Chapter Five

She opened her eyes to the worried eyes of her mother and sister.

Not just them, kneeling a bit too close to her, was Draven. Her ex husband. Her ex mate. The man who hurt her, who killed her babies and cheated on her.

But as he leaned closer, she could see softness in his eyes. The softness he used to have for her in the past.

“Why did you do it? I told you not to do it.” His hands cupped her chin.

“You should have listened to me.”

She moved back a bit. She wanted to spit at him. To tell him she was sick of listening to him. To tell him he was a monster, and she hated that she loved him. That now, as he stared at her with his olive green eyes, she could only wish they could fix it and be together. She wished he wasn’t so terrible.

“Cat,” Blair squeezed her hands. There was nothing but pain but in her eyes.

“What are they going to do to you?” she cried.

“I’ll be fine, Blair.” She said.

“That’s enough!” Veronica waked down the stage to where they were. Flared nostrils and all.

“We were merciful. We gave you a second chance! And you do this? You would regret it, CAT BAMFORD.” She said the name with pure mockery.

“Dear members of the Vancouley pack! We all just witnessed this disgraceful scene together.”

“Banish her!” “Lock her up” “Punish her” “How dare she!”

Everyone had something to say.

“Quiet now, she has already lost a lot.” Veronica came closer and leaned in.

“No mate,” she smiled. “No wolf. Huh, sweetie.”

Cat fired her the dirtiest glare she could offer.

“The moon has already cursed her. She would live the rest of her pathetic life struggling, till she dies as the nobody she is. Not even her family can save her faith.”

Cheers filled the hall. Everyone seemed satisfied with her fate.

“Now, for the final punishment that we are obligated to give her. Alpha Draven, Banish her.”

Draven stood to his face and faced his mother. And in a low tone, he said.

“Mother, is that necessary?”

“It’s the law of our pack. We cannot defile it, no matter how we love her. She brought this on herself.” Veronica yelled.

Cat’s eyes met Draven’s, and she could see the sadness and indecision in them.

Where was this compassion and care when they were married? Where was it when he was screwing Alice?

“Banish this traitor now.” Some one from the crowd yelled.

Draven looked at Veronica again.

“Mother can’t we do it when she is better?” he asked.

“Draven, we have shown enough mercy.” Veronica gritted. “Now get this over with, stop wasting my time.” Her words were in a whisper. Loud enough for only Draven and Cat to hear.

Draven took a deep breath, then spoke.

“With the power vested in me as the oldest son of the Vancouley bloodline, the Alpha and protector of Vancouley pack. I hereby banish you, Cat Bamford. From today, you are nameless and packless. You have an hour to leave Vancouley hills.”

The moment he was done, he didn’t wait to look at anyone. Not even Cat. He stormed out of the room.

Veronica stepped closer and leaned in.

“You should have apologized and stayed the Alpha’s wife. Now you have to pay dearly for your sins.” Her words were bitter but Cat knew the only thing good about this whole thing is that breaking her mate bond with Draven would affect them too. She was from a blood line of warriors. Her bond with Draven made him stronger than usual. Now, he has lost that too.

Blair fell on Cat’s shoulder and sobbed loudly.

“Come on now. We have only an hour.” Her mother came closer and pulled her up. ‘We need to hurry!”

Leaving the hall was a struggle. Cat could barely walk.

Their father had already left with the car, so they had to book a ride home. It was quiet and depressing.

By the time they got home, they had 40 minutes left

Anna rushed into the house and started throwing whatever she felt was necessary. Few clothes, tissues, snacks, water, anything.

Cat stared at her mother, she was still dizzy, and weak. She wondered where she was supposed to go and how she was supposed to survive as a rogue with no wolf.

“Bair, book her a ride. She needs to be at the border before the hour runs out!” Her mother was panicking.

She checked her phone and she had less than 20 minutes to leave, or else, the whole town would rip her in to pieces.

The ride came and Blair gave her a tight hug.

“good bye Cat. Please stay in touch.”

Her mother handed her the bag. “There isn’t much, but there’s a little money and other stuff. Please cat, be strong. You need to survive. You have to.”

Finally, she let herself shed a tear. She really was going to miss them.

She hopped into the car.

“Please drive as fast as you can to the border!” she begged.

The man started on full speed, and soon, she was half way across Vancouley hills.

“We are here.” He said, stopping the car in a dark dead end alley.

Cat furrowed her brows.

“This isn’t the border,” she said.

“What do you mean, lady? It is. Now get off. I have better places to be.”

Cat looked around the place. There was nothing but tall dark trees and loud winds.

She has been outside Vancouley hills a few times as Luna. And she remembered clearly it was not an isolated, dark forest. There were small towns and security check point in between.

“This is the wrong place sir.” She said. “The border has a check point, and a little town…”

“Ohhh, there must have been a misunderstanding. That border is across the other side of town. Its at least a 2 hour drive from here. We can go if you want. But you’ll pay extra.”

Fuck. She checked her phone and she had only 5 minutes to be out of this territory.

Once the time ticks, the pack members would have the right to capture her and kill her. Knowing Veronica, she probably already had people to do that on stand by.

“Never mind.” She said, then stepped out of the car.

The feeling that covered her when she stepped on the other side of the border wasn’t quiet lonliness, no, she felt eyes watching her. Whatever was in there, she was determined to survive it.

She turned and glanced at Vancouley hills one last time.

“I will be back. For my wolf, for my loved ones, and for revenge. You would pay for every child of mine you killed and every pain you caused me.”