Chapter 1

~ RORY ~

‘Did he force you?’ The nasty voice in my head whispers.

I shake my head, lips quivering as I turn away from him, tilting my chin upwards to stop the tears from falling.

He didn't force me.

But after we did it for the first time, it was all we did everytime we hung out. He didn't force me but I could feel him get mad anytime I said no. And he's always on his phone, bored, whenever we don't do it. He didn't force me but anytime we kissed, it always led to it.

He didn't force me but kept asking until I said yes. He didn't force me but that's the only way I know to keep him so he wouldn't get bored of me and leave me, he didn't force me–

“Aurora, are you listening?” He asks, his voice low as he grabs my chin and searches my eyes.

I let out a bitter chuckle, swatting his hands away. “Of course.”

“Thanks Goddess.”

“So, what happens next?” I ask, acting nonchalant, as if I couldn't hear my heart breaking into a million pieces.

“We have to bid whatever shit happened between us in the past a farewell.” He says with a shrug, glancing behind him at the desolate hallway as if he couldn't bear to be seen with me anymore.

I swallow the lump in my throat. Shit? Me giving him my virginity as trying to keep him is shit?

Lucky you, Aurora, lucky you.

“Yeah.” I whisper.

He shifts his gaze back to me, brows raised but I make sure to keep my face expressionless. Then, he visibly relaxes, a smile at the corner of his lips. “You little slut, I knew you've gotten a lot of dicks in there. You loosing one of them won't hurt.” He says with a chuckle. “But don't worry, we can still do some quickie before the mating ceremony.”

I grit my teeth, forcing on a smile. “Go get your girl, Alexander.”

“Of course.” He says, winking. “I hope you find yours soon. You just need to associate with the guests before the ceremony ends.” He takes some steps back.

“And happy birthday to you, Rory.”

“Happy birthday to you too.” I reply, watching as he rounds the corridor.

I bring my shaky hands to my face and step back until my back hits the wall. Then, I slowly slide down, my butt meeting the floor, my green gown billowing around me like a waterfall.

Alex found his mate.

And I knew it.

I didn't just lose a childhood best friend, I've lost a crush, I've lost my first love. And, I've lost my heart too. That's the thing about giving a guy like Alexander your heart. You may never get it back.

I shut the sound of the mating ceremony away from my head while I try to keep the tears from falling so I won't ruin my makeup.

Today is Alexander, the alpha's son, and I, birthdays. In our pack, a mating ceremony will be held for any pack members that's clocking eighteen.

I had two plans.

Get my wolf, and find out I'm mated to Alex.

Infact, the whole pack has already shipped us together. But… none of it happened.

I didn't get my wolf and I didn't get Alex. Everyone gets their wolf on their eighteenth birthday. There's never been a known record of someone that didn't get his that day. I didn't get mine. I will never get it.

Placing my palm on the wall for support, I stand up on wobbly feet. The second child of a Gamma, the strongest warrior in our pack, but I was broken from the start.

If only Alex knew I've never been with someone. I didn't even know how to prove to him that our first time in the locker room was my first too, after all, no blood came out.

I'm halfway towards the main party area before deciding to change course. If Layla sees me now, she will make jest of me. I don't how she does it, but she can read my emotions before I even register it. She was also the one that told me I'm obsessed over Alex before I realised it myself.

I turn to the direction of the Pack's house backyard and slip out into the cold evening breeze. Then, I start my journey home with my gaze on my feet.

No one will notice if I'm gone.

The birthday parties had started from dawn. It was the after-party so the celebrants could find their mates. Even the Alpha is not there.

I hurry down the cobbled pathway before turning and I let out a sigh of relief when home comes into view. I hurry in my steps before stopping, my breath catches in my throat as I try to lean over the fence of my home to get a view of what's happening in the backyard.

“Papa?” I call, unsure.

The tall agile wolf that belongs to father turns back to me, looming over the still figure on the floor as blood drips from his fur onto the still figure that has no visible wounds.

He motions for me to go away and I bite my lip before entering the main door, muttering a prayer under my breath that mother would be asleep and father should be fine. He's always wounded from his patrols sometimes.

But she's not. Infact, Layla is with her.

The two banes of my existence.

My palms turns sweaty and clammy as they turn to me when the door opens. Mother hisses but Layla smiles maliciously.

As if already waiting for me to come home, she asks, “I heard you didn't awaken your wolf?”

Mother shoots her a glare and shoulder bumps her. “There are more pressing issues at hand than to taunt her.” She cautions, her voice shaky.

“But I've been asking you for the past ten minutes and you didn't tell me what the fuck was going on with you and papa.” Layla grumbles.

I inhale deeply, trying to calm my jittery nerves as I walk further into the sitting room.

Mother turns to me again. “Did you see your father?”

I nod slowly, confused. “He's at the backyard.”

She bits her lip. Mother only does that when she's nervous. She stands up abruptly. “Slide into your converse girls. It's time for a run.”

I spare the new balance sneakers on my feet a glance. I've always been a fan of comfy shoes.

“I'm not going anywhere.” Layla says, standing up to stretch. “I'm so tired and dizzy from the al–”

A loud howl pieces the air and we all still. Mother starts shaking, palming her ears as tears slip down her face.

“Let's run… please… Layla… your father… they are coming for us. He… he turned a human… and… he killed the witness…”

There's another loud howl before the door shatters and the familiar fur of father's wolf bolts in. He runs towards mother's falling figure and motions for Layla to adjust her on his back. Then, he's bolting towards the door.

Perhaps, it was the adrenaline. Or the fear, or the heartache, or the sadness, but I grab my gown in my fist and run after him.