Chapter 4: Aftermath

I couldn’t breathe.

The word "Move" echoed in my ears, the coldness of Jeremy’s command searing into my chest like ice. I stood there, frozen, as my world unraveled before me. The weight of it, the finality, hit me all at once. There was no mistaking it. He hadn’t been looking at me—he hadn’t seen me. And now, as he turned and walked away from me without so much as a glance, my heart shattered.

I couldn’t bring myself to follow him, I couldn’t chase after the boy I had loved my whole life. Jeremy was already heading toward her—Shanika Mason, the daughter of the first Gamma couple, the captain of the soccer team. She was beautiful, confident, and poised. And now, she was the one Jeremy’s wolf had chosen.

I didn’t know how long I stood there, unable to move, unable to speak. My body was trembling, and my vision blurred as tears began to spill over, betraying me in front of everyone.

The room felt suffocating. The chatter, the laughter, the music—it all seemed so distant now, like a world I didn’t belong in anymore. I could feel the stares of our friends and packmates, their eyes heavy on me as they watched the scene unfold. Some whispered, some exchanged glances, but I could hear none of it. All I could hear was the ringing in my ears, drowning out everything else.

I turned and bolted from the room.

I didn’t know where I was going, only that I had to get out of there. My legs carried me through the hallways, past the front door, and out into the cold Arizona night. The heat of the desert summer felt like nothing compared to the ice now freezing my heart. I didn’t stop running. Not until my breath came in ragged gasps and my body ached from the effort.

I ran until I couldn’t run anymore.

And then I collapsed.

I fell onto the grass, curling into myself, my knees pulled tight to my chest. The tears came then, unstoppable, pouring out of me like a flood. I sobbed, my chest heaving with every broken breath.

Why couldn’t it be me?

Why had he chosen her?

We had been perfect, or so I had thought. We were supposed to be the next great pair—the Alpha and the future Luna, destined for greatness, destined for each other. But it was all a lie, wasn’t it?

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the thought of Shanika and Jeremy, standing together in the center of the room, his hands on her, his smile warmer than I had ever seen it. I thought I knew him. I thought we had something real.

but the truth was right in front of me now. I was nothing more than a girl who had been replaced.

The tears slowed, but the ache inside me remained. It was deep, a gnawing emptiness that I couldn’t shake. The world seemed to spin around me, each turn tightening the knot in my stomach. I wanted to scream, but I was too exhausted. I wanted to run away, to disappear. I didn’t want to face anyone, especially not Jeremy.

But what would I even say to him? The man I thought was my mate, the man who had just shattered my world with a single word.

My breath hitched again, but the tears were spent. My throat was raw, my eyes swollen from the hours of crying. I lay there in the darkness, staring at the stars overhead, wishing I could turn back time. Wishing for a moment when I could go back to before this night—before I realized I wasn’t the one who mattered to him.

A future without Jeremy seemed impossible. How could I go on, knowing that I would have to watch him with her, watch her become the next Luna, the one everyone would look up to, the one everyone would adore?

And what about me? I would be the girl who was left behind, the girl who couldn’t even get her own mate to choose her.

I swallowed hard, shaking my head.

I hated that I was alone in this, hated that no one could understand what I was going through.

A voice broke through the silence.

Aurelia?”

I froze, my breath catching in my throat as I slowly turned my head.

It was my brother, Ares. He stood in the doorway of the yard, looking down at me, his brow furrowed in concern.

I hadn’t heard him come outside. How long had he been standing there?

“Hey,” he said softly, stepping closer. “Are you okay?”

I wiped at my face with the back of my hand, trying to hide the redness, the tears. But I knew it was too late. He could see right through me.

“What happened?” Ares asked gently, sitting down beside me on the grass.

“I’m fine,” I lied. My voice was thick, but I forced myself to keep it steady. I didn’t want him to see how much I was breaking. “Just... just needed some air.”

“You don’t look fine,” Ares said, his tone gentle but firm. “Aurelia, you don’t have to do this alone.”

I swallowed hard, shaking my head.

“Jeremy... he... he didn’t choose me,” I whispered, my voice barely audible in the night air.

Ares’ face softened with understanding, and he placed a hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry, Snow. But you’re not alone. Not in this. And you never will be.”

The warmth of his hand on my shoulder brought a small measure of comfort, but it wasn’t enough.

I was alone.

And I would have to find a way to survive it.

The worst part? It wasn’t that Jeremy had chosen Shanika, not really. I could almost understand it. She was everything I wasn’t. Strong, beautiful, flawless dark skin that shimmered under the dim party lights, a bright, radiant smile that could make anyone’s day better, those big doe eyes full of kindness and confidence. She was the kind of girl who could walk into any room and command attention without even trying. A social butterfly who flitted from group to group, charming everyone around her, making them feel like they were the most important person in the world.

And then there was me.

I couldn’t help it. I looked at my reflection in the glass door beside me, seeing my pale skin like a stark contrast against the deep shadows of the night. The lack of pigment in my skin had never bothered me as much as it did tonight. My hair, a pale shade of white-blonde, hung limp against my back. My eyes, a pale, almost translucent shade of blue, looked back at me—vulnerable, exposed.

I couldn’t even hate Shanika. How could I? We weren’t close, sure, but she wasn’t cruel. She had always been polite to me, even kind, and honestly, I had never thought much of her beyond the fact that she was beautiful, and well, she was perfect.

Perfect for him.

I clenched my fists, the frustration burning hotter inside me. I hated feeling like this—helpless, weak, ugly. I wanted to scream, wanted to hit something, anything, to let out all the anger and hurt I was feeling. Why couldn’t it be me?

In a flash, the image of Jeremy’s eyes—his deep, warm eyes—flashed in my mind. Had he ever really seen me? I couldn’t shake the feeling that his gaze had only ever been a consolation prize for something he truly wanted but never had. The goddess had made her choice, and it wasn’t me. It wasn’t supposed to be me.