Chapter Three

3

The rite was already coming to an end when Sophia arrived and scanned the whole place. The moon goddess seemed to be presiding over the last pairing. Strangely, the alpha was nowhere to be found. Where would he be on a special day like this? Sophia thought. Ruckus stood beside her, smiling from ear to ear . His pride was taking a better part of him. Definitely, his mate would be someone very classy. Jael was in the front row, feeling herself. Everyone around her kept on cheering her, trying eagerly to get on her good side. It was only a matter of time before she was called up by the moon goddess. But minutes slowly went by and the moon goddess was yet to do the needful. Something was wrong. Jael tried to call the attention of the moon goddess. Probably, she was not visible enough to be spotted. Just at the right time, the moon goddess raised her index finger and pointed it in her direction. A loud cheer erupted from the people who kept on cheering her. Ruckus was proud. Jael was a perfect one. Without wasting time, Jael mounted the podium and was met with shock. 

" Not you!" The moon goddess clearly said. 

Jael turned around in confusion. 

" Moon goddess, "Ruckus interfered," what do you mean Jael is not the one? Who else is a good match for me?" 

" Not Jael but her!" She pointed in the same direction again. Every sound paused as eyes traveled in the direction of the pointed finger. Standing right behind everyone was the constantly abused Omega. 

" Me?" Sophia muttered. " No way. " She joined the rest in looking back. Perhaps, there was someone else standing there. But her confusion only increased. There was no one behind her. 

" Step up, Sophia." The moon goddess said, confirming everyone's doubt. 

" No way!!" Ruckus fired. " There is no way that good for nothing bondwoman is my mate. " 

" Moon goddess, " Jael said," there should be a mistake somewhere. Do check again. " She sounded as appealing as possible. 

" There is no mistake anywhere. " The moon goddess replied. " Make way for her." 

The crowd parted into two, creating a path for Sophia to walk through. With every step, she felt the ecstasy of being a Luna. All those who abused her would probably bow to her. Her dream was no longer a dream. It was gradually becoming a reality. Eyes gazed at her. 

" By the power vested in me as the moon goddess of this pack, I declare Sophia a mate to Ruckus, the heir apparent to the alpha throne. Murmurings rose in the crowd. Jael was transfixed. Shane was her portion. Why would the outcast be chosen over her? 

" Enough!" Ruckus fired. " I refuse to accept this. " 

" For once," Sophia went on her knees," acknowledge me as a person. " 

" What? A girl without a surname? You don't even have a background. " Ruckus walked to her and pulled her up by the hair. 

" I am … I am your mate." Sophia said through the pain. 

" Fool." Ruckus released her hair and knocked her to the floor. 

" By the power vested on me as the heir apparent, I reject you as a mate. " Ruckus said, spitting on her and taking his leave angrily. The rain of abuse and mockery erupted from the pack on Sophia. Right there on the floor, she sobbed bitterly, trying eagerly to withhold the tears from flowing. Another rejection? No. This was already too much. Her broken body rose from the ground and made her way through the crowd, enduring the mockery . After taking a few more steps out of the people's sight, her tear sac let out the flow. She ran as she cried. This was the height of it. She should now know her background. Who was she? She ran faster. Perhaps, her helper was still waiting for her at the oak tree. 

After minutes of a non-stop run, Sophia finally got to the oak tree. But unfortunately, there was no one there. Probably, the helper had waited for and decided to go. She breathed heavily, squatting to catch some breath. The area was purely deserted. Except for the whispers of the night,there was no other trace of life. She walked to the oak tree and scanned it thoroughly for a slightest trace of a message left for her. But there was nothing. No piece of cloth. No paper. In the midst of her frustration, she heard a sound. 

 " What was that?" She muttered.

 The sound came a second time. It was now louder and clearer. Muffled sounds that was probably coming from a person whose mouth was probably covered. 

" Stay away from me!" A voice shouted. It was feminine. " I have no idea what exactly you both are saying. But don't go anywhere near the little girl." 

Sophia carefully traced her steps in the direction of the sound. Getting closer, she went down to avoid being spotted. Through the darkness of the night, she could see a woman and three men. One of the men stood afar off while the other two went closer to the woman with claws clearly visible in the brightness of the moon. 

" Stay away from Sophia!" The woman shouted before they knocked her down. Sophia covered her mouth in total shock. Was this about her? Who was the woman and why were those men trying to harm her. The third man walked up to the rest, bringing out his claws, he slashed the throat of the lady. Sophia's iris dilated . The chills were sent down her spine. A helpless lady was slashed right before her, leaving her there to struggle for her life. Sophia raced to her. 

" So.. phia. " The lady recognized her at first sight, stretching her hand to reach her. 

" Who did this to you? What is happening?" She tore a piece of her cloth and tried to hold the bleeding down. But it was not working. Blood kept on gushing out of the neck. 

" The … the alpha. " The lady muttered. 

" The alpha?" It now dawned on her that the man who cut the throat was the reigning alpha. That's why he wasn't at the event. 

" What does this have to do with me? Who am I?" 

The lady stuffed her hand with a piece of paper. " Run. Run Sophia. " 

Footsteps began to approach. 

" Hang in there. I'll get help. " She dashed out. Behind her , she could hear those men saying someone was just there. Her feet moved as fast they could. Who would agree to help? No one! The alpha was involved in this. Just then, she remembered the only person who had thought good of her some moments ago. The moon goddess. She needed to find the moon goddess and report the situation to her. Whoever that woman was, she needed to remain alive and help her with her identity. 

She arrived at the event. But the moon goddess was already out of view. Everyone who saw her gave her the normal glare of hatred. But she was not concerned. Something far bigger than their hatred had happened. She raced to the shrine of the moon goddess. But it was quiet. According to the tires, she should be out . Retiring at this hour was not right. 

" Anyone here?" She asked, making her way into the shrine. Indistinct voices came running to her ears followed by a muffled sound. What was that? 

" Not again. " She bolted into the shrine to see what she should never have seen. They were taking the life of the moon goddess. Her body iced and her feet got stuck where she stood. It was Ruckus and his father. What was going on? 

" Damn it!" Ruckus said. " What is this outcast doing here?"

" What are you waiting for, son? Get her. " 

Sophia was dazed at the moment. She heard the alpha clearly. They were going to do to her exactly what they had done to the moon goddess and the lady that desperately wanted to help her out. 

Run.. Run , Sophia. 

Those words she heard from the dying lady came sounding in her ears. Yes! Survival was first. Ruckus was more than halfway close to her when she bounced back to herself. She broke out on her heels and dashed through the door, running as fast as her strength could carry. 

" Get her! Get the outcast!!" Ruckus fired orders. Sophia could feel the multiple feet advancing in her direction. The chase continued into the woods, driving her farther away from her territory to places she never knew. They were closing in on her. On attaining her maximum speed, she stamped her feet on the ground and threw herself into the air, turning into her wolf form as she landed. Her adversaries came to a sudden stop, staring at her from.a distance as she broke through the pack's territory. At this speed, she was definitely headed into the most dangerous pack's territory. That would be her death. 

  Sophia came to a slow halt. She had outrun her chasers. Now, there was no sign of anyone after her. Just at the moment she felt safe, a creaking noise came from her back. Someone was there. Slowly, she turned to see another wolf snarling at her. Then, it occurred to her that her chasers did not stop because she just outrun them. It was rather because they knew she had crossed the territory. The wolf before her stretched his neck into the air and let out the howl. 

" Howl!!!!" 

It was a hunting call. In a matter of seconds, Sophia found herself right in the middle of her own death. Surrounding her was a hunting party. She went for the escape. But it was too late. Every member took bits of her flesh with their bites. She needed to run. But her body felt too heavy to carry. Her world became blurry and she blacked out.