Ava stood in front of her window looking at how the streets were completely transformed, it was vibrant and everyone was filled with joy, the long-awaited day which every wolf looked forward to had finally arrived. Preparations for the big event had already begun. She could hear the gossip and giggle about who would be the lucky girl the Alpha was going to pick. All the girls in the pack were doing their very best to stand out when the time came, but some more than others.
And speaking of others, there goes Madison, passing by with her group of minions. Rumor had it that she had booked almost every beauty house in the pack just so she could stand out. But as the saying goes, no amount of makeup can ever cover up a dark soul.
Ava hated almost every single member of her pack because of the way they treated her, there was nothing to look forward to, nobody would choose her, and they all looked down on her and bullied her because she was weak and easy to prey on.?
She had always wondered what life would have been without her best friend, Alora.?
They had been friends for as long as she could remember. Since childhood, Alora had always tried her best to protect Ava whenever she was around, no one dared to bully her. Alora was very beautiful, brave, and very kind to her. She didnt listen to the rumors accusing Ava of being a jinx and that was why she had always admired Alora.
Tri!! Tri!! Tri!!
The alarm clock rang as Ava snapped out of thoughts. She had been looking outside for so long that she almost forgot how significant the day was for her. It was her fathers death anniversary she hurried to the bathroom to take a shower.?
She had long silver smooth hair which she always styled in a ponytail; she had an oval face, soft jaws, groomed eyebrows, and brown eyes that shone in the natural light of the sun. She was born with a crescent birthmark on her forehead which was one of the reasons she was bullied. After showering she came out of the bathroom with a pink towel wrapped around her chest, she picked a simple outfit, one in which she was comfortable and fit her slender body perfectly. As she took her purse from the table, her gaze fell on the scar on her right arm which she had no memory of how she got but had been there since she was a child. She shoved the thought aside as she headed out of her house.
As she walked past the street, she could hear others whisper and curse, she was already used to it. She ignored them and headed straight to Flora Flowers where she bought a bouquet of Lilies for her dad. As Ava head towards the graveyard, she could hear more whispers?
Hey! Freak an unfamiliar voice yelled she knew he was talking to her but she ignored him.
Thats right keep walking demon! he added spitting on the floor. Tears threatened to fall from Ava’s eyes Its fine Ava, its nothing youre used to this already Ava tried to console herself as she continued to walk.
After a couple of minutes, she arrived at the cemetery. She looked to make sure that she was all alone. She had already taken enough curses and insults just for one day and she wasnt sure if she could take anymore.
After confirming that there was no one else around she felt more relaxed as she found a good spot to sit in between the grave of her parents.?
As she stared at the worn-out grave of her parents, she tried to fight back the tears that had already welled up her eyes, she remembered the promise she made to them the last time she came. She had promised to never shed a tear no matter what but here she was again, crying uncontrollably like a little child, but she couldnt help it, her parents were dead and there was?
Nothing she could do about it, she was all alone, and it was her against the world.
Taking a deep breath she dried her tears with the back of her hands. She had finally summoned enough courage to speak to her parents. She placed the fresh lilies which she had bought earlier on their grave.
Mom, Dad, its me, Ava. I know that its been a while since I last came here to pay my respects but please, dont be mad at me. Its just been tough for me. Nothing much has changed though, everything is still the same, they all still hate and bully me as usual but its fine, because Ive already gotten used to it. I dont let their insults get to me any longer just like you would have wanted. She adjusted her sitting position to get a clearer view of the graves.
Dad, another year has passed since youve left me all alone in this miserable world. Maybe what they all say about me is true, just maybe if I didnt come into this world you and Mom would still be alive today.
As soon as she made the last statement, heavy winds began to blow causing the trees to rustle, causing a disturbance to the serenity of the cemetery. Ava always took this as a sign that her parents were trying to communicate with her.
Judging from how hard the wind blew across her face, it wasnt hard to tell that her parents disagreed with what she had just said or maybe she was just over thinking things but whatever it was, it made her feel calm and set her mind at ease. It took a few more minutes before the wind finally settled down.
Well mom, dad I have something important to tell you. She paused, feeling a bit shy about what she was going to say. Her eyes twinkled and the corner of her mouth lifted, showing how excited about how about the news.
A few months ago, I told you about Damian, the Alpha of our pack, well today, he is finally going to choose a mate who is going to be the new Luna of Moonwood pack. I know that there is nothing for someone like me to look forward to but honestly, I cant help but feel something special for him, its like any time I see him, and I feel this special bond between us just like we were made for each other, my inner wolf always acts up whenever I see him. She had already started daydreaming about Damian again.
She paused again, returning to reality, as her smile gradually faded and darkness clouded her features, Who am I kidding she realized that she was only lying to herself. The one she had admired for almost half her life, he had never cast his gaze upon her. He had always treated her coldly and never showed any kind of emotion towards her.?
Ava spent a few more hours in the cemetery before heading back home.
Later that evening
Ava sat ideally in her room doing nothing in particular. The pack was almost empty as everyone was already gathered for long long-awaited moon mating ceremony which was taking place at Moon Square. A sudden knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.
Who could that be? She thought to herself as she made her way to the door, she opened it revealing a really beautiful Alora, her gorgeous dress and exotic makeup, showed that she was all ready for the event.
Wow Alora, you look so beautiful. Ava complimented.
Yeah, I already know that, but why arent you ready yet. She asked making her way into Avas house and headed straight to the closet.
Ava didnt have an answer, she wasnt even sure about the reason she decided to not attend the event.
Let me guess, its because youre scared right, you dont want others to talk bad about you. But you dont have to worry cause am here for you. Alora assured her making her feel more at ease.
So now lets get you ready cause we have a party to wreck Alora teased making Ava smile, for the first time since that day.
There you go. Alora said, after applying the last touch of makeup on Avas face you look stunning Alora commended Ava after taking a close look at her.
Ava was stunned when she finally looked at the mirror, she couldnt believe that it was her very own reflection she was looking at. She had always known that Alora was very good at fashion but this was just unbelievable.
Thank you so much Alora, youve helped me out. I dont know what Id ever do without you by my side
How many times do I have to remind you that you dont have to thank me for every single thing I do for you, were friends and we always have to look after each other, besides Ive always loved fashion and Im kinda thinking of taking it as a profession. Alora added.
If one day I become a famous designer, I will choose you to be my model. Alora teased and they both laughed. The sound of a loud bell signified the beginning of the mate selection and the end of their daydreaming.
They made their way out of the house and headed straight to Moon Square. They had wasted a lot of time on make-up and petty conversation that they had lost track of time. It was almost midnight, the streets were bubbling, filled with lots of decorations and performances. The moon was unusually bright that evening, it was shining more than it did before, everyone was celebrating and the air was magical.
I feel like there is something strange going on this evening, just look at how the moon is shining brightly, this has never happened before, do you think its a sign that something bad is going to happen? Ava asked, unable to shake off the uneasiness she had been feeling since they left the house.
Oh come on Ava, do you have to be such a pessimist. Alora asked. Look, the whole pack is celebrating and the atmosphere is just extraordinary, I think that the moons presence is an auspicious sign that tonight will be one of the most unforgettable days of our lives, so just chill and enjoy the night cause you never know, you might never get this chance again.
Alohas optimism always had a way of rubbing off positively on Avas mood, but this time it didnt work, no matter how hard she tried to shake off the negative feelings, it always came back to disrupt her happy thoughts.
Avas deep thought was interrupted when Alora took her hands and before she knew it, they were dancing under the moonlight. A few minutes later, they were both laughing and trying to catch their breath.
Do you feel better now Alora asked as they continued their journey to Moon Square.
If I say no, are you gonna make me dance again.?
Probably Ava teased and they both laughed
They continued talking and walking until they finally arrived at Moon Square.
The atmosphere in Moon Pack was breathtaking. The decorations outside was nothing compared to the one inside the main square. All the wolves were gathered everyone dressed with elegance. The celebration had already started, loud music filled the air, drinks were served and the dance floor was filled with entertainers but the Alpha was nowhere in sight.
Ava and Alora found a good spot to sit and Alora ordered a drink for both of them.
This is crazy right. Alora spoke at the top of her.
What? Ava replied trying to understand what Alora had just said. The loud music was interfering with their hearing.
The party, I said its crazy, they went all out for the preparations Alora said, speaking louder.
Yeah, youre right about that. The future Luna is going to be lucky, Ava commented.
A group of girls passed by, they said hello to Alora but ignored Ava as if she was invisible. Its better than being insulted all over again she consoled herself. Alora excused herself from the table and followed her friends leaving Ava all alone.
Ava didnt feel comfortable sitting alone without Alora, she was already getting bored. The selection was about to begin and Alora was nowhere in sight.
Whatsup freak A familiar voice called from behind. Ava turned to see Madison and her group of minions standing behind her.
Please, I dont want any trouble. Ava pleaded. Madison moved closer and dragged Ava by the hair.
You dont want any trouble? Then why did you show up here in the first place, youve got some nerves coming here, acting all high and mighty. It seems you have forgotten your place in this pack so why dont I give you a little reminder? Madison pushed Ava to the floor at that time, the other pack members had already taken notice of what was happening but all they could do was laugh at her.
Ava was down on the cold floor, crying her eyes out as the others made mockery of her, she wondered what sort of joy they derived from making her life miserable.
A loud growl was heard from a distance announcing the arrival of the Alpha. The members of the Moon pack all took their positions to greet the Alpha.
Ava pulled herself together and tried to stand up, she was about to fall again when a hand caught her.?
What the heck happened to you while I was gone? Alora asked, supporting Ava to stand on her feet.
Its nothing, I accidentally slipped and fell thats all. Ava lied trying to cover up the bullying.
Accident? Take a good look at yourself, you can barely stand on your own and you tell me its an accident Alora scolded. Tell me, who did this to you am going to make sure they dont get away with it. Alora threatened.
You dont have to worry so much about me, I already told you Im fine and if anyone dares to bully me, Ill tell you right away, I promise. Ava said giving a reassuring smile.
All the girls between the age of 18-20 were instructed to stand in a queue, Ava and Alora joined the other girls and stood in the line, Ava was nervous her palms were sweaty and her heart was beating fast, Damon was the first to pick since he was the Alpha. He walked past a lot of girls and he was getting closer to where Ava was standing, Ava couldnt help but admire him, he was very handsome and she had always had a crush on him since she was young. Though theyd never spoken to each other, it felt like he hated her for some reasons unknown to her.
Avas wolf was both excited and nervous, but who wouldnt be after seeing your crush your long-time crush up close everything about him was just mind-blowing, perfect.
Damon moved past the line of girls with caution and full focus, trying not to miss anything important. Damon stopped in front of Alora, after observing her for a while; he gave a half smile and shook his head in approval as he continued moving along the line.
As Damon moved closer to where Ava was standing, she began to feel uncomfortable. She didnt understand why but something felt off, all her excitement turned to anxiety either way, she didnt want to wait any longer, all she wanted at that moment was to go back home.
As she turned to leave, she came face to face with Damon, she had been so engrossed in her thoughts that she bumped into him.?
Am sorry, I didnt mean to bump into you please forgive me. Ava pleaded, bowing her head.
Damon didnt say anything but stared at Ava his expression was a mix of confusion, surprise, and disgust. Avas wolf was going insane it was screaming Mate! Inside her head, she was surprised, Damon was her freaking mate. Damons wolf was not left out as he tried to keep his wolf calm, how could this be possible? Was the Moon goddess playing a trick on him? Why her of all people? He hated her with every fiber in his being and now shes his mate??
Follow me He said roughly dragging Ava from the line to the front of the platform. Confusion swept past the face of the crowd. They all had different questions in their mind but had to wait for the Alpha to clear the air. Confusion was also written all over Avas face, why was he dragging her onto the stage? Was he going to claim her in front of everyone? Several thoughts were going through Avas mind with the feeling of uneasiness creeping in. Damon gave a loud growl to get the attention of the crowd.?
I welcome you all to the official mate selection ceremony of Moonwood pack, As you all know this ceremony doesnt come by often, as tradition dictates, our mates are chosen by the Moon goddess and no one can go against it. The mate who has been sent to me is none other than Ava Sterling. He announced.
The crowd went wild, disbelief written on the faces of many on how Ava, the weakest and most hated werewolf in Moonwood pack could become the Luna. Disbelief and confusion were written all over Avas face. She didnt know what she was supposed to feel about the news but one important lesson she had learned from life is to never be hasty to make decisions or jump to conclusions so, she waited to hear what else Damon had to say.
I, Damon Harrighton reject the will of the moon goddess and reject you, Ava Sterling as my mate and Luna of Moonwood Pack Tears wailed up Avas eye did he just bring up here to shamefully reject her, she was used to being treated badly but this was different she just got rejected by her mate, she knew he didnt like her particularly but what did she do to him to make him treat her such manner.
Why? Ava asked with her head bowed, lower lips trembled and her voice was barely audible tears were already falling down her cheek Is it because am an Omega? Is it because am not powerful like everyone else, tell me Why!? she yelled this time her voice echoed stopping the crowd from murmuring. All eyes were now on Ava and Damon everyone wanted to know where this was going.?
Dont you ever get tired of pretending to be weak? When exactly do you plan on apologizing for the life you took? Damon shouted at the top of his voice, and rage pulsed through his veins.
I dont understand what you are talking about. She replied, still unsure where this conversation was heading.
Flashback
Dad, Dad please wake up! Please Dad stay with me young Damon cried holding onto his fathers almost lifeless body. Little Ava stared blankly at the almost lifeless body with blood stains on her dress and a bleeding wound on her right arm unable to comprehend what was happening.
You! You did this Damon growled pushing Ava to the ground and tried to strangle her, there was no form of struggle or resistance from her; it was as if she was in a deep trance. Damon continues to put pressure on his hands all he wanted to do was kill Ava.
Damon A weak and faint voice called, he turned to see his father gesturing him to stop. He rushed over to where his father was.
Son, He managed to say Promise me that no matter what youre not going to blame or harm her because of me, its not her fault he said coughing out blood
But dad. He cried trying to protest.
Promise me He added using his last breath to say.
I. I promise More tears streamed from his eyes to his cheeks as his father gave up the ghost.
End of flashback
My father died because of you, you killed him Damon said
Me? What are you talking about? I did no such thing Ava added in disbelief. Why was he accusing her of killing his father, she has never seen and doesnt have any memory of the previous Alpha so why would she kill him?
Stop pretending Ava! What will you say about the scare on your right arm huh!? Damon yelled grabbing her right arm roughly she was scared and confused she looked over to the crowd tears dripping endlessly from her eyes nobody was saying anything, they all just stood there watching with utter disgust, nobody would speak up or defend her after all they hated her, she looked over at Alora but she had a blank expression.?
I dont know what youre talking about Ava managed to say?
Still, feigning ignorance? He asked scoffing Youre only alive because I made a promise to my dad not to kill you he added shoving her aggressively making her land on her butt. Ava wined in pain because she fell on the hard floor, her right arm was in pain because of the way Damon held her there was nothing she could say at this point nobody would believe her.
I will never accept you nor will I ever forgive you Damon said leaving her on the platform and heading back down to the queue he went straight to Alora and held her hand, he walked her to the platform confusion written in the face of everyone no one knew what their Alpha was up to.
I, Damon Harrighton take Alora Mcgrave as my mate he announced.
The crowd gasped in shock no one saw that coming, Ava was completely dumbfounded what was happening? Why would he choose Alora instead she looked over at Alora who was happy about the news, more tears trickled from Avas cheek she was really on her own now.
If anyone objects, I dare him to speak Damon asked as the cold tune in his voice echoed no one would dare object to the Alphas decision, and besides theyd rather have anyone else as Luna instead of Ava the crowd howled in support of Damons decision
Good, let the ceremony continue Damon added as the crowd howled even more loudly.
Ava shamefully pulled herself up from the floor her body was aching because of the hard fall but more importantly, her heart was broken. She took a glance at Alora one more time before leaving the platform. She dragged her sore body along the quiet street everyone was in the ceremony no one was home, the cold breeze blew fiercely goose bumps appeared on her skin she was cold. Avas wolf Pam was devastated, hurt and in pain she was most excited about meeting her mate but she was rejected;
Pam I am sorry, sorry youre stuck with someone like me. Because of me, we got rejected Ava said trying to apologize to Pam as fresh tears rolled down her cheek
Hes an idiot for rejecting us, we didnt do anything wrong and its not your fault Ava, lets just get home Pam replied trying to cheer Ava. Avas relationship with her wolf was very unique, they communicate with each other and share feelings and emotions. Ava walked home, heartbroken and defeated.
?
The next day
Ava sat ideally in her room staring into space, she glanced at the untouched food she had prepared earlier but didnt have the appetite. For She had locked herself up in her house, she didnt have the guts to show her face outside not after her disgrace.
A loud knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. Who could that be? She wondered standing up from where she was seated and made her way to the living room, as soon as she opened the door; she was standing face to face with Alora. Before she could say anything else, Alora had already made her way into the room and shut the door behind her.
Oh my dear Ava, I am so sorry that I couldnt drop by earlier, you know, Ive been so busy lately, I barely even have time for myself, so how have you been? Alora said, faking a smile.
If you came here to mock me, you can just say it, am weak but not stupid, you dont have to put on an act for me anymore. I understood your intentions from the very beginning but I still choose to live in a fools paradise. I saw the signs but I chose to ignore them and I guess this is the punishment for my ignorance.
You never really saw me as a friend but just a puppet you could manipulate and control. Every single time I was bullied, I always felt that someone was watching from the shadows, someone who hated me so much but remained faceless it was you all along wasnt it.
Well I guess you arent as stupid as I thought, but you still have a long way to go to get where I am today, since youve already taken off my mask, theres no reason to be nice to you anymore. You know what Ava all my life Ive never hated anyone as much Ive hated you, well apart from my parents. Ever since we were kids, my parents always compared me to you. Even though you were so weak, they still admired your cheerful and smart character and then one day I overheard my dad speaking to my mom, back then, my dad was the most trusted aid to the Alpha, they were like brothers so I always believed that I would become the future Luna not until that day my father told my mother that the one born with the crescent birthmark will be the future Luna of our pack.
I didnt need anyone to give me the name before I realized it was you and that was the day the new Alora Mcgrave was born. I started strategizing on how to change my fate. I knew that if I wanted success I needed to be smart and scheming. To change my future, I intertwined my fate with yours. I came into your life as a good and protective friend, you trusted me without suspecting anything but I guess thats what you get from being a loner.?
I was the one who started the rumors around town, destroying your name and reputation. I manipulated every single one in this pack and turned them against you and made you an outsider, and since I couldnt go after you myself, I used Madison as my puppet to do so.
After I became strong enough to stand on my own, I got rid of my parents just to make sure they wouldnt hinder me in the future Alora added chuckling
Ava gasped in surprise and fear; she never actually thought that Alora would go to such lengths just to become Luna. She knew that a few years ago, Alohas parents died so mysteriously but she never really thought that Alora had a hand in their deaths How could you do such a heartless thing to your parents? Ava asked still in shock.
You dont have to look so surprised about it, they never actually saw me as their flesh and blood, nothing I did was ever good enough for them so, I decided to put an end to their pitiful lives so that I could finally have peace and be free to do whatever I wanted.
My original plan was to use you to get close to Damon and when the right time came, I would get rid of you too and by then, he would have already fallen for me. But I never expected that Damons hatred for you was more than mine and he would even go as far as defying the Moon goddess just to get rid of you. Wanna know why Damon chose me, it is because he believes that we are friends, and by choosing me, you wouldnt have anyone else by your side thats how much he despises you, Ava. Either way, it still worked in my favor. I didnt just use you as a puppet but more like a tool I could use to achieve and am glad you didnt disappoint my expectations.
Youre a heartless monster! Ava said backing away from Alora as terror overtook her face
Point of correction, its heartless Luna to you Alora corrected giving her a dirty look
I took you as a friend, I genuinely cared for you, I trusted and followed you, I would have gladly given my up my life for you, but instead, you manipulated and deceived me, you ruined my life all because of your greed and selfishness. Youre getting married to him knowing full well that he doesnt even love you, tell me now, is it all worth it?
Everything felt so wrong, everything was a lie the one person that she thought had her back was the one who destroyed her life, and Ava wondered what she had done so wrong to deserve such a life. Alora was a complete monster, it was like she was another person entirely she hid her true intentions all these years just to ruin her life.
It doesnt matter if it was worth it or not, Ive gotten everything I have ever wanted but youve lost everyone and everything youve ever had and thats enough satisfaction for me. Maybe its your fate to end up alone, just accept it Alora gave a half smile as she turned to leave but stopped.
Damon and I will be getting married in two days, I would love to invite you but I dont want any problems at the wedding so I guess Ill be seeing you around. And with that, she stormed out of the house leaving Ava in a state of shock and disbelief.
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She returned to her bedroom immediately Alora left the house, as soon as her back touched the bed, she wrapped herself in her own fur and cried herself to sleep.
Ava’s hair was a tangle and her eye bags were heavy when she woke up the following day, with a painful headache, she walked slowly to the bathroom, and changed into a comfortable outfit.?
She looked at the bruise from Damon’s hard grab, which was starting to heal thanks to the ointment she had applied. She cleaned her face and went back to her room. She turned to face the window to see what was going on when she heard a noise coming from outside.
The news of the Alpha and his soon-to-be Luna’s wedding was being announced by park Custodian. The custodian’s words seemed to be prearranged, since he only had good things to say about Alora as if she were a goddess of some sort. Ava rolled her eyes in disgust, Alora had once again succeeded in ruining her day.
Her eyes shifted from the window to the pictures hanging on the wall. It was she and Alora together, and they brought back many wonderful memories. However, the anger she was feeling at that moment overshadowed whatever happiness they had once shared.
Ava angrily knocked the photos off the wall, breaking the glass frame into tiny pieces.
Fuck! She was trying to pick up the glass shards when a piece of glass pierced her her finger. She let out a loud curse, but the pain from the wound was nothing in compared to the pain she felt in her heart. As she watched her wounds heal, she realized that being a werewolf still had its benefits.?
Ava was filled with even more rage as she saw her blood all over Alora’s totn picture. She slumped in the corner of her room and cried once again. At that moment, the thought of running away didn’t seem like a bad idea. She just couldn’t?take the torment any longer.
Ava wiped the tears from her face, realizing that leaving would be the wisest thing to do because staying would just make her life more miserable. She didn’t think it would be a horrible idea to be a stray. How bad could it be, considering her current situation?
She immediately headed to her closet and removed a tiny backpack, filling it with everything she owned, after finally deciding to take matters into her own hands, she would make her move tomorrow when everyone was busy celebrating. She didn’t know if the choice she was making was the right one, but at the moment, all she wanted was to escape as quickly as possible; she would consider the other options later. All she had to do was wait for tomorrow, when her problems would finally be resolved.
The next day
Ava’s plan began at exactly 7:45a.m., having gotten up early due to her lack of sleep the previous night and finished all her preparation for the journey ahead. She had already packed her backpack with enough food and clothing for her trip.
The wedding was not until midnight, to be celebrated under the moonlight, she was unable to leave the house until members of the pack finished getting ready for the Alpha and his Luna’s union.
Ava had planned to go to her parent’s grave to say goodbye to them before she left, but she was unable to buy flowers this time since she didn’t want to draw attention to herself. She covered her face with a hood and wore simple clothes. She walked for an hours after leaving her residence until she reached the grave.?
Many things crossed her mind as she looked at her parents’ graves. Perhaps her life might have turned out differently now if her parents hadn’t passed away when she was born. If her uncle hadn’t abandoned her and choose to run away or if he had just taken her with him, she might not have suffered as much. Instead, she would have had no worries in the world since they would have been there to love and protect her.?
Perhaps people wouldn’t have looked down on her if she weren’t simply so weak, or perhaps if she had been born a strong werewolf. She wouldn’t have to go through as much suffering if things had gone differently. However, that was not her reality. She was a broken friend, a weak omega, an abandoned daughter, a rejected mate, and now she would have to add a soon to be rogue to her list of failings.?
Mom, Dad, its me Ava She paused I came here to say good bye, but this time, I dont know if Ill be able be able to visit your graves again. I did all I could to endure all the attacks and humiliations for so many years but now am worn out, I cant take it anymore. I know that theres nothing left for me anymore, so I have to leave this place while I still have a chance.” Tears rolled down Avas cheeks, she didnt want to abandon her parent but leaving was her only option.?
I am sorry because I know am letting you down once again and I hope that this is the last time I will ever disappoint you ever again. A strong wind blew across the entire cemetery as she turned to go after giving the two graves one last glance.?
With every step she took, the sound of falling autumn leaves sounded loudly. What mattered was the plan ahead; she couldn’t afford to look back, therefore it didn’t matter if her parents were trying to discourage her from leaving or to support her.
Later that evening
The wedding had officially begun and the street was empty. “It’s time,” she thought to herself, inhaled deeply, and gave her room a quick look before heading out. Ava became curious about the union after hearing the loud howls that seemed to be coming from Moon Square. It was a sign that the union had already begun, and the streets were deserted, much like the night of the mating ceremony.
A part of her wanted to see Damon and Alora. She spent the next few minutes deliberating if she should leave immediately or watch the wedding, her curiosity got the better of her, and she stopped to watch from a distance. The color drained from her face as she watched one of the eldest Ancient join Damon and Alora in union.?
This is the last time am ever going to shed a tear because of anyone and this is the last time am going to let anyone hurt me like this, thats a promise Ava swore to herself that night. She turned her back and walked away, leaving everything and everyone behind. And from that day her fate was sealed
Ava ran into the woods as quickly as her legs, could carry her but she had no idea how far she still had to go since it seemed like she would never stop. She had only heard that a cliff marked the boundary of Moonwood territory; she had never visited the actual territorial boundary. She realized that she was standing on a steep cliff and stopped.?
This is it, the territorial borderline she muttered, She partially smiled realizing the freedom she had always desired had finally appeared. It was almost like a forest as she looked over the height of the cliff, with nothing but trees in sight below it. Ava released an irritated sigh.
I cant chicken out now She said tying to motivate herself.?
Fuck, here goes nothing she yelled and jumped. She landed on her right elbow and hip after jumping, and she screamed in pain as she felt a stinging ache on her shoulder. She was standing with her left arm supporting her right arm due to a dislocated right shoulder. She pulled out one of her tops from her bag pack, wrapped it around her right arm, and tied it around her neck.
After tending to her shoulder, she zipped her bag and slung it over her left shoulder. The injuries she sustained was not unexpected, being an omega not only made her one of the weakest wolf in her pack but also meant that her healing process was far slower than an average wolf.
She was officially a stray and had no idea what to do. Although the injury would definitely slow her down, there was no going back at this point.? She strolled for what seemed like an eternity, moving past trees.
Where the fuck is this place!? Ava yelled out in frustration, Whats the plan now? She thought in her head. She had the audacity to pack her bags and run away from home without hesitation, but now she found herself stranded, without any destination or plans, in the middle of nowhere.
She was almost certain she was lost, she didnt even bring a map. She started to question whether leaving Moonwood was the correct decision once more. She had been walking all night, and since it was almost dawn and she was probably already far from Moonwood, she made the decision to take a nap.
Even though it was midday, Ava was already making her way across the mountains. Because of her injuries, she was unable to move at her best speed, and on that, most of the rocks were high.?It was almost dusk when she finally found a tiny cave where she could spend the night.
The next morning..
Ava was woken up by the sound of persistent sound of chirping birds. Knowing that she wouldnt be getting any more sleep made her grumble, so she made the decision to eat some snacks and carry on with her journey.?
After she finished her preparation, she continued her journey. She walked for a long time, already feeling lost. Then she found a path that split into two roads. She stood there, not sure which way to go. Both roads were seemed very strange and this made her feel very uncomfortable.
It was difficult for her to decide which way to choose because she didnt know where the roads led to. She decided to take the route that goes around the Forest’s path. As far as her head her eyes could see, the trees seemed to touch the sky.
As she walked deeper into the forest, the world around her began to blur. Was this real, or was she dreaming? The forest felt alive, as if it knew she was there. She could hear it whisper and move. Fog covered the air making it almost impossible to see anything.
She wasnt sure what was real and what was just her imagination.
She could hear curses and insults she had once experienced while at Moonwood came back to haunt her, replaying in her mind and refusing to go away.
No, no none of this is real Ava said repeatedly shaking her head, she was trying to shake off the thought and come to her senses.
Get out my head Ava shouted covering her ear immediately the fogs disappeared and all the hallucination and voices stopped.
She was surprised to see how everything had halted so suddenly and wondered what was going on. It seemed as though nothing had happened, was she dreaming? Only moments before, fog covered the entire area and she was hallucinating.
Her face was full of fear, as she rushed as fast as she could to escape because she was afraid of having to stay there any longer. She was grateful to the moon goddess for her kind the ability to move quickly, even though she was not as fast as others. She came to a stop when she came across a meadow.
How much longer can I continue? Ava thought. Her right shoulder injury was still healing slowly, she had hardly slept, and she was already feeling weak and in unbearable pain. She needed urgent treatment as well as enough rest and food. She pulled out her water bottle from her bag pack and took a sip, but it was not enough to satisfy her thirst, she still needed to save some for later. She sat under one of the oak trees to hide from the sun.
It wasn’t long after she rested her body on the oak tress that she began to hear the sound of footsteps moving close to the place she was sitting. She quickly hide herself and carefully peeked invented the branches of the oak tree to see who it was.
Who are they? she whispered to herself as she kept observing from a distance till the approached. Ava felt a wave of fear as soon as she realized that those individuals were hunters, equipped with firearms, a silver bullet-filled cartridge belt holder, and werewolf fangs hanging around their necks. Ava was frozen, unable to move at all, having heard about the horrible things that hunters had done to werewolves
Werewolf Hunters
Ava was only thinking about how she could run without attracting their attention after watching them for almost an hour, the men had finally vanished from view. She moved slowly and looked around to make sure no one was nearby before coming out from her hiding spot.
Once she was sure, she hurriedly packed her belongings and resumed her journey, Even though she was exhausted, she couldnt afford to relax just not until she was certain of her safety.
As night drew near, Ava still hadn’t found a comfortable place to spend the night. She chose to take a short break because her legs were starting to hurt. She took a seat under a little shade tree and stayed there for some time.?
After a while, she decided to take a quick nap. but not long after, she heard footsteps coming from different directions . She glanced about, but saw no one. It was almost to nightfall, making it difficult to see moving figures.
She was in too much of a hurry to find out who or what it was. She hastily packed her belongings, and the moment she entered the wide field, a thick, metal chain dropped upon her. She tried to struggle free, but nothing she did was working.
Why am I unable to cut myself free ? I should be able to escape this chain even if Im not strong enough to do so right now Ava thought to herself as she tried in vain to free herself from the chains, her body beginning was already weak due to the chains apparent physical effects. If the chains had been normal, she ought to have been able to free herself, but this was abnormal in every way.
No! Its a silver chain Ava saw a clear glimpse of the chain and knew she was doomed. To her species, silver was akin to poison; it could destroy any werewolf and could take a werewolf down with a single silver bullet. The sound of footsteps in front of her interrupted her thoughts.
“Well, well, well, look what we have right here, ” A tall, unclean-looking hunter with a false golden tooth spoke first, his face plastered with a smile. It would be hard to get away from them, Ava realized as she looked around and saw that there were six of them.?
Please let me go Ava tried pleading
Why would a werewolf hunter let go of his prey? He grabbed her hair violently in response. Ava screamed in pain, feeling as though her hair was being pulled out of her head.?
Boss, we caught a good one this time another voice said
We sure did, lets take her back he replied letting go of Avas hair.?
Get up .He ordered and Ava obeyed and stood up , one of the hunters violently took the chain off her, she was in pain no doubt about that and had bruises all over her body; she just wanted to cry. Now that her right shoulder was completely wrapped in chain, the pain was killing her.
Ava was taken back to their camp and placed in a cage that was still secured with silver chains. She was shaking with anxiety already. Growing up, she heard horrific stories about werewolves being hunted by wolf hunters. She was certain that whatever they planned to do to her, it wouldnt end well. They might sell her for money, skin her alive for her fur and skin, or maybe just murder her.
The light from the burning wood was the only source of light as it was almost midnight. The men were eating and drinking like barbarians, laughing and talking among themselves. They spoke about what they were going to do to her as soon as the daybreak.?
A couple of hours later
The firelight was already out. The surroundings were peaceful but the air was very cold. The night owls were crying somewhere around the tress. Ava was unable to fall asleep, but how could she when as soon as day break she would already be as good as dead. But on the other hand, the men were sleeping soundly inside their tents.
Perhaps this marks the end of my journey; perhaps I will never be able to achieve the freedom I long for in this life, and perhaps I will only be completely free when i finally leave this world. Ava thought to herself as she let out a heavy sigh, she gave up on her faith and closed her eyes, allowing tears to run down her cheek.
A few minutes later, she began to hear the sound of footsteps close to her cage and before she knew what was happening, the door of the cage flew open.
Whos there? She whispered looking around trying to see who was there but got no reply.
Looking over her opened cage she was hesitant to escape her prison. She didnt know if someone was trying to help her escape or maybe It might just be another trap. She sniffed around trying to get the person scent, but she couldnt smell them plus it was still dark to see who it was but she was sure that she felt someones presence.
Before Ava could think of anything else, she suddenly heard a strange voice,
Run The presence she had sensed before disappeared as soon as a voice spoke.
She would definitely find time to thank whoever or whatever had freed her later, but for now, she had to get away quickly. At once she was on her heels, running as fast as her legs could carry her.
The night was gradually giving way to full sunshine as morning approached. Ava was running barefoot and was already tired but she couldn’t stop.
As soon as she was sure she had reached a safe distance, she stopped to rest and take a moment to regain her strength.?
“There she is, catch her at once.” A voice called from a distance .
How did they find me? Ava muttered under her breath I cant let them catch me again she thought as she continued running, her injuries made it difficult for her to keep moving, as the voices were getting louder she was unable to move much faster.
Ava arrived reached the edge of the mountains top. She was standing over a massive waterfall and was unable to move forward for fear of drowning.?
The only possible option now was to go back. As soon as she turned, she came face to face with the werewolf hunters.
How dare you make us run this far? You sure do run fast for a girl.? A harsh voice said.
What are we going to do to her, boss? another questioned
Were going to give this bitch a lesson, I suppose. He grinned. Take her. The men started to approach Ava as he gave the order.
Ava continued to slowly move backyard until she got to the brink, she knew that there was no way out for her, she was already surrounded and she couldnt swim, but still she decided to take matters into to her own hands and take the risk rather than being taken prisoner once more. She then jumped into the flowing river
Ava fell into the flowing river, She tried to swim up, but the water was too strong and she was already running out of breathe. She fought hard, but eventually, she started getting tired. Her lungs were hurt as she tried as much as possible to swim up. She was very tired and couldn’t fight anymore. The water felt heavy. As she sank down as it got dark.
The last thing she remembered was being pulled from under water and before she knew what was going on, she found herself lying on soft grass. Her chest felt very heavy.
Ava coughed up water, She blinked several times and tried to look around to see where she was surprised to be alive. Her whole body was hurt and felt heavy. She shook, not from cold, but from the shock of almost dying.
“I’m alive!” she shouted. She had been through many bad things since leaving Moonwood. Everything had been hard and scary.
She supported her right shoulder with her other hand, finally realizing that if she didn’t find a safe place soon, it was not going to end well for her.
Her stomach made a loud noise. She was very hungry because she hadn’t eaten in a long time so she decided to stay where she was for the day. Her clothes were wet, so she waited for them to dry in the sun. While she waited, she was still hungry.
She looked around to see if there was any place she could get food from, her eyes rested on a nearby river. The thought of catching some fish to eat came to her mind.
She hesitated for a while before summoning up enough courage to go close to the river. The water was moving fast but she was careful not to fall in again. She tried to catch fish with her hands. It was hard, but she finally caught some.
“Finally, I’ve got something to eat”. Ava said happily eating her hard earned food.
After eating, Ava found a good spot to rest. She was still alone and far from home. But she was alive, had food, and could rest. All she hoped was things would get better soon.
The next day, Ava started walking again. She had been walking for hours. It felt like her journey would never end. She couldn’t stay in her human form anymore. She changed into her wolf form. This helped her move faster. But her hurt shoulder made it hard. She had to be careful not to touch her right paw to the ground.
Ava walked through the forest for a long time. As she moved further into the forest, she began to see something on the ground. They were footprints, but not normal ones. They were werewolf footprints. Ava knew immediately this was a dangerous place. Rogues lived here. They didn’t follow the rules unlike the Werewolves.
Suddenly, Ava heard a loud noise of growling and leaves moving. She stopped walking immediately.
Three angry werewolves jumped out of the shadows. Their eyes looked very scary, they moved around her, trapping her in a circle.
“Look what we found. A hurt little wolf.” A big dark wolf was the first to speak.
“I don’t want to fight. I’m just walking through here.” Ava replied, trying to be brave for the first time in her life.
“You can’t just walk through our land. You’re wrong, little one and we are going to make you pay for it.”
“We don’t like wolves like you here. You look weak.” The third rogue added.
Ava looked at each of them. She wanted to find a way to escape but she was trapped and couldn’t fight them either.
“Please listen. I’m not doing anything wrong. I told you, I’m not dangerous. I just want to keep walking. Please let me go.”
Ava hoped that her plea would make them leave her alone but instead, it only made them very angry. The first rogue jumped on Ava with his sharp teeth. He almost bit her neck. Ava made a scared noise and moved her head. The werewolf’s teeth just missed her. Ava’s hurt shoulder felt very bad as she moved back.
Little wolf, you can’t fight us. There is no use struggling”.
Then all three Rogues attacked Ava at the same time. Two of them bit her legs. The other one pushed her down on the ground. Ava screamed because it hurt so much.
The rogues seemed happy to hurt Ava. They kept biting her and laughing. Ava was bleeding a lot from the bites but they didn’t stop. They had injured her so much that she was already loosing a lot of blood.
Suddenly, they heard a loud growl which came from the forest. A werewolf came out of the trees. He was very big and strong. He looked stronger than the rogue. His eyes looked very angry.
“Let her go now! Or face my wrath !” He spoke with a lot of authority. The rogues looked at each other. They were scared of the new werewolf.
“You heard me. I said let her go.” He repeated,
but this time with more force.
The rogues slowly moved away from Ava. They made angry noises, but they were afraid of the big werewolf.
“Let’s go.” The dark rogue ordered and they all ran away into the dark forest. They knew they couldn’t fight the big werewolf and the best thing for them to do was retreat.
The big werewolf watched to make sure that all the rogues had left. Then he looked at Ava.
“Hey, are you okay?” he asked, as he tried to help Ava stand up. But Ava was very hurt. She closed her eyes and fell asleep.
He looked worried and didn’t know if the wounded stranger would be okay. He wanted to help her. He thought about what to do next. Should he take her somewhere safe? Or try to wake her up? He knew she needed help fast.
Ava’s was trapped in a nightmare inside her own body. She was taken to the same terrifyingly dark forest that she knew as home in her dream, but it had become a nightmare version of itself. The whole forest was alive and as it seemed, it was out to get her.
Her pack mates still tormented her even in the nightmare, they still had the same hatred for her. In the dream, Ava tried to argue and beg them, but as they circled about her, laughing and raining curses on her.
“You have no value, you are a burden to the pack and you will always be at the bottom. One of them mocked her.
She ignored his words and tried to escape instead, but they wouldn’t let her go. Why even try? You will never belong here.
Ava struggled hard and finally managed to escape from them but things around her kept changing. She saw her house, but it looked wrong. Things inside were not normal. Chairs and tables looked weird.
The walls of the house seemed to move. They got closer to her. Ava felt stuck. The scariest part was feeling like someone was watching her. She couldn’t see who it was. She heard mean voices, but couldn’t see who was talking.
Ava tried to run, but her feet felt very heavy. It was hard to move. She wanted to yell for help, but no sound came out.
The nightmare changed again and this time, she found herself in a graveyard. She saw graves with her parents’ names. This made her very sad and scared.
Before she could say anything, the ground opened up. Ava fell into a deep, dark hole. She kept falling and falling and couldn’t stop.
Even though Ava was asleep, her body knew she was scared. Her heart beat fast, she was sweating.
Ava’s mind was her trapped in the dream, She couldn’t wake up. The nightmare went on and on. She wished someone would wake her up. She wanted the scary dream to end. But she was stuck in the nightmare.
“Youre not helpless. You underestimate your strength. You are not alone, and you just have to believe that you’re are special. I am here for you, don’t be scared anymore. The calming, quiet voice spoke to her everyday trying to give her the strength to fight on.
Ava battled until she felt that she could no longer bear it anymore. She lost count of the number of days she spent in this state.? However, as the voice continued to reach out to her everyday, she started to gather strength to try to fight back and to be able to finally put an end to the torment once and for all.
Finally, Ava found the courage to overcome her fears. When the her pack mate came to attack her, she felt brave.
“I am not weak. I am strong. which means you can’t hurt me anymore.” Ava said bravely holding her head up high.
The dream started to change. The rogues started disappearing . Ava was standing in the forest, feeling happy. She had won!
Then Ava woke up. She opened her eyes slowly. She was in a place where sick wolves get better. It belonged to a group called the Starry Howlers Pack. Ava felt confused. She didn’t know how long she had been asleep.
Im glad youre finally awake. Ill inform Hendrix about this new development, youve been through a lot, but youre safe now. A girl with a soft voice said before leaving the room.
A tall guy entered the room shortly after; he looked familiar, but Ava couldnt remember where she had seen him from but she was curious to know who he was.
Hey there, Hendrix said softly, offering a smile. Youre awake.
As soon as Ava saw him, she began to panic as she remembered the tragic incident that caused her to fall into a coma. She tried to scream, but her voice was stuck.
Hey, hey, its okay, youre safe I promise. The stranger tried to assure her.
However, Avas fear was beyond her control She tried to move her lips in an attempt to form words, but nothing came out.
Take your time and recover, if you don’t feel comfortable having anyone around yet, Ill leave and check on you later, I have some business to attend to anyway, but Im glad youre okay really. He added smiling before leaving the room. Ava wondered why he was nice to her, no one has treated her nicely but she wasnt about to open up or disclose who she was to these people she doesnt trust them at all. She made the mistake of trusting Alora before she wasnt planning on making the same mistake again.
The girl form earlier came into the room Are you hungry? she asked. Ava didnt respond but stared at her blankly Even if you cant talk am sure youre hungry, Ill go get you something to eat she added before leaving the room again.
A few minutes later she came back into the room with a plate of food and placed it on the table next to her.
I dont know the type of food you like to eat so, I just picked something simple. Eat it while its still hot, try and get some more rest, Ill check on you tomorrow. She said before leaving the room.
Ava stared blankly at the food, thinking about the worse things that could happen to her if she eat the food given to her by a stranger
Is it poisoned? She thought to herself. If they wanted me dead then why did they bother to save me She thought to head, looking at her situation now, she was in no place to question anyone or anything.
Poisoned or not, she was starving and she needed to eat. Better die with a full stomach rather than an empty one she muttered before digging into the food, she eat like her life depended on it, god knows how many days she had gone days without eating anything
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