Chapter 003

TALIA

“Why did you do that?!”

My mother screamed at me, but her voice barely registered in my ears.

I couldn’t stop reliving those moments after Ethan’s rejection. The way the crowd had jeered, how the students had laughed, phones recording every humiliating second. By now, the videos were probably everywhere.

I had no memory of how I’d escaped. One moment I was drowning in a sea of humiliation; the next, I was curled up in the broom closet, crying in pain, tearing at my hair, praying the janitor wouldn’t come and make me leave.

I had stayed there until the final bell rang and I had to come back

Now I was home. But the torture wasn’t over, not even close.

“I knew it the moment I woke up this morning,” my mother spat, her face red with anger. “Something told me you’d find a way to ruin Tessa’s birthday, and you did! You’ve ruined her entire day!”

A loud crash sounded from upstairs, drowning her words. It was Tessa throwing a tantrum, and wrecking her room. Or maybe she was destroying mine.

I clenched my fists, blinking back tears, waiting for my mother to finish so I could leave.

She paced the living room, then suddenly stopped and turned to me.

“You embarrassed your own sister in front of the whole school,” she accused.

My head snapped up. Before I could stop myself, the words spilled out.

“She embarrassed me.” I cried but I immediately regretted speaking as soon as the words left my mouth.

I had learned over the years that silence was my best defense in my family. Protesting only made things worse and today was no different.

“Embarrass you?” My mother scoffed. “Tessa would never do that. You, on the other hand…”

She trailed off, her expression shifting. A familiar look of hatred entered her eyes, and suddenly, she was looking at me as if I were some new species of monster.

“I know what this is about,” she whispered. “It’s about this morning, isn’t it? You told Tessa not to be so sure Ethan would be her mate. And then, that happened?”

She took a step closer, her voice rising.

“This isn’t a coincidence. You did this on purpose, didn’t you?” Her eyes burned into mine. “ANSWER ME!” she screamed.

I flinched, shaking my head as my throat burned.

“When I was told you’d bring darkness to this home, I never imagined it would be like this. Now look at you, barely eighteen, and already trying to tear this family apart.” She spat.

She spoke half to herself, shaking her head. “I should have gotten rid of you a long time ago. Yes. My mistake was pitying you because you grew inside me. I was a fool. You’re like a disease. You’ll keep spreading your poison until you’re dead….”

My fingers dug into my palms, nails biting deep enough to leave crescent-shaped marks.

She had never said this to me before, that she regretted having me. But I had always known.

I supposed there was a first time for everything.

Upstairs, the stomping and crashing sounds abruptly stopped. Moments later, Tessa came tearing down the stairs, eyes blazing.

When she saw me, she stopped.

“You stupid bitch,” she hissed. “You stupid, jealous bitch.”

I didn’t speak, but I looked at her, letting every ounce of hatred I felt pour into my gaze.

For a split second, she flinched and the satisfaction was fleeting.

Before I could sense what was happening, I felt a hot flashing pain as my mother’s palm connected with my face. My head snapped to the side, the pain spreading across my face.

My ears rang, but not enough to block out Tessa’s curses and my mother’s sharp command.

“Go to your room!” She screamed.

I pressed a hand to the burning side of my face as I stumbled up the stairs. Maybe she actually thought I could bewitch Tessa with a look. After all, she was convinced I used my curse to make Ethan my mate.

Behind me, my mother’s voice softened, her words soothing as she comforted Tessa who, for some reason, had started crying again.

I shut my bedroom door as I entered, leaned against it, and slid to the floor as loud, wracking sobs tore out of me. My shoulders shook, my breath coming in gasps.

Why did my life have to be this pathetic?

I had dreamt of meeting my mate since I was ten years old, hoping he would love me, hoping he would save me.

My parents already hated me. And now, the one person who was supposed to be mine, the one person fated to love me, had humiliated me in front of everyone.

Everyone hated me, even the Moon Goddess.

As I cried, Cara stirred inside me, whimpering from pain too.

“Let’s go for a run,” she urged.

“No…” I whispered weakly, tears falling even more.

“I’ll die from this pain…” She whispered and I clutched my chest, suddenly realizing she was right. Cara was too weak and any little grief could kill her.

Wiping my tears, I rose to my feet.

I couldn’t shift yet, but I could run. It was the only thing that could make me feel better and Cara stronger.

Without hesitation, I threw open the window, stepped onto the sill, and jumped. I landed softly on the flowerbed below, barely making a sound.

The house was surrounded by many tall trees, and beyond them, the woods stretched endlessly. That was where I needed to be.

I took off, my feet pounding against the earth as I sprinted into the trees. I didn’t stop to think, didn’t pick a direction. I just ran.

The wind dried the lingering tears on my face, but no matter how fast I went, I couldn’t outrun my thoughts. Ethan’s face hovered in my mind, his disgusted expression, the sneer in his voice as he rejected me.

‘You are not my mate.’

His words echoed in my head, slicing deeper than I wanted to admit.

He had chosen Tessa over me. Just like everyone else had.

Would it never end? This pain, this torment? Would I ever find someone, anyone, who would love me?

“Faster,” Cara urged. “Faster.”

She could feel my pain, just as deeply as I did. And like me, she wanted it to stop.

I pushed harder, ignoring the sharp stitch in my side, ignoring the burning in my lungs, until the forest ahead became nothing but a blur of green and brown.

But I saw the tree in my path a second too late

I crashed into it, the impact knocking me off my feet and sending me falling to the ground.

Bolts of pain shot through every cell in my body, almost paralyzing me, and my head spinned.

I lay among the damp, decomposing leaves, groaning in pain as I clutched my side. Warm, wet liquid trickled down my forehead, slipping over the bridge of my nose and into my mouth.

I lifted a shaky hand, my fingers brushing against the source of the warmth. When I pulled them back, I saw through my closing eyes that it was blood.

Gritting my teeth, I tried to push myself upright but my legs were useless beneath me, heavy and numb.

Panic crept in immediately as my back hit the ground weakly. If I couldn’t even stand, how was I going to get out of here?

I had run blindly, and now I was alone, injured, in the deep, dark woods. Anything could happen here. Why did I come here in the first place?

Snap, I heard a movement and immediately, the blood in my veins turned to ice.

My head whipped toward the sound, my heart pounding so loud in my ears.

“Wh–Who’s there?” I stammered, my voice coming out as a whisper.

From behind a tree, a figure emerged. My vision was blurry but I could tell he was a man, tall and lean.

He approached me, staring down at me with deep blue eyes that seemed to hold me in place.

And then, the pull happened again.

My world tilted on its axis and a strange fluttering stirred in the pit of my stomach.

His masculine scent of leather and wood filled my nostrils, seeping into my very being. For a moment, I forgot the pain, the fear, everything, except him.

Inside me, Cara stirred and let out a low, eager growl, wishing to claim him.

Weakly, I lifted a trembling hand toward him.

“Mate,” I whispered.

And then everything went black.