I lay on my bed staring at the ceiling of my small room. Everything was a blur after I fell. I oddly remember my mother, Olivia, Alice, and Nova calling my name in panic. Then I don't remember anything else. They must have brought me home.
I sat up slowly to see my mother watching me quietly. Tears streaked down her face, "Honey," she cooed, as I went into her embrace.
"Theo rejected me, Mom. My mate rejected me," my eyes teared up again. I still found it hard to believe that it really happened to me. I hoped it was a horrible nightmare, but alas, my mother caressed my hair and wept with me. It was true.
I knew she understood how I felt because it happened to her. My birth father, her mate had fooled her and impregnated her twice before discarding her. All along, he promised her happiness but ended up with someone else.
"It hurts so bad. Make it stop, make it stop Mom. Please make this pain go away," I sob, clawing at my chest. Oh goddess, I would do anything to stop the pain. Please...
"My honey, I am so sorry," My mother sobbed as she hugged me close, willing my pain to go away.
After what felt like hours, I became calm. I guess I was too exhausted to shed even a tear. Sleep didn't come easily as my mother closed the door behind her.
In the middle of the night, all alone in the darkness, tears streak out again. My wolf, Tiara, had been silent for hours, and I could feel her crushing pain, as well as my own.
I had been looking forward to meeting my mate since I was sixteen. Our teachers at Mystic Claws & Fangs Academy told us that it was the best thing to ever happen to a werehuman.
I had been waiting for someone, not necessarily a powerful mate or breed but someone who would love me and protect me from the hate of this world. I needed someone that would be by my side no matter what.
Imagine, my joy when I learned it was Theo. I thought he was going to take all my pain away and change the status of my family, but I was so wrong...
All werewolves knew that we only had one chance of having a mate. But now that it is all shattered, what will become of me?
Questions about love and family lingered in my thoughts. Would my wolf Tiara ever be the same? A werewolf without their wolf is like an empty shell-many eventually succumb or lose their sanity after losing their mates. The pain is unbearable; their wolves vanish. Now I understand the agony, and I haven't accepted his rejection not yet. Will I face the same fate-death or insanity?
I hope Tiara stays strong.
How could the moon goddess do this to me? Why me? What did I do to deserve a Beta? I didn't ask for this. She could have paired me with another omega, and I would have been content. As long as there was love, I'd be happy.
From then onwards, I never cried in front of my mother again. It only reminded her of what she couldn't have and made my sister lose more hope about her mate. Now as I showered in the bathroom. I muffle my sobs with my palms.
The night after Theo's rejection had been so severe that I had to bite my pillow to swallow the sound of my scream.
It lasted almost an hour. I knew right away what my mate was doing then. He was mating some other female, Lyra, while I was in pain-feeling every bit of the torture.
"Is that fair?" Tiara, my wolf, howled in a mix of pain, sadness, and rage. I felt her anger, and it was better compared to her silence. My wolf remained strong, and I'm grateful she hasn't abandoned me like Theo.
School resumed a week ago but I couldn't summon the courage to go. Though my friends, Alice and Nova, come to visit me after school every day to cheer me up, I refused to go to school just yet. I wasn't ready to see Theo and Lyra all lovey-dovey yet. But I am going to show them that I am strong, that they do not have the power to break me.
I heard my phone chime loudly. I was out of the bathroom and cleaning my body with a tiny towel. I peeked at the phone's screen, it was Alice.
Her message read thus: Get prepared, we are taking you shopping. See you soon!"
Oh these girls, they just want to make me feel better. They really don't have to spend on me.
"Eden, are you ready?" Alice and Nova yelled from downstairs. My eyes zeroed in shock at the realization that they were here already.
"We are coming in right now!" Nova yelled mischievously. Olivia and Alice followed, cackling, and cramming the room with me. I used my super speed to wear a tank top and shorts.
"Hmm," Nova smirked, seeing me all clothed.
"Let's get going," Alice said before turning to Olivia "Are you coming with us?" she asked
"You bet sure I will, I'm not missing this rare outing for any reason," Olivia giggled excitedly
***
The girls and I did more window shopping than actual shopping. It was fun though as we teased and chased each other down the streets.
We got some clothes and shoes. When we got home, Alice was whining in my ears that she was going to do a sleepover. Nova shrugged her shoulders that she would spend the night also. So we all gathered in the sitting room, laying on the floor with blankets over our shoulders. Olivia had retired to bed. She was too exhausted to have another moment with us.
"Hey, let's watch the Originals" Alice cooed dreamily
"They remind me of the handsome Hybrids in our school,"
"Oh, not again Alice," Nova palmed her face in utter dismay "Everyone is living in reality but you are dwelling in some impossible fantasy. Those guys don't even know that we exist. They are always on their own," she frowned
"Whatever," Alice rolled her eyes "A wise woman once said that if you cannot have your fantasy, read or watch it!"
This made me chuckle loudly "And that wise woman is you?"
Alice lifted her pillow to hit me as I laughed hard, holding my stomach. All of a sudden I feel it again. The pain.
"Eden, I am so sorry," Alice started to apologize immediately when she saw how I held my stomach in pain "I didn't mean to hit you so hard,"
I shook my head, writhing in pain "What's happening?" Nova said in alarm, gathering me into her arms.
"Nothing." I gasp. Oh no, I don't want them to see this.
"Should I call your mom?" Alice said, panicking.
"NO, please," I yell, hugging my stomach. "Don't tell my mom," I choked out. Tears started to run down my cheeks.
"I think I know what's happening," Nova slowly grabbed my stomach as she pulled my top to reveal the burning sensation.
"That manwhore, Theo is doing some nasty thing with someone else," Nova said coldly.
The pain was excruciating. I think I passed out after a while.
When I opened my eyes again, Nova and Alice were still with me. I was glad that my mom wasn't at home.
Alice held my hand tightly in hers with tears on her face. Nova is fuming and walking around the room as if she wanted to kill someone.
"I am okay now," I forced a smile, feeling drained.
They snapped their heads to look at me.
"How many times has this happened, E?" Nova looked pissed, though I don't think the anger is directed at me.
"I bet this is not the first time," Alice said quietly, looking at my stomach that is now exposed as my t-shirt that had ridden up from my twisting and squirming.
My stomach is black, blue, and purple. The bruising came from me clutching my stomach so hard when the pain got too much.
"This is the third time so far," I decided to be truthful. They had seen me in pain, there was nothing much else to hide. Alice starts to cry again and Nova starts cursing. "It's not fair! He can't do this!" Alice sobbed.
"He has bitten much more than he can chew," Nova swore, baring her fangs "and now we will get even. Eden! It is Operation payback!!!!"