Chapter 3

Eleanor's POV

I moved closer to my parents' dead bodies. I didn't realize that my hands were shaky until I placed them on my mother's.

I tried to feel her pulse but I didn't get any. I touched her neck and got the same result. I refused to believe that she was gone.

I turned to look at my father's headless body and that was when the sound came out and it was too deafening that I had to close my ears to prevent it from being damaged.

It took me a while to realize that the deafening sound was coming from me but that didn't stop the deafening sound.

My parents were gone. The only people that cared about me were gone. I screamed for help holding my father's head in my hands.

No matter how loud I screamed, no one came to my rescue. It was as if they didn't hear me. I didn't bother to wash the blood from my hands or change my clothes.

I ran from my house to the Alpha to tell him what just happened. Ignoring all the weird looks that were thrown at me, I made it in time to catch him before he entered his car. I struggled myself free from the warriors and ran to him.

"Alpha please hear me out!" I shouted but he turned to me, stared at me up and down then his hands steadied on my bloodied hands.

"Who the hell did you kill Eleanor!" The words I planned on spilling out got stuck in my throat and I coughed violently.

That was the first thought he had about me.

"My parents were just murdered. The murderer just left and I'm sure that he has not gone far. Alpha please help me get my parents the justice they deserve." I begged with my kneels on the ground and my hands clasped together.

"Get up, the Beta will attend to you. I have somewhere important to be right now. I'm sorry about your parents." He said and he stepped into the already-opened car before I could even thank him.

"Follow me." Beta Jason said and I nodded, wiping the tears off my face.

"Tell us everything that led to their death." He said as he sat down on his chair while I stood on my feet.

"Yesterday, my father saved someone. He took him home and treated his wounds. He didn't expect the person to be a serial killer. I came back from school today only to be welcomed by my parents' death scene. He left through the window. He couldn't have gone far, please help me…" I explained in between hiccups.

"Wait, you're trying to tell me that your father brought home a serial killer who…" the Beta started…

"He didn't know he was the serial killer, I swear."

"You don't cut me halfway through my speech Eleanor. Have you no manners at all?" He thundered and I shook in fear, shaking my head.

"I'm sorry but you have to help me please." The more time they wasted, the more time they gave the murderer to escape.

"We can't help you, Eleanor. Your father knew the rules of the pack before he decided to bring home a rogue without the consent of his Alpha." He said and my muscles weakened.

"Please search for him, he…"

"I said we can't help you!!" He shouted and I almost fell.

"They are supposed to be punished for going against their Alpha and pack but I guess the moon goddess already punished them." Beta Jason muttered with a slight smile.

I couldn't believe my ears. My parents didn't deserve what happened to them. I thought that the motto of the pack was a problem for one, a problem for all.

I guessed that didn't apply to me and my family.

"If you don't mind, leave. I have work to do. Bury your parents if you like. No one cares." Beta Jason muttered nonchalantly.

No one cares.

I walked back to the place I was once proud to call home. The place that once brought me to life with the Beta's last words replaying in my mind. No one cares.

He was right. No one cared about me or my family. To them, I was nothing but a loophole to the pack. We were all from the same pack.

We were supposed to help each other. I'm sure if it were any of the other pack members, a search party would have been thrown but since it had to do with the wolfless werewolf, no one cared.

No one cared if I died or not. No one cared that I just lost my parents. Everyone carried on with their daily activities as though someone's life was not lost.

No one sympathized with me, no one…

However, I still thought of someone who could help me out. She is my classmate and also an omega, so I thought she could be of help and talk to anyone around her.

I ran to her place immediately thinking I would get a chance. Maybe she had always been so mean because Kaitlyn pressured her to behave like that towards me, now that we weren't in school, she will help.

I concluded that and went to her house hopefully.

Little did I know that the little hope I had left was about to crumble finally.

I got to her place immediately and explained things to her. I was so happy to see that she listened to me attentively.

"Tara, please help, you have a wolf and you could find the murderer quickly" I pleaded desperately and she looked me up with disgust evident in her eyes.

"You haven't prayed enough, Eleanor, keep praying until the Moon goddess answers your prayer and gives you a wolf" Tara spat, and fresh tears rolled down my cheeks.

"You must be thinking that I'm still the nice Tara you met on your first day at the school"

"I'm not, besides, it felt so natural to have someone below me that I could bully, instead of getting bullied" she added and I cried bitterly.

"Brutal death! Maybe that's what the Moon goddess wants for you and your parents" Tara said and kicked me out of the way before heading back in.

Not even Tara would help… No one was ready to help…

Chapter 4

Eleanor's POV

It's been three months since I lost my parents and life has been worse. My parents had no relatives so there was one to take me in.

I learned to fend for myself while being treated like a parasite by the rest of my pack members. Three months since the little peace I had was shattered.

There was no one to share my grief with. No one bothered.

But I didn't care. All I wanted was my mate. I was waiting for my mate. He was going to take me away from all these toxic people.

Mother told me that a mate is someone who would treat you right. Someone who is destined to love you till death just like Father and I.

I had always loved the way my father treated my mother. He treated her like she was the most precious treasure in his life.

Mother told me that my mate would always stand by me, he would always understand me and believe in me no matter what people say about me and I was waiting for my mate to come and claim me and take me away from here.

That was the reason I decided to attend this year's royal ball. A royal ball is an event where unmated werewolves from all around the universe gather and party with the sole aim of finding their mate.

Father told me that sometimes, one's mate might not live in the same pack with them but once their paths cross, they feel the pack.

I was certainly of the opinion that my mate was not from my pack. I don't know if I would be able to bear the pain of my mate being one of those evil beings.

I was so glad when I heard that the annual royal ball was scheduled to be held in my pack. I had no reason to think of how to get to the venue.

I stared at my mother's flowery gown. The one that she had won the first day she met her father. Father was swooned by her looks and I intend to do the same to my mate.

I wore the gown, it was just a simple blue gown with not many designs on it but it had a flower embroidery design on the left chest. I stared at the image in the full mirror. I looked glorious.

I stepped my feet into my mother's heels. The one father had bought for her the day I was born to celebrate my arrival.

She never wore them because she felt they were too expensive and must have caused her father a fortune. I know that Mother would be so proud of me. Watching me dress up for my mate.

I placed the only jewelry that mother had on my neck and I was ready to go.

I stared at my image in the mirror for a while then I was finally ready to go. My dress was not the best but I looked decent.

Walking into the ballroom, I felt as though I had just entered another life. Everything felt so magical. I could feel it already, something major was going to happen tonight that would change my life forever.

I felt jumpy all of a sudden. My head felt dizzy but a scent came across my nose, one I had never smelt before. I sniffed harder to get more of this delicious scent.

As though I were being controlled by magic, my feets started moving on their own. I was getting closer and closer to the delicious scent with every step I took.

The scent was getting stronger and stronger and I knew without doubt that I was closer to it.

I suddenly hit my head on a wall I didn't notice was there. I opened my eyes and instead of a wall, I was met with someone's chest.

I stepped back and cleared my throat to apologize.

"Mate."

Huh

"Mate." He repeated and I raised my head to meet the gaze of the most handsome person I had ever set my eyes on. He was exactly the kind of person I had spent my nights dreaming of spending eternity with.

Wait! He just called me his mate? I have finally found my mate!! I screamed internally.

For a minute, I was lost in his green eyes that spoke of mystery.

"Mate," I said as though I were under a spell. Well, I was under the spell of his beautiful eyes.

I don't know how long I had stared at him, lost in his forest green eyes. The hold they had on me when I felt something claw at my hand.

I looked down at my hand to find his fingers plucking into my skin. I raised my teary eyes to meet the eyes that held adoration in them a moment ago just to meet nothing but disgust, disdain, and contempt.

He pulled me roughly by my poor hands.

Tears filled my eyes as I tried to stop him from hurting me the most by removing his fastened fingers from my arm but he wasn't having it, instead, he increased the pressure of his fingers.

When he finally let go of me, he pushed me so hard that I fell to the ground bringing down the small decorated table that had a tray of wine glasses on it.

In the process of that, the content of the glass spilled all over my light blue gown. All eyes were on me. I didn't need to lift my face to know that I had suddenly become the center of attention.

I could feel their judging eyes boring holes into my skin but I refused to let the tears drop. I had promised myself over the shallow grave I dug for my parents to never let someone else make me cry and I wasn't going to break that promise now.

Mate or not!

I picked myself up from the ground and dared to look into the eyes of the one that was meant to protect me. The adoring look I had seen was gone with no traces.

Chapter 5

Eleanor's POV

"I, Ethan Raymond of Crystal Pack, reject you… what's your name?"

He was rejecting me before we even got to know each other? Right in front of all these people? I wished the ground would open and swallow me and never release me again.

I pursed my lips not only because I didn't want to tell him, I knew that the moment I opened my mouth, I would lose the last bit of control I have.

"What's your name?" He thundered grabbing me by the same arm not caring about the pain he was subjecting me to.

"Eleanor Stefan of the Red Crimson pack." Someone said I didn't need to look at the person to know who said it. Of course, it had to be her.

He nodded and pushed me away from him as though I were a plaque. I landed my butt on the ground again.

"I, Ethan Raymond of Crystal pack, reject your lowly life Eleanor disgusting Stefan of the Red Crimson pack as my mate." He said and I closed my eyes waiting for the pains that usually come with rejection to take over me.

"Complete the rejection process bitch and let me go."

I struggled with the gnawing pain in my chest and I got on my feet. I almost stumbled down due to the excess pain I was dealing with.

"I, Eleanor Stefan of the Red Crimson pack rejects you Ethan Raymond as my mate." I sputtered trying to keep my mouth from screaming in pain.

If he felt any pain due to my rejection, then he was so damn good at hiding it.

I clutched my chest finding it hard to breathe but I wasn't going to give these devils the liberty of watching me breakdown. I struggled to walk, dragging my feet with me.

I stumbled on another table and pulled down its contents. Pieces of broken glasses pierced my skin as I tried to stand up ignoring the laughter of the people who had taken my pain and misfortune as comedy to spice their day.

I stood up. The dress was unrecognizable. It was stained with all sorts of colors. I doubt if I would ever be able to wash the stains off. 

I knew that I looked like a complete mess but believe me that was the least of my problems.

Isn't my life the grandest of them all?

I struggled to get away from the ball walking in pain amid people who didn't care about me.

When I finally got outside, I rushed to the grass and puked all over them. The pain in my stomach is increasing. I felt someone behind me. 

I knew it was him because of his cologne. 

It's painful the way I registered his cologne the moment I saw him and how comforting it is to me now.

The last thing I saw before the darkness took over was him lifting my weightless body and settling me down in his arms.

*I didn't know how long I was out but when I opened my eyes, I was forced to close them back. I opened them slowly and I stared at the ceiling with a blurry vision. It took some time but my eye eventually got used to the light.

I tried to recall what had happened and all the memories flooded back. I grimaced in pain.

I was rejected before I got to know my mate.

I sat up completely ignoring the pain I was feeling.

"I see that you are awake." His deep voice called me from the self-pity I was wallowing in.

I turned to look at him making sure that there was a full-blown scowl displayed on my face.

I watched him pour himself a drink. He took a sip of the drink then he took one step towards me.

"Look I'm sorry for what happened at the ball. I was over my head, I let what people say about you get the best part of me." He said casually and I felt the urge to slap him hard across the face. 

Did he think I was going to forgive him that easily? Especially after the scene he created in front of thousands of werewolves, I hadn't met in my entire existence? Did he think I was that daft?

"Did you expect me to say that poison?" The disgusting look on his face was back and my heart ached.

"You should look at your face in the mirror. It's so freaking funny." He said in between laughter while I tried to wrap my head around what I did that was funny.

He stopped laughing and was back to being serious. 

He grabbed a handful of my poor hair and pulled it forcing me to look directly into his eyes. The forest green eyes that I once adored.

"You do not deserve my poison. I wonder what the moon goddess was thinking of pairing me with someone as weak as you." He said pulling my hair harder and I struggled in vain to keep the tears off my face. 

He finally let go of my hair and I ended up hitting my head on the headboard. I stiffened a cry trying hard to look as unaffected as I could.

"Well, I have a deal." He paused and watched my reaction when he saw none, he continued.

"You are quite a catch. Here it goes, you satisfy my sexual desires and I in turn will protect you.

"He said with a smile. It took me almost a minute to process what he just said and when I did, I choked on my saliva.

"You want me to become your whore?" I asked him disbelievingly.

"Yes at my beck and call and you get protection in return." He said unashamedly and I resisted the urge to puke all over him.

"No," I said firmly, not hiding the disgusted look on my face.

"You don't have a choice."

"That's where you are wrong. I do and I will not give you the liberty to have me insulted at your free will" I said.

I struggled to get myself out of the stupid comfort of a bed and he watched me in amusement. I walked closer to him and stared into his eyes.

"Fuck you, Mr. Ethan," I said, giving him the middle finger. I walked out of the room.

I was done with them all. I was going to do what I wanted. I was going to show him that he is the one who doesn't deserve me. I was going to show him that I was worth more than being a whore to the mate who had rejected me without a second thought.

Even as I sat in the bar drinking, I was filled with the thought of what I was going to do. 

I don't know how many bottles I had managed to drink but it was enough to wipe away the little bit of dignity that might stand in my way.

I stood up from the seat I had confined my ass in an hour ago and I staggered to the dance floor. 

I almost fell but someone caught me. I breathed in his cologne and I knew that there was no going back.

"Fuck me."