MARIA.
"I, Darren Copper, Alpha the Frost moon pack, hereby declare that Maria Moon is no longer a member of this pack!"
As soon as he said that, I began to feel a burning pain in my chest, making me weaker than I was already. I could feel the pack's link severing. I felt empty, I no longer belonged to a pack. I was now a rogue.
I stared at my step sister, tears streaming down my eyes. It was a tradition and I seem to be the victimized. Any family the Alpha's mate is chosen from, any other female wolf is cast out.
"No! no please don't do this to me." I went on my knees shouting and crying but nobody was paying attention to me.
It was all wrong, I was his Mate not Patricia Moon.
~~*~~
I woke up, my eyes darting to the calendar on the table. It was my Birthday but I wasn't excited. I brought out my diary and pened down my mood.
I should have stopped this habit of pening it down after what Patricia had done. She had sneaked into my room one fateful evening. She stole my diary book and brought it to school, reading it in front of our classmates. The school was meant for just Alpha's and Beta's. The son's and daughters of all Alpha's across the pack were present there.
I closed my eyes recalling how they had mocked and insulted me when she read this part…
"I Maria Moon, thinks I am in love with Alpha Darren. Moon godness can you make him mine, Please."
The whole class had bursted with laughter.
"You whore! Do you think you are worthy of Alpha Darren?"
"What a fantastic fantasy!"
More laughter erupted as I stared at them but soon enough they grabbed their pencils and hurled it at me.
The class bully's lunged at me, kicking my belly till I bled. This was five years ago and the very day I quit school.
I got up from bed, and headed straight to the kitchen. I might be the Beta's daughter but I am more of an omega in this house.
Patricia's birthday coincidentally fell on the same day as mine. She was always celebrated and I, always remained in the kitchen.
I immediately got to work, I did the dishes and mopped the floor, waiting for the maids to arrive, so we could start preparing for the celebration as always. But this birthday of mine was different. I turned eighteen today and I needed to find my mate.
I had shifted yesterday, I now had a wolf, a company. Her name is Vernia.
"Damsel, I think we need to leave all this here and go chase our mate." My wolf spoke as I bent to wipe the counter.
"Vernia, we could still chase our mate, but not now! During the course of the celebration, we could sneak out!"
She went silent and refused to speak to me again, but I ignored her and continued carrying out my chores.
"Maria!" Patricia's voice echoed in the kitchen. "Happy birthday!" Her face beaming with smiles.
This was weird, Patricia never wished me happy birthday. She was also turning eighteen today. My father was…well I don't want to call him names but whenever I see Patricia, I was reminded he never loved my mother, so how could he love me.
I kept staring at her, no words were forming in my head. I just wanted her to leave me alone. I wouldn't want to entertain her drama.
"Here! A birthday gift!" She stretched her hand forward, handing me a small satchet bag.
It smelt like lemonade, that was her scent. I hated it but I had no choice than to collect it. She could turn anything into a scene within seconds.
"See you at the Birthday banquet. I already appealed to father to let you come. You already shifted and have proven to be a real Beta." She kept on smiling. "I hope you find your mate soon."
Weird. Strangely weird. What had gotten into Patricia? Did she hit her head on the wall? Many questions kept rushing in my head as I watched her leave until her steps slowly faded and she fully vanished into the thin air.
"Ms. Maria, please this way." The voice jolted me out of my thoughts.
I reminded puzzled as I stared at the lady who just called my name. She was one of the maids.
"I have been instructed to prepare you for the birthday banquet today."
Prepare me? How about the meal? Who would prepare it? What's all this? And why now? Could my father really have agreed to Patricia's appeal? Was he proud of me now?
I slowly lifted my chins and followed the maid quietly to my room. She did all the necessary arrangements, my make up was done in an instant and my dress was worn.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror, gosh, I really looked like a princess and for a split seconds, I wished it wouldn't end. I craved to be treated like a princess I really am.
"All Done, Ms. maria. You could head to the hall now." She said as she turned to leave the room.
"Mother! I guess father is ready to make amends. Wish me luck!" I muttered to the air as I closed my eyes tightly.
I arrived at the birthday banquet, my eyes searching the crowd to spot Patricia. I wanted to avoid her at all cost but I felt the need to mutter a thank you to her.
I spotted her at last and headed straight to her. "Thank you Patricia!"
"For what?" she asked.
"For everything, the appeal and the gift."
A sly smile appeared at the corner of her lips for a brief moment, "Don't thank me yet…" she drew closer to me, her mouth a few inches from my ear, "...there are more surprises ahead."
Her words left me stunned and I froze. I quickly regained my composure but as I tried to leave, I heard a loud Sheeeeeeeeez!
I fell instantly to the floor, my flesh peeling against the ground. Blood flowing out steadily.
"Are you okay?" A voice echoed from behind me.
But before I could react, my wolf shouted…
"Mate!" She rejoiced.
I slowly lifted up my head
only for my eyes to meet a pair of Amber eyes staring at me… It was Alpha Darren, he is my mate.