03 Rage

~Winter~

I felt a hollowness when I woke up.

An emptiness that I would do anything to fill up.

The break wasn’t complete either, Brandon and I were still faintly connected, and I did not know why, but it worsened my emptiness.

Remembering the incident made me cry. I cried all night into the morning. I scratched his mark on my inner thigh until the skin was marred and sore.

I hated myself for falling and letting him do this to me.

I hated myself for daring to believe. Fate never gave me anything good. Why did I think this would be different?

Summer and I grew up in an orphanage. We were dumped at the orphanage with only our last names, and they referred to us as thus until we decided to give ourselves names when we turned four. I chose Winter because it was my favourite season, and she chose Summer for the same reason.

Summer was a darling by giving me space.

The children did not come to check on me in the morning, and I knew it was Summer’s doing. I was glad, but I knew I would have to heal sooner than later, if not for anything but for the sake of the children at the orphanage.

I didn't want to seem like a fool, and even though everything was over, I wanted to know why.

Why would Brandon string me along the way he did only to embarrass me? It was cruel, and I did nothing to deserve it.

Not knowing whether Brandon and Lesley had gone on their honeymoon or were still around, I decided to do what I couldn't do during the wedding. I decided to do what shock prevented me from doing. I decided I would ask him why.

I just needed answers.

The deed had been done, and there was nothing to salvage. There was an emptiness in me that pointed to that fact.

I snuck out of the orphanage and headed towards the Alpha's house.

I did not miss the gossip and whispers as I walked.

I was glad they were not mocking me, though, most of them were pissed at their Alpha for what he did and felt sorry for me, but none of them dared to come closer and offer me comfort.

They sympathised from afar, and that was good enough. At least they weren't laughing. The things Brandon said were enough to make me a laughingstock.

The kappas wouldn't let me in when I got to the alphas' house. It was my home until last night. I know they had returned my belongings to the orphanage, but the fact remains that I wasn't a stranger.

Brandon and I lived together since he accepted the bond. It only showed that I was just a phase after all. The kappas acted as if they didn’t know me.

I stood by the gate and yelled.

"Tell Brandon to fucking see me now. Or is he a coward? Can't face the consequences of his actions?" I yelled at the gate so anyone in the house would hear me.

"Ma'am, you need to leave," A kappa said, pleading with me. I could see the difficulty in his eyes.

"I won't leave until I see the coward. He owes me an explanation in the least. I might not be from around here, but I deserve a fucking explanation!" I yelled and heard someone approaching the gate from inside.

I knew it wasn't Brandon because the person had a feminine scent; the scent was also familiar, but I could not figure out if it belonged to his mother or someone else.

I didn't have to hang around for too long because Brandon's mother emerged. She looked really sad, but honestly, no pain was greater than what I was feeling.

"Let her in," she ordered, and even though they were reluctant and tried to argue that their Luna said they shouldn't let me in, they couldn't defy her. She held my hand and pulled me in. I could see she genuinely liked me. I wasn’t a phase to Pamela.

The moment I was in the compound. She wrapped her arms around me to give me comfort.

"I'm so sorry, Winter. I didn't know he would do that. I'm so sorry. He, too, returned home distraught last night. I do not know what is going on," she said.

I hugged her, not because it made me feel better but because it showed appreciation that she cared enough to consider my feelings.

Pulling away from me, she looked at me.

"I advise against meeting him, Winter. Last night, he stayed in the living room, drinking. His behaviour doesn't align with that of a happily married man. Something seems amiss," she cautioned, but I dismissed her concern with a shake of my head. I had no interest in his feelings. The undeniable truth was that Brandon had humiliated me. Despite that, I had come intending to confront him, which I fully intended to do.

"I have to. I need closure," I said, looking at her.

My emotions were still bottled up, and my heart was no longer on my sleeves.

Summer and I grew up on the streets. We learned to bury our hurt long ago and never wear our hearts on our sleeves. My guards were down with Brandon, maybe because we were fated, but not anymore. Kira and I will heal each other.

I was led to Brandon's home office, and I was asked to wait for him. I remained standing, not willing to sit down. I didn't plan to stay long.

I heard some commotion outside. It sounded like Brandon and his mother.

"Please, maa, don't do this to me, not now," he pleaded with her.

He did not sound happy. His voice was weak. If anything, he sounded drunk and broken. It was as if he was afraid to see me. I also did not miss the fact that the Kappas had said the Luna was the one who ordered them not to let me in. His scent still intoxicated me but not as much as it did yesterday.

I accepted the rejection, so it should be final but why the residue then? Why were there lingering embers unwilling to extinguish themselves? I hoped they would because there wouldn't be any more flames between us.

"If you were man enough to ridicule and reject your fated in public just to please that woman, then you should be man enough to face Winter, Brandon. She deserves an explanation for this bullshit. What you did yesterday was cruel and uncalled for. No one is on your side on this. I hope you know Lesley has ruined everything for herself because she will be hated for this. No one will respect her. You owe Winter closure; she will get it, or I am out of your life. I mean it, Brandon. If you can do something so wicked to your fated, then who am I? Nothing you say will justify your actions. I do not care if you drink yourself into a stupor. You hurt that girl. You made her promises, marked her with your scent, ruined her and broke everything along with her heart and dignity. You are despicable," I heard her say, almost on the verge of tears.

The crack in her voice gave her away, or maybe she was crying already. I was only hearing their voices, so I could not say.

Pamela was right he had indeed ruined me.

He had taken everything and ruined me.

No one would be with someone who has been Marked.

A partial claim is just as bad as a full one, the only difference is that there won't be pain if he sleeps with anyone, but I will still give off the ‘taken’ scent.

Taken by an Alpha.

I doubt I will settle anyway, so it doesn’t matter. In this case, his scent would serve as a deterrent to keep others away.