ELENA'S POV

“D-draven, y-you’re my…”. He caught me off before I could even get a word in.

“Don't you dare utter another word”. His voice was cold and emotionless. It felt like daggers were being pierced into my chest continuously.

“What?”. I asked in confusion.

He held my cheek and leaned in to whisper into my ear. “You're not worthy of being my mate”.

My heart shattered

No no no no no. This couldn't be happening. Or maybe I didn't hear him correctly.

“What d-did you say?”. I said on the brink of tears.

“So what, you're useless and deaf? Pathetic”. He said coldly.

His words cut deeper than a knife. He said with such a plain and stoic expression. It felt like he had put his hand into my body and was squeezing my heart.

I could hear my wolf aching and wailing in pain. She had just been awakened and was already subjected to such torment.

“But I.. the mate bond. You felt it too right”. I said, trying to hold him. My eyes searching for answers that I knew I'd never get.

He pushed my hand away.

“There is no fucking bond, you hear me? How can I, Draven Thorne, the future ruler of not only this community but the kingdom that it's under, be mated to the daughter of a disgraced beta. Your whole lineage is a joke! Just die so that it can end completely”. He said out loud and the crowd laughed, calling me names.

Usually it wouldn't affect me but this was coming from my supposed mate. Draven had just publicly rejected me, in front of the whole community.

“Hah! Did she think he'd actually take her as a mate?”

“Pathetic!”

“Worthless!”

“Just like her mother!”.

I felt my blood boiling, my brother came to my side to hold me and then faced Draven.

“How dare you make a mockery of my sister you brute? Who do you think you are?!”. He said angrily.

“Don't make me do something you'd regret Micah. Keep your mouth shut. Your sister should be grateful that I even spoke to her. Under normal circumstances I wouldn't be caught dead even glancing at her. She's worthless! Just like you and your dead moth-”. Micah slapped him right across the face. He slapped him so hard that he left a bad bruise on Draven's face.

“Don't you ever and I mean ever, bring up my mother! You're the one who's worthless!”. He said in anger.

Draven couldn't believe it, no one has ever challenged him that way, even enemy soldiers feared him. The crowd went silent, only quiet murmurs and whispers could be heard.

I looked up at my brother who was burning in range and then my gaze shifted to Draven who was still in shock. Everyone waited, waited for a reaction.

Draven stares at Micah dead in the eye. “You're going to pay for this you outcast!”. Draven signalled some of the other men and they brought my brother to his knees and held him in place. I rushed to him to try and get them off him but some other men held me in place.

Draven turned to me. “You're brother dated to do what even the mightiest of kings wouldn't. Now he'll pay and you'll watch.”. He said and punched Micah hard on the face. The crowd jeered an he punched him again, each punch being harder than the last.

I watched my brother in tears being brutally beaten up, because of me. All he did was try to protect me. He didn't deserve this.

“Stop it! Stop it please”. But Draven didn't listen to my cries. I watched the crowd cheer him on. These people were wicked. They were cruel. They had been nothing but a pain to us while we grew up and now this.

“You all deserve to rot in hell, you all deserve to be cursed by the moon goddess herself. You're the ones who are worthless. How can you let this happen. And for what? What have we done to you?!”

I said in anger, my blood boiled and tears streamed down from my face. They all stared at me like I was mad woman.

I hate them with every fibre in my being.

Draven landed a final punch on my brother knocking him unconscious.

I watched as my brother fell to the ground, barely breathing and alive. I struggled to get out of the man's grip and ran to him.

“M-micah. Micah please wake up!”

He moved a little and coughed blood.

“Micah” I said screaming as tears run down my cheek.

Draven looked down at me and spat.

“Do yourself a favour and leave. You've caused enough trouble for him.”. He turned to the crowd.

“I will be choosing a new mate. One with lineage and power! Worthy of standing with me as I rule the kingdom.”. I felt my wolf weaken as he said those words.

No

I whispered to myself.

So this is what those girls were talking about. Being rejected by a mate could damage your wolf.

I stared at my brother who was barely alive.

“I'm sorry Micah, I'm so sorry.”. I felt his hand on my face.

“D-dont b-be”. His voice was coarse.

I stood up and used my body to support his.

“Yes, leave. Get out of here. You're not meant to be here anyways”. I heard Draven's voice from behind me.

I shut him out, I shut all of them out. All that was on my mind was getting my brother home safely and getting a healer for him. The healer was the only kind person in this entire community and Kingdom.

I struggled as I tried to support his weight with mine.

“Don't worry, we'll be there in no time”. I said trying to assure him.

We eventually got home and I wasted no time in getting the healer. He was shocked when he saw Micah's state and got to work immediately.

I sat down watching him heal Micah while I pondered on Draven's words.

“Do yourself a favour and leave. You've caused enough trouble for him”

“You're not meant to be here anyways!”

His words stung. They were driving me insane. His words were hurtful but unfortunately they were true.

I looked at my brother, he was in so much pain becayof me. He didn't deserve all this. He deserved a happy life, he would have a happy life if I weren't here. The people only gave him trouble because of me. Some even advised him to abandon me.

“Alright, I'm done. He just needs some rest and he'll be back on his feet by tomorrow.”

“Thank you so much”. I said and he gave me a faint smile and left.

I stared at my brother who laid down on the bed sleeping.

“I guess it's time I relieve you of all the stress I put you through”. I packed some clothes and food. Then wrote a letter, apologising for all the trouble that I had caused and telling him that he could be free now. I put it at the side of the bed and hugged him tightly then left. I didn't look back.

I had no idea where I was going. But as long as I was far away from him, he'd be happy.

I'll miss you big brother.