Chapter 2 2-EMPTINESS

[ AURORA'S POV ]

"Elder Mariam," my father called sharply." Check her. Aurora can be dumb at times."

A few snickers flickered at the edge of the crowd.

Elder Mariam approached. Her presence was heavy as she placed her hands on my shoulder, and heat shot through me, curling up my spine and prickling my skin. My chest fluttered, I sucked in a sharp breath, hoping-praying-for the spark to ignite.

This was it.

I reached inwardly desperately.

There was nothing.

The warmth passed through me without resistance, like a light passing through glass.

Elder Mariam brow furrowed.

Her hand pressed more firmly. Seconds dragged. The Mummurs grew louder.

My knees weakened. I swayed- and caught myself before anyone could notice.

Then her hand withdrew.

The cold rushed back in, sharp and unforgiving.

I turned towards my family.

My mother stood perfectly still. My father's jaw tight, his disappointment unmistakable- in public, burning.

Elder Mariam straightened.

"There's no wolf," Elder Mariam said.

My hands dropped to my sides. The empty space in my chest stretched, hollow and aching. I swallowed, but my thirst refused to make a sound.

I opened my eyes slowly, I let my breath hitch. My vision blurred and I blink hard until tears spilled over.

I grabbed the elder Mariam's hand, gripping it tightly.

Almost pleading through tremor, "No, no please check again. There must be a mistake. Touch me. Check it again, I could feel your power watched over me. There must have been a mistake. I can't be empty."

I held her hand tightly, placing them over my chest. She took her hand away from me. And stepped back slowly. She looked back at my parents and shook her head with pity.

" I've checked three times," she said gently." There's no wolf. The child is....Empty."

The word echoed once in my head, hollow and loud . My vision blurred, and the floor rushed up to meet me.

I looked at my mother, desperate for something. The surprise on her face lasted only for a moment. Then her lips curved into relief. I was shocked.

" Aurora darling ," she said loudly for all to hear." Having no wolf doesn't diminish your worth. Some of us are meant to serve others in some ways. So I say we go home and get a good rest huh?"

My father's expression hardened into a cold calculation." I looked away, couldn't look at him.

"Mother," I whispered, stumbling toward her ." Please , there must be a mistake." I said, holding onto her manicured hands.

She pulled her hands away from me roughly." Go home,"she said. Turning away from me.

Her words burned me. It hit me like fire along my skin. My chest tightened, and I staggered a step, breath catching in ragged gasps.

"Go home ," perhaps next year, the goddess might decide to bless you with a wolf."my father said before I could reach his side.

My hands balled into fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms. Every warmth, every sparkle of hope drained from me. I rushed forward to my mate's side, heart full of panic, I reached his side and placed my hand over his.

But he's not the same man I knew. Something in his expression shifted. His hand fell from mine, and his gaze hardened.

I blinked, confused.

"I... I thought-" I began, but he stepped back.

"Don't touch me with those dirty hands of yours. You're not worthy enough." He said.

The word rang in my head. Heavily.

"What...what do you mean?, Mabel it's me. Aurora."

But instead of telling me it's okay. Instead of telling me he would help me find a solution. His voice rang out.

"I, Alpha Mabel," he boomed, his voice echoing across the clearing, "will not choose Aurora Vale as my mate."

My heart skipped a beat, the bright certainty in my chest wavered. He was joking. I keep saying to my self

His eyes swept past me, landing on my sister. Seraphina stepped forward, her expression triumphant, her hand brushing against his chest with ease.

"I choose Seraphina as my Luna and wife," he declared.

Gasps rippled through the crowd. My knees trembled.

"No...no, Mabel. You can't do this to me. What about what we shared?"

"We share nothing, Aurora. I chose you because I thought you were stronger than your sister and now that I know you're not. You're of no use to me any longer."

I step back. My ears couldn't believe what it's hearing.

"And Seraphina is also pregnant with my child. The future Alpha of the pack." He added.

My gaze moved to Seraphina who was holding on to Mable tightly. Her lips stretch into a broad smile.

That was when I knew that he was not only rejecting me, but he has been cheating on me with my sister. And she's carrying his pup. Hot tears streamed down my face, blinding me. I couldn't stop them, they spilled in a steady, burning river.

"That's a good choice, Alpha," my mother said, her voice calm and approving, eyes shining as she looked at Seraphina.

"Aurora. Now that the Alpha chooses your sister as his Luna. You wouldn't mind would you?

Her question landed like a stone in my chest. My legs gave way, and the world tilted, the ground rushed up to meet me as vision streaked with tears and pains.

"My word is law, and it is final, Mable's voice thundered across the clearing. "From this moment on, you will all respect Seraphina as your Luna. Her words must be obeyed."

Seraphina's lips curved slowly, deliberately. She stepped more close to him, her fingers spreading over his chest, stroking as if she owned the very heartbeat beneath her palm. Her eyes never left mine.

She smiles wider.

Mabel turned, guiding her away, and the pack moved without hesitation-bodies shifting, heads bowing, a path opening before them. They passed through the crowd hands in hands.

I stayed where I was.

My ears rang. The clearing blurred faces melting into shadows as they walked farther away. My fingers twitched, useless at my sides, as if my body hadn't caught up with what my eyes were seeing.

Darkness swallowed me.