Chapter 1

“I, Magnus Aldridge, reject you Diana Castellanos as my mate. By my will and word, I sever the bond and fate that exists between us”.

Diana has been living a wretched existence in the Zervos Pack since she was a child. Being treated as the lowliest of the low and an abomination, her pride and self-esteem are completely downtrodden- her sense of self worth stomped to dust.

She endures it all, having no choice but to accept that that is her life. But it is the rejection from her mate, the one person she thought would accept her no matter what and love her as she is, that finally breaks her.

Humiliated, abused and heart broken, she escapes from the pack, the only place she has ever known and plunges into the outside world. Surely, anywhere would be better than the pack that treats her like trash?

But who knew that the Fates could be so cruel? The place she escapes to just so happens to be the deadliest in the world. The territory of the Feral Alpha…

Would the hurting Diana face the same fate as those before her who were foolish enough to trespass onto his territory, or is there perhaps something special in store for her…

Chapter 1

Diana

I rub the back of my neck as I drag my exhausted body out the kitchen. Every single joint in my body aches. I have been on my feet since morning but thankfully, I am done with my duties for the afternoon. I have a few more hours till I have to come back to make dinner so I should be able to squeeze in a nap in the meantime…

“Ahhh!”

I scream as pain explodes on my shin- a force making my body fly forward.

Next thing I know, I find myself sprawled face-first on the hard ground. The fall is a nasty one as sharp pain explodes in my nose. The attack had been so sudden that my flailing hands had done nothing to catch my fall. It also didn’t help that my reflexes are near non-existent.

With a whimper, I scramble to my hunches, crouching on the balls of my feet as my hands instinctively come up to cup my face. A viscous red liquid stains my fingers. I feel it gush down my nostrils and drip down my chin and neck, before seeping into the front of my shirt, quickly staining the top of the faded beige-colored sweater a bright red.

In my mouth, I taste the metallic quality of my own blood and as I tentatively touch my nose, the resulting sharp pain actually brings tears to my eyes, making me once again release another pitiful whimper.

Someone had tripped me.

A snicker from above my head makes me look up.

“What kind of werewolf are you that something like that is enough to get you? Even an Omega could have dodged that”, a boy, around the age of twelve or thirteen, snorts before putting on a face of mock realization as though he had just remembered something, “Oh that’s right! You can’t even be considered a true werewolf, can you? You’re so weak!”, and he guffaws, finding himself funny.

My face pales at the jab. I take a painful shuddering breath through my mouth and drop my eyes to the floor- training my gaze on the spot of blood that has dripped onto the polished wooden floors.

Though shame fills me at my own weakness. there is also outrage stifling my throat. I bite down hard on my lip, distracting myself with the coppery taste of blood on my tongue and the zinging pain spreading over my face to stop myself from reacting. I also make sure to keep my face expressionless. I refuse to let him see that he has gotten to me.

I hear faint murmurs and look back up only to realize that the sitting room is actually full of pack members- each regarding me with varying looks of disgust, disdain and the occasional cool indifference.

My anger is instantly doused as the shame overshadows all other emotions. I feel like a spectacle in a zoo, placed on exhibition for the amusement of others- and even at that, not even an animal that is liked. Like the lowliest of the low…a disgusting worm…

This is the kind of pack the Zervos Pack is.

The hierarchy of werewolves goes Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Omega in order of strength. The stronger a wolf, the more he is perceived to be able to contribute to the pack, which in turn corresponds to his value in the pack. Naturally, stronger wolves are treated better and can practically do whatever they want.

The teenage boy is a Gamma wolf and as such, a member capable of bringing actual contributions to the pack.

After all these years, I am of course used to the unkind words and disregard of the pack. I’m not completely immune to them, but at least they no longer stab me as badly. Thus, in truth, it is not the boy’s words themselves that hurt right now. It is something else. Or rather, someone else.

I look up, my eyes making direct contact with that of a young man in the living room. He is sitting languidly on a two-seater sofa, his back resting against the cushions, his legs splayed open comfortably and his arm resting on the sofa arm- his posture one of complete relaxation and nonchalance.

I see nothing in his familiar dark brown eyes but complete indifference- his face stoic and without any emotions. Our eyes meet for only a second before he looks away.

My heart twinges painfully at his stark indifference to my plight and my lips tug up with a sardonic smile.

What did I expect? For him to stand up for me? To protect me? He hasn’t done that in a long time…I can’t say I’m surprised by his nonchalance. However, at the same time, I can’t stop myself from hoping he would do something. Anything. To show that he cares, That I matter to him…even a little bit. I look away from him as well,

A situation whereby anyone can bully me and get away with it is nothing new, but it still doesn’t stop me from feeling so small and insignificant.

The boy squints down at me, and for a split second I see him contemplating the idea of hurting me some more. I stiffen as I await the impending blow but then his eyes run over my face, taking in the damage and I visibly see him calm down.

“What a waste of space”, he sneers before jamming his hands into his pockets and sauntering away.

I am left there, kneeling pathetically on the ground. As I dazedly stare at my blood on the floor, my subconscious whispers maliciously“You know you’re still gonna have to clean that up don’t you?” and I wince. It is the cruel truth.

With a bloody hand braced on the floor, which just smears more of the viscous red liquid on the polished oak, I stagger to my feet and stagger back to the kitchen to get cleaning supplies. I then come back and clean up the blood on the floor; each of my movements made much harder by the excruciating pain in my nose, zinging through my face.

I blink back the tears, determined not to let them fall. I am aware that the only thing I would get is more snide remarks should I actually cry.

The entire time I do this, most of the pack members ignore me, chatting among themselves, and I find myself conflicted as to whether to be happy that they aren’t kicking me while I’m down or sad that my pain isn’t even worth their concern.

When the floor is clean, I take the cleaning supplies back into the kitchen, replace the paper towel on my nose feeling it quickly getting soggy with blood as well…

Taking in a deep breath through my mouth I train my eyes on the ground as I speed-walk out through the sitting room, down the hall, and out of the Pack House.

The moment I’m out, I sprint the rest of the way towards my little house at the far southern ends of the pack territory, my chest stifled, face hurting and eyes stinging with unshed tears.

Chapter 2

Diana

My house, if it could even be called that, is situated at the furthest reaches of the Omega District, slightly removed from the small identical houses making up the homes of the Omega.

By the time I get to it, I am already out of breath and have to slow to a jog. Eyes trained to the ground, I ignore the perpetual looks of ridicule and schadenfreude thrown my way from the Omegas, and speed walk the rest of the way with my hand clutching the bloody tissue to my face.

I hastily shut the door behind me, cutting off those sharp eyes. Ignoring the trembling that runs precariously throughout the entire house at the slight movement, I sag against the worn wood of the door and slide to the floor.

With a painful sigh, I let the tissue fall soundlessly to the floor, the bleeding had finally stopped… I pull my knees up to my chest and wrap my arms around them. my head falls back against the door with my eyes fall shut.

A single tear escapes, silently, out my closed lid, coming from the deep recesses of my own heart. It flows down my cheek, before disappearing down the side of my jaw.

I stay like that, still and unmoving for a few minutes before the pain in my nose has me staggering back up to my feet again.

In the bathroom, I brace my arms on the cool ceramic of the sink before staring at my reflection in the broken mirror.

Looking back at me is the face of a nineteen-year-old girl with dried blood all over my face and neck, browned and already beginning to crust. My face is lax and expressionless, but my eyes are filled with so much despair and hopelessness…

This is me…I think. As the years pass by, I become more and more unrecognizable to myself.

My lips pull up in a sardonic smile before I focus my gaze on my nose. I stall for a minute, dreading what I am about to do yet knowing I have no choice but to do it anyways.

“It’s only going to take a second Diana”, I mutter to my reflection, and then deciding to be even crueler, “It’s not the first time anyways. Should’ve fucking gotten used to it by now”, I hiss ruthlessly.

My hand comes up and I grasp the bridge of my nose. Huffing loudly three times through my mouth to boost my courage, I yank the cartilage back to the centre, releasing a piercing cry at the sharp pain that explodes on my face. The pain radiates through my nerves and I could swear I felt it all the way to my fingertips. The motion instantly brought warm tears back to my eyes and I feel as though I had just broken the nose all over again.

I hunch over the sink, groaning in agony while biting my lip hard enough to draw blood. With my eyes tightly closed shut, I wait for the worst of the pain to subside.

It takes a good few minutes before I am able to function again and I slowly turn the valve, opening the tap. The pipes make loud banging noises in the walls before a second later, cold water gushes out of the faucet.

I carefully and gingerly wash my face, gently cleaning off all that dried blood until my face is clean.

My house is more like a shack than anything. It is old and literally falling at the seams. At ten years old when I had been banished from the Pack House to the Omega District, this place, which had been used as storage had been hastily cleaned out for me to use.

It was very small and literally consisted of only two rooms. The main room was turned into a bedroom while the connecting room, a really tiny one, was made into the bathroom.

The Omegas had taken pity on me and a few of the men handy with their hands had fashioned a single bed for me out of discarded wood, and then placed an old mattress on it. They had also roughly fixed up a condemned table, chair and chest of drawers for me, which were literally the only other things in the room.

Though the entire house is small and everything in it is roughshod and old, I still make sure to keep it all very clean and tidy.

Right when I'm finished dressing, a knock sounds on the door, making me jolt and then still.

Standing outside is a man with long, matted hair and a bushy beard, his facial features are almost completely covered up by all that hair. His clothes are dirty and his body oozes with the overpowering stench of booze mixed with the odour of a body unwashed for a good number days.

He glares at me with narrowed eyes, taking me in. I don’t move, patiently letting him take me in with a scrutinizing gaze.

“Good. Yer not dead yet”, he grunts finally, his voice deep and gruff.

I release my first genuine smile since waking up that day.

“I’m okay Billy”, I say softly.

He snorts at that, squinting at me, “I’m sure yer are”, he replies sarcastically, “that’s why yer come back dripping in blood. I was half expecting ta find ya dead as a doornail, body startin’ to rot”, he snaps.

His words are harsh but I don’t mind them. I know they are nothing but a front for the true affection he has for me. I have seen the worry in his eyes when he had looked me over and then that worry had turned to relief on seeing that I am well. His hard words are nothing but a cover for his soft heart.

“Tsk! How boring. Then I’m going back”, he snorts and turns around to leave.

“Thank you for checking up on me Billy”, I sweetly call after him.

He snorts again, “Who is worried about you?“, he gruffs under his breath as he storms away. But with this one visit of his, most of the heaviness in my heart is lifted.

Chapter 3

Diana

Coming back to the Pack House a few hours later, I jog up the wide marble stairs leading to the large oak door with stained glass panels serving as the front door. I grab the handle but don’t get to open it before a force swings the it inwards.

I quickly step back, moving aside to let whomever it is pass. However, after seeing who it is, my body involuntarily stills. My eyes clash with honey brown eyes that extremely similar to mine. It takes only a second for the surprise wear off and I expressionlessly stare back at him.

I watch as his eyes take in the darkened bruises on my face. An emotion akin to concern flickers through them but takes less than a second to disappear.

After staring for a moment, his lips tighten but in the end, doesn’t say anything. He looks away, jams his hands in his pockets, and stalks off; his booted feet thumping on the staircase on his descent.

I let out a humourless laugh, a sardonic smile spreading across my face. Typical.

Refusing to let myself dwell on it, I wipe my face of all expression before stepping into the house…only to come stock still once more. My heart shudders violently before issuing a loud thump; my pulse starts racing, and my eyes widen in horror.

Standing on the opposite side of the living room and leaning leisurely against the wall with his arms folded across his chest is a man with a smirk on his face, his white teeth glistening.

“What a touching scene that was”, he says, voice laden with amusement. “Really, it’s always a delight watching you two. The proud Gamma with his twin sister the…err…what are you again?” he asks with exaggerated confusion on his face, “Right! You’re Wolfless…” and I find myself flinching; the word a sharp jab to me, “Well whatever”, he adds dismissively his eyes running down the length of my form.

My hands clutch tightly together in front of me, my body, already beginning to quiver. I have this overwhelming urge to cover myself from head to foot to escape his gaze.

I want to just turn on my heels and run out; to get as far away from here as I can. Away from him. I even take an involuntary step back but self-preservation stops me at the last moment- reason reminding me that the consequences for that would be even more dire…

I really don’t want to speak to this man, and I don’t want to be anywhere near him even more. But yet again, years of experience remind me that if I refused to acknowledge my superior, especially after he had directly called out to me, it would be regarded as insubordination. And that would only lead to more trouble.

And so, with extreme reluctance, I force myself to greet him. Praying that my voice doesn’t betray my terror, yet unsurprisingly unable to completely hide the tremor in my voice.

“Good evening Beta Mason”, I call out, head bowed.

He hums distractedly, his eyes lowering and stopping on my chest and I have to once again will my body not to bolt out of there as feel his gaze on me- lewd, invasive…disgusting.

My stomach turns with the realization that I would have no choice but to pass by him to get to the kitchen and from the glint of sick pleasure I catch in his eyes, I can tell that so does he.

Resisting the urge to dash the rest of the way to the kitchen, my steps are hesitant as I walk. Each step that brings me closer to him feels more horrible than the last. I lower my gaze when I can no longer take the sight of the slimy gaze that is locked shamelessly on me, leering perversely at my body.

There is still a good three-meter gap between us as I pass by him but even that is too uncomfortably close for me.

Mason can see just how terrified I am of him and as always, he thrives in it. It gives him a sick and perverted sense of pleasure for me to quake in his presence. I catch his twisted grin out the side of my eye and I know the man is reveling in my fear; my terror some form of nourishment to his evil and warped nature.

When I am just a few inches away from him, he moves a bit and the movement makes me- who is hypersensitive to his presence, flinch. Of course, he notices, and from the dark chuckle he releases under his breath, I understand that he had done so intentionally. My strides lengthen subconsciously as I hasten my pace, anxious to get to the safe confines of the kitchen sooner and be out of his line of sight.

I feel his eyes train on my ass as I pass by and even despite my fear, I have to stop myself from turning around and snapping at him. It is only when I am finally in the kitchen and he can no longer see me that I am able to release the breath I had been holding. My body sags against the wall, and it is only then, that I realize that my hands are damp with sweat.

Though I can’t see him anymore, I can hear him humming softly outside. His voice is actually pleasant; a sharp contrast to the true monster that he truly is on the inside.

I find myself paralyzed against the wall even after I have escaped his sight. His presence is stifling and oppressive- my entire body’s reaction to him one of complete terror and revulsion.

He could follow me into the kitchen if he wanted to, but he doesn’t. He stays outside instead; letting his proximity and his voice petrify me instead. And like a malevolent spirit, he feeds off of my fear.

“Aren’t you going to start making dinner yet little Diana? It’s getting awfully late”, he drawls out in a sing-songy voice.

Having him suddenly address me directly scares me even more and I jump. My heartbeat accelerates and my palms get more sweaty.

“If you don’t start soon, dinner is going to be late. And if it’s late, then I just might have to punish you. I really am quite hungry you see”, he continues lightheartedly, his voice streaming in through the kitchen doorway.

I blanch, my face paling at the way he had said the word ‘hungry’. It didn’t sound like he was talking about food at all, and I nearly throw up.

My heart literally stops beating for a second before it resumes again with a loud thud, threatening to jump out of my chest. And with his heightened senses which are currently trained on me, I know he hears it loud and clear.

I hear him laugh. His voice has a deceptively pleasant bass which does nothing but send a tremor of disgust up my spine. The sound sends me into a panic and I scramble towards the pantry, blindly reaching for ingredients; every instinct telling me to get out of there as quickly as I can.

With haste, I quickly whip up something. It is only the years of practice that makes the food to still taste good. And the entire time I cook, I hear him outside, humming that same tune softly under his breath.

It takes less than half an hour for me to dish the food into ceramics before hastily cleaning up the kitchen

Done, I stand and stare apprehensively out the archway leading out of the kitchen. The light streaming from the living room casts the shadow of the man standing outside onto the kitchen floor.

From his shadow, I watch as he leisurely swings one leg up and down. Up and down. Still, that same unnerving humming continues.

I bite my bottom lip hard and clench my fists tight. I want to escape back to my house but I really, really, really, don’t want to have to pass by him again… but there is just no way around it.

Taking a deep breath, I force myself to take even steps out, determined not to let him see how spooked I really am. I can’t do anything about my thundering heart beat, but I don’t want to give him the satisfaction of seeing the actual fear on my face.

The moment I step out, his eyes feeling akin to that of a venomous snake- intrusive and vile, pin me down and watch me greedily.

Chapter 4

Diana

After the unpleasant run-in with Beta Mason, I sprint out of the house and towards the Omega District as fast as my legs can carry me, completely forgetting to even pack myself some dinner before I leave. But I would rather go hungry than stay an extra second in that place, being nauseated by that monster

…

Today, when I wake, I do so with a big smile. Giggling, I jump down from my bed and stretch out with a big yawn. It is my birthday.

Today is finally the day. Today is the day I meet my mate.

My entire body thrums with energy as I practically skip to the bathroom to take a bath and brush my teeth. I take my time carefully detangling my hair before putting it up in a high puff, the hairstyle exposing my facial features. I slide in the only pretty hair clip I have- with tiny flower details on it- into the hair at my temple.

In the bedroom, I rummage through my drawers until I find the best set of clothes I own. I take out a pair of skinny jeans; though still washed out, it has no rips in it and the size fits me so perfectly that the denim feels almost tailor-made against my body. I pair it up with a plain nude-coloured T-shirt. It’s the most presentable shirt I have and though it might not be much, at least it has no holes and is also not faded at all.

Giving myself a once over, I nod. I look pretty. Giggling again, I give a little twirl, giddy with excitement. My mate wouldn’t care what I wore anyways. He would love me and accept me regardless of the way I am dressed. But still, I want to look my best for him.

For years this is the day I have been waiting for. Once my mate claims me, I won’t just be the “wolfless wolf” that no one cares about anymore. I would have him, and then nothing else would matter anymore. And if he is a high-ranking wolf, no one would dare to disrespect me anymore. But I don’t even care about this. my mate could even be an Omega and it wouldn’t matter. I myself have been discriminated against enough that I wouldn’t be so shallow as to judge a person based on their class. As long as we have each of me, I would be perfectly content.

For a second, I wonder who my mate could be. A face flashes in my mind and I flush before quickly swatting away the thought. Impossible. It’s nothing but a silly teenage crush and I’m better off going out to find my real mate.

And so, slipping on the sneakers I had made sure to wash the last night, I hum as slip out of my house.

I thought it would take me a while to find him but it seems that even the goddess is helping me because the moment I step into the Packhouse, I see him, standing in all his glory halfway down the sprawling staircase.

My breath hitches when our eyes meet. His forest green eyes are vibrant and piercing. His brown hair, swept away from his forehead looks so soft that I am overcome with the urge to run my fingers through it. And his muscular body straining against his dress shirt and pants foretells of his significant strength.

His entire aura screams of power and dominance and at this moment, he is the most breathtaking thing I have ever seen.

As I get lost in his eyes, I feel as if the entire world around us melts away, leaving only the two of us in the universe. My wolf, dormant in the deep recesses of my mind stirs at the connection that had just zapped into place between us.

An indecipherable emotion flickers in his eyes, too quick for me to catch. His face is expressionless and the only indication that anything has happened is the tight clenching of his clean-shaven jaw.

I abruptly fall from the high that I had been on as reality rushes in, effectively bursting my little bubble.

Oh Goddess…Oh, Goddess…my mate…my mate is the Alpha!

“Come”, is all he says before turning around and walking back up the stairs.

“You…you’re my mate”, I say when we are behind the closed doors of his study.

I wanted to say it with confidence but my voice ended up coming out shaky.

He regards me with an unreadable gaze but doesn’t say anything to that proclamation. He just quietly studies me.

I continue to wait patiently yet all he does is stare at me. Right when I thought that maybe he hadn’t heard me, he gives a calm nod.

“I am”, he says simply. But doesn’t add anything more.

We descend into more silence and I notice that his face is still as expressionless- there isn’t even a hint of surprise in it at all and my brain which had slowed down from the giddiness of recognizing my mate slowly begins to work again.

I just turned twenty which is why I am just finding he’s my mate…however, the Alpha himself is already twenty-six… which means…

I gasp, “You already knew…”

With long strides, he is in front of me. My voice catches at the back of my throat at his sudden proximity and I subconsciously take a step back, only to find that the door is behind me. One more step and he has me trapped between him and the door.

My head cranes up to meet his eyes and I swallow nervously. He gently caresses my cheek with the back of his hand. His touch against my skin leave behind sparks in their wake sending delicious tingles down my spine. I gasp at the sensation, my body subconsciously leaning into his touch.

His expression softens and he cups my cheek in his palm.

“Beautiful”, he whispers.

My heart melts. I nuzzle my face against his palm and stare into his eyes; mine one of a she-wolf’s reliance on her male and the last strands of anxiety in my heart disappear.

This is my mate. How could anything go wrong?

Hypnotized, I watch as his head slowly lowers, a second later, soft lips cover mine. His lips are warm and as he slowly grinds them against mine, tendrils of pleasure spread through my body, a moan spilling out of my mouth.

My eyelids flutter shut and my body melts. My lips part on another moan and he takes the chance to slip his tongue into my mouth. His warm tongue gently rubs against mine, and the sensation clouds my mind with pleasure.

The kiss starts slow and soft but in moments, turns passionate and frantic. He wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me tight against his body so I feel the hard planes of his muscular body flush against mine.

The toe-curling kiss robs me of both my breath and my senses and by the time he pulls away long minutes later, I am left leaning weakly against him, my breath coming out in heavy pants.

Suddenly, he abruptly let's go and takes a step back. If I hadn’t quickly stabilized myself with a hand against the door, I would have collapsed in a pathetic heap on the floor.

I look up with confused eyes, my gaze worriedly searching his. What’s wrong?

The gentle expression on his face fades away, his expression shutters and that cold look slides back into place.

Instantly, my heart begins to sink; my instincts telling me that something is wrong. Something is very wrong.

Chapter 5

Diana

I nervously take a step towards him, my hand subconsciously reaching out towards him, but he coldly raises a palm towards me. I stop in my tracks as my heart gives a sharp twinge.

“Yes I knew you were my mate a long time ago”, his voice flat.

For a second, my brain is too muddled to understand what he is talking about until I realize that he had just answered my earlier question.

“You were too young at the time so I had to wait until you were of age to be able to recognize it too”, he continues.

“Then-“ my voice coming out shaky.

“Now that you are, I can finally say what I wanted to”, he adds coldly. What he says next destroys whatever hope I had in me.

“I cannot be with you. I am an Alpha. You’re a Wolfless wolf. There’s no way I can mate with you. As an Alpha, I need a mate who can stand tall by my side; not someone so weak she cannot even protect myself, much less of the pack if an attack ever came”.

Every single word that leaves his lips feels like a knife being stabbed into my heart. The blood drains from my face and I sway unsteadily on my feet, suddenly feeling light-headed. He doesn’t reach out to help.

I slowly shake my head, as though by doing so, I could will his words away and out of my head, “No. No, it’s not like that. That’s not how it works. The Moon Goddess ordained us as mates. The rest of the details will work themselves out with time- that’s the meaning of Fate. We’re meant for each other-”

“She made a mistake”, he cuts in mercilessly.

My head shakes even more vigorously, my body language plainly expressing my desperation, “The goddess is never wrong-“

“She is this time”, he cuts again, his voice firm.

What is happening? This is not what is supposed to happen…none of this is making any sense…

I take another step towards him again and this time he takes a big one back. Away from me. And the pain in my heart grows even more intense.

Annoyance crosses his features at my stubbornness, “Don’t be ridiculous. You have about as much strength as a human female and not only that, you heal like one too”, and he gestures to my still healing nose.

“If I accepted you, you would quite literally be the easiest Luna to kill in history. Our enemies wouldn’t even have to try hard. They could literally just send an Omega and he would effortlessly be able to get the job done. Hell! I bet even rat poison would be enough to do you in”.

“In terms of value, you have none. You are unable to do any labour that requires physical strength or any heavy lifting like the other Omega. That’s why all you’re relegated to are cooking and cleaning duties. And even with those duties, it’s not like it has to be you. Literally anyone in the pack could do those chores”.

“To put it bluntly, you’re quite literally the most useless member of this pack- a walking burden. And. I. Refuse. To. Mate. With. You”, he bites out. Enunciating each word so that he was sure I could understand him.

These vicious words, uttered in the same captivating voice that had just seconds ago called me beautiful, are excruciatingly agonizing… the same lips that had stolen my breath away with such a romantic kiss could still be used to destroy me so.

His words are brutal and merciless yet his expression is calm. In fact, he doesn’t look like he is trying to insult me or to hurt my feelings at all. He looks as though all he is doing is stating the facts as they are.

And that breaks me even more. Worse because I know that every single accusation is true.

…does that mean that I am undeserving of love then?

My throat feeling as dry as sandpaper, all I’m able to croak out is, “Then why-why did you kiss me?” my voice tinting with desperation,

“If you didn’t want me, why did you kiss me? Why? Why?!!” I want to scream and yell at him, but the egg-sized ball in my throat makes my voice come out an agonized whisper,

“Why give me hope that you want me just to snatch it away?!”

His eyes narrow at the blatant disrespect but I don’t care.

This time he takes a second before replying. His words came out slow as though he is mulling them over, “I wanted to know what it felt like to kiss my mate. I wanted to know if it was worth being with you regardless-“

“And I do have to admit, it’s the best kiss I’ve ever had-

“But unfortunately no, it’s not worth forever being mated to a liability”, he then looks me up and down, “You are quite beautiful too…” and then shakes his head.

“Pity”.

-and that word makes me feel even smaller. And that’s it isn’t it? My entire worth summarized into one word. A liability.

However, it seemed he wasn’t done with me just yet. He could still crush to smaller pieces whatever is left of my broken heart.

“I, Magnus Aldridge, reject you Diana Castellanos as my mate. By my will and my word, I sever the bond and fate that exists between us”.

Immediately, I feel as my wolf who had began to stir retreat even further back into my mind; all activity stopping as she falls dormant once more.

I stagger back, hand clutching at a chest that feels as though it is doused in flames. My legs give out and I collapse to the floor. And the entire time, I am unable to look away from his face.

My mind feels fractured by the shock and I try to gasp for air. Yet no matter how much I take in, it just doesn’t seem to be enough.

I want to scream but the impact of those malicious words leave me with an emptiness so profound I can’t even find the voice to make a sound.

All of a sudden, my head spins and I curl into myself, gasping for breath. The pain in my heart is so intense it feels as though my lungs are collapsing.

This can’t be happening…no…no it’s not possible…the Fates can’t be this cruel…after everything I have been through, after suffering with the terrible cards the universe had dealt me, they can’t possibly not let me have this one piece of happiness.

I shake my head. This must be a dream- a nightmare that my exhausted brain must have conjured up. However, the pain in my heart tells me that is very much real.

My mate has just rejected me…I wasn’t even aware that that was possible but somehow, he had. He didn’t want me. He doesn’t want me.

“I’m going to be late”, I vaguely hear him mutter in annoyance.

“For your sake, you had better accept the rejection so we can put this all behind us and carry on with our lives”.

“I’m not cruel. Just because I don’t want to be with you doesn’t mean I’ll let you keep suffering. So know that If you don’t accept the rejection, the pain will never stop”, he adds, a furrow in his brows as though he were a teacher lecturing a dull student, his entire aura oozing impatience.

I however am unable to utter a single word, much to distraught and in pain to be able to process a word of what he is saying.

Annoyed, he rolls his eyes and looks down at his watch, “Well you can stay here until you’ve got yourself back together and then you can leave”, he says dismissively,

He takes a step closer only to realize that I am still curled up against the door, “Move. I need to go”.

Getting no reaction from me, his brows furrow tighter, “I said MOVE!”

This time, he uses his Alpha Command and my body instantly obeys, quickly scrambling away from the door. He might not be my mate anymore, but he is still my Alpha.

He takes one last look at me before striding out, the door banging shut behind him, and I am left alone in the silent room, tears flowing down my cheeks and my body wracking from the pain of rejection coursing through my being.

…

Miles away…

“No! No! Please… oh God No… ahhhhhh!” and with a sickening crunch, a dark creature swoops in bites down on his shoulder. The bite hadn’t been too deep, just enough to maim, but not enough to kill. It is about to take another bite when suddenly, something stops it in its tracks.

Something has changed. It doesn’t know what it is but it rudely forces his human consciousness back to forefront for a second. Its eyes flicker from blue to brown and back again.

What is it?

The creature growls in annoyance. Whatever it is, it feels familiar. It drops the man and tilts its head in confusion.

Its familiar… this feeling… it feels like something from a past long gone…

What is it?

The creature shakes it head again with an even louder growl.

Taking the opportunity while the creature is distracted, the injured man, tries to slowly drag his body away. Unfortunately, the movement brings back the creature’s attention to him.

Its prey is getting away.

The blue in its eyes wash out all the brown and its muzzle curls in a terrifying growl. Lightening quick, it snaps its jaw around the man’s throat, picks the man’s body and viciously shakes it, biting down harder until the gurgling sounds from the dying man come to a stop. It throws the body to the side and the man falls like a broken doll, right beside his own weapon.

With a loud howl, the creature disappears deeper into the dark forest.

Unknown to the creature, deep in the recesses of its soul, something rope-like; thin but firm, has appeared, emitting a soft and ephemeral glow.

It is a half-formed mating bond.

Chapter 6

Diana

I stumble out of the study blindly dragging myself along, my body swaying unsteadily; in too much pain to even notice which direction I am heading. My eyes are blurry with tears as I make my way down the hall.

Everything hurts…

All I want is to get as far away as I can- far, far away from this place of heartache and pain. I want to curl up in bed and cry my heart out, maybe then the stifling pressure in my chest would stop…but maybe it never will…

In my dazed and disoriented state, I don’t notice the door that creaks open just ahead. A hand reaches out from within and roughly drags me in, grip tight with bruising intensity. The door is then slammed shut.

Seeing who it is, I feel the blood drain from my face and a chill runs down my spine.

What I find is the disturbing gaze of Beta Mason staring down at me, on his lips is the same twisted, perverted smirk he always seems to wear around me. But this time, there’s an additional evil undertone to it which sharply reminds me of the encounter three years ago.

Worse yet, this time, we’re inside the Pack House…in his own study… my heart sinks even lower when I remember that all the rooms in the Pack House are soundproofed, meaning that there is no amount of screaming that would help me either.

“Why hello, Diana. Funny meeting you here”, he smirks.

His eyes run all over my body, taking in my well-fitting jeans and t-shirt. He lasciviously licks his lips, and I regret every single thought that ever made me pick out these clothes. I wrench my arm out of his grasp and wrap my arms defensively around my middle, taking a step back, trying to put some distance between us.

“I am curious though, what were you doing in the Alpha’s office hmmm?” he drags the last word, his voice making me nauseated.

I don’t answer and take another step back, cautiously keeping my eyes on him just in case he makes any sudden movements.

My silence doesn’t seem to bother him at all though as he cheerfully continues, “I saw you walking behind him just now, and you looked like a puppy following its master”, then he snickers, “You like him don’t you? Little Diana has a crush”, he sings.

“Too bad he’s way out of your league”, and he laughs in my face, his words making my heart clench painfully.

“But now you’re crying…” he muses, holding his chin as he studies me, his expression contemplative, “Could it be…” then he grins, “Could it be that you confessed your feelings for him and got rejected?”

No, but close enough…

I bite my lip and quickly school my expression. However, his sharp eyes still catch the minute change and they widen in amazement before he bursts out in loud derisive laughter, “Poor, poor wolfless Diana. Actually delusional enough to pine after the Alpha. How pathetic”, he jeers, laughing even louder.

I shut my eyes tight in hurt and embarrassment. His mockery digging deeper into my fresh wounds.

After laughing to his heart's content, he narrows his eyes on me and licks his lips, “But don’t worry, if the Alpha won’t take you. I will. I’ll satisfy those cravings you have. If it’s a man you’re lusting for, then it’s a man you’ll get. I can give you exactly what you want. Who knows, I might just be better at him at-“ and makes an obscene motion of humping his hips in the air.

I immediately pale.

“No”, vehemently shaking my head. My body trembles with panic as I take another step away from him, “I would like to go now Beta Mason. Please let me go”, my voice trembles as I beg, trembling from terror and desperation.

“I don’t think so”, he hums, stalking towards me. He runs his eyes up and down my body once more, “I’m going to enjoy this”, he muses darkly, and he starts to unbuckle his belt. A moment later, he pulls it free from his trousers and throws it away to the side, the buckle falling with a metallic clink.

“There’s no drunk warrior here to save you now Princess”, he smirks mockingly, “this time, no one is going to interrupt us. It’s just you and me now Diana. Just you…and me”, as he stalks closer.

I turn around and dash away.

“I do so like the chase”, he cackles and comes after me.

Chapter 7

Diana

Trigger Warning: This chapter contains scenes of SA, violence and blood. Read at your own discretion.

Sharp pain explodes in my scalp as Beta Marcus grabs me by my hair and drags me down with him onto the floor.

I struggle fiercely “Let me go, you bastard!” I scream and manage to kick out at him before clawing away.

“Oof!” he exclaims exaggeratedly when my foot collides with his hard chest- with mounting despair, I realize that my feeble strength can’t hurt him at all, “Seems we have a fighter on our hands! How feisty! But I like it!” he chuckles.

He grabs me by the ankle and drags me back towards him, my thrashing useless against his overwhelming strength.

He flips me over onto my back and grabs my flailing arms in one hand before pinning them down above my head.

I raise a knee to kick between his legs but he quickly situates himself between my two legs, cutting off my chance to do so.

Screaming hysterically, I thrash my body, bucking my torso in a bid to throw him off- screaming for him to get off, to let me go, but it just seems that the more I struggle, the more sick amusement he finds in the situation.

With his free hand, he roughly lifts the hem of my shirt to my neck, exposing my chest. He pants lasciviously and grabs my breast through my bra, squeezing it brutally.

I whimper at the pain, “No! No, please! Please stop! You’re hurting me!” I sob, trying to inch my body away from him. With everything I have, I try to dislodge his disgusting touch which sends bile to my throat.

“Someone please help me!” I scream desperately when he palms the other breast. I thrash my head in stiffening terror and when my eyes glance behind him at the door, they happen to clash with brown eyes- wide with shock, through the small crack of the slightly ajar door.

It seems that when he shut the door earlier, something had caught on it and he hadn’t noticed that the door hadn’t quite closed all the way.

Seeing this, hope blossoms in my heart. I can still be saved! Someone could still save me from this nightmare!

“Please! Please help me!” I scream even louder, this time, my voice has taken on a shrill tone in my desperation.

“Please!” I implore the person standing petrified behind the door, my eyes boring into familiar eyes.

My loud scream apparently annoys my assailant because he growls before backhanding me across the face, the hit resounding with a loud slap.

“Are you trying to burst my eardrums?!”

My head whips to the side and my vision goes blurry, a loud ringing in my ear. My lip also splits from the force behind the slap. However, I shake my head, forcing my consciousness through the dizziness brought on by the blow, the pain is nothing as long as I am able to escape. I determinedly keep my gaze on those brown eyes behind the door- eyes strikingly similar to my own.

“Please” my eyes boring into his, dripping with desperation.

This is my brother. My twin brother. And regardless of our past, I have never had a doubt that if I were in a real pinch, he would come through for me. After all, he is my family. My own blood.

With my eyes, I implore him to hurry up. The tears of fear flowing down my cheeks and into my hair becoming those of relief. I have no doubt in my heart that he would save me. And even as Beta Mason unbuttons my jeans, relief courses through my veins instead. I am saved.

Right at this moment I expect him to barge into the room and throw Beta Mason away from me…but instead, something inconceivable happens.

Apollo turns around on his heels and strides away.

What?

No…

The shock of it stuns me- my previously thrashing and fighting body icily locking into a state of petrification.

No…

He wouldn’t…

He WOULDN’T!!