incomparable.

Minutes had passed and I could already see our home from afar. We have the best in life, a luxurious home, and anything that we could possibly need. Our cabin was one of the best homes here in the pack. The Alpha gave us this home because of the popularity that my sister brought to the pack and my brother's bravery in battle.

My father hated me for being weak, my sister didn't like to spend time with me and my brother was always busy doing the pack duties. All that I had was my mother and I was beyond grateful to have her by my side. My brother used to be there for me as well. He took good care of me, giving me the attention I deserve and protecting me from everyone who tried to humiliate me. However, he was no longer on my side. Ash was no different from dad and our sister. They treated me like I was a worthless wolf in the family.

I took a deep breath before I continued walking to our house. My legs brought me to the kitchen where my mom used to stay at this hour. The aromatic dinner that she's cooking lingers in my nostril. I covered my mouth not to create any sound when I started crying over again after seeing her. 

My mother gazed in my direction. Her smiling face was now changed into a picture of worry.

Tears fell down my eyes and I could no longer stop myself from crying.

“Why are you crying, Aria?” she asked, slowly walking near me. I bit my bottom lip as I couldn't find the exact words to tell mom about what happened to me.

My mom opened her arms, telling me to embrace her which I did. I buried my face in her chest and let out everything. Mom comforted me by rubbing her hands on my back. I could say that my mom's embrace helped me at ease, but it would never be enough to take the pain in my heart.

“It’s very painful, mom. Why is it this painful?” I cried out loud, unable to finish my words.

Mom was playing with my hair with her fingers as she said, “Everything would be alright, my child. Mommy is here and I will never allow them to hurt you.”

Mom's words made me feel better, at least for now. It didn't matter to me how long we stayed in that position. What mattered to me was the truth that mom would be there by my side forever, even if the world would turn its back on me. 

Honestly, I felt better after I cried everything to mom's chest. But that didn't mean that the pain in my heart was gone. It won't be gone that easily because it would take some time to heal.

“Tell me what happened, Baby. Why are you crying?” Mom asked me as she noticed that I was calming down. Her hands caressed my face and she used the back of her hands to wipe my tears away.

I smiled, clearing my throat before telling mom what happened. “I found and met my mate earlier, mom,” Mom's face lightened up in happiness as I said those words.

Little did she know what had truly happened between my mate and me.

“That's good to know, Baby. You should be celebrating, now that you found him,” she uttered in joy but I bit my bottom lips. The excitement on her face faded away after she saw my sudden reaction. “Aria... Don't tell me...”

I bit my bottom lip trying to hold back my tears as they threatened to fall again.

“My mate rejected me, Mom. He rejected me earlier,” I whispered. My inner self was howling again and I wanted to release that, but I held it back by taking a deep breath. “Adrian Patterson was my mate and he didn’t want me. Cassie was the one he chose because he thought my sister was better than me.  My own brother, Ash, even smacked me twice thinking that I was lying with this whole mate thing! My brother didn't believe that Adrian was my mate, Mom. He listened to Cassie and that hurts most.”

Those painful words escaped from my throat while I was sobbing. Mom was listening to me. Seeing her reaction, she can't even believe it.

“I am sorry for this, Honey. You didn't deserve this!” My mom exclaimed and she embraced me into her arms which made me sob again in her arms. “I’m sorry if you have to experience all of this.”

I faked a smile, letting mom know that it was not her fault. She must not ask for an apology because she didn't do something to hurt me. They did.

“It wasn’t your fault, mom. It was their fault.” I replied with a hint of anger in my tone. An igniting fire had formed in my heart while I was thinking about the betrayal and rejection of my mate towards me. I gritted my teeth while my body tensed with the surge of emotion.

My mother let go of me. She looked at me deep into my eyes with a hint of worry all over her face. I knew she was hurting deep inside from what happened to me and I didn't want her to be hurt like that. “Did you tell him?”

I shook my head in response. “He doesn’t deserve to know the truth. He doesn’t deserve me.”

This, I was sure of. My secret would remain between me and my mom. I vowed to not let anyone from this goddamn pack know what I was, especially Adrian Patterson. 

No one would know that I am a shifter too. 

One day, I woke up with intense pain in my body. My mom headed straight to my room when she heard me whimpering in agony. No one else was inside our house except for us that day. 

And then, it happened. My bones creaked while my muscles tore from them. Still lying at my bedside,  I grew in size. My limbs morphed while my hair thickened into white fur. My nose stretched out and became a snout. Then, I saw a white wolf in my mind. She introduced herself as my spirit wolf, Cleo, who would become my companion for life.

And through it all, my mom bore a sole witness to everything. And it would remain like that forever. 

“After the incident, I didn’t know how to face him or this family anymore.”

“What do you mean?” she asked. 

“I want…I want to run away from this pack,” I uttered with certainty. My decision was final. I’d rather live in isolation than stay in this hell. 

“No, I won’t let you!” My mom stepped back and massaged her head. “I wouldn’t allow you to live as a rogue. You’ll die!”

“But I am already dead!” I retorted. “Adrian’s rejection had killed me. This was the only way to revive me. This was the only way for me to live again.”

I felt like something had blocked my throat while saying those words. My knees wobbled. Finally, I gave in and slowly descended to the ground. 

My mom didn’t speak. Instead, she scooched and threw another embrace on my shaking body. But this time, it felt different. It felt as if she was setting me free. 

She didn’t have to say anything. That was enough for me to understand that she already agreed to my plan. 

“Thank you, mom,” I whispered. “I promised to stay in touch. I will never forget you.”

“Please take care of yourself, my sweet Elaria. Shifter or not, my love for you will remain the same.”

My mom’s embrace became tighter. We both savor the moment, for we both know that that would be the last. 

At least, for now. 

*****

It was dark and a gloomy night as I kept moving, making my moves haste with tears all over my face. My legs were trembling but it didn't stop me from moving. The trees were thicker this way. Heading south was my only option to escape from the pack where I left my broken heart.

I have been running for almost an hour, which made me stop for a moment. This was already hostile territory for I know that I already passed the border of the Shadowmoon pack. Enemies could be everywhere and I must be vigilant.

I suddenly felt the dryness of my throat. It was only then that I realized that I needed to drink. I stopped running and tried to listen to the sounds surrounding me. My mouth grinned when I heard ripples of water from a nearby stream.

I rushed in the direction of the sound. It didn’t take long before I reached the riverbank. I leaned down and scooped water in my hand. The water was sweet and refreshing. My mind was celebrating this little comfort when suddenly, I felt another presence at my back.

I drew the last courage that I have to look back and my eyes widened. And with that I know, everything would forever be changed.