Saira~1

It felt like weeks, months, years had passed since I entered this pack. By some cruel twist of fate, I finally met the soulmate I had been waiting for, only to discover he loved another, and refused to accept me.

So here I was, far from the familiar comfort of my home and pack, trapped in a glided room with Omegas, while the Lycans of the Pacific Sea decided my fate.

The arrogant pricks didn't starve me or torture me. They kept me well fed with clothes and accessories fit for a Luna. But the anxiety of not knowing what was happening in that hall was wearing down my patience. 

My fingers were trembling in the telltale sign of an impending shift. But I couldn't risk a shift. Not when I hadn't fully grasped my wolf. So, I forced myself to stay calm, to keep my breathing even by taking deep gasps of air and releasing them on a long exhale.

Patience. This was a virtue I never learned to cultivate. I never needed to, when everything I desired was placed at my fingertip before I even voiced it.

But now, with every passing heartbeat in this cell, I found out how crucial patience was in the grander scheme of things. Someone like me could easily invite their own doom with a single snap.

A groan sounded from the door. I raised my head to see an Omega stride in with a tray of food. She turned and closed the door, locking it behind her, before approaching me with a fake smile. "Miss Malivik, you need to eat something. Otherwise, Commander Einas will blame us if you get sick.” 

Einas.

My heart immediately clenched at the sound of his name.

This was supposed to be my mate. The man I had been waiting for 4 years since my 18th birthday. I thought everything would fall into place, my troubles and fear would fade away the moment he entered my life. But contrary to my expectations, his appearance only plunged my world into greater darkness.

At least when he was absent, I had hope, a strong confidence that chased away my demons with the light of faith. Believe that, whether anyone else accepted me or not, he would definitely accept me for who I am.

Because I was his other half, just as he was mine.

However, now that hope was crumbling and dwindling away with every passing second.

“Miss Malivik." The Omega loudly slammed the tray on the floor beside me, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Please, don't make this hard on us.” She snapped, a hint of irritation in her voice.

I sighed, and resignedly dragged the tray towards me. If I was the old Saira, I would've probably ripped a flesh or two off her skin for speaking to me in that tone.

However, I wasn't the old Saira. I wasn't in the Evergreen Pack where I could do as I pleased. I needed to thread carefully, and stir clear of conflicts that could undermine my credibility. In this den of Lycans, where even my mate wanted nothing to do with me, I could only count on myself to achieve my goal.

To become Einas Raed's Luna, I had to show the Lycans I had the ability to lead their pack.

As I lowered my head to eat, my ember locks shrouded my face. My left eye twitched, an ominous sign. But before my mind could register the problem, my body grew heavy, casting me into a void of darkness.

…

A stabbing pain throbbed from my palm. It tingled up my arm, through my veins, and into my heart. It should've been electrifying, but the spark of the bond felt forced against my heart, a billion minuscule razors and blades severing my soul and repatching it, in an attempt to mend the gaping wound.

My body swayed sideways, before tipping forward.

A groan slipped my lips. The heady scent of lemongrass and mint buffeted my senses. A pair of warm arms snaked around my waist, steading me against a strong chest.

“Lycan Leader, the Bonding Ceremony is complete. Lady Malivik and Lycan Heir Idris are now husband and wife. They can mate whenever they're ready to complete their Mate Bond.”

Bonding Ceremony…Lady Malivik and Lycan Heir Idris…husband…and wife!?

My blood went cold, my mind buzzing as those words rang in my ears as if on a loop. Anger, resentment, and betrayal gripped my heart with stabbing, thorny hands. I shook my head in denial, not willing to accept the honorable Lycan Clan, the leader of the werewolf race, could stoop to such a level of deception. 

Not willing to believe my own mate would consent to such a deceit, and betray me in the worst way a mate could betray his soulmate.

I could handle his rejection. I can face his disgust.

But how will I recover from his deed of offering me to another? He didn't want me. Not as a mate or a mistress. So he handed me to another, without even asking for my consent.

My heart, my body, my entire being, felt as if it was thrown into the seventh level of hell. Anguish burned like concentrated acid, searing into the most guarded part of my consciousness, breaching the lifelong barrier I kept suppressed in the far corner of my mind. 

"Quick, bury her!"

"She's still alive!"

"Truly a vile creature of sin!"

White spots of agony crowded my vision. With a lurch, I puked a mouthful of blood, and sunk into a web of nightmare.

...

"Shhh...don't wake up the pack."

"Don't worry, everyone's asleep. Move your hands, dig deeper. The hole should be deep enough to suffocate her to death!" 

"This should be good enough. Quickly bury her!"

“Yes…!"

"No one must know of this matter. This secret will remain in our family and disappear with our deaths, understand?'

"Yes, father!" 

"Uwaaa! Uwaaa! Uwaaa!"

"She...she's wailing!"

"Ignore her. Let's go home!"

…

"Shut the door and draw the curtains! Lock all the windows!"

"Yes, mother!" 

…

"Uwaaaa!"

"An infant buried alive or a corpse wailing? What horror is this?"

…

"Bang! Bang!”

"Luna Malala, open the door. Your new-born is still alive."

"My new-born?"

"Isn't this your pup? I found your family heirloom in her blanket."

"Ah…yes, yes! Thank you, Elder, for returning her to us. You don't know how devastated we were to discover she wasn't breathing."

"Truly, how can we ever repay you? My poor baby...I thought she was…!"

"No need for repayment. Just thank the Moon Goddess."

"Ah…yes...Um, Pack Elder, when...did you find her?"

"Ten minutes ago, I must've found her just as you left."

"Ha...Haha...right, right, we...we left only eleven minutes ago...The Moon Goddess...she must've sent you."

"Hm. Now, if you'll excuse me..."

"Yes, yes...have a good night, Elder. Thank you again."

"What an abomination!"

Bang!

"Don't throw her!"

"What are you anxious for? This wicked thing didn't suffocate to death even after being buried for six hours. Would she die from a mere smash on the floor?"

"That's true, but she's bleeding so much. Maybe her neck cracked and her bones shattered? Hehe, she might truly be dead this ti…shit, she's still alive!"

"Truly a vile creature of sin!"

...

I snapped to my senses, and let out a breath in a whoosh, my mind reeling from the vivid dream. 

“You're awake? How are you feeling?" A deep, male voice sounded from my right. It's been an entire week since our Bonding Ceremony, and I still had a difficult time coming to terms with the events that transpired that day.

Scoffing disgustedly, I ignored him, and turned my gaze to the window. It was that time of the year when leaves crunched beneath your feet, and a gust of wind chilled your nose. The sweet scent of pines drifted into the room as the curtains fluttered on a draft of a gentle breeze. 

The Lycans of the Pacific Sea lived on an island in the center of the Pacific Ocean. The land wasn't vast, and could be considered minuscule when compared to the mountainous terrains ordinary werewolves ruled on dry land.

However, the crystal green waves shimmering in the distant ocean, and the lush green-blue vegetation surrounding the cluster of crystal-like palatial structures wouldn't be found anywhere on land.

Seahorses, schools of colorful fishes, and numerous neon colored sea creatures intermittently leaped out of the water, as if curious about the two legged beasts living on the island.

Everything was beautiful in a colorful way, might've been serene too, if it wasn't for the raucous, the proud Lycans were kicking in the distance.

Hateful bastards.

That's what they were. 

After deceptively getting me married to their Lycan Heir, they were now organizing the marking ceremony of their Lycan Commander, and his Chosen Luna.

“Saira, I know you don't like me…”

“Like?”

“Okay, you hate me. But why are you torturing yourself? Because if you haven't noticed, nobody here cares whether you live or die. Not even your so-called soulmate.”

My heart clenched. Painfully.

The truth often hurt like a bitch. And when this truth had once been the defining factor of your life, it hurts like a bitch ten times over.

I stifled the stab of pain. Turning my head to face the man I now hated with all my heart and soul, I asked with a mocking sneer. "And you care?”

His body visibly stiffened. I wondered if he was contemplating telling a lie or cracking one more of his sarcastic jokes.

“Others might be blind, but I'm not a fool, to not care for a beautiful woman when I see one.”

Yep. A sarcastic joke.

“Well, good for you. Because now, the beautiful woman is your wife." I spat, just as the door opened.

A skinny Omega with chocolate skin and brown eyes hurried in, her head lowered, limbs trembling as she knelt before the Lycan Heir and said, “Lycan Heir Idris, Lady Malivik, Lady Mirza and Commander Einas invited you to join them for dinner.”

My fists clenched, a spark of hope reigniting in my heart.

Our bond was compromised, imperfect in many ways. But until I accepted his rejection, there was still a chance for us to be together.

At least, that's what I chose to believe.