XIMENA POV—

“A mate was meant to be your soulmate chosen by the goddess to be your life’s partner, the one person whose soul fits with yours, you get merged together to form one, the one person whom the goddess deems fit to entrust your entire life with.” These were the words of mother.

“To us wolves, a mate is believed to be the turning point of your life, the one person who has the power to elevate your life, the one who brightens up your sad and miserable life, the one person who completes your soul.”

The more I remembered her words, the more unbearable the pain gnawing my heart was.

With shame, I made my way to the house where the whole family was waiting for me.

They stared at me expectantly, their faces filled with joy, I could see the bright glow on the face of my mother, father was glancing at me with pride.

My brothers weren’t left out, they couldn’t wait for me to share the good news, and I felt torn between telling the truth and lying to keep them safe.

The lump in my throat bobbed and it felt like my throat was about to be slit, the same way my heart had just been slit.

I trembled with agony, my aura dimming the excitement in the air. Happiness seemed so far away.

I come from a family of five with two brothers who were working their ass off not only to meet up with the standards of life but to make something out of themselves because they also had mates to cater for and a family to start in the future.

Goddess knew if there was a person I could lie against, I’d have done it instantly without thinking. I had dashed out of the house while sniffing and everyone knew that was a sign of getting your mate.

Now I was beginning to regret why the goddess had given me my mate now… I was regretting leaving the house, I was regretting all the nights I had spent crying and pleading for a mate.

I was disappointed but it wasn’t close to the pain of rejection that was throbbing in my heart.

The more I thought about it, the more it hurt. “Tell us honey— Who is your mate?” Mom’s excited voice rang out. I doubt she was this excited when my brothers found their mate.

“Don’t be shy— Who is he?” Dad added, a grin on his face, they were standing, their faces filled with joy while anticipating.

“Is he an omega? Is he a guard? Is he a dignitary?” 

“We aren’t discriminating, whatever rank he’s in, we are willing to accept him—” Hearing this from my brother almost made tears run down my cheeks.

My eyes were teary now. I felt like breaking into numerous pieces before them but oddly, I wasn’t.

“—” I opened my mouth to talk but all that could escape was a light sob. I didn’t have the heart to break theirs, or disappoint them.

I knew Dad’s shoulders would slump back and mother’s glow would disappear while my brothers would try to cheer me up and encourage me even though deep down they’d be sad for me.

“Tell us honey— Don’t make us wait for too long, we’ve waited so long for this and finally the great day has come—” Mom muttered and dad laughed heartily.

I could see my brother’s mate staring at me with anticipation too. Aarav and Kushim, my brothers, were beginning to notice my dark countenance now and their faces changed.

“What’s wrong? Were you hurt? Who is he? What did he do to you?” They asked, ready to kill for my sake and it only broke my heart even more.

I felt myself plunging deeper into sadness. “No— I—” I was gathering words.

“You can tell us anything— We won’t judge, we will accept him as long as he loves you— It doesn’t matter if he’s a low omega like us too—” Mom grabbed my hands now, staring at me gently and it was the last straw.

The tears trickled down, the tears I had been trying so hard to hold just trickled down my cheeks. Everything is hard. I can’t break their hearts, I’d rather die than take away the glow in mom’s eyes.

“You don’t need to be ashamed— You’re fortunate to have a mate, it’s better than having nothing and being the isolated one of the pack” Aarav pointed out and it felt like a knife had been thrown on my chest.

His words stung, the fate waiting for me was worse than death. I’d be stigmatised, deserted by the pack, I’d be a force that is being driven by the wind, I’d be a feral wolf with my family stopping me from being in the mountains.

“It—” I was about to speak when our neighbour interrupted.

“Did you hear the news? Is it true, you’ve found your mate?” Our neighbour nosy demanded, popping her head through the door, her attention shifted from what she wanted to discuss to me the moment she set her eyes on me.

“Are you talking about the attack?” Dad asked, everyone’s attention shifted to her and I sighed heavily. The goddess knew I was extremely grateful for this distraction but I knew it wouldn’t last for long.

“The Alpha just rejected his mate, she’s some silly omega he slapped in the market—“ She announced, laughing softly and they all gasped.

“Wow, at last he found his mate— Ximena here too found hers today—“ Mother’s voice was filled with delight.

“He’s an Alpha, being with an Omega only ruins his image, poor girl, thinking she could be fortunate to be with him. I heard he is going to get a chosen mate from the gamma family if I’m not mistaken.”  She announced and I began panting heavily.

Gasps rang out in the air but I began breathing heavily, the air was closing in on me, there wasn’t enough breath, I felt like I was being sucked into a vacuum.

Not my nemesis— The gamma’s daughters have always been my number one bullies in the park— They instigated the whole girls against me and were the first to call me CURSED—

I felt myself get drawn into complete darkness, I couldn’t feel anything, except pain and agony. I felt numb, empty and exhausted but I felt something else.

I felt myself running, running very fast, away from the pain, away from everything, people, my family— The pack.

It felt like I was under the influence of anaesthesia, it felt unreal yet so real, I was running for my dear life, heading to a very familiar but dark place.

“No! Stop! Please! Come back!” I heard a voice mindlink to me, I could hear growls behind me, pleading too but there was no stopping now.

“Ximena, darling please stop running, let’s talk—“

“What’s wrong—“ 

“Please don’t— Don’t do it!” I heard the distant voices of my brother but it only made me run even faster.

“Ximena where are you going?” Mom’s concerned voice blasted in my head.

“To grandma.” I let out and I heard everyone’s gasps of fear.

“Ximena you can be anywhere but her… If you go there, your life would be in danger, she’s going to get you killed.” Mom pleaded but my mind was made up.