Chapter 2

"I am so sorry," the man apologised but Valerie ignored him.

"Sorry for yourself!" She mumbled, as she tried to walk past him. Someone pushed her, and she almost fell. The man was quick to grab her by the waist and pull her up. Valerie got angry about it and pushed him away.

"Are you trying to take advantage of me?" She yelled.

"I was only trying to help," the man answered.

"Help? These don't seem like help to me. You have it all planned out. Well, sorry to burst your bubble. You can't get me!"

The man was surprised. Why would she think that?

"I did not mean to step on you," he defended. "And I apologised. I also did not mean to hold you. I was only trying to help. Why are you being so rude?"

Valerie ignored him and walked out. He wasn't the first to try to get her attention using this method, but when they find out that she is cursed, they run away without looking back.

"Val," Elora called. They were seated on a bench and staring at the dark beautiful sky. "I think you took it too far this time. The man meant no harm."

Valerie shook her head. "Elora, we both know what the past ones have been like. He is just one of them."

Elora sighed. There isn't anything she will say that would convince Valerie.

But she understands.

She understands why Valerie is like this. It wasn't her fault. Maybe if they had all treated her well even after finding out that she is a cursed omega with no wolf or mate, things would have been different.

Elora can still remember when Valerie first returned to the Moonlight Pack; she was ten.

Her mother's only sister had just died, and there was no one to take care of her, so she was brought back from the Starlight Pack.

Elora remembered she was a very quiet and timid girl and she had loved her the first time she saw her.

She became the only one she spoke to but as time went on, she became more and more open to others. Everything changed at eighteen, when she was yet to have her wolf, and the rumor that she might be the cause of her mother and aunt's death suddenly began.

Friends began to leave her and everyone avoided her. Mothers warned their children to stay away from her. People talk about her when they see her.

Valerie went back to being the timid, quiet girl she was when she first came.

Elora's father did warn her at first to stay away from her, but when she did not listen and insisted that Valerie wasn't cursed, her father left her.

It took a while before Elora was able to get her friend to speak to her again, and though she became lively again, there were times she fell back into her quiet mode, and she had to wait until she was ready to speak again.

Elora stared at Valerie. Two years ago, when they stumbled upon this club and had been coming over to have fun, Valerie stopped drifting into her quiet mood and has been very lively.

She had also tried to give love a chance and had hoped to meet her mate one day, but now, at twenty-four, she had stopped believing in that.

Maybe that was because men had treated her badly in the past few years and many had judged her based on the rumor.

Elora held her hand and made her rest her head on her shoulder.

"Valerie," she called softly. "I know that one day, you will meet someone who will love you no matter what others think about you."

Valerie nodded but said nothing. She had long stopped believing in that and had already accepted her fate of not having a wolf or a mate.

"How about we go in and have more fun?" She asked and Elora agreed.

They returned, took a few more drinks before going to dance some more. By the time they were done dancing, it was past three and time to go home.

They waved at the bartender and then left the club. While waiting for the taxi man to be back, a few men offered to drop them off but they refused.

"Do you need a ride?" Someone asked.

It was the same man whom Valerie had had an argument with a while ago.

"Did we ask for your help?" She asked him.

"I am so sorry. I just want to help," he said but Valerie ignored him.

"Thank you," Elora answered. "I don't think she wants your help."

The man nodded. "I guess she doesn't. See you ladies around."

After he drove off, Elora stared at Valerie, eyeing her suspiciously.

"Why do I have a feeling that you like him?"

Valerie scoffed. Like who?

"I do not like him."

"Valerie, you like him. You are just scared."

Valerie groaned. Where did she get this love-struck brain friend from?

"I am not scared, Elora. And I don't like him either. I just don't like that he kept bothering me."

Elora nodded. "Fine. I believe you. Our driver is here."

They entered the car and returned to the Moonlight Pack. It was dawn already and a few Pack members were awake; they had to go through the back gate to avoid being caught.

They got to Valerie's room first. Valerie hugged Elora for the last time before Elora left. Valerie climbed over the window and was back in her room. She headed to the bathroom, took a quick bath, and then changed into her pyjamas.

She jumped on her bed, covered herself with a blanket and in a few minutes she was sleeping peacefully.

Valerie did not sleep for long; the knock on her door woke her up.

"Valerie, wake up. I have news for you," Elora said, knocking on the door.

Valerie stood up from the bed, yawning slightly. She wasn't satisfied with her sleep yet and if it wasn't Elora, she would have ignored the knock completely.

She opened the door and Elora rushed in. She looked so worried and Valerie could tell she had cried.

What had happened in the last few hours they had been away from each other?

Her sleepy eyes became clear as she led Elora to the bed.

"Is anything wrong, Elora? Talk to me."

Elora took a deep breath. "You know the missing daughter of the Ice Pack?" Valerie nodded and Elora took a deep breath again. "I-I am that daughter."

Valerie stared at her and burst into laughter. "Elora, your jokes are funny."

Elora shook her head. "I am not joking, Val. My dad told me when I got back. I will be leaving in two days."

Valerie blinked. Elora is not joking? And she is leaving in two days?

"Y-you mean you are not joking?"

Elora nodded, and Valerie stood up. She moved to the wall and placed her head on it. The thought of Elora leaving made her cry, but she didn't want Elora to see that. Elora moved closer to her and hugged her, while they both wept.