Evelyn
9:30 p.m.
"I, Alpha Rufus of the Moon Pack…"
"Please, don't do this," I interrupted. "Please, we could still find a way around it. We could still work it out," I pleaded so desperately, my knees dragging on the floor when he yanked me off.
"There's nothing to work out here, Evelyn," that familiar voice snapped. I turned, stunned, to see Blair walking graciously toward us.
Red hair, hazel eyes, light-skinned, and she wore a tight blue gown that hugged her figure, leaving nothing to the imagination. Her heels clicked on the floor; it echoed too hard to resist.
"Blair?" I called out.
She shoved past me, planting a kiss that looked both passionate and real on Alpha Rufus's lips.
"You are nothing to him and have never been," she snorted, and I winced.
"Just say it and spare her the long wait. The poor omega isn't worth it," she blurted, in his grip while he snaked his arms around her waist with a kiss on her lips.
Tears blurred my vision as I watched the height of betrayal flung on me like a cold, freaking cloth too hard to bear.
"I, Alpha Rufus of the Moon Pack, reject you, Evelyn Packer, as my mate."
"Noooo!"
I screamed, clutching my arms to my chest. The pain was so severe that I dropped onto the cold marble floor with a grunt.
"That serves her right," Blair's hoarse words drummed in my ears.
I remained there in pain, imagining how the one I had grown and cherished as the sister I never had took my mate from me in such a manner.
I had waited earnestly for this day, my eighteenth birthday, when I would finally meet my mate and escape the torture and mockery as an omega maid in the palace. That wish was almost granted an hour ago when I first heard the voice of my wolf, Selena, and the scent of my wolf a few minutes later, which happened to be none other than the Alpha of the Moon Pack.
He was twenty-five years old and hadn't found his mate. At first, I thought he would be delighted to finally meet his mate, but those hopes were dashed into mud, served a cruel meal of rejection without as much as a second delay.
He despised me that much?
I never knew I was lying on the two-piece tiny bed that had more wood than a soft mattress until I felt the sharp, throbbing pains in my back. I didn't know how I was able to crawl back here—my room.
Tears flooded my eyes as I doubted how I would survive knowing both the stigma, pain, shame, and disgrace still clung to me.
But why wasn't he also affected by the rejection?
I barely slept through the night, and by the time I opened my eyes, it was already morning.
Slowly, I lifted my weak frame from the bed and crawled to the washroom. Soon, I was in the kitchen with a tray of coffee that was for Alpha Rufus.
The pain of his rejection still struck me real hard and unbearable, but if not for the fear that he might throw me in the dungeon like he does to any maid who doesn't keep to the usual morning routine of serving him his coffee on time, I would have just prayed I never set eyes on him again.
At least not this morning.
Soon, I was at his door. I knocked, got a response from him, and then pushed the door open.
My breath hitched. My heart almost left my chest at the freaking scene before me.
There my supposed mate was, having a nice time and f**king Blair like it meant nothing even after I entered the room.
They didn't stop. The sound echoed throughout the room and even in my bruised heart.
I felt invisible. Hurt. Like I could disappear that very minute.
My knees buckled, and I hurried over to the table to drop the tray of coffee, spurred to leave.
"Wait," Blair called out.
I froze.
"What makes you think your job is over here?" she scoffed, but I didn't turn. My arms flew to my chest.
I heard her chuckle and then she stormed out of the bed, walking past me lazily toward the table to retrieve the hot, steamy coffee.
She stirred it a little and took a sip, gritted her teeth, and next the hot, steamy coffee splashed on my face, washing down.
The sting, the pain, so severe that I clutched my ash-brown fabric, rubbing my arms all over to ease the burn.
"Next time, don't serve my Alpha this nonsense without adding a bit of sugar to it."
I fought to speak but couldn't find the words when I dashed out of the room, running desperately to nowhere in particular but the kitchen to retrieve a knife.
How could she? After everything we've been through together?
Blair's father, Beta Anthony, had adopted me when I was five and Blair seven. Ever since then, I had cherished her family as mine, but he died when I turned sixteen and Blair eighteen. We were left under Alpha Rufus's protection because his father, the late Alpha of the pack, was more than family to Beta Anthony.
Everything had been just fine except a year ago when I was reduced to an omega for a crime I never committed, while Blair was sent to finish her studies abroad.
"What makes you think you can survive it? Just do it." I turned to meet Vivian, a maid in the palace.
How did she get here?
"Need some help?" Her voice dripped with irritation. She clutched my arms tighter, the kitchen knife now at my chest.
"Let go," I fought against her grip. She hissed, letting go.
"Next time, don't opt for suicide because after you die, the pain wouldn't go away. You know why?" She raised a brow, wiping her arms. "Your body would be thrown into the Evil Forest to be feasted on by the beast."
She spun, leaving me to shiver at her words. The kitchen knife dropped down my arms in a hurry and I stared at her retreating back. The realization that I just needed to keep living despite everything slung me as tears blurred my vision.
Minutes later, I was back in the kitchen to begin the chores for the day, as my shift was in the kitchen for a week.
I picked up the carrots and veggies and washed them painfully. The memories refused to leave despite how much I tried to assure myself I needed to be strong.
"You will be okay, Evelyn. Just give it time," I whispered to myself. I sniffled and wiped the lone tear on my cheek before anyone came in to see me like this.
It wouldn't be a surprise to see them laugh because it's more like a normal routine that everyone doesn't give a f**k about me anymore.
Just halfway into chopping the carrots when I heard a loud crashing noise from the entrance of the kitchen.
Stunned. Frightened. I turned.
And the tray I held slipped, crashing to the floor, when I saw Blair's bloodied hand clutching the doorway, her lips trembling as she whispered,
"Evelyn… run."