Rejected and Forsaken

Marsha found herself on a barren land. It seems as if there had been little to no life on that place for some time. The air was hot and dry and there were ugly cracks on the ground. The scorching sun burnt the whole place, including her delicate skin.

Marsha tried her best to shield her eyes from the glaring sun. But then a kick in her abdomen made her realise that she was not alone. Placing one hand on her swollen tummy, she looked around for a shelter. But this place was empty, not even a single tree.

"What is this place?" she murmured to herself. "Hello? Anyone there?" she shouted. But her voice only got lost in the thin air. No one was in the ear shot. Or so she thought.

"Don't panic. Don't panic." She told her self, trying her best not to freak out.

"Marsha." A deep raspy voice made her turn around. What she saw, made her scream. In front of her stood a huge wolf like man who's eyes burnt like and angry furnace. With fur all over his body, he stood tall on his hind legs and definitely looked bigger and better than any wolf she had encountered.

She too was a wolf, but never in her life had she seen a wolf like this.

"Don't come near me." She ordered in her Luna tone. But apparently that didn't work on this beast.

"Don't be scared child." Another voice, just as gruff but lighter than the other one, came behind Marsha. Fear gripped her heart as she turned around to find that she was surrounded by similar creatures.

This was worse than a rogue attack. She thought.

"Wh....what do you want?" she demanded.

"We just wanted to meet our descendant."

Marsha's face contorted in confusion. "What?" she whispered, her previous feelings of agitation slowly vanishing.

"You, child, are our descendant. And what you carry in your womb will be the greatest wolf of his time. He will face a lot of hardship. But he will have to and face it on his own." One of them tried to explain.

Wait. What? Marsha's confusion increased.

"What exactly are you?" she asked.

"We are the great lycans. It has been decades since the last lycan lived. And now, it is time for the next one to appear."

"But.... aren't the lycans a myth?" Marsha wanted to know more but all what she got was a smirk right before they started to fade away.

"No....wait. you cannot leave me like that!" she screamed.

"Marsha! Marsha!"

Marsha woke up when her mate shook her fiercely. She had been screaming and whimpering in her sleep.

"Who is going to leave you?" Devin, her mate questioned. But all what she could let out was a whoosh of breath to calm to racing heart. Devin shook his head and placed his hand on her belly.

"Now pup. Don't disturb mommy too much ok?" he said and kissed her forehead. "Try to sleep babe." He added and turned to one side.

Marsha stared at the ceiling, her eyes wide open. Sleep was the last this she could do. With the additional weight and discomfort she had to endure, the dreams made it impossible for her to sleep. Soon enough, Devin's snores indicated that he had dozed off.

"I wish I could." She whispered.

Marsha grunted on the bed. She had found it hard to sleep with her belly. She kept changing sides and grunting in pain. Her unborn pup seemed to be super active tonight. He kept kicking and doing somersaults in her womb.

At last, she sat up on her bed and stared at her swollen belly. She was completely exhausted. The past few months had been tiring for her. Though she had been excused from the Luna duties because of her health, lack of sleep has worn her out.

She felt her pup kick the side of her womb once again. She chuckled.

"Aren't you going to let mommy get some sleep little one?" she talked to her unborn pup. The baby kicked in response. She sighed and looked at her sleeping mate and pouted. She too wanted to sleep.

Finally, when she was certain that she won't sleep anytime soon, she stood up and walked to the window in the room. She opened the it and let the cool night breeze blow her dark hair. The full moon and beautifully decorated sky made Marsha smile. She had always enjoyed nights like these.

Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain jolt down her waist. But as soon as it came it went. She furrowed her eyebrows and tried to straighten herself when the pain returned. This time, it was worse than before and it lasted longer.

Marsha's face contorted in pain as she grabbed to the nearest furniture with all her might. The throbbing pain continued to thrust from her waist and down towards her ass.

"Devinel!" Marsha gasped. "Devin!" she screamed. She was still on her spot, unable to move on her own. The pain was excruciating and it kept getting worse and worse.

"DEVIN!" Marsha screamed as loud as she could.

"What! What is it?" Devine jumped to his feet at once and got in to his defence mode. His mate's screams had woken him up startled and ready to protect her from any potential danger.

Marsha kept one hand on her belly and looked at her mate with a painful expression on her face.

"Babe.... I think it is time...." she managed to whisper in between her gasps of breath.

Devin's eyes widened with realisation. He quickly put on a shirt and pants and covered his mate with a cardigan before he carried her out of the room in bridal style. He practically ran towards the infirmary which was just a few metres away from the pack house. Being a well trained alpha, it was not too hard for him to carry his heavily pregnant mate, specially with the adrenaline rush he was feeling.

He quickly placed her on a stretcher as soon as they arrived. Doctors and nurses surrounded them and soon, were taken to the labour room.

Devine waited outside for a while because he would have to inform the council of elders that the Luna was now in labour. It was their tradition. Devine quickly mind linked his beta and the council of elders. Since it was the middle of the night, it took longer than he liked for the message to get through.

He was about to enter the labour room and be with his mate when the doctor came out and wanted to talk to him in private.

"Alpha. There are some complications. We have to go for a caesarean." The doctor told him, urgently.

Devin felt that his heart skipped a beat.

"Is she and the pup ok?" he asked.

The doctor nodded. "But we must hurry." He said.

"do what you must doctor." Devin told him.

Soon, Marsha was reeled in to the operation theatre. Devin paced anxiously outside the theatre. No one was allowed in it. Marsha's parents and his beta had arrived by now. After what seemed like forever, the nurse peeked out of the door.

"It is a boy." She informed them. "Alpha. Please come and see them." She said and Devin quickly followed her inside. He was taken to a cubicle where his mate was placed on a hospital bed.

"The pup is with the paediatrician right now. We will bring him in a while." She told him and he nodded.

Devin approached Marsha. Her eyes were closed and her dark hair was matted on her forehead with sweat. He lovingly brushed the hair away. Her eyes swung open, revealing the beautiful baby blue eyes Devin adored.

"Babe....." Devin trailed off. He took her hand to his lips and kissed it softly. He was overwhelmed with emotions.

Marsha smiled weakly.

"Devin." She whispered. "Please.... Take care of him." She said making Devin frown.

"Yes. We will. We will do it together." Devin answered. Marsha closed her eyes and ran her tongue over her lips.

Just then, the nurse came in with the pup and placed him on her right hand.

"My David. My little David. Be good my baby." She whispered and cooed. Devin looked at the nurse, with a worried look on his face. Marsha sounded as if she was getting weaker and weaker as she spoke.

The nurse quickly ran out of the room to call for a doctor.

"Babe..." Devin gasped and he held on to his mate's hand. He felt his heart pounding in his chest. He was nervous beyond imagination. Why was Marsha acting so strangely?

Once again, Marsha smiled weakly at her mate. "My love." Her voice seemed to be getting weaker and weaker. "I love you always. Remember that." She whispered.

"When I was sleeping during the caesarean, I saw a dream Devin. I have to go. But David will be here and he will the strongest wolf of this time. Take good care of him babe. Please love my David. Love him for me." She tried to explain to her best and suddenly took a deep breath. Devin stood frozen on his spot when the doctors and the nurses rushed in. The quickly took the baby from her hand and started to connect and disconnect different machines. Devin stepped back a little, confused and hurt at the same time. He was not ready to loose his mate yet.

He watched wordlessly as he saw the love of his life breath her last. The doctors looked defeated.

The leading doctor approached Devin and gulped before speaking.

"Alpha. I am sorry. She is gone." He whispered. His own heart ached terribly as he confirmed the death of their Luna. The heart of their pack. Devin felt as if the world had stopped revolving. He felt as if the ground beneath him was shaking. The news had knocked the out of his lungs. His mate.... is gone? He felt his wolf howl in agony. He was about to loose control and tear the whole infirmary down when they covered her corpse with a white sheet and handed the new-born pup to their alpha.

The doctors and nurses waited in anticipation, waiting to see if the alpha who had just lost his mate would accept the unborn pup. They had seen too many times the pup being rejected. But this pup cannot be put up for adoption as he is the heir of the pack.

Devin held on to the little bundle of joy as if he was holding on to dear life. His wolf also had calmed down a little and hung his head low. His mate, his better half was gone. But he still had this little pup which is half of him and half of the one he loved.

Devin's eyes filled with tears. His beta and their parents barged in to the cubicle as Devin fought with his unshed tears.

Marsha's mother wailed painfully as she saw the corpse of her daughter. This was supposed to be a happy day. But fate had other plans.

"Devin...." his mother trailed off. Finally, the tears that had been gathering in his eyes, started to roll out of his eyes. He let the tears roll down his cheeks as he looked at the little pup in his hands. Slowly his little eyes opened, revealing baby blue eyes, just like Marsha's.

Devin smiled through his tears at the new born. "David. You have your mother's eyes." He choked as he spoke through his silent sobs. More tears rolled down his cheeks. His heart was shattered, but he will have to be strong. For David. His David. Their David.

Devin pov.

"dad. Look what I can do!"

I watched David do a somersault on his bed. I chuckled. He sure was such a joy. If not for him, I would have gone feral after I lost my mate 9 years ago.

"Wow. That is so cool. High five." I replied with much enthusiasm and raised my hand so that he could high five me with his tiny little hand.

His baby blue eyes twinkled in excitement as he giggled and jumped on his mattress to give me a high five. He was a lot like his mother. His eyes, his smile and his funny personality reminded me of my beloved mate every single moment of my life.

"Daddy, are we going to see mommy tomorrow?" he asked as he jumped on his mattress. I smiled and nodded.

"Yes. We are. We must you are turning 10 tomorrow. So it is a big day isn't it?" I said.

"Yes!!!!" he did a little punch in the air making me chuckle inwardly. He may have never seen his mother, but I have made sure that he acknowledges her. I take her to her grave every year on his birthday and pray for her soul. People maybe unaware of it but I secretly pray that I meet her soon on the other side.

I only wanted to be here until David grows up strong enough so that he can take care of himself and the pack on his own. I will make sure he learns everything he needs to as his father and alpha. I will train him to the best I can and make sure that he will be the next best alpha of this time.

"Come on bud. It is time for you to sleep." I said.

He quickly lied on the bed and I covered his little body with the quilt. He smiled at me revealing the little dimple on his left cheek, just like Marsha.

I caressed his hair and kissed his forehead. This had been our routine each and every night ever since he was born. And each and every night he would giggle and try to mess my hair in return. But tonight, it never came. I furrowed my eyebrows at him. He was awfully silent tonight.

"Is everything ok buddy?" I asked. He smiled, but there was a hint of sadness in it. Ok so something was definitely up.

I took a stool and sat down beside him. I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees and relaxed.

"Ok. Now tell me. What is wrong?" I asked.

He sighed and shrugged. He looked away and lowered his eyes, making me even more curious.

"David. You can tell me anything. I will listen. It is ok just tell me." I tried to make him talk. He didn't open his mouth, but a little tear escaped from the corner of his right eye. He tried to hide it from me. But what can he hide from his own father?

"David? What is it? Is some one or some thing bothering you? Are you unhappy?" I asked. His reaction has made me worried. What is it that is making him cry silent tears? What is it that he feels difficult to share with me? He was the most loved pup in this pack. He may not have his mother with him, but me, my parents my beta and everyone else loves him. Even his .sternal grandparents visit him every weekend. Everyone loves him.

"Daddy.... Am I bad?" he asked surprising me. I shook my head. What made him think that he was bad?

I voiced my thoughts. "Why are you even asking that?" My question made him cry. Tears started to flow down his cheeks with no control.

"Daddy." He gasped in between his sobs. "Elder Arnold said that I was bad. That was why my mama died on the day I was born." He was barely able to say that before bursting in to tears. He was now crying hard, his sobs and gasps and echoed in the room.

His words seemed like poison to my ears. I felt numb and stupefied. How can he say that at a little boy? I scooped my son in to my hands and tried to comfort him to my best.

"Hey. Hey. He was lying. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love you to the moon and back. Don't you ever think like that ok?" I continued to hold him close to me. He sobbed uncontrollably in my arms, soaking my shirt with his tears.

"Everyone will die when time comes. It cannot be avoided. Your mother died because it was time for her to go. And I am glad that she gave me a little bundle of joy that is you. If not for you, I would have gone mad with her death." I told him honestly.

He raised his little head and looked in to my eyes. "Daddy. Was she your mate?" he asked innocently. I smiled at his question.

"Yes." I told him.

"What is a mate?" he asked and tilted his head to a side. I laughed. That was a gesture Marsha also used to have when she was really curious about something.

"You are so much like your mother David." I told him and he smiled. He always loved it when he was told that he was like his mother.

"To answer your question, a mate is your other half. Your soulmate. She will complete you and when both of you are together you will be at your best." I told him. I pinched his little nose and said.

"When you find your mate, you must treat her with care and respect. A soulmate is a gift to be cherished. She will be your equal. And since you will be alpha, your mate will be Luna of the pack."

"Was mommy Luna of this pack?" he asked. I nodded. He frowned. It only meant that he was thinking deeply about it.

"Does that mean the pack doesn't have a Luna now?" he asked. This time, a stabbing pain in my chest made it difficult for me to answer. I looked away and fought the tears that threatened to fall. It has been ten years since that fateful day, but I had not gotten over her untimely death. Some wolves among us find their second chance mate. But to be honest, I don't want another mate. I just want Marsha and no one else.

"Daddy?" David's soft voice took me out of my thoughts. "Did I make you sad?" he asked sadly.

I chuckled, trying my best to hide my sadness. "No bud. You make me happy. It is just that sometimes I still miss your mommy." I told him, careful not to make him question his self worth.

He yawned and I saw his eyelids were slowly getting heavy.

"Good night daddy. I will be a good boy." He said sleepily and turned to one side.

I smiled and stared at him. He was such a sweet little pup. How could that Arnold be so cold towards him. He was just a child.

I walked out of the room and stormed in to the council room. Luckily all the elders were still in there.

"Arnold! I demand an explanation." I demanded in my alpha tone, earning the attention of all five of them.

"What is the need of trying to make my son question his self worth? Why did you have to tell him that he was the reason that his mother died?" I boomed.

He simply narrowed his eyes at me. My alpha tone doesn't work on him. He and the other members have been the elders for decades. The council consists of a high member of each leading pack in the continent. Their main office in this pack but they visit all the packs from time to time. They have been around long enough to see the rise and fall of many leaderships. And so they are a bit difficult to be intimidated.

"I said so because I wanted to. That child is cursed and is a bad omen...."

I don't know what came over me, I was strangling him with all my might.

"Don't you dare repeat those words ever again Arnold." I hissed at him. "You may be an elder, but you all are self appointed." I continued.

"Enough!" elder Barron boomed and I let Arnold go.

"Arnold, keep your comments to yourself. And Devin, it is punishable by death for attacking a council member." He said and I scoffed.

"You don't care about what he had done?" I asked, my frustration clear in my tone.

He shook his head. "That is the reason why I am letting it go this time." He said. I glared at the five of them who were dressed in grey robes that fully covered them from head to toe.

Arnold had managed to pull himself together. "You will learn it the hard way Devin." He croaked.

I scoffed at him and turned around to leave. What does he know about my child anyway? He is a bitter elder who needs to retire from his position. Perhaps then, someone better can be appointed.