Chapter 4

Filled with fury, I didn't wait to see his reaction as I ran away from the room. I didn't stop when the men outside raised their guns at me, or when Alpha Moretti held up a hand to stop them.

I ran until I had created as much gap between myself and that building that would forever hold bitter memories for me.

I found myself in the woods bordering a neighbouring pack where I fell to the grass and cried. I noticed the sky had a full moon but couldn't bring myself to appreciate its beauty.

At that moment, I cried for the loss of my parents, for the loss of my pack, for the connection with my wolf.

I cried in anger, with hate for Alpha Moretti but a part of me cried for the rejection, for the life I could have had as a Luna. Internally, I screamed, I yelled at the world and at the moon goddess. Externally however, silent sobs shook my body.

“This is what my life is,” I muttered bitterly to myself when I had managed to stop crying. As I sat there, preparing myself to return home, I began to feel a searing hot pain travelling from my head downwards to the rest of my body.

My mind reeled with panic. Was this an after effect of the rejection? Was this what every wolf who got rejected felt? Was the alpha feeling the same pain as I was? Before I could ask myself more questions, a piercing pain shot through my back.

I let out a loud scream and then darkness covered my vision.

——

The cold would have eventually woken me up if it hadn't started raining. It was still dark when I opened my eyes so I knew it wasn't dawn yet.

What was surprising wasn't even that I was laying on the ground and it was raining. I was more surprised at the fact that it was even raining at all. It only rains when it's the rainy season, never outside that. Never.

I realised I was shivering and looked down to see if my clothes were drenched. I looked back up and down again in horror. My clothes were gone! I was butt naked on the grass.

Gasping, I held a hand to my mouth. What if I was taken advantage of while I was out of it?

I peeked between my thighs to see nothing. Surely, if any one had touched me, I wouldn't need to question it. The pain would be enough evidence to show.

I didn't have any more time to think as I found my black hoodie sprawled some steps away from where I lay and I quickly put it on, shivering even more after the rain had poured down my skin.

Thankfully, it was large enough to fall down my small frame up until my mid thigh.

Staying in the shadows, I made my way back to familiar roads and walked until I slipped into the house through the back door.

Just as I made my way to my room, I caught sight of Grannie Alba where she lay curled up on the couch. The lines on her face appeared deeper than they were the last time I saw her. Sadness filled me as I realized she probably went mad with worry when I didn't return home last night.

I glanced at the clock on the wall. 3:27. I shuffled into my room so I could shower and change into clothes that were not dripping wet.

While I did that, I wondered what I would say when Grannie Alba asked about my whereabouts the day before. Should I tell her the truth? That I met my mate and he rejected me?

***Alessandro's POV***

After she disappeared, I called off the meeting we were to have that night. There was no way I could think with a straight head after what happened and I couldn't let my men see me that way.

When I thought I was alone, I dropped my head in my hands that lay on the table in front of me.

How was this possible? That girl looked no day over eighteen. There must have been some form of mistake, I said to myself.

“The moon goddess doesn't make mistakes,” my wolf, Raka, hissed at me.

Raka was upset, and rightly so. We had just met and rejected our mate all within the span of five minutes. He must be even more devastated because he couldn't feel her wolf.

“You know it's not possible, Raka. Plus, the prophecy was cle-”

“To hell with that ridiculous prophecy. You need to go out and get our mate back. We're too old for this”

“Exactly! We're too old for this. Plus, she's too weak Raka. She wouldn't survive Moretti Brun,” I said plainly.

That shut him up.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Alessia asked, coming into view.

I was so engrossed in my thought that I didn't even hear her walk towards me. Normally, I would have heard her steps before she got to the door. Curse this.

“It's just….that girl was…”

“Your mate,” she finished for me. “And you rejected her.”

Alessia Romano was one of the few members of my clan; Umbra Nera, that were also members of my pack; Moretti Brun Pack. Over the years, she has proven her loyalty to me and that earned her the position as a Capo and a friend.

I gave a stiff nod in response.

“Whatever your reasons were, I'm sure they were valid. I wouldn't question them,” she said.

“The meeting we postponed tonight, what will be the new meeting date? So I can communicate it to the rest of the members?” She asked, switching my attention with ease. I was grateful for it.

“Considering the issues we have to discuss are pressing matters, have it rescheduled for tomorrow. However, it should be a different location.”

“I don't know who that girl could be talking to,” I said stiffly.

Alessia gave me a look when I called her “that girl” but she quickly nodded and left.

I told myself that I did the right thing by rejecting Elara. The prophecy was clear and she was not in any way a part of it.

I'm only protecting my pack.