0003: Everything Changes

What choice did I have? When your own mate looks at you like... you are less than dirt... What's left to fight for?

The one I had loved for three years. Drake — the Alpha of Silver Crescent, the man I thought would chose me as his Luna— had thrown me aside like yesterday's trash.

I thought I could endure anything for him. Three years of being overlooked , waiting for him to see me . To love me. But when his cold eyes met mine at the ceremony.... I knew. I was never going to be enough.

I had begged silently for him to consider, to change his mind but nothing. Instead he had chosen the Beta's daughter over me.

Ugly and wolfless

That what was he had called me.

The tears couldn't stop as I was been led out of the pack very early in the morning. Allowing me to spend the night was the only good he had done for me.

The pack was no longer my home and I cried silently as we got to the ends of the pack ,guards flanked by my sides like I had committed a heinous crime.

I couldn't stay ,it was better I leave,not with all that humiliation. As we approached the outskirts of the pack, I passed the spot where we first met as kids.

My chest tightened. How foolish I had been, believing that I would ever be enough for someone like him.

The moon goddess had cursed me with a mate who never wanted me.

The rain drizzled down, cold droplet biting into my skin like tiny needles. The scent of damp earth mingled with the distant hum of another pack made my head spin.

We got to the farthest part of the pack ,where my aunt and uncle lived.

They had always been kind to me,and they were the only family I had left. My uncle was leaning on a stick ,a testament to the injury he had suffered during the rogue wolves attack. My aunt's eyes swelled with tears when she saw me.

"Oh,Layla, I'm so sorry. You deserve so much better than this ," She whispered,her voice thick with emotion as she hugged me tightly.

"If only there was more we could do for you ." Her embrace was the only comfort I had left ,and it nearly broke me.

But I couldn't let myself fall apart . Not now.

"I'll be fine ,"I lied , though my voice wavered. " But I have to go . Staying here only makes things worst."

My uncle hobbled over, placing a hand on my shoulder. "We will always be here for you no matter what."

"May the moon goddess be with you." My aunt said wiping her eyes.

I nodded,but the weight of the truth sank deeper. I had nowhere to go. No pack would accept a banished wolf . I was destined for the human world now,where no one knew about mates, packs, or the pain of rejection

The guards stopped, staring at me with all the hatred in the world.

They said nothing but I knew my journey begins now. I gave a small nod . It was dawn but the sky was still quite dark as I trudged southward. My only companion were the clothes on my back and the dull ache in my chest.

The rain began to pour , soaking me to the bone, but I didn't care.What was a little rain compared to the storm I had felt in my heart?

I walked for hours on end , passing through some packs which I know I can't settle in ,and continued south.

It was late evening when I got to the last pack in the south, the hunger gnawed at me. My stomach rumbled loudly and the scent of food in the air made my mouth water.

I was in an organized buzzing street with restaurants and stores. I got into the nearest to save myself from the rain and hunger , water dripping from my hair and clothes.

I hadn't eaten since yesterday,and my legs felt weak.

The warmth of the place hit me instantly, but it didn't soothe the hollow pit in my stomach . I scanned the room , trying to find a corner where I could sit and think about my life and that was when I saw him , looking vaguely familiar.

Sitting at a distance , casually sipping his drink ,was the young man who has stopped me to ask if I was alright when I ran into the mating ceremony.

His dark hair was tousled slightly and there was an air of arrogance about him ,like he knew he could command everyone in the room without saying a word.

His eyes locked onto mine ,dark and unreadable,and for a moment,I froze . What was he doing here ? My heart raced as I searched for an escape route,but my legs refused to move.

He might report me to Drake.

Before I could turn and leave,he stood up and approached me. His smile was fast but charming as if he was amused of me standing there , drenched and pitiful.

"Hey," he said with a smirk." We've crossed paths before,right ? You remember me ?"

My throat was too dry to speak ,so I nodded weakly. He gestured towards an empty seat and I followed ,too exhausted to protest or ask questions.

"You look like you haven't eaten in days," he said with a teasing smile. " Let me guess , you've been running for a while?"

I didn't respond,my mind too clouded with exhaustion and confusion. My stomach betrayed me by groaning loudly and his grin widened.

I wondered what was that for.

"Have something to drink," he said but I shook my head. " I will get you something to eat then." He said .

I sighed, biting back the wave of hopelessness that threatened to spill over. What was the point of fighting now? Even though something kept tugging me to leave , I felt I should just stay .

I didn't have the energy to argue ,I took the drink he had given me and gulped it all down ,it quenched my thirst instantly.

He waved over the waitress and ordered something for me.

The smell of food was overwhelming but before I could even think about eating, the dizziness hit me.

"I.... I need to go to the bathroom," I managed to mumble as I tried to stand . But as soon as I took a step ,the room tilted sharply. I grabbed the edge of the table to steady myself,but my vision darkened and the last thing ,I saw was the stranger's figure moving towards me before everything went black.

____

When I opened my eyes , I wasn't in the restaurant anymore, the lights from the bulbs overheard illuminated the room and I was lying on a bed. Panic seized me ,my heart racing.

Where was I?

"Ah, you're finally awake ." His voice came from the shadowed corner of the room ,calm and collected, as if he had been waiting for this moment.

He sat there casually, legs crossed, looking every bit of composed as he had looked earlier.

“I'm sorry....for a being a burden," I muttered, embarrassed. " What happened?

"You passed out." He said ,his tone casual but his eyes searched mine. " I couldn't just leave you there . Maybe it's fate ,maybe not ,but I figured you could use the help ." he said with a shrug. " I brought a physician to check on you "

A physician? I frowned, feeling an odd heaviness in my body

"What did they say?" I asked nervously.

"It seems there's something you don't know..." He paused, watching my reaction carefully. "You're pregnant."