Chapter 3 Into Darkness

The whole crowd that had gathered made low murmuring sounds as they looked at their Alpha with doubt. They were obviously shocked at how someone could introduce his mate to the entire pack one minute and reject her the next.

"You can go," he ordered, turning to his side where Ellen stood.

She slowly climbed down the stairs as tears of opprobrium and obloquy filled her eyes, threatening to make her even more embarrassed than she already was. All eyes were fixed on her as she walked away toward the Omega hall. It was as though the entire pack formed an aisle for her to pass through, and when her tears finally rolled down her cheeks, they drew pity and sympathy from almost everyone present-something she absolutely did not need.

'I'm an Omega after all. I don't deserve to be the Luna. I am just an Omega who probably has nothing to offer. Maybe not probably-I can't offer anything to him... I can't offer anything to anyone... not to him, not to his pack...!' Ellen thought within herself as tears continued to fall uncontrollably. Her heart twisted painfully, forcing a quiet wince out of her.

Ah... she had thought it wouldn't hurt, but it did. It really did hurt to know how much people didn't want you.

Her mom and dad had both left her... her little best friend, her brother, he had also left her... not by choice, but still-they all left her. And now she was left to face the most embarrassing moment of her life-to be rejected by her mate in front of the entire pack. Maybe it wouldn't have hurt this much if he had rejected her privately, without summoning the whole pack, but he had done it deliberately-to shame her, to humiliate her, or perhaps because she came from his enemy's pack.

At a point, she began to run as fast as she could. She ran until her legs could no longer carry her, and she collapsed onto the ground when they finally gave out. Then she began to bawl uncontrollably, crying until even her tears seemed to abandon her.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" a familiar voice asked as footsteps approached her.

Ellen looked up and saw her friend, Kelly.

"Ellen, I know it hurts a lot to be rejected by your mate like that, but you don't have to dwell on it. One thing is certain-whether you have another mate or not, someone out there will love and cherish you because you deserve more than this. Ellen, stop crying and move on with your life. This is definitely not the end," Kelly said, and Ellen looked up at her as the tears she thought had dried up began to fall again like spring water.

Maybe this was what she needed-a shoulder to lean on, a friend who knew when to be there when you needed them the most.

•••

"Kelly, have you done it?" someone asked over the phone.

She looked around carefully to ensure no one was nearby before replying. "Yes, I have done it. You can come check on it by tomorrow," she said in a near whisper.

After ending the call, she looked around once more before heading back into the Omega hall.

It had been a month since Alpha Damien rejected Ellen, and just as Kelly had advised, Ellen continued her life as though nothing had happened. She had come to understand one thing clearly-no matter what happened in her life, she had to overcome it, if not for anything else, then for one important person.

For herself.

"Ellen! Ellen! Ellen!" Kelly called out loudly when she saw Ellen heading toward her mattress, probably to take some clothes to wash as she had been instructed.

"Kelly, I didn't hear you. I'm sorry," Ellen said apologetically.

"No need for that, I urgently need your help with something," Kelly replied, grabbing her hand and pulling her along without giving her a choice.

On their way to wherever Kelly was taking her, they saw Victor heading toward the Omega hall with several pack warriors behind him. Ellen felt nervous at the sight of him, but when he glanced at her and continued walking, she felt slightly relieved.

When they returned, they were shocked to see Victor scattering the corner where Ellen slept.

"What are they doing?" she asked the person standing beside her.

"They're searching for the Alpha's ancestral staff that was given to him by his late father," the person replied.

Ellen looked closely and noticed that the way he searched others' belongings was not the same way he searched hers. She became infuriated and was about to step forward when he suddenly raised his head from her bag, holding a short cane-like object in his hand.

"Where is Ellen!" Victor shouted.

Everyone immediately stepped away from her, leaving her completely exposed. Even Kelly moved away. Ellen had thought Kelly would stand by her, but she was the first to distance herself.

She thought they were friends.

"Take her to the ceremonial stage-now!" Victor ordered the warriors.

Before Ellen could react, she was dragged by her hands toward the ceremonial ground. They didn't care that she wasn't as strong as them. At one point, she fell to the ground, but they continued dragging her, her body scraping painfully against the floor until they reached the stage.

At that moment, she held onto a tiny glimmer of hope-that the Alpha would at least give her a chance to explain herself.

The Alpha was already standing on the stage when they arrived. She looked up and met his gaze, clinging to that last bit of hope until-

"Burial her alive!" he ordered.

The moment those words left his lips, tears streamed down her cheeks. This was supposed to be her mate... how could he hate her so much without reason? Maybe her greatest mistake was being his mate-but that was never her choice.

Victor, as though he had won a prize, immediately began tearing off her clothes, touching her in ways he had always wanted. Ellen screamed in protest, hoping the Alpha would hear her and stop them-but he didn't. Her pleas fell on deaf ears.

And now she was here.

"Let me out... let me out! Please, let me out... I didn't do anything to deserve this... I didn't steal anything..." Ellen cried as she banged against the top of the coffin they had sealed her in.

As she continued hitting it with all her strength, she began to notice something-her strength was failing. Her breathing grew weaker with each passing second. She realized she was no longer inhaling fresh air... only the same air she exhaled.

And death...

Death was waiting for her.

With open arms.

She stopped hitting the coffin when she realized it was useless. Her own breath began to suffocate her.

She was dying.

Tears rolled down her cheeks-perhaps the only thing she still had left.

'I don't deserve this... I'm sure... I don't... Life, you have been so cruel to me... as if I wasn't human to begin with... why did you make my life worse than death...?'

Her breathing became even more strained, and her eyes began to close weakly. Gathering the last strength she had left, she whispered-

"If only I am given another chance at life... I vow to make all of you feel what pain is like... I will make sure you experience nothing but pain... if only life permits me again..." she muttered as her eyes slowly shut, and darkness consumed her.

Her soul faded into darkness.