Alone

Jade

I stepped into the bustling grand hall, my heels clicking against the marble floors. All around me were crowds of people dressed in their finest clothes, mingling and laughing as they awaited the start of the mating ceremony.

As soon as I entered, the lively chatter softened to hushed murmurs. All eyes turned to look at me, raking up and down my body judgmentally. I tugged self-consciously at the neckline of my dress, the fabric straining tight across my chest. I felt entirely too exposed in the slinky, low-cut number that Brad had picked out for me, but I had worn it just for him, wanting to look perfect tonight.

I felt my cheeks burn as the whispering continued. I didn't understand the sudden attention on me. Had Brad announced something I didn't know about? Were the marks he'd left on my neck last night still visible despite the layers of concealer I had carefully applied? Was I late? Flustered, I searched the sea of faces for my golden-haired alpha.

Tonight was the night Brad would finally make me his Luna. It was a dream come true for me, a weak orphaned omega who had been bullied relentlessly in my pack. I had harbored a secret crush on the alpha's son ever since he had saved me from a rogue attack seven years ago. I had been content to watch him from afar, never imagining he would notice me. But then in high school Brad had started talking to me, and we became friends. The popular boy I had admired for so long actually knew I existed! My childhood crush had only grown stronger over time.

When Brad asked me out a year ago, choosing me over all the other girls constantly throwing themselves at him, I had been overjoyed. He doted on me and spoiled me rotten, and I would literally take a bullet for him because of how grateful I was to have him in my life.

People called Brad trash, but I knew better. He only acted out because of the bad influence of his friends. That was why I had finally given him my virginity last night - it was the best night of my life, and just thinking about it made heat creep up my neck. We had sex, and now tonight at the mating ceremony, Brad would announce me as his chosen Luna. We had already agreed to reject our destined mates to be together.

But the excited smile fell from my face as the whispers around me grew louder and more hostile.

"Look at the slut in red," one wolf hissed as I passed.

"I can't believe her sweet and innocent act this whole time."

"What a cheap whore."

I blinked back humiliated tears as people openly laughed and mocked me when I walked by. I didn't understand - did they know about what happened between me and Brad last night? What was wrong with sleeping with your boyfriend?

Soon it became difficult to even move through the crowds, as people started tugging at my dress and pulling my hair, messing up the careful styling I had done.

Finally a bold she-wolf, Meagan, confronted me directly, sneering in my face. "Go on, tell us how it felt to get a taste of Brad's magic wand last night. I bet you think you're really something special now that he popped your cherry. News flash honey, you're just another notch on his bedpost."

Overwhelmed, I pushed my way through the crowds, desperately searching for Brad's familiar face. Finally I spotted him, surrounded by his usual gaggle of friends. I rushed over and fell into his arms like I always had whenever the other girls bullied me. Brad would soothe me and dote on me, just like he always did.

But instead, I was shoved aside roughly by a petite blonde girl with wide, ingenuous eyes that I had never seen before. The mystery girl grabbed Brad's arm possessively and sneered at me. "Who is she?" she demanded of Brad.

Brad smoothly wrapped an arm around her waist. "Relax babe, she's just a random omega from my pack. Nobody important."

I reeled back as if I had been slapped. Brad's words cut deeply, dismissing me as if I were nothing. Last night we had been so intimate, so connected. And now he was treating me like a stranger.

"What's going on?" I asked tremulously, completely confused. "Why is everyone saying such awful things about me?"

Brad's friend Steve took out his phone with a nasty grin and showed me a video. It was footage of Brad and I having sex last night. Brad's face was blurred, but his voice was unmistakable, murmuring vulgar encouragement.

My cheeks flamed in humiliation. It had all been a lie, a sick game. I turned back to Brad, eyes welling up with tears.

"You...you filmed us together? "How could you?" I choked out? "I thought you loved me. We made promises..."

Brad shrugged carelessly. "It was just a stupid dare from my friends years ago. Didn't think you'd actually go through with it. I didn't mean to hurt you. No hard feelings right?" He gave me a wink.

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. Voice quivering, I asked, "What about our love? Your promise to make me your Luna?"

At this, Brad threw his head back and barked out a cruel laugh. The rest of his friends joined in. "Wait, did you actually think I was serious about choosing you over my real mate? Come on Jade, you're not that stupid." He nuzzled the blonde's neck as she purred happily.

"Let me make this clear so there's no more confusion. I reject Jade as my mate, and accept Trina as my Luna, now and forever."

My vision blurred, hot tears spilling down my cheeks. The roaring in my ears drowned out the mocking laughter echoing around me. I was utterly and completely humiliated. Spinning on my heel, I fled blindly from the grand hall, bursting out into the dark forest. I had to get away, far far away, somewhere Brad would never find me again.

Thorny branches scratched my arms and legs as I ran desperately through the black woods. The thin red dress she'd chosen to impress Brad offered no protection. But I didn't care, I just kept running. My feet ached in the high heels but I didn't dare slow down. I had to put more distance between myself and the pack that betrayed me.

Finally I collapsed in a small moonlit clearing, sides heaving as I gasped for breath. Curled up on the forest floor, I finally let the gut-wrenching sobs overtake my small body. Everything I thought I had, everything I thought I was, had been viciously ripped away in one night. I had nothing left. No family, no friends, no mate, no pack. I was utterly alone.

I wasn't sure how long I laid there crying, but eventually my tears ran dry. Sitting up slowly, I looked around the shadowy clearing. Moonlight filtered through the trees, but I had no idea where I was. The forest was dangerous at night, especially for a lone omega. But at least here, I was free from Brad and my pack's cruelty. I took a deep, shaky breath. I had no choice now but to keep moving forward alone. This marked a new beginning in my life, for better or worse. What would become of me now?