I clutched my bag tightly, contemplating my next move. I didn’t have any friends nearby who would truly understand my situation. I needed a place to stay, so I boarded the next bus to my family's house. I had to explain my decision to reject Luca as my mate before the news spread through others.
When I finally arrived home, I knocked on the door, my heart racing in my chest. The door swung open, and my stepfather, Gab, appeared. Before I could utter a single word of greeting, he delivered a sharp slap across my face, leaving me reeling in shock.
My biological father had passed away when I was much younger, and that was when my mom married Gab, the most greedy and selfish person I had ever known.
"You really came back here?!" he exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief.
I pressed my hand against my burning cheeks, still stunned from the slap. "Dad..." I tried to speak, but my voice trembled.
"Keep quiet!" he shouted.
My mother stepped outside, cradling my little sister in her arms. "So what Luca said was true? Why on earth would you reject someone like him?" she demanded, her voice raised as she glanced at my belongings.
"Do you even realize the repercussions of your actions?" she pressed.
Gab looked at me with disappointment etched across his face. "You've brought shame to our family, Noella. Luca is an alpha, and you rejected him. Do you really think you can find anyone better than him? What were you thinking?”
I stared at my parents in disbelief, unable to process their reaction. So they had heard from Luca and didn’t even bother to ask me why I rejected him? Did it not matter what he’d done? My shock quickly turned into irritation. I was furious that the two people who were supposed to support me didn’t care enough to understand my decision.
"Luca doesn't deserve me," I muttered, shooting them both a glare. "I’m not interested in being his mate."
"You ungrateful brat," my mom spat, hurling a bucket at me, which I narrowly dodged just in time.
"Do you really think you deserve Luca?" she continued, her voice rising. "The goddess looked upon us with eyes of mercy and chose to bless our family by making you the mate of the alpha. But you just had to ruin it! Rejecting him will bring shame and problems to our family! Don’t you understand?"
My mom's words struck deep. She spoke as if she were on the verge of tears, but I knew her tears weren't for me—they were for the loss of status and privilege that came with being associated with the alpha.
Gab shook his head. "I won't allow this," he growled. "You will go back and beg for the alpha’s forgiveness. You and he will have your mating ceremony this coming full moon."
His eyes blazed with a fierce red glow, and I could feel the intensity of his wolf energy pulsing around us.
"I will do no such thing," I protested, my voice steady.
Gab stepped closer, a menacing growl rumbling from deep within him. "You would dare to defy me?”
I stood my ground. "This has nothing to do with you. You have no claim over me."
Before I could react, Gab's hands shot out, gripping my neck. His temper flared, and I felt his claws digging into my skin. I struggled against him, but his strength was overwhelming.
I was choking, tears streaming down my face. "You're... hurting me..." I gasped, my voice barely audible as I fought to breathe.
Gab's grip tightened, and my vision began to blur.
"Gab, stop! Do you want to kill her? Please, just stop!" my mom cried out, dropping my baby sister as she rushed to intervene.
But Gab shoved her aside. "Back off!" he yelled.
My mom stumbled backward, fear etched on her face. "You should know your place and stop acting like this," Gab snarled, releasing my neck only to grip my hair tightly.
He yanked me closer, his hot breath on my face. "If it means you crawling or licking the ground to earn Luca's forgiveness, I will make sure that happens.”
"Let me go!" I cried, struggling to break free from his grip. Gab shoved me to the ground. "You have no place here," he said coldly before turning and walking back inside.
Dust stung my eyes, and pain shot through my body. My mom rushed to my side.
"You see why you should always do the right thing," she said. "Get up. Let me take you to Luca so he can forgive you and we can put all this behind us.”
"Are you even my mother?" I shot back.
Mom's gaze met mine, but just then, a dark shadow loomed over us, forcing us to look up. It was Luca, his expression unreadable as he stared down at me.
I tried to rise with confidence, but my mom yanked me down to my knees, straining with all her strength.
"I'm so sorry, Luca," she pleaded. "Noella must have lost her mind for a moment. Please, take her back and forgive her; she’s truly sorry.”
My mom rubbed her hands together, pleading. I was appalled. What the heck! I rejected him, and I was supposed to beg like the reverse was the case.
I stood up, breaking free from my mom's grip. Despite feeling disheveled, I stared into Luca's eyes.
"It's fine," Luca said nonchalantly. "I've forgiven her, even though she caused me a lot of pain. I'll let it go because of your heartfelt plea.”
I scoffed, barely able to believe it. Luca must really think little of me and my so-called family.
"You make me sick," I spat, not expecting the sharp scratch on my back. I hadn’t realized Gab was standing right behind me.
I yelled in pain as his claw ripped through my clothes and skin. "You crazy wench," he snarled.
"You're too good for her, Alpha," Gab continued. "She doesn’t deserve someone as powerful and generous as you. You're the most desirable, and she's just a foolish girl who doesn’t know what’s good for her.”
"I'm so sorry, Alpha. Please forgive her and my family," Gab said, bowing slightly.
"It's fine. I should go now," Luca replied, raising his hand.
"Thank you so much. Come on, go with him," my mom urged, pushing me toward Luca.
"Let's go," he said, taking hold of my arm. I felt my skin crawl beneath his touch. I was in pain, but for the moment, being with Luca felt like my safest option. I didn’t want Gab to end my life out of anger.
I followed Luca to his car. "I'm the only one who can make you feel safe and happy forever," he said as he started the engine. "But you seem to prefer learning the hard way."
"How audacious of you," he continued. "You are my mate, and there's no escaping that."
I could barely muster a response to his words; I felt too weak. My wounds were healing slowly, but it was very painful.
"There's a pack gathering tomorrow, and as the alpha, I have to bring my mate, so heal up fast," he said, cutting off any chance I had to respond. "I don't want too many questions."
As if my opinion ever mattered. I rested my head against the seat, feeling utterly helpless. This would be my first time attending such an event with Luca, and I couldn't help but wonder what had prompted him to take me along.
