Chapter two Two: Cast Aside
The first thing I felt was the emptiness.
Not sharp, physical pain. No—this was deeper, quieter, crawling into my chest and settling there as if it had always belonged. My lungs felt tight. My wolf whimpered faintly inside me, curling in on herself, trembling.
I opened my eyes slowly.
The ceiling above me was pale stone, carved with faint runes meant to heal the wounded. The smell of herbs and bitter roots filled the air. I was in the pack infirmary.
And yet… it was no comfort.
I reached inward instinctively, searching for the bond that had tied me to Kael. The thread that had always made him my Alpha, my mate, my anchor.
Nothing.
It wasn't just broken—it was gone. Snapped cleanly, violently, like it had never existed.
"She's awake."
The voice made me flinch. Elder Miriam stood near the foot of the bed, calm and composed. Her gray hair was braided down her back, and her hands were folded in front of her. She had raised me in part, trained me in pack manners, and still… she looked at me like a stranger.
"They rejected me," I said quietly, the words sounding hollow in my own ears.
"Yes," she replied, simply.
One word. Nothing else.
My throat tightened. "And the pack?"
"They follow the Alpha," she said.
My hands clenched into fists. "But I gave everything. Everything!"
"And yet," she said, "you are allowed to leave alive. That is mercy, child."
I shook my head. Mercy? This felt like a death sentence. My wolf whimpered again, weakly.
By the time the sun began to rise, I was escorted out of the infirmary. Not helped. Escorted. Two guards flanked me like I was a criminal. Wolves I had shared meals with, trained alongside, now looked away, refusing to meet my eyes.
They handed me a small cloth bag at the gates. Inside: two plain dresses, worn boots, and a handful of coins. No weapons. No supplies. Nothing to help me survive outside the pack.
"This is all?" I asked.
"You are no longer pack property," one guard said flatly.
I nodded slowly. "I understand."
The gates loomed in front of me, iron-bound and tall, etched with the Moonfall crest. I had passed through them countless times as a child, laughing, proud, hopeful. Now, I stood on the other side, alone and exiled.
The forest beyond was dark and thick, alive with the sounds of creatures and the rustling of leaves. Every step took me further from home. Every breath reminded me of my loss.
My wolf stirred faintly. We're still alive.
"Yes," I whispered. "We are."
Hunger gnawed at my stomach by midday. Thirst followed soon after. My body was weak, still recovering from the bond's destruction. My magic flickered beneath my skin like a dying ember.
I stumbled over roots and stones, my breath coming in short gasps. The forest felt heavier than usual, oppressive, almost… alive.
By nightfall, I was exhausted. I leaned against a massive oak, trying to make sense of what had just happened. The forest was unusually silent. No birds. No insects. Just darkness.
Then I felt it.
Not a sound. Not movement. But pressure—a presence, so strong that it pressed against my mind and spine. My wolf growled faintly.
Footsteps emerged from the shadows. Slow. Deliberate. Heavy. Dominating.
A figure stepped into the moonlight. Broad shoulders. Tall. Strong. Silver eyes glowing in the darkness, piercing. His presence alone stole my breath.
Not a wolf.
No—something older, more dangerous.
A Lycan.
No. A King.
I dropped to my knees instinctively. My wolf bowed, trembling, overwhelmed by the dominance radiating from him.
He studied me silently, like a predator examining prey. Then he smiled—a slow, dangerous curve of lips that made my heart pound.
"Well," he said, his voice deep and smooth, "you're far from home, little wolf."
I swallowed hard. "I—I didn't know this land was claimed," I whispered.
He inhaled, and it felt like he was pulling my secrets from me. "You smell…" His silver eyes glimmered. "…of broken bonds."
Shame flamed inside me.
"And rejection," he added softly.
I pressed my hands into the dirt. "If you're going to kill me… just do it."
His lips curved into a low, amused chuckle. "Kill you? No. Fate didn't bring you here to die."
He crouched before me and lifted my chin with one finger. His touch sent a jolt through me, warm and demanding.
"I am King Auren," he said. "And it seems, little omega, that you belong to me now."
My heart pounded violently. "I… don't belong to anyone," I whispered.
His silver eyes darkened—not with anger, but interest. "We'll see."
He straightened and turned away, already confident I would follow.
Every instinct screamed to run, to hide, to survive alone.
And yet… I followed.
The forest seemed to close around us as we moved. Shadows danced in the corners of my vision, and every crackling branch underfoot felt like a warning.
"You are far from the pack," Auren said quietly, his voice carrying easily through the trees.
"Yes," I said, keeping my voice steady. "And I never intend to return."
He paused, studying me. "Bold."
I forced a smirk, even though fear and anger churned inside me. "And smart. A wolf learns quickly when betrayed."
Auren's smile widened, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Good. Perhaps that will make you useful after all."
I glared at him. Useful? I was no one's tool. I had survived the Alpha's betrayal—I would survive this too.
The moon rose higher, casting silver light over the clearing. My wolf stirred, strength returning with each step. I clenched my fists, feeling it ignite. I would not be weak. Not ever again.
And yet… I could not deny the dangerous thrill that ran through me when Auren's gaze met mine. The same thrill that made my heart pound and my wolf ache to obey.
Enemies. Power. Passion. Everything was about to change.
I took a deep breath. Whatever awaited me beyond the trees, I would face it head-on.
Because from this moment on, Amara would be more than rejected—she would be unstoppable.