1

Elena

“How many times would I tell you, Elena? Clara is my fated mate — mate from the moon goddess. Which part of the statement do you not understand?”

His words hit me like a whip. I stood there, staring at him, trying to breathe, but my chest felt tight, too tight.

Clara.

That name rang in my head, over and over again, until it felt like it was carved into my bones. Clara was my cousin. The same girl I grew up with, the same one who used to cry on my shoulder when her heart was broken.

I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat refused to go down. “You’re lying,” I whispered trembling. “You’re just saying that to hurt me.”

He sighed and dragged his fingers through his hair, looking frustrated. “Why would I lie about something like that? You think I enjoy this?”

I wanted to scream. I wanted to tell him that the moon goddess was wrong. That it was me who had been there for him all these years, not her. That it was me he once said he couldn’t live without.

But the words wouldn’t come out.

Instead, I just stood there, staring at the man who used to call me his world.

“Clara?” I muttered under my breath, still in shock “She’s my family, for God’s sake.”

His eyes softened for a moment, then turned cold again. “I didn’t choose her, Elena. The bond chose us. The sooner you accept that, the better.”

I felt something in me crack. My lips trembled, my hands shaking so badly I had to hide them behind my back.

“You promised me,” I said, my voice breaking. “You said nothing, not even fate, could take you away from me.”

He looked away. “I was wrong.”

My heart shattered right there. The air around us felt heavy, pressing against my chest until breathing became a struggle.

“I was wrong?” I repeated in disbelief, a bitter laugh slipping past my lips. “That’s all you have to say?”

He didn’t answer. His silence was louder than any words could ever be.

I took a shaky step toward him, desperate for a glimpse of the man I used to know, the man who once held me like I was his entire world. “Dominic, we planned our lives together. We.... we talked about our future, remember?” My voice cracked, tears streaming down my cheeks. “You said you’d stand by me, even if the moon goddess had other plans.”

His jaw tightened. “Enough, Elena,” he said codly “You don’t understand how this works. She’s my fated mate. I can’t go against that.”

I flinched. “Can’t or won’t?”

He looked at me then, truly looked at me, and what I saw in his eyes wasn’t love. It was pity. And that broke me even more.

“You should leave,” he said finally.

The words felt like a death sentence. “Leave?” I echoed, my lips quivering. “Leave where? This is my home.”

“It’s not anymore,” he replied, his voice flat. “You’re not welcome in this pack.”

I do not have a home, My parents died when I was eight, I have been living in Drogomor pack for the past twelve years, and have considered this place my home, If I leave here, I won't have anywhere to stay.

I managed a shaky breath. “You’re serious…”

He didn’t flinch. “You have until dawn.”

I pressed a hand against my chest, as if that would stop the pain tearing me apart. “You’re cruel, Dominic,” I whispered. “I hope she’s worth everything you’re throwing away.”

Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving me alone in the silence that followed.

***

I didn’t know how I made it back to my room.

My feet felt heavy and my chest hollow, like every part of me was breaking apart one piece at a time.

I shut the door and leaned against it, staring blankly at the walls. Everything looked the same, the bed we used to share, the shirt he left on the chair, the picture of us smiling at the lake.

Now all of it felt like lies.

I dragged myself to the bed and sat down, my hands shaking. I tried not to cry, but the tears came so hot running down my cheeks.

“Why, Damon?” I whispered into the air. “Why did you do this to me?”

The room was quiet, too quiet. My heart kept echoing his words, You’re not welcome here.

I pressed my hand to my chest, trying to calm the ache, but it only grew stronger. My throat hurt from crying and My head felt light.

I stood up and stumbled toward the bathroom sink, splashing cold water on my face. Maybe if I could just wash him off, wash the pain away.

But the moment I looked up, I didn’t see my reflection. I saw the girl he threw away. The one who gave him everything.

I bent over, and suddenly, I felt a great urge to puke, the nausea hit me all of a sudden. I rushed to the toilet and threw up until my body felt weak.

My knees hit the floor. I gripped the sink, breathing heavily.

“Elena?” a voice called softly behind me.

I turned around and saw Hailey standing by the door. Her eyes widened when she saw me on the floor.

“Oh my god,” she rushed in and crouched beside me. “Lena, are you okay? You’re shaking.”

I wiped my mouth quickly and nodded, trying to act fine, but my voice was barely a whisper. “I’m okay… I just... I’m fine.”

She frowned. “You don’t look fine.”

I sat back slowly, leaning against the wall. “He told me to leave,” I said in a broken voice. “He said Clara is his fated mate.”

Hailey froze. “Clara? Your cousin?”

I nodded weakly. “He told me the moon goddess chose her for him.”

Hailey’s mouth fell open. “But… he loves you. Everyone knows that.”

“Not anymore,” I whispered. “He said I should leave the pack before dawn.”

Hailey shook her head in disbelief. “Omg! I am so sorry Lena, I am so so sorry!"

I laughed bitterly. “No, Hailey. Don’t be sorry. He made his choice.”

My voice cracked at the end, and I hated how small it sounded.

Hailey sat beside me, wrapping her arm around my shoulders. The moment her warmth touched me, I broke again. The tears came running uglier and heavier sobs that shook my whole body.

“He told me to leave,” I whispered again, my voice trembling. “Just like that, Hailey. As if I meant nothing. As if the last four years were nothing.”

She held me tighter. “You don’t deserve this, Lena. You don’t deserve to be treated like that.”

I laughed through my tears, “Apparently, I do. The moon goddess thinks I do.”

“Stop it,” she said softly, brushing my hair from my face. “Don’t talk like that.”

But I couldn’t stop. The words kept pouring out, broken and bitter. “I threw up earlier,” I said faintly. “I thought it was the crying, but…”

Hailey looked at me sharply. “But what?”

I hesitated, staring down at my trembling hands. “It’s been almost two months since my last cycle.”

The silence that followed was deafening. Hailey’s eyes widened. “Elena… you don’t think...”

I looked up at her, my heart pounding and my throat tight. “What if I’m pregnant, Hailey?”

Her lips parted, but no words came out. She just stared at me, with shock and pity.

And that was when it truly hit me, the weight of it all. Damon had told me to leave. To disappear.

And I was carrying his child.

My tears fell silently this time, dripping onto my palms as I whispered, “What am I going to do?"

Hailey reached for my hand, squeezing it tightly. “We’ll figure it out,” she said, her voice breaking. “I promise, Lena. You’re not alone.”