Chapter 5: Vanished

The air in the room suddenly grew cold, as if someone had just poured me an ice bucket of water.

There were murmurs of agreement amongst the elders, while Mathew and I was yet to utter a single thing.

“My elders, If I may,” Valerie suddenly spoke, pulling everyone's attention in the room. “Don't you think a month is a little too long of a time? I mean, she's been with the Alpha for a year now, and still nothing.”

“I don't see how any of that is of your concern.” Mathew spat out, as you could almost hear the resentment in his tone.

“It is her concern.” One of the elders said. “As it stands now, she's the only one here who's carrying your legacy and the continuation of your bloodline. If anything, I believe she has your best interest at heart.”

“Thank you so much for saying that.” Vale said, feigning innocence and vulnerability before everyone. “I just believe having her around would distract him from attending to his fatherly duties.”

“I don't see how Lauren remaining my wife would stop me from caring for the child.” Matthew said. “If anything, she's the only reason you're even allowed to walk freely in this estate.”

“Oh please, don't treat me like a Charity case.” Valerie spat out defensively. “Whether she allowed it or not, nothing was going to stop me from staying here. So please, stop all this fake standard you're placing her in.”

“Valerie…”

“Enough!” The head of the elders immediately silenced them both. “The decision has already been made.”

Then he turned his attention to me.

“What do you say to this, Lauren?”

Slowly, I looked up at him, not realizing when my eyes had already turned glassy with tears. Was there really anything else to say that would matter?

Without bothering to give an answer, I wiped away the tears before they got the chance to fall before turning away from everyone. I had endured enough in the past days and at this point, I was going to explode if I didn't take a step back.

I rushed out of the room and headed towards the main door. I needed to get away. Even if it was for a minute.

“Lauren!” Mathew immediately stood up and chased after me.

I rushed towards the gate, looking to get far away as possible regardless of everything.

“Lauren, please wait!” He shouted from behind, but I didn't stop.

I loved both of them so much, and that was why the situation hurt worst that anyone else could imagine. It's like my flesh was being torn off.

Suddenly, Mathew sped towards me with his wolf ability, completely blocking my path.

“Could you not hear me?”

“Please, let me through.” I didn't look at him.

“Where exactly are you running to? Do you think leaving me to handle all this by myself is the best thing right now?”

His words finally caused my eyes to land on him. Anger washed on my face at his words.

“Excuse me? Are you really going to say that to me?” My voice was accompanied with rage. “It'll be unfair of me to leave the whole burden for you? but did you realize the burden you were placing on me when you chose to sleep with Valerie?”

“Don't sound like that for goodness sake. Are you still going to punish me more than this? Going to keep up with the silent treatment and pretending to sleep even though I can still hear your heavy breaths. Didn't you hear what the elders just said?”

I could feel my hands clenching in a tight fist, while I took heavy breaths.

“I don't care.”

The air around us turned cold again. Almost like we were two strangers talking.

“What do you mean by…”

“I said I don't care, Mathew.” I shouted. “They can shove their deadline up their throat. I don't care. They already see me as a curse right? A bad omen. A wolf less and barren leader. That's all I am to them. And honestly, I'm tired if trying to be more.”

I could feel my heart shattering as each word left my lips. I had hoped to run away before any of this got out off my chest. But here we are.

“Lauren,”

I didn't answer.

“Lauren, look at me.”

I turned to move away, but he held my wrist tight.

“I said look at me.”

“A child is something given by the goddess as a gift. Not to wage war.” I told him, letting my hands fall to my side. “I'm not going to force myself to take in just to convince people who already despises me that I deserved a place besides you. Now, let go.”

As if I had pierced a knife right at his heart, Mathew's grip grew tight at first, almost as if he had anger surging throughv him, before his grip finally loosened around my wrist. I took the chance to pull my hands and walked out of the Estate without even looking back.

~~~~

By the time I had returned back to the estate, the sky had already darkened. I stood in front of the gates, my chest tight and thought conflicted on whether or not I should go inside.

Deep down, I knew it wouldn't be the smartest decision to leave my matrimonial home for someone else. But deep down, it felt like I was fighting for something that was already slipping away from my grasp.

Deciding to finally go in, the sky turned darker than normal, which was accompanied with a loud thunderstorm. Something suddenly felt off.

The air had…changed.

I moved to take a step in, only to find myself stopping again. I turned around immediately, almost as if I had felt something lurking in the air around. But everywhere and everything around me was pitch black, making it difficult to make out the objects around. Due to me still not being able to completely wolf out, some of my senses where still limited; compared to others.

The more unease I felt, I decided not to waste anymore time outside. As I moved toward what the gate, I immediately felt something shot at me, right at my neck. I gasped, reaching to pull out whatever it was, before a small arrow came into sight.

Before I could run or scream, everywhere immediately because blurry and my head began to spin terribly, until there was nothing else but pitch black.