Chapter 2 The Night It all Began

- MELISSA’S POV -

Three Years Ago

I stood in front of the mirror and took one last look at myself. Tonight was the annual pack ball. Every eligible maiden yet to mate would be there. Every eligible bachelor too. It was going to be glamorous.

I twirled the long, flair moon-blue cashmere dress from left to right and admired the graceful way it swept the floor making me look like a princess. I lifted my eyes and looked out the window. Immediately I noticed the orange rays of the setting sun, my smile vanished.

I pursed my lips and sighed deeply. Slowly I put a finger underneath my nose and tried to fight back a sob. Tears welled up in my eyes. I bit my lips and blinked them back. I exhaled and cupped my lips.

‘Mellisa, hold it in. Please hold it in. You can't be crying. You have to be strong. You just have to.’ I muttered in my head. I took short breaths, dabbing the tears in my eyes with a little tissue. Tonight was going to be the third time I attended the mating ball and I was going to wear this dress like I did those two other times since I had nothing else to wear. Things don't look so good for me but I have to be strong. I survived so long even without my parents, I'm sure I can survive longer.

“Melissa!!! Heavens what exactly are you still doing up there? We are going to leave without you.” My aunt's yell broke into my thoughts. I gathered my dress and my purse then I ran out of the room, flying down the stairs.

There was someone at the entrance leading to the yard where Uncle was parked and waiting. Immediately I ran past her, I tripped.

“Ah.” I exclaimed, my purse swooshing up in the air as I fell to the ground. Thankfully, I broke my fall with my hands. A gasp escaped my lips, my face twisting in pain. I had fallen on a pebble and it dug into my palm.

“Oops, was my leg in the way? Sorry, it's kinda hard to notice an old hag when she is passing.” my cousin Rita snorted. I glanced at her with tears in my eyes. She was smiling from ear to ear, without a single remorse.

“Don't stare at me like that. I honestly didn't mean it. But look at that bright side. With your gloves soiled and your dress dirtied, you won't be able to go to the ball and parade your mateless filthy self. Isn't that a good thing?” She chuckled a little.

Slowly I rose to my feet. I glared at her for a moment and then I looked away, clenching my teeth. Heaven knows I wanted to put my fist in that smug face of hers but I couldn't risk Aunt and uncle getting mad.

I walked off, slipping out my gloves and throwing it into the trash. I went straight to the car. Aunt and uncle were waiting. My Aunt was a few steps away from the vehicle, she had a frown on her face.

“I'm sorry I took so long.” I muttered immediately I stopped in front of her. She raised her hand and swung it at my face. The sound of the slap vibrated in my eyes. I covered my cheek and staggered back. My eyes widened.

“You are worthless, you know that. You can't even dress quickly?”

My lips trembled and my vision blurred. I lowered my head, a tear trickled on the floor. “I’m sorry.” I murmured.

My aunt scoffed. “You can't find a mate. You can't work, you can't learn. What exactly are you good for?” She hissed. “Honestly you should have died with your parents.” She opened the front door and slammed it when she got in. I entered the back seat.

Throughout the ride, uncle kept scornfully comparing me to Rita and reminding me that we were not of the same age. I was older but still she has a mate and isn't living like a leech in their house.

They dropped me off a mile away from the gate. “I don't want us to be seen together with you.” Aunt said to me before they drove on. I walked, in my heels, all the way to the hall.

“Is that not Melissa Addams?”

I paused, one foot at the door of the ballroom. My ears twitched, the sound was coming from behind. My heightened hearing senses captured their voices immediately.

“Yeah. She is wearing the same dress again. It looks filthy. Oh my, dressed like that she is never going to get a mate.” The girls in the distance giggled.

“I bet even if she wore the finest dress in the realm, no he-wolf would still want her. She is past marriageable age. She is an old hag now.” One of them added. They giggled some more.

My hands squeezed my dress. My legs weighed so much all of a sudden. I couldn't lift them. I lowered my head and tried to breathe. My chest tightened and it hurt. Again tonight, tears covered my eyes. I cupped my lips, and ran off, towards the bathroom.

I slammed the door and gripped the sink. A cry broke through my lips. I started sobbed.

“I can't… I can't take it anymore. Goddess you should have just let me die. I don't want this life. I don't want to live like this.”

I raised my head slowly and stared at the sullen reflection that stared back at me. I sighed and stepped back. I'm already here right, I might as well see what more the night has in store for me. I dragged myself to the door and weakly reached for the handle. The instant my fingers graced the metallic knob, a sharp pain cut through my head.

“Ah!!” I screamed, slumping to the floor. The pain ripped through my skull, tearing my brain apart. I rolled around, gripping my head and screaming. It felt like something was about to crack my skull open and crawl out.

“Ahh!” I screamed louder, digging my claws into my head just to make it stop. In that moment, while the excruciating pain tried to make me mad, I heard a voice. A faint voice. It kept saying. “Go. Go Melissa. Don't listen to your wolf. Don't find your mate. Whatever you do, don't find your mate.”