Chapter 3

CHARLOTTE

I woke up with a start. My heart beating and wished all of that was a dream. However, my wishes died down as my eyes met with the metallic bars of the horrid prison.

"Wake up, traitor." the guard said. "Someone's here to meet you." 

My eyes lightened when Caleb came in. I sat up and kneeled towards him. 

"Caleb...help me please! I-I'm your mate. We're fated with one another. You promised me that you'll love me and that we're going to be mates. You remembered the promise right? Don't break it please!" I begged and begged until tears ran down my cheeks.

Caleb looked away. His face expressionless but there was a tinge of pain in his eyes. 

"I, Caleb of Haven Blue pack, reject you, Charlotte Stone." Caleb uttered those dangerous words that will sever our bond. 

"N-NO!" I screamed as pain rushed through me. I dropped on the cold ground, my body curling trying to get rid of the searing pain. 

I can feel it. The bond between us tearing apart. If it were a normal wolf, both of us would feel the pain. But Caleb is of royal blood, he can completely sever the bond without my side of rejection. 

I whimpered and cried in pain. Caleb just stood there, watching me suffer. 

"I'm sorry, Char. It has to be done. Your wolf isn't strong enough for this pack. We need a stronger Luna and Angelica is the best candidate. I begged my father to spare you. Tonight, you'll be sent away from this pack. I don't trust you from attacking Angelica again and hurting our baby. Again, I'm sorry." Caleb said and walked away.

His words were like a thousand knives stabbing my heart. Mom has always told me stories of how beautiful having a mate is. But how come I get a different scenario? 

Hours passed by and the guards opens my prison cell. "Get up!" they ordered.

I didn't move an inch. Soon, they became annoyed and dragged me out as I flailed like a soulless doll. As they grabbed me out of the moonlight. A black SUV awaits my fate. 

I can feel people staring down at me. Including my father. I didn't dare to look at him. His betrayal and loyalty to his new family shattered me. Then I remembered something that I needed to do. 

I turned around and walked towards my father. I stared into his unreadable eyes. 

Placing my hands around my neck. I broke the chains of the necklace he gifted me when I turned six. It was made of fragile glass. I let it fall on the ground and I stomped on it with every piece of my anger and frustration. The cracking noise of the glass was clear. 

The once beautiful necklace has lost its shape and beauty. 

I stared back to my father. He is no longer the man I grew up with.

"I hate you." I said, my tone filled with wrath.

Without waiting for him to say anything. I turned around and voluntarily entered the SUV. The car came to life and soon I was taken away from that terrible place. Where the people I once love tore me apart.

--

It has been a month since my departure from Haven Blue pack. I stared down below the window. Watching the orphaned children run around, playing with each other. 

I was brought into the Windvales pack. A small pack with a horrible society. When I arrived everyone was glaring at me with contempt. Until I found out that they despise rejected mates and leftovers from richer packs.

But I carried on because a kind, old woman took me in when no one accepted me. Mrs. Ophelia, the director of the orphanage, hired me to take care of the orphaned children. 

I hesitated at first since I wasn't really good with kids. In the end, I fell in love with them. They're so full of life even if the run down orphanage makes the scene look gloomy. 

The door to my room opened and a bunch of little rascals came running inside. I yelped when they climbed all over me until I could no longer breathe.

"Children! Calm down and don't suffocate Charlotte!" Mrs. Ophelia scolded them. 

The kids snuggled to me and my heart melted with their loving actions. "Alright, alright, I'll get up" 

"Yay!" They cheered and ran out of the room. The creaky staircase filling the noise with their little feet going down. 

"Good morning, Charlotte." Mrs. Ophelia greeted. 

I smiled and stretched. "Good morning to you too. Have they eaten yet?" 

"The food supplies is late. I fear those rascals will start crying for food." Mrs. Ophelia sighed tiredly. 

"What happened? Why are we getting late deliveries? I made sure we paid them on time." I asked. 

The older woman sits on my bed with a gloomy look. "The Windvales pack is having a bad blood with the Haven Blue pack. Rumors of an upcoming war is spreading around. I fear the supplies has stopped because the royal wolves has been providing them to this pack. If a war breaks out I fear for the children's safety."

"Don't worry, Mrs. Ophelia. We will surely find a way. I still have a few money left in my pocket. I can buy-" 

A blaring emergency alarm sounded off in the air. I can see people panicking and screaming in fear. Me and Mrs. Ophelia looked at each other and we rushed out to get the children inside. But the littles ones panicked and ran off in different directions. 

A man with metal armor with royal blue accents blocked the entrance of the orphanage. "Kill them all and leave no trace behind! Even if they're kids!" the guard ordered his men.

The children screamed and I was shocked. I recognized that armor, they were Haven Blue wolves. I transformed into my weak wolf and attacked them to protect the children. But the royal guards stabbed me without a fuss. 

"N-No!" I cried as blood and the shrieking cries of the children echoed through my ringing ears. Soon, I lost consciousness and surrendered myself to the darkness.