Chapter 1

It had been six months since the Wolf's Moon Gala, and I couldn't escape that humiliation. Now, my parents acted like I was a terrible daughter. I thought I had it all under control - the fancy dress, the makeup, the whole look. But I didn't know I would be the laughingstock of the entire pack, not to mention that Erick had left me there alone. The pain I felt was indescribable. After Erick left me and while putting my dress back on, I heard cheers and clapping in the distance. Zipping up my dress, I ran out of the pool house to find Gisselle in the middle of the garden with Erick. A group of people surrounded them, all of them laughing and celebrating. Erick's arm was around Gisselle as they shared a passionate kiss; a lump formed in my throat when I realized what had happened.

Erick rejected me for my best friend. I couldn't stop the tears streaming down my face as I turned away. I felt betrayed and hurt. It was clear that Gisselle and I would never be friends again, and I was right. Shortly after they announced they were mates, they moved my parents and me from the pack house into a small cottage. It was then that my parents started acting differently towards me. My mother became distant, and my father became a shell. Losing his beta title was difficult for him, and he blamed me.

I tried to move on from that night, but everywhere I turned, they snickered and called me names. Although no one said anything to my face, they still said things loud enough for me to hear. It stung that they thought so little of me, yet I knew I had to stay strong and not let their words break me. On this particular day, I was sitting in my room reading, I was in the middle of one of the steamy chapters when Alpha Erick's voice came through the mind link. "Maliyla, I need you to come to the pack house now," he said, his tone flat with no emotion.

Standing up from my bed, I rolled my eyes. "On my way, Alpha Erick," I replied. He was the last person I wanted to see, especially after what he had put me through. As usual, my father was sprawled out on the couch, drunk, when I made my way downstairs.

"I'll be back," I yelled at my mom, who was in the kitchen. I didn't wait to hear if she responded. Walking down the driveway, I gazed up at the sky and smiled. The light pink and purple colors of the evening sky were stunning.

As I walked through town, I was grateful that hardly anyone was around. At least this way, I wouldn't have to hear their sly remarks. As I approached the pack house, I suddenly felt that something terrible was about to happen. Just as I was about to knock on the door, Alice, the housekeeper, opened it. Her facial expression showed hate and disgust for me. I did not know why, since she was so pleasant when I lived here. Putting all that aside, I smiled at her.

"Alpha Erick requested my presence," I said with a smile. Alice stepped aside, letting me in. As I walked past her, I could feel her glaring at my back as I walked through the hallway. The reason for her change of attitude towards me was beyond my comprehension. As I reached the staircase, I walked up to Erick's office on the second floor. I heard his voice through the cracked door as I was about to knock.

"Are you planning to come in or just stand there?" Erick growled. When I entered the room, I saw Erick seated at his desk with Gisselle on his lap, a smug grin on her face. I could only imagine what they were doing before I walked in. Deciding to push the thoughts out of my mind, I made my way to the desk and stood before them.

"You asked to see me, Alpha?" I asked casually.

Erick barely looked at me when he responded. "Yes, I need you to sign these papers, and then you need to leave the pack, preferably tonight," he said. His request surprised me. I tried to keep my voice steady as I asked, "So you want me to just leave? With no explanation?"

Erick nodded, "Yes, that's what I need you to do," he replied, still refusing to look at me.

"WHERE AM I SUPPOSED TO GO?" I yelled at him. I watched as Erick pushed Gisselle off his lap before standing up from his seat and glaring at me.

"You will remember who you are speaking to," Erick yelled, "You are no longer a member of this pack, so I don't care where you end up. Just sign the fucken papers, pack your shit, and leave!" his jaw clenched as he stared at me, his face contorted with anger. I could see he was done talking, and nothing was left to say. Slowly, I grabbed the documents and signed them. My heart was heavy with sadness and fear as I turned to leave the office.

Just as I reached the door, Erick yelled, "You are to leave tonight."

I walked out of the office, tears filling my eyes as I closed the door. This pack had been my home for so long, and now I was forced to leave. Running out of the pack house, the tears I held fell down my face, I ran home and to my room. As I closed my bedroom door, I heard his voice again.

"You have thirty minutes to pack your shit and formally renounce the pack. Do I make myself clear?" Erick taunted.

"Yes," I replied, trying to sound like I didn't care, although deep down, I was terrified. My failure to comply would have dire consequences, and I knew it. I had no choice but to obey the command, so I quickly packed my belongings and prepared to leave. Once I finished packing, I went downstairs to find my parents at the kitchen table, both refusing to look up at me, their faces full of disappointment. Not knowing when we would meet again, I said a silent goodbye before leaving the house. As I walked down the driveway, I stopped in my tracks to turn and look at the house one last time before making my way to the pack border. Once I reached the edge of the pack, I recited the words as I closed my eyes.

"I, Maliyla Giuliano, renounce all ties to the Blood Rose Pack," tears fell from my eyes as I stepped over the border and into the unknown.