001

“I can't believe it. So it was true. You were checking me out all this time and I thought my friends were bluffing” The soft feminine voice wafted through the air followed by another voice, one of a man, dripping with excitement.

“Trust me, I can't thank Goddess enough to make you for me. I'm blessed to have you as my mate”

The words that sound so sweet, and wishful even plunge through my chest sharply. Those words were not for me.

I wouldn't have believed it had I not seen and heard it myself.

Anthony. My boyfriend. A friend. The guy who once claimed to be so in love with me is gushing to some other girl like he is head over heels for her already.

“I thought you had someone” The brunette girl clad in a velvet gown, snakes her arm around Anthony.

“Hey, I'm yours. Don't ruin such a beautiful night by mentioning such things” He says, wrapping his arms around her waist before spinning her around in the air. Lovingly.

His words. Each laugh and giggle breaks my heart a little more.

A part of me urges me to barge in the room and confront him yet my heart is far too broken to gather courage.

When he leans to kiss her, my tears finally escape my eyes and roll down my cheeks. I turn away from the door and leave the Hall.

Tonight was supposed to be the best night of my life. I was desperately waiting for it like a silly little girl hoping for a beautiful perfect life but reality hits you hard, doesn't it?

He kissed her like he didn't make promises to me. Like he doesn't have a girlfriend waiting on him. Like he didn't use those lips to kiss me last night.

How can he not care and forget it all? How can it not matter?

‘I am your mate, Sofia. I feel the pull. Don't you trust me?’

His words play in the forefront of my mind, leaving a bitter taste on my tongue.

Lies. All his promises and words were a lie.

I push past the crowd of people dancing and laughing with their partners. I was supposed to be one of them. Dancing and enjoying. Not running from a heartbreak.

My shoulders collide with someone.

“Watch out ugly bitch!” He snarls, but I don't pay him any heed as I walk to the door and slip out.

The sound of music and laughter muffled behind the closed door but the pain in my chest remains strong, weighing me down.

Outside on the lawn stood Maria, my sister with her group of friends. Laughing and drinking. Everyone happens to enjoy the night except me.

I quickly wiped my tears. If they notice even a single tear then won't leave the opportunity to insult me, to make fun of me as always. I force my limbs to walk past them but their voice pierces through my ear.

“Woah, look what we have here. A loner dressed like a Cinderella pre-magic”

They erupt into laughter. Clenching my fists, I ignore them.

“How is she even your sister? Looks nothing like you. Acts nothing like you and well, fashion choices? Far too terrible to be even considered a long-distance relative”

My blood boils at that comment. I look over my shoulder to her friend, pinning her with a death glare.

“Get moving weirdo” Maria snaps, looking at me with the familiar hatred in those eyes. Their words don't hurt as much as the behavior of my very own sister. They treat me like I'm filth.

I walk away from the gleaming building to the empty street, dragging my feet aimlessly as the scenario of Anthony kissing that girl plays on a loop.

Why does everything in my life have to be painful? First my wolf, then the drastic change in my parent's behavior, then the bullying and now, my only hope at love betrayed me too.

“He was never worthy of your love” Inez, my wolf says but it doesn't help. Instead, heat flares in my chest.

“Are you happy? Are you finally happy that Anthony hurt me too? You never liked him. Maybe you manifested all this time for him to dump me!” I don't hold back the bitterness I have for her.

“You always misunderstand me,” She says sadly.

“Oh shut up! I'm sure you are just an evil wolf, cursed to bring pain! No wonder my parents hate me ever since you became a part of me!"

“I am you” She answers quietly.

“You are not! You are not me! You are just something forced down on me! I hate you!” I shout out loud, my emotions breaking past the threshold.

She doesn't answer and I scoff, crossing my arms against my chest before turning to the direction of the forest.

I would rather cry in the dark lonely woods than be laughed at by others. As I walk further into the dark woods, my steps become haste.

In the distance, the bridge leading to the other side of the dark forest invites me like it's the only way I need.

“No. That's the Forbidden Bridge. We can't go there. It's not safe!” Inez urges me to stop but I don't.

Maybe it's time, I put an end to it all. Let's see what horror is waiting on the other side of the bridge.

Maybe Rogues? They'll tear me apart and end it for good. My heart pounds wildly in my chest, overpowered by the fury.

“If you do this then it only means they are right about you. That Sofia Vez is a coward, a weakling and a disappointment” Inez says.

I stop.

Not because of her words but the silhouette on the other side of the bridge.

What is that? It's massive.

“Run please run. I don't want us to die” Inez says but my feet don't move. The air shifts and something snaps.

The silhouette on the other side might have sensed it too because it jumps forward onto the bridge.

My heart almost leaps out of my chest when it starts to get bigger.

I turn and break into a swift powerful run. Hoping to be away from it.

“I told you it's not safe!” Inez shouts in my head, terrified of getting caught. I run as fast as I can. My heart thrums wildly in my chest when I sense a presence behind me.

Close.

Too close.

My ankle twists painfully causing me to lose balance and fall face-forward to the ground. My chin meets the firm surface, filling my tongue with metallic taste.

I barely had time to react when an unpleasant shiver ran down my spine.

I sense a presence behind me. The sound of heavy breathing.

My hands tremble as I look over my shoulder, at the big wolf staring at me like I was a meal to be devoured.

I quietly try to get up, mentally cursing at the broken heel. Knowing that I might not survive this strange wolf, I close my eyes and use my voice for one last time.

“If you're going to kill me. Make it fast”

As I brace myself to be torn apart, a deep masculine voice wafts through the thick air.

“Where's the fun in that, little wolf”