Un-fated Mate

One

~Adriana

I lay on the cold tiles, hugging my legs and muffling my sobs. My stomach and face throb from the kick I had just received earlier. My head hurts and I'm sure I've broken one of my ribs.

"Come down hear you insolent child." My mother roared from the kitchen. my younger brother tried stopping her from yelling

I had broken a Silver plate when I was doing the dishes, it wasn't intentional, I was so caught up with schoolwork that it kept running through my head and I didn't know when the plate slipped.

"It was a mistake, everyone makes mistakes." He said but she turned deaf ears.

"She's just a worthless child and has destroyed everything in this house" Mom continued but I stayed put.

Rayn kept pleading with her to stop the abuse but she didn't stop. I kept sobbing quietly

All of a sudden it all got quiet. I peeped my head out to see where they were only to be met with something hard, slapping me across my cheeks.

The next morning, I prepared for school. I had my final exams and was very happy to be graduating soon, which means I'll be leaving my family and packing. Stepping into the school gates, I pulled up my hoodie to cover my scarred face.

"Adriana?" I heard a familiar voice called out. Kenzie, my one and only friend who ever stood up for me. She bid her friends goodbye and walked up to me as soon as she spotted me.

"Hey, where are you going, the exam hall is that way" she pointed at the hall.

"Uh.. I just wanted to use the restroom. I get nervous when it comes to exams and you know, my bladder doesn't like it" I nervously laughed, it was a lie but I pray she bought it.

"Adriana, I know you and I know when you're lying. Right Now, your lies are embarrassing" she said dramatically

"Don't be such a diva.." I said

"Guess what? I've finally found my mate" she squealed and turned to stare

"Really, where is he? Who is he?" I said raising my head that has been bent ever since our conversation started, and my hoodie falling to my shoulder.

"I knew it! Who did this to you?" She exclaimed worriedly, examining my face with her hands

Ouch..

"Mom did this? I'm fine. I'm already used to it. So where's he?" My eyes glittered like a child on Christmas day.

"Sadly, I haven't found him but my wolf tells me soon, he'll be ours," she said with confidence making us both laugh.

"I heard what Sam did. I am so sorry" she said

"He was a jerk for publicly rejecting you and for judging you by your past"

"Well what can I say, they all die or reject me, I guess he has the right to leave," I said sadly as tears started welling up in my eyes but I blinked to send it back in.

"I'm sorry darling, remember I'll always and always be there for you. The moon Goddess will fetch you someone new, richer, and more powerful than Sam" She flashed a smile at me and I did the same.

We both held hands and strolled to the hall to write our final exams.

One hour later, I finished and stepped out.

I glanced at the place to spot some familiar faces however I caught Min's attention. She is my nemesis and the daughter of our pack, Southside pack, we grew up together but she always teased me for being a weak omega

"Well well, if it isn't Adriana Chechik the omega," she said. I was about to walk past her but she stretched her hands blocking my way.

"What happened to your face? Did mommy do this to you" she mocked Laughing menacingly.

"I heard you were rejected by the woodside alpha's son who's next to the throne. What's his name again, aha, yes Sam" Min said, I glared at her and wanted to pounce on her but I knew better than to not start any fight with the Alpha's daughter.

"Min, I have no time for this," I said trying to pass but she stopped me again

"I just wanted to remind you how big of a failure you are" She smiled wickedly and left.

" I thought you were going to do something to her, however, you proved me wrong" Kenzie spoke behind me

"I just don't want trouble from the Alpha, I also don't want to add more pain to myself from my parents"

"You need to stand up for yourself, people won't always be there to save your butt"

"Let's forget this and go face lunch. My starving"

We turned to leave but not without the feeling of someone watching me, I turned around to see my stalker but no one was in sight, then I shrugged off the feeling and decided to celebrate my finals.

I arrived rather late after having lunch with Kenzie and the other friends she had invited. We didn't only have lunch, we partied and sang karaoke, but still, our hearts dropped. I didn't realize when it got dark and took my leave.

I'm now standing at my house staring blankly at it wondering what my parents would do if they saw me coming in. Without any thoughts, I pushed the door open and stepped in. The room was dark and I thought they had all gone to bed unknown to me my mother stood beside the light stand and turned on the light

"Why are you coming home this late?"

"I uh. I had thin" I stutter

"Coming up with excuses huh? Are sleeping around because you have no mate? You should be ashamed of yourself, most of your peers are settling down and you're here spreading your...."

"Mom stop it, I wasn't sleeping around" I yelled. Her eyes grew wide In shock

"I know I don't have a mate but that's not the reason for these insults, I am your daughter, Mom. Don't you have motherly love for me?" I said at the brink of tears, I sniffed and continued

"I don't know where I had gone wrong or why they keep dying but I have nothing to do with it, why are you treating me like a rogue?" I said crying. She lacked expression.

"I wish you were never born," Mom said hate filling her words and I felt my heart dropped

"And that's why I'm going to end this here and now" she continued, bringing out a gun which was beside the lamp stand, aiming at me.

Soon, I found myself running into the woods, not caring where I was headed as long as I was far away from her.

Two

Running

~Adriana

Three days have gone and I still lay in the woods. I haven't eaten for days and feel very weak, I can't hunt so I'm left with no choice but to die. I sat down and placed my back on a big oak tree that served as shade for me.

Click.

I heard something from my right.

Animal?

I kept hearing it but this time, the sound came from different places, is stood up ready to face whatever was out there.

A man came into view alongside two big wolves.

I was scared to death but tried my best to keep calm and not be a coward, they were rogues, and hunting another wolf, and showing any sign of weakness could put them on high alert.

"What is a pretty girl like you doing all alone here, in this thick forest all by yourself. Where's your pack little girl" he walked closer, making me step backward.

"Oh, no need to be scared of me. My friends and I are trying to help you" he said with a smirk.

"Don't come any closer or you'll regret it" I managed to say.

"You're a tough one. This looks like fresh meat" he said to one of his wolf friends.

My ares scanned them and they are strategizing possible escape.

"Be a good girl and come..." I didn't let him finish before I darted into the thick forest. I heard them howl before coming after me but I didn't care and ran as fast as my legs could carry.

The hot chase continued for about fifteen minutes before my legs failed to carry me nevertheless I pushed myself. Suddenly the area changed, the whole place smelled like an alpha's pheromones. They had a really strong and dominating scent and it made me dizzy.

My pace slowed and my vision blurred as I ran, up ahead I could see a male figure standing, I came closer to him and the scent blossomed so I couldn't take it anymore and passed out.

I wake up in a room unfamiliar to me

Where am I - I thought. A lady walked in with a stethoscope around her neck

She tried touching me but I refused

"Don't touch me" I clenched onto the sheets which smelled of those scents.

"I'm a doctor, okay, I'm trying to help you" she spoke softly

"I said don't touch me" I repeated firmly this time. She sighed, walked out of the room, and walked back in with a man. He stood around 6 feet with layers of tattoos, he had a buzz cut and his eyes were bright emerald, I couldn't help but be in a daze.

"She is awake but refuses to be examined," the doctor said.

The Man walked closely to me. I felt the stench hitting me hard.

"I don't sense any threats from her," he said.

"I think she's an omega, she looks so frail. I also saw some bruises on her face with a few fractured bones" the doctor said.

"Who was chasing you? Which park are you from? Are you part of the spy..."

"Sir, you're scaring her" the doctor intervened.

"Grab her something to eat before we continue this session" he commanded before leaving then the doctor turned to me

"I'll go get you something uh... what's your name" she said sweetly.

"Adriana" I whispered

"Oh okay, Adriana, I'm going to get you something" She leaves and closes the door behind her.

Immediately she was out of sight, I scanned the whole place for another escape, I wasn't going to let this pack find who I was and take me back there. I'm not going.

The window curtains were opened and the doors too

It's time to go

I got up still exhausted from the running but decided to do it anyway.

I opened the window to examine how high it was luckily it wasn't that high

What's the worst that can happen

With that, I jumped, landing feet first and breaking my ankles. One of the men on guard noticed this and yelled.

"Hey, where do you think you're going?" he said walking up to me. I tried getting up but my legs were reluctant. A few minutes later I saw the pack coming out someone had announced my escape.

The buzz-cut man walked up to me and stared daggers at me. And I felt my wolf whimpering.

They carried me back in, this time two men were on guard.

"Now tell us where you're from unless we end you here and now" the Man growled and flinched.

I stayed quiet. This pissed him off but a woman, with a striking resemblance, like a female version of him, calmed him down, and he took a seat opposite me.

"I'm Janice and this is my older brother Riley. We don't want to hurt you, we just want to know where you're from. Feel free to speak" Janice said smiling.

"I don't want to go back there" I manage to say not looking at any of them but the sheets.

"Back where?" Janice asked, sitting beside me.

"My pack, my family, I don't want to go back. Please don't send me back" Tears rolled through my eyes

"Hey, hey it's okay, no one is sending you back" she whispered, hugging and stroking my hair.

"No marks yet, no mate," she said rather than a question.

I stayed quiet. She got up and walked to her brother, Riley whispered something to him and he directed his gaze to me but I averted my eyes.

"We'll help you, on one condition," Riley said, boring his emerald eyes into mine.

Three

A new mate

~Adriana

I sat on the bed comfortably they had all gone to their various work leaving me in what I think is Riley's Room because his scent still lingers on.

I eat the food that they serve in haste because I haven't eaten for days now and I'm starting to the core.

"Okay here's what we want you to do if you're going to remain in this pack" Riley barges in with files in his hands

"We're going into a contract. I need a mate, my pack needs a Luna and I'm unable to provide due to some challenges which may not concern you..." he paused

"Wait.. you don't have a mate? Why?" I quizzed

"It's complicated, but read this" he tossed the files to the bed which I picked

A contract - it wrote.

"That's a contract, I want you to act as my mate until I find mine then I'll let you go. In return, I want to take off your head for intruding on our residence. Meanwhile, I had my Beta search for your background. You're from Southside Pack" he said

"Yeah, but please don't take me back there I'll do anything for you" I tried getting up but the pain in my legs prevented me.

"I'll do anything, just keep me here and alive. I might not have a mate but I can pretend to be one until you get one yourself" I smiled sheepishly.

I looked at me puzzled then sighed. A man burst into the room, making me and Riley turn to him.

"It's said in this record that your mates all died mysteriously and the present one rejected you because I didn't want to suffer like others," the man said, going through a file.

All packs keep account of their members, positive and negative.

"I don't think she's fit for this job," the man said to Riley.

"What do you think the pack will say, seeing a Southsider as their Luna let alone an Omega? They'll protest for sure. I suggest you find someone else" he said

" Ray, it's my pack and I'm choosing her for a purpose unknown to me but she'll be my Luna regardless"

"What if you die like the others?" Ray quizzed

And they both fell quiet.

"as long as you aren't my mate, I don't think it'll be a problem," I said breaking the silence and they both stared at me

"No, it's too dangerous. They're lots of people trying to get this position if he...." Ray said but Riley stopped him

"It's okay, nothing is going to happen "

"You don't know that for sure"

"RAY..." Riley held out his hands to the air and Ray stopped talking and stared daggers at me before retrieving.

"I don't want any trouble" I opened up.

"Nothing will happen," he said, getting up to leave

"What he said is true, all my mates rejected me, and some died. My mom told me I was cursed but I refuse to believe her" I said solemnly but he didn't turn to me.

"Sign the contract, in a few days you'll be announced as the new Luna" he quietly said before exiting.

The past few days have been nothing but constant sleeping and eating. The doctor came to examine my leg once in a few days and she said I'll soon be up on my feet.

Today, I sat beside a table staring at the window and thinking about my family.

Would they care if I'd gone missing? They're probably celebrating that I'm now out of their lives

A sigh escaped my lips and I heard the door open.

"The alpha said you should put on this and come downstairs," Maya said,

"What a beautiful dress?" I said

"What Is happening today if I may ask?"

"You're being crowned Luna" Her words left my mouth and my gape.

"Is it today? I thought it was tomorrow"

"It's today"

"Hurry up we're all waiting for you," Maya said before leaving

I glanced at the dress one last time before going to the bathroom to freshen up.

Afterward, I put on the cloth and stared at my reflection.

"You look pretty" Janice praises and I felt my cheeks burn.

I mouthed thank you and she escorted me to the living, luckily my leg was healed from the herbs I'd received, so I wasn't limping

I got to the living room and all eyes were on me. I smiled nervously as I took my seat.

Cough...

Janice cleared her throat and speak

"Where's Riley, the announcement should have commenced by now"

"He's speaking with Duke regarding the ceremony".. someone said

Ceremony??

"Okay, so I think we should get going now"

"Where are we heading?" I asked Janice and her eyes twinkled like stars as she smiled and said.

"To crown you Luna, we are having a little party and inviting neighboring packs to celebrate with us"

My mouth was shaped like an 'o' and she lifted me.

We drove to the place and people were already gathered.

I hate this, I hate this

I was internally panicking, I didn't want to see any familiar faces, especially my packs but luck wasn't on my side when I sighted Min, of all people

"Whoa, girl. Where have you been all these days, your parents are worried sick" She pretended to care, maybe because she saw Janice with me.

"Do you know her?" Janice asked

"Yes, we were best friends, she had some issues and suddenly she ran" Min commented

"That's not true I. " I tried defending but was caught off by the announcement being made.

Janice took my hands and we walked away.

If Min' is here, that means my parents are here too...

I can't let them see me.

Riley climbed up the stage and grabbed the Mic, speaking into it but I couldn't motion what was being said. I kept thinking of what my parents would do if they saw me.

Suddenly I felt someone elbow me, and raised my head to see Janice smiling at me so were the others

"What?" I was so lost in thoughts that I didn't hear my name being called.

I walked up to Riley and took his outstretched hands, and his eyes bored into mine. This made me nervous.

"I'm happy to announce to you all my mate, Adriana Chechik" he finished and the crowd went wild. I smiled nervously still scanning for my parents

The event ended eventually. I was happy that I didn't see any familiar faces except Min and some other of my pack. I knew for sure they'd inform my parents but I didn't care.

While walking out of the hall center, I bumped into someone

"I'm sorry, I wasn't looking..." my sentence trailed off when I noticed who it was.

"Sam.." he smiled

"It's been long, mate"