Abandoned

Scarlett

I hiss, whimper, and wince as I get on my feet, every movement worsening the maddening pain in my back. After achieving that, I double over on my knees, gasping shakily in pain and exhaustion.

The guards had thrown me out of the gate along with my belongings. I can't believe it. I've been banished from the pack I mated into just yesterday.

A married she-wolf renounces her birth pack to live in her husband's pack. I'm packless now. Hopefully, my pack will take me back.

I perk up and grab my trolley as I walk down to the bustling street where I take a bus, bound for my birth pack. 

As I walk through the hallway of Silver Fang pack house, rolling my trolley behind me, the pack members fling unpleasant stares at me, whispers erupting from every corner.

They've heard the news.

My pulse throbs violently as I edge toward the door to my father’s study. The news could've gotten to them first. How will they react when they see me?

My stepmom Alexandra sizes me up the second I step into the study, no atom of pity in her eyes.

“Hello, Mom.”

Dad, Alpha Benjamin, doesn't bother looking at me, which is unexpected. My dad would've hugged me and comforted me. Even though he'll punish me later.

“Hello… Dad,” I say weakly.

He doesn't reply, prioritizing some paperwork.

“You left for Alpha Zachary’s pack just yesterday.” She's demanding an explanation.

“Er…” I hesitate, anxiously clasping my clammy hands, confused about what to say.

Mom lifts from her seat, invading my space. 

“Not only are you wolfless, but you're also shameless. You dare come home after what you did? You should've jumped off a bridge with that shame you're carrying inside you instead.”

She doesn’t even care that I'm bleeding; hurting all over.

Tears punch me in the gut, emotions clogging my throat. The only people who I thought would understand me are hurting me too. I feel like I walked into the wrong house.

I drop to my knees. “Please, just… hear me out,” I plead in tears. But when she gives me her attention, I become speechless, not knowing how to explain the cheating part. 

“You failed us as a wolf, and yet we kept you. Now you've failed us as a daughter. Keeping you here now that everyone knows what you are…”

She pauses.

“Disappear, Scarlett. We don't need you here anymore. Not to mention two of your kind.”

I clasp my hands together before me, sobbing, “I'll live as if I were dead. Please take me back. Where will my baby and I go? Dad, say something. Please.”

I glance behind her at Dad who's completely ignoring my tears, as if I'm invisible.

Did he let the scandal get to him, of all people? He believes his daughter could cheat? Or is he finally going to abandon me for being wolfless?

“Dad,” I say desperately.

He still ignores me. I feel like my heart is going to explode from the weight of the disappointment, sobs racking my body.

Mom tuts. “Do you even know… that your name was removed from the family register when you were five?”

My eyes widen, unblinking, emotions submerging me so deeply that I can't breathe. “What?” I mutter in disbelief.

That's the year I lost my mom and blood siblings. Alexandra was Mom's friend.

“You’ve been showing signs of wolflessness since you were born. We had to disown you, to save our dignity.”

I glance at my father. “Dad. Is… is this true? Dad, talk to me,” I yell in pain and anger, unable to believe that my only flesh and blood will do that to me.

It can't be that the love he showed me was fake.

I knew that I was being treated differently. My half-siblings went to a private school while I went to a public school. When I turned eighteen and didn't wolf out, they refused to send me to college, grooming me to marry Zachary instead.

I always had the breadcrumbs while my half-siblings enjoyed the loaf.

But I trusted my father, blinded by his love that I now doubt was ever there, and just ignored.

The door flies open. I look over my shoulder to see two guards bursting in. 

“Throw the outcasts out.” She means my baby and me.

“No. No, please. Please,” I say in panic, hyperventilating. 

The guards grab my arms, dragging me out of the study.

“Dad, please do something. You said you love me like you love my mother, your mate. You promised I'd be your daughter no matter what happens. Dad!”

He turns and motions for the guards to stop. As he steps closer with an expression of sympathy, hope washes over me. 

He cradles my face in both hands. “Survive… if you can. And while you're out there, if anybody asks you your name, do not mention Benjamin.”

The guards drag me further past the doorway. I don't say a word or react, completely devastated and stunned by my father's disabling words.

Even as they hurl me and my bags out the gate and we crash against the floor, I don't feel any pain or make a sound—still numb by my father's disappointment.

When reality hits me and I realize that I'm alone, abandoned by everyone I loved, having no place to go, no one to turn to, I sit up, curl up, and cry bitterly. 

Pack members walk past, cars drive past, but no one cares to reach out.

I lay a hand on my stomach, sobbing. She's the only thing I didn't lose, despite everything we went through today. She's so unfortunate, conceived by a wolfless mother.

We'll survive every other day. Together. And I'll give her something I never had. True love.

My phone buzzes with messages and I reach for it in my purse. They are texts from Dad.

— ‘I’m so sorry for what I said to you, my dear.’

—‘If you haven't gone already, please come to the rooftop of the council building, I'm waiting for you there.’

I wipe my tears, sniffling as delight and hope wash over me. I knew Dad couldn't abandon me. He loves me.

Quickly, I burst through the gate back to the pack resident, taking the elevator, bound for the rooftop of the five-storey building. 

“Rosalia?” I say as I get to the rooftop.

    She turns, smirking at me. That's Dad’s phone in her hand!