Chapter 2 Price of Rejection

Amelia's POV

I didn't think my heart could break more than it had when I stood in the silence of the border that marked the territory of the Silver Moon pack, watching the individuals who had tortured me for so long turn their backs on me.

"Get out!" Ethan's voice thundered from behind me, the finality laced within it. "You're no longer a part of this pack, Amelia. You're nothing but a disgrace."

My knees buckled, but I made myself stand tall, clutching at the tattered cloak I'd thrown over my shoulders. "You'll regret this, Ethan," I whispered, though my voice came out so weak and trembling.

He laughed now, devoid of the warmth that I felt he once possessed. "Regret? The only regret I have is not refusing you sooner. Now go before I let the pack hunters chase you out.

Lucy's laugh echoed beside him, sharp and mocking. She moved closer, her arm hooked possessively around Ethan's. "Don't make this more difficult on yourself, Amelia. Nobody wants you here. Nobody ever did."

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I refused to let them see me cry again. They'd stolen my dignity, my future, and my heart. But I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing me break completely.

Without another word, I turned and walked away-my footsteps heavy upon the cold forest ground.

The night air nipped at my skin as I wandered deeper into the woods. My wolf whimpered inside me, broken and silent since the rejection. I tried to reach her, but all I felt was the hollow ache of her absence.

"You're weak," a voice whispered in my head. "You were never meant to be a Luna."

"Shut up," I muttered, even knowing it wasn't real. It was my own mind turning on me, the cruel words I'd heard my whole life.

The more I walked, the more my chest weighed heavy with melancholy. Images of my childhood flashed before my mind: Clarissa's scornful stare, Lucy's constant bullying, and my father's apathy.

"You're not my daughter," he'd said once, his eyes cold and unfeeling. "You're a mistake I regret every day."

I tripped over a root, collapsing to my knees with a sob tearing out of my throat. Decades of pain squeezed down on me, and I grappled for air.

"Why?" I shouted at the void. "Why wasn't I enough? Why didn't anyone love me?"

The only response of the forest was a rustling of leaves and, in the distance, the forlorn howl of a wolf.

Hours passed, or maybe days; I couldn't tell anymore. My body ached and my throat was dry, and the cold seeped into my bones. Still, I kept moving, driven by a faint hope that somewhere-anywhere-I could find solace.

But hope was such a fragile thing, and mine shattered when I came upon a small clearing and finally collapsed from exhaustion.

Darkness clutched at me, and with one final breath, I set a thought for Ethan. His mean words, his icy rejection, the way he'd chosen Lucy over me.

I hated him. I hated them all. And more than anything, I hated myself for still giving a damn.

When I woke, it was to the sound of voices-low and unfamiliar. My eyelids felt heavy, but I forced them open, blinking against the bright light.

"Is she alive?" a gruff voice asked.

"Barely," another replied. "We should leave her. She's not our problem."

"No," the first voice said firmly. "She's been through something. We'll take her to the Alpha."

The Alpha? Panic coursed through me, and I tried to move, but my body refused to obey.

"Easy," the gruff voice said again. "You're safe now."

Safe? I wanted to laugh. There was no such thing as safety in this world.

I was carried into what looked like a large cabin, one that was warm inside and well-appointed in its interior. The pine scent and that of earth enveloped me, assuaging frayed nerves despite myself.

A man entered the room, commanding in air and with piercing eyes. His dark hair framed a face that was rugged yet regal.

Who are you?" he asked, his voice low and commanding.

"A-Amelia," I stuttered, my voice barely a whisper.

He regarded me for a moment before nodding. "I'm Alpha Kade. You're on Nightshade territory now. Tell me, Amelia, what happened to you?"

The question brought fresh tears, but I swallowed them back. "I was rejected," I said simply. "And banished.

Kade's jaw tightened, his eyes flashing with something I couldn't quite place-anger, maybe? Pity?

"You'll stay here," he said finally. "Rest. We'll talk more when you're ready.