Chapter 4: Betrayed

-Celeste-

Something was terribly wrong. Not only had my mate declared he was going to have a second luna, who would take my place, but as I walked around the pack, they looked at me as if I were the enemy—not Zack. I couldn’t believe this. In such a short time, everything had changed, and no one would tell me why.

Whenever I tried to contact my brother, there was only silence, and when I attempted to speak to my parents, they merely told me to be patient. Patient for what? What was going on? Every night was torture because I could feel them together. I could sense Zack with her, pleasing her body, while I had been confined to a tiny bedroom, forced to be alone.

I barely dared to leave my room anymore. The pack ignored me, cut off the mind-link, my friends had turned against me, and my own family refused to tell me what was happening.

I was all alone.

I’m still here, my wolf pointed out, her voice weak from the torture we had both endured.

How could my mate do this to us? Being fated meant loving each other above everything else, but Zack had turned his back on me so quickly.

Celeste?

“What?” I whispered.

Did you hear me? my wolf asked.

I shrugged as I gazed out the window at the storm outside. I was dressed in an oversized hoodie that covered me like a dress, curled up in a big chair. I hadn’t even decorated the room. I just used what was already there.

Celeste!

“I heard you,” I replied.

Then why aren’t you talking to me? Are we going to ignore each other as well?

“I don’t know. Does it matter?”

You can’t let this break you. Go to him. Show him why we are still his mate!

“Why should I?” I whispered.

Because that is what we are. We are his mate, my wolf reminded me.

“But why should we fight for him? He’s the one who discards us like used underwear. How could he do this to us?” I inquired, tears welling in my eyes.

I couldn’t believe I had more tears to shed, but there they were—seemingly endless. I hated it.

We will find a way back from this, my wolf assured me.

“How come you don’t want to kill him? Or at least hurt him?” I asked, feeling anger rise within me. I had never felt this way before. It felt crushing yet empowering.

I do. But us wolves are slaves to the bond. I can’t hurt him, even though I want to, my wolf confessed.

“So what now?” I whispered.

We could reject him, she suggested.

“And go where?”

Home.

“I have nothing there. My family keeps me in the dark,” I snarled. “Besides, rejecting each other could destroy me. I could lose my mind. There’s a reason we’ve hesitated.”

But he has already betrayed us. Maybe this will make it easier, she tried.

“I don’t know. I’m scared,” I admitted.

So am I.

“And what if my family won’t even take me back? This pack has turned on us, thinking this is somehow my fault,” I cried.

I don’t know why they’re doing this. Maybe you’re right. Maybe they think we should have kept our alpha’s interest, or maybe Zack is lying.

“Lying?” I questioned.

Maybe he is saying we betrayed him first. If that’s the case, who would blame him for moving on?

“But she just showed up!” I yelled.

I know.

“Besides, when would I have had the time to sleep with anyone? I’m either here or with Zack!”

Maybe when we visit our family, my wolf pointed out.

“Which we do so rarely. It’s not fair,” I sighed.

No, it’s not.

I wiped away my tears, trying not to crumble. I knew I couldn’t go on like this forever. I had to find a way out.

---

It was in the middle of the night when I heard a strange sound, much like the creak of a floorboard. Slowly, I opened my eyes, still disoriented from sleep. However, I couldn’t see anything but a dark wall in front of me.

Just as I was about to turn, I saw something looming over me. I screamed, but a hand quickly clamped down over my mouth, pressing me into the bed.

Fight back! my wolf shouted.

I tried my hardest, but the person above me was much stronger. Suddenly, my attacker pulled out something glinting in the light from the hallway—it was a knife.

Celeste! Let me take over! my wolf urged.

In my panic, I struggled to connect with my wolf, but I fought to let her take charge. My body began to shift, but just then the knife came flying down toward me and struck my chest. I gasped, feeling the sharp pain as darkness began to surround me, pulling me into a peaceful oblivion.