Her Pack's Loophole

“I would rather die than let you leave Crimson Clawers Pack, Mia!” Craig yelled as he banged his right palm against the door. I backed away from the door while I shuddered from his harsh tone. His chocolate irises were gleaming with nothing but anger, and his breaths escaped like a storm. His hair was basically standing on end, and his huge stature towered over me in an imposing manner.

My eyes twitched repeatedly, my lips parted slightly, trying to process the words aching in my heart.

“It was my mother’s last wish, Craig.” My voice came out almost in a whisper.

“And so what?” He growled at my face. I gasped. This side of him was always going to be something I dreaded.

“Is—is that what you’re going to say? Really?” I stuttered, scared he might lash out even more. But I was angry too.

“You think I’m happy that I’m breaking the pack rules? You think this is of my own accord?” I continued. “My mother was everything I ever had in this pack. She was the only person who treated me like an actual being. Hell, I doubt the majority of our members even knew I existed until she died.” I closed my eyes, trying not to let the tears show, but they did regardless. “She begged me to leave this pack, to explore life out of this place—this is the only thing my mother ever asked of me for as long as I can remember. She knew doing this would be breaking the rules, yet she still asked that of me.” I stared at him deeply while a tear trickled across my cheek, but he didn’t show any signs of wavering. He still retained that angry look. “I don’t have powers that rival yours, and I know this decision comes with deadly consequences, but I’m going to do it regardless. She was the only person I ever had. She least I can do is honor her wish.”

He scoffed, his hand dropped from the door and back to his pocket. “You talk like I am not in your life, Mia. Do you have any idea how much that hurts?”

I exhaled deeply; my heart thumped like it was going to explode from my chest.

“Let’s be honest with each other. Are you?” I asked, and his eyes twitched for a split second. “You don’t say it, but we both know I’m like a burden to you, and the only reason you’ve been keeping up with me is because I’ve been betrothed to you since birth.”

“You’re not a burden, Mia,” he said in a gentle manner, but I shook my head in denial.

“You don’t have to lie, Craig.” My voice almost broke as tears encroached my eyes once again.

“You’re not a burden, Mia.” His tone hardened.

“I see you with other girls, you know. The way they flock around you, the way you smile around them.”

“I am the Beta of the pack; it is normal to be in relations with the members of our pack,” he defended sharply.

“But you don’t do that with me. I can’t even remember the last time you smiled or had a normal conversation with me besides pack duties. It’s evident that you don’t want me; you’re no different than the others.”

“Don’t try to change the subject, Mia. This conversation wasn’t about us in the first place,” he said through gritted teeth. He couldn’t even look me in the eye, but I knew he was irritated and further talk on the issue would only attract his wrath.