The Alpha's Castaway

Cana POV

"You look beautiful, Mia said softly as she touched the veil on my head. I smiled at my beautiful reflection. "Thank you," I replied, beaming with a smile.

She smiled at me "You are welcome Cana, soon to be Mrs Axel, Luna of the Manhattan Park." she said, giving me a mocking bow with a smile.

I laughed as a pink hue covered my cheek at the thought of being Axel's wife, my long-time crush. It was a dream come true.

I slowly inhaled the cool air that came from the air conditioner and my fingers shook as I adjusted the white dress I wore. The material of the wedding gown was so beautiful. I touched the diamond necklace he had given me as my wedding present.

An overwhelming feeling rushed through me. I can't believe that this day is finally here. Ever since I had discovered that Alex loved me, my joy had increased with every passing day.

I turned to my other friends who were in the room smiling at me. They had been helping me to dress up "Awwn she is blushing," Mirabel said with a smile.

I covered my cheeks "Stop it" I replied shly. They had not missed any given opportunity to tease me.

Mia cupped my cheeks "Why should we. Is this not a dream come true for you?" she asked me.

I nodded, tears of joy filled my eyes. "Yes," I whispered slowly.

Her lips widened with a smile. She took my hands and gave them a tight squeeze. Tears of joy filled her eyes too.

She knew how much this marriage meant to me. She had been with me from the start of my love story when I had a crush on him.

I thought he was never going to accept me because my wolf was a weak one but then the moon goddess blessed me by making me his wolf.

At first, he acted as if we were not mates then he came one night professing how he felt about me.

Mia took in a deep shaky breath "Okay, it's time for you to go downstairs and get married. "

I took in a shaky breath and walked downstairs with Mia at my back. The guards opened the hall and everyone stood up. I could feel everyone's eyes on me.

I looked at the crowd. Some smiled at me while some of the young girls glared at me. I shrugged, who would not want to be the wife of Axel?

My eyes finally landed on the Altar, on Axel, my husband-to-be. He stood there smiling at me. He was dressed in black suit trousers and coat. He stared at me with his green eyes and for a moment everything around me slowed down. The hall became quiet and empty, it was just me and him and I was breathing the same hair as him.

I shook off the sensation that crept into me and walked to the Altar. He took my hands and smiled and called my name "Cana".

I smiled back even though his voice sounded deep with trouble. I rolled off the uneasy feeling. Maybe he was anxious. After all, most people get anxious on their wedding day.

Finally, the priest who was to officiate the wedding got up, he was a wolf in the pack. He cleared his throat "We are gathered here-

"Let.me.in!" A piercing female voice shouted, drawing everyone's attention to the door. The guards opened the door and she entered. Who the hell could this be?

She stood in front of us. She was wearing a black dress and looked very untidy. Her hair was disheveled. Mascara was smeared all over her face as if she had cried a short while back.

I opened my mouth to ask her what happened. Maybe she was in distress and needed the Alpha's help but the next word she said shattered my heart.

"This wedding cannot happen!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, tears streaming down her face.

I furrowed my eyebrows. Axel let go of my hands immediately leaving me with a bad feeling. Why would he let go of my hand at this part of the time and who was ivy to him?

"What do you mean ivy?" I asked her in a calm collected voice even though tension was building up within me.

She glared at me and raised her fingers pointing at Axel as her entire body trembled, and more tears rolled down her cheeks. "Axel, you can't marry her while I am here. I am with your child and you know this!" She shouted.

My jaw dropped, and everyone around me exclaimed. The crowd began to whisper among themselves. I looked at Axel expecting him to rebuke her or try to punish her for trying to ruin his wedding.

"Ivy, I- he began to explain his head bent down.

" Don't try to give me some flimsy excuses, Axel!" she shouted, her neck veins throbbing. "You promised me Axel. You swore by the moon goddess' name that you are always going to love me! That you will father my child. You can't make her your Luna while I am here" She shouted again. Beads of sweat covered her forehead.

My heart dropped to the depths of my stomach. This can't be true. Axel would not betray me like this. He said he loved me. He asked me to be his wife, his Luna. He said it was a dream come true. That I am her dream partner.

But the Axel who was standing before me was a different one. He was not trying to counter her or anything, instead, he was looking at her, no, staring intensely at her, his eyes filled with emotions.

"Axel" I called him with a low trembling voice that was near breaking.

He took a shaky breath and looked at me. His eyes filled with regret "I am sorry, cana" he said

My eyes widened in disbelief. "Sorry? Axel, are you trying to tell me that what she is saying is true?" I asked, waiting for his reply to either shatter me or give me hope.

His Adam's apple moved up and down. He turned to me "Yes, she is with my child" he replied with a cold voice.

The air became too heavy, my nostrils refused to breathe. Pain bottled around my heart as I tried to control my trembling hands. "And you did not tell me? I thought you said you loved me. I thought you said I was your dream partner?" I asked with a trembling voice.

I can't believe that this is happening to me. To be rejected on my wedding day.

"Oh please, shut the fuck up!" He shouted. I flinched at his sudden outburst, the murmuring around the crowd increased.

He took a step closer "I never loved you, okay? It was just an arrangement between both families. You were just collateral. A business arrangement, and nothing more! Our parents just wanted us" he shouted. The tears I have been holding finally flowed.

I can't imagine that this is the same Axel that I knew. The same man that promised heaven and earth just a day ago.

"What about all the promises?" I asked.

He scoffed and sneered at me "They were all lies,cana. All lies"

My legs weakened immediately, I staggered a little and held on to Mia's hand. Thankfully she was at my back.

My world began to spin as my vision grew blurry. My eyes listened to every word around me.

"Such a pity to be rejected on your wedding day"

"She deserves it"

"How would an Alpha marry a wolfless girl"

"What did she think she was? A princess? That the Alpha would swear loyalty to a pale-looking soul like her"

More harsh words filled my ears, piercing my soul.

This was too much. I can't take it any longer. I took a last glance at Alex and ran away through the file that I came into the hall with.

"Cana!" Mia shouted but I did not stop. There was no need to stop and listen to their mockery.

I ran away from the compound with my wedding gown. Rogues who were not invited gave me a confused look as I ran away. It was so obvious that I was running away from my wedding.

I stopped at a lonely street and slammed my body against the wall breathing heavily. I sat on the ground not minding my dress.

"Wow, looks like we have found a companion for tonight," a Wolf said.

Cana pov

I raised my head to look at the wolf standing before me. He had three other wolves with him at his back. They wore a teasing smile. Goosebumps crept into my skin as he stared at me.

"Oh my gosh, she is crying," he said, mocking me. He turned to his friends and they burst into laughter.

'`Nice dress' ', another one said as he joined the other wolf they squatted to my level. His face was laced with a grin. "Special occasion?" He asked and they burst into cruel laughter again.

I bit my fingers with my teeth. Something I always did when I was nervous. An uneasy feeling washed within me and I was sure that I did not leave here on time. They were going to do something stupid.

My body shook with fear. I can't be rejected and raped or killed on the same day. Please moon goddess, help me. I prayed.

"It seems she is the rejected Luna," one said and the rest started laughing.

"I can't imagine our Alpha wanted to marry a weak wolf like you. Tell me between you and us, the rogues who have more strength?" He asked me if his voice was laced with amusement.

My heart dropped. Rogues were the weakest of our kind. But the rogues in our pack have decided to find solace in any violence. They never hesitated to bully a weaker wolf.

One of them raised their hands to touch my cheek. I removed their hands immediately as anger took over me. How dare they?

He chuckled, "You can't run away, dear. You would be at our service," he said with a grin.

He glared at me, "Merlin, how about a foursome tonight?" He asked.

Fear crept into me at the question. he asked his colleague. What if they succeed? I have to fight. I curled my hand into a fist and drove it into his face. He cleaned his face and glared at me. I stood up immediately.

" If you lay your hands on me again. I will kill you" I warned.

One of them laughed, and he grabbed my chin making me look at him. "You are a rejected wolf who is also weak. Do you know what we do to weak females?" He asked.

"We turn them into prostitutes and do you know what prostitutes do? They fuck!" He said and the rest burst into laughter.

I could feel my wolf growl within me as she threatened to come out. As if on cue, just as I was about to run away. A voice interrupted them.

"Is there a problem here?" he asked

I looked at him. It was a policeman. He stood a meter away from them, his hands resting on his waist. The men who had been lusting after me withdrew from me immediately.

"Oh that's alright, officer," one of them grumbled. "Just heading home. "

He watched them leave, then turned me his eyes filled with concern.

"Miss, are you okay? Do you need help? Did they hurt you?" he asked. I shook my head negatively.

"I'm fine," I said quickly. "Just. . . lost. "

The officer stared keenly at me for a while then his eyes widened, he appeared to recall who I was and smiled. "Hold on a second," he said. "Are you not Cana? The one the Alpha rejected?"

My heart sank. Soon the whole park would know about the incident already. They would be laughing at me right now.

"I. ... I have to go," I stammered before anyone recognized me

"Wait!" the officer called. "Allow me to assist you, it is not wise to be out here all by yourself. "

But I had already run away before he could complete his sentence.

My bare feet touched the cold pavement as I ran. The officer's shout became distant as I ran. The day was getting darker already.

A car drove past Me, splashing dirty water on me, and I stopped at a cold street in the middle of nowhere panting

To make matters worse my stomach growled. I have not eaten anything since morning. I was too excited about my wedding and lost my appetite. I planned to eat after the wedding with Axel.

I strolled around the street aimlessly without any direction. Did my life have to be this sorrowful? First, my parents died leaving me as an orphan and now the only man whom I have always loved did not love me., He lied to me all this while.

I rummaged in the small purse that I had kept with me. A few dollars were inside. I heaved a sigh of relief and began to walk towards a restaurant. I just had to put something in my stomach first then I would figure out what to do with my unfortunate life.

The door of the restaurant opened and I walked in. Most of them at the front stood before me with furrowed eyebrows. I am sure they were murmuring about me, especially with my dress drenched with mud and my messed up hair, which made me look like a homeless girl. I squared my shoulders and walked towards the bar table.

My eyes locked with one of them who was still staring at me. I stuck out my tongue and he turned away.

The Waitress came to my side and she glanced at me with judgemental eyes before flashing a smile. "Can I get you something?" She asked.

I decided to feign ignorance of what she just did, "Coffee as black as one can get," I hesitated for a while and said. "And. . . may I borrow a phone?"

The waitress stared at me for a while as if she was contemplating what to do. She shrugged and pulled out her phone from her pocket and gave it to me. "I will be over there," she said pointing at a group of waiters that stood at the side.

Immediately the waitress left I heaved a sigh of relief. I stared at the phone. Who could I call now? My guardian would be disappointed in me for running. The pack was out of the question. Mia. No, I can't even face her right now. I heaved a sigh and drifted the phone to the other side.

The coffee came hot in a cup. I encircled my hands around the cup to warm myself

At this point, the door of the restaurant opened. Oh no.

My blood ran cold.

Otto, Mia's boyfriend. I tilted my head to the other side to prevent him from seeing me but it was already too late.

Cana! He shouted and rushed towards me before I could sneak away.

I turned to him and took a deep breath. "Where have you been? We have all been looking for you" he inquired. His eyebrow lowered as he studied me.

I shrugged "I am coping," I said.

"Mia has been looking for you," he said as he dialed Mia's number. I wanted to tell him not to bother but it was already too late.

Cana pov

She picked up the call a few minutes later. Her voice sounded worried. "Have you seen her?" She asked him.

"Yes," he said as he gave me the phone.

I pressed the phone to my ear "Hello" I said in a whisper.

"Cana! I have been so worried about you. Where did you go? When are you coming back?" She asked.

I cleaned the tears that helplessly rolled down my cheeks avoiding her boyfriend's gaze. I would not want anyone pitying me.

"I'm fine Mia. I just want to stay away for a while. Till the shame and everything dies down" I said.

"Noo cana, you can't leave me. You did not even pack some clothes. What about your parents? Aren't you going to visit their tomb?" She asked, almost breaking into tears.

"Mia I will be fine," I said even though I knew what she said was true. I needed to see my parents and tell them what happened. That their daughter was rejected and that no one has loved me since they died.

"Please cana, come home. I will be here with you" she said with a trembling voice.

I heaved a sigh. Whatever she was saying was true and I knew it was.

"Fine," I said as I stood up. "Let's go," I told him.

The drive to my house was silent. Different thoughts ran through my mind. Would it be good if my parents were still alive? Would they love me?

The car stopped at the palace gate instead of my house. Otto left before I could ask him any questions. Why had he brought me back here, the same place I was rejected?

I squared up my shoulders. Maybe Mia was still here or Derek was here attending to some of the Parks' needs as he is head of the elder council.

Immediately I stepped into the palace, I froze on the spot. Everywhere was still crowded. it looked as if they were still holding a party.

What could they celebrate? Maybe it was my defeat, I mean most people immediately hated me the day Axel asked me to be his Luna.

As if they sensed my questions they started whispering among themselves. "She's fit to be a Luna"

"Ivy would make a good Luna compared to that twat that calls herself Cana"

My breathing seized for a moment. Was this the reason the palace was still full? To discuss my pain?

"Thank the moon goddess that Axel and Ivy got married today. Their chemistry is unmatched" one of them whispered.

My legs grew weaker as pain rushed within me stopping me from breathing. I gasp around for air. They would soon notice that I was there and start mocking me to my face. I was still standing outside with my wedding gown. I hid between the palace pillars as hot tears rushed down my cheeks.

I can't believe that they decided to get married today of all days. The same day I was meant to get married. Couldn't they humor me and at least postpone the wedding to another day?

"To our Luna" Axel shouted, raising his glass to the air.

"To our Luna" they all shouted. I looked around. They all seemed happy. No one even felt bad for the Alpha holding the wedding on the same day as mine.

I began to regret the reason why I followed Otto. I would have just remained in the restaurant.

A rough hand grabbed my arms from where I was hiding. It was Derek, my guardian. He dragged me immediately into his car and drove to our house.

Immediately we got to his house he banged the door loudly behind me. I flinched at the force. I was already too weak to start asking what happened.

"Have you gone mad? How could you run away from a wedding without the Alpha permitting you?" he shouted as he walked toward me.

Grief washed me as I stared at him. His voice is void of emotions. And here I thought he had traveled. He did not even care about me. It was about me leaving the Alpha without his permission.

"I was rejected by Axel. My fiance left me for his girlfriend who was pregnant! Should I have stayed and watched them get all lovey-dovey in my presence!?"I shouted with anger. My head was getting hot, tears were flowing down my face.

His eyes softened, and he heaved a deep sigh "You would have let him ask you to go cana. Irrespective of your grief. People are gossiping about your show this morning. They claim that the Alpha has no control over his pack because of how you behave. You made the pack look weak" he explained. His voice was low with remorse.

Cold gripped my feet and spread through my whole body. What was he trying to say?

"Meaning?" I asked in a low whisper.

He ran his hand over his hair and cursed under his breath "They have asked that you leave the pack because of your misbehavior this morning" he explained.

My eyes widened with surprise, and my esophagus became blocked with pain "And what did you say?" I asked him. Surely he must have said something to them. He can convince the council in my favor.

"I begged them cana. They refused to accept my apology, however, they did not banish you from the pack. You would be gone for a while and return" he said his voice filled with hope as if that would help my pain.

I swallowed hard "How long? How long will I have to stay away? A week, a month, forever?" I asked with a bitter smile.

"Three years," he said

I nodded my head and gave him a bitter smile."Okay," I said and walked away.

I went to the next door where Mia lived. I knocked on the door tears continued to flow down my cheek

She opened the door and her face immediately turned into a frown when she saw me crying. She hugged me immediately, patting me on my back as tears flowed more.

"It's going to be okay," she whispered.

I cried more. She does not know that I have been sent away from the pack. I have to tell her and leave without anyone noticing me.

I stopped crying and sniffed in. "I have been sent out of the park. '' I informed her.

"What?" She asked to release me from the hug.

I nodded too weakly to respond. More tears flowed down. "I have to go, Mia," I said.

"We can figure-

"Cana!" it was Derek's voice. I knew that as I spent more time here my life would be in more danger.

I stared at her with tear-stained eyes, my heart heavy with pain. She was the only friend I had in the world. She burst into tears and hugged me again.

"I am going to miss you" she whispered. We stayed there for a while. Hugging each other.

"Cana!" The voice came again and I left her. I left the house without looking back.

I strolled down the road aimlessly, too weak to even walk. A car stopped by my side and the window rolled down revealing a handsome man. He flashed me a smile.

"Hello Cana," he said.

I narrowed my eyes to a split look. His face looked familiar. Who is this? Then the memory hit me. I have seen him visit Axel once. He was also there for our engagement ceremony.

Colour drained from my skin. Was he here to mock me? "I heard what happened and-

" You are sorry. I know, thank you" I said, completing his sentence.

A smile tugged his lips "Where are you going to?" He asked

I can't tell him I was banished. The pity would increase. So I lied. "I am going home"

He shook his head as if he knew I was lying."Home? But you were banished right?"

I nodded with a sigh. "Yes"

"Hop in, let me take you to my park," he said as he opened his car door. He went round to open the other door for me with a charming smile

His three-piece suit enhanced his masculine features. I nodded and walked around with weak legs. I entered the car, his strong intoxicated scent hit me.

It was not just any scent. It felt too strong to be just the scent of a wolf. Maybe that was how his park smelt.