Abused.

Claudia’s legs buckled beneath her the moment she tried to take a step.

She forced herself up from the icy ground, but her body betrayed her again, sending her stumbling back down and scraping her knees against the ground.

Pain stung, but it was nothing compared to the storm raging inside Claudia and her chest tightened with the thought that the world had no place for her.

The weight of rejection crushed Claudia’s spirit, and for the first time, the idea of ending it all whispered to her as if it were mercy.

Above Claudia, the moon shone brightly and the sky was littered with countless stars.

She bit her lip hard, trying to muster the strength to rise again.

“Arrrghhhhhh!” Claudia cry ripped from her throat, raw and desperate. It was the only release she had, a poor substitute for the howl of a wolf she had never been able to summon.

Nyx stirred faintly inside Claudia, silent but aching with the same helplessness.

From inside the pack house, Alpha Derrick’s voice rang out, harsh and cutting through the night.

“Take your misery somewhere else, Claudia! Must you wail like a pathetic stray?”

The words of Alpha Derrick slashed Claudia deeper than the cold ever could. Her breath caught in her chest, and though her body trembled, she forced herself to rise once more.

‘You need to gather yourself, Claudia. He may have rejected you, but that doesn’t mean you won’t get another chance, mate,’ Nyx whispered softly.

Claudia let out a harsh laugh, shaking her head. “Another chance? Don’t fool yourself, Nyx. There’s no second chance for me. Can’t you see it? I’m cursed!” Her voice cracked, and the last word dissolved into sobs.

The thought of never having a mate shattered Claudia’s heart all over again.

She pushed herself up from the cold floor, her body moving without purpose, her steps heavy and lifeless as she drifted out of the pack house grounds. She didn’t care where she was going, only that she had to get away.

Claudia’s vision blurred with tears as she barely noticed when she walked straight into a tall figure. She stumbled back, catching herself just before she fell.

“So… sorry,” she muttered, her eyes fixed on the ground.

“Sorry? Beautiful, what the hell are you apologizing for?” the man’s voice rolled over her.

His voice was smooth and calm, but not naturally so, as if he were masking something beneath it.

Claudia swallowed, her throat raw. “I… I’m sorry for bumping into you.” She whispered and her words were heavy, each syllable struggling past the storm of grief weighing her down.

Nyx stirred uneasily inside her, silent now, but watchful.

Claudia assumed the man had let her go when he didn’t reply, but as she tried to step forward, a rough hand yanked her by the soaked fabric of her shirt.

“Where do you think you’re going?” his voice cut through the night.

Claudia stayed silent, frozen in place.

“I asked you a question!” His tone sharpened, but Claudia couldn’t find her voice. Her thoughts were drowning in the same torment because now, she had no mate, no future, nothing left.

“You useless bitch! Answer me!” he snarled, and his fist slammed against Claudia’s cheek.

Her head snapped to the side, pain flaring hot as blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. The world tilted, and before Claudia could steady herself, four men had stepped out from behind the man, their eyes fixed on her with cruel intent.

“I… I said I’m sorry,” Claudia whispered through tears, the words shaking as they left her lips. She hadn’t expected the sudden blow, and her body trembled uncontrollably.

The man only laughed, a cold, bitter sound. “Don’t speak unless spoken to, wolfless scum.” He spat coldly as his words were sharp enough to cut through Claudia, stripping away what little pride she had left.

Claudia bit her lip until she tasted blood, forcing herself to nod in submission. In that moment, she felt no different from a broken, powerless wolf.

“Let’s play with her. I believe she’s still pure and would satisfy our desires,” one of the men sneered, earning an approving smirk from their leader.

“Wait… please… no!” Claudia pleaded, shaking her head frantically as tears streamed down her face. The horrible truth hit her. These men intended to violate her.

Before Claudia could finish her words, the man who had struck her earlier yanked her by the hair, dragging her toward the shadows of a nearby bush surrounded by trees.

“Arrrrhhhhhh!” Claudia screamed, the pain in her scalp shooting through her head like fire.

Claudia’s heart pounded wildly as the forest closed around her. Her pleas grew weaker, her voice breaking. “Please… don’t do this. I’m begging you.”

The man scoffed as he shoved Claudia to the ground, her back slamming against stones and dry grass. She winced in pain as his shadow loomed over her.

“I’ll make it quick, sweetheart,” he muttered in a low, mocking tone that made her stomach twist with disgust.

Claudia’s tears fell harder, her body trembling. “Please… I’m still a virgin. Don’t take this from me. Don’t end my life this way,” she whispered, her voice cracking in desperation.

Her rejection by Derrick was already unbearable, but now she feared that this would destroy her completely.

The man smirked, not kindly, but with a cruel hunger. “The fact that you’re a virgin makes me want you even more,” he sneered, his voice dripping with amusement at her pain.

He dropped to his knees and trapped Claudia between his legs before she could even find her voice to plead.

Swiftly, he tore Claudia’s shirt, shredding the fabric into useless strips.

“Perfect,” he muttered, eyes fixed on Claudia’s chest as he leaned closer.

Claudia shook her head desperately. “No… no, please. I’ll give you anything else, just not…”

Her words ended in a cry as his fist struck her cheek, blood spilling fresh from her mouth.

“Arrgh!” she gasped, but he showed no mercy, his eyes cold and mocking.

Claudia realized then that fighting back might only make things worse. Fear pressed down on her chest, choking her but all Claudia had left were her words.

“No… please, no!” Claudia screamed, her voice breaking. She clung to the word no as if it were a shield, a full sentence she had always believed could protect her but now she saw how meaningless it was in the face of his cruelty.

Her refusal didn’t matter. Her will didn’t matter.

With trembling hands, she spread her palms wide, her body rigid with helpless dread as the man yank his belt from his trousers with a cruel satisfaction.

Claudia tried to mask her fear, creating the illusion of calm even though her chest burned with terror. Pretending to be in control was the only fragile shield she had left. If she showed weakness, he would savor it and if she resisted, she feared he would beat her up once more.

The man’s grin widened as he leaned closer, his shadow swallowing her whole. Claudia begged inwardly, screaming for someone… anyone to ave her.

But deep inside, she feared no one would hear.

'Or will her prayers be heard? Or would she be raped in the end?'