Chapter 2 Chapter Two

Chapter Two

June’s POV

I didn’t feel Elara fighting inside me anymore, but I could sense the mate bond slowly falling apart—its edges fraying where they had once held us tightly together with love.

Adrian scoffed and stepped closer until there was barely any space left between us. His fingers clamped around my chin, forcing my face upward. His claws dug painfully into my skin.

“What do you think you're doing?” he sneered. “Rejecting me like this? Even if there were ever going to be a rejection, it would be me doing it. I would never let a miserable wolf reject me.”

“Just accept the rejection, Adrian,” Paige interrupted smoothly.

Her voice dripped with amusement.

“Even if the bond isn’t fully broken, she’ll die anyway.”

My throat tightened.

Paige turned to me, a cruel smirk playing at the corner of her lips.

“Without her wolf, she won’t survive long,” she continued casually. “And honestly… that’s punishment enough.”

Adrian’s fists clenched at his sides, the veins in his arms bulging with tension. I knew him well enough to see the hesitation in his eyes.

He didn’t want to accept it. But Paige’s manipulation had wrapped around him like chains, tightening with every passing second.

“No.” His jaw tightened, “I'm not going to accept the rejection. My command stands, June, and not yours.”

“But….” Paige tried to argue but he didn't wait for her to speak.

“Take her out of here.” He turned to the guards standing a few steps away from us. “Far away from here, where I'd never set my eyes on her.” He cast a glare at me before storming out of the room in anger.

Paige pointed at me, rolling her eyes. “You heard him, never come back, and I'll be taking this.” She slipped the check into her purse.

I watched her walk away briskly, trying to catch up with Adrian as she begged him to wait.

I couldn't believe this was the vixen I called family.

The guards stood on either side, roughly grabbing me as they took me out of the Pack.

Other wolves laughed as they dragged me out, hurling hurtful words at me.

“Shameless. I heard she lost her wolf. So miserable.”

“She looks so ugly, Paige is better.”

“Take her away, she thinks she's better than everyone. See where pride has landed her.” I recognized that face; it was Rhoda from the Academy—Paige’s friend. She had always been jealous of my abilities and covetous that I was better than her and her mischievous friend.

My eyes caught Mrs. Esther's worried face filled with pity. She must be feeling so sorry for me right now.

I should've listened to her. If I had heeded her advice, things wouldn't have ended this way. I wouldn't have ended up as a laughing stock like this.

She stepped out of the crowd, coming toward me.

“June, my dear.” Her voice was small, like she was fighting back tears.

She cupped my face in her hands, and I held her hand.

“I'm sorry for letting you down, Mrs. Esther,” I sobbed. “I'm so sorry.”

“This is no time for apologies. I just want you to be safe, my June,” she whispered comforting words into my ear. Even when I tried to soothe my soul, the pain fought the comfort.

“Please step back. Alpha wouldn't like this,” the guard on the right pushed her aside.

“Stop...please...” I begged as he moved me away. I knew she still had so much to tell me. They couldn't fix my worries, but at least they could make me feel better for just a split second.

“There's no time,” the bald-headed guard shot at me. “You're about to be banished. Now is not the time for bonding with old friends.”

The scornful words kept ringing in my ears like thunderstorms.

I looked back. Those voices came from lips that once cried out for my help. Lips that once sang my praises after I cured their illnesses. But now, all I received in gratitude for my kindness was this—turning their backs on me, just like Adrian did.

We soon reached the outskirts, and I was thrown into the dust as if I meant nothing—like I was trash.

The huge gates made cracking sounds as they closed, and the guards' orders echoed.

“Go away, just as the Alpha said. Don't ever think of coming back, or you'll be dead.”

My knees wobbled as I tried to stand, pain shooting through every part of my body.

I had lost everything. My mate, my family, my wolf.

I clutched my chest, nails digging in as I fought the burning sensation inside.

Paige was right. I wouldn't even last a day.

Darkness covered everything. I didn't even know where I was going. I just knew I was walking—walking nowhere. I just needed somewhere to rest, to sulk, and to die eventually.

Turning left, I headed into the forest. It was even darker there, and my wolf wasn't with me to light the way.

I kept moving, regret clutching my chest like doom. Every memory with Adrian flooded in—the day I confessed my love. I was happy when he acknowledged loving me back, but I didn't realize it was all a lie. He didn't love me; Paige had his heart all along.

I clutched the necklace around my neck, my fragile thumb rubbing the shining pendant. Mom gave it to me on her sickbed. I remembered her words that night:

‘Whatever happens, please don't hate your sister. Don't let anything tear you apart.’

Hot tears rolled down my cheeks, falling onto the cracked ground. I held the necklace tightly, mumbling to myself.

“I'm sorry, Mother, but I can't forgive Paige this time.” The hatred I felt for her now was as pure as day—I would never forgive her for what she had done.

She and Adrian would surely pay for what they did to me. I knew I was going to die, but even in my next life, I would seek revenge.

My steps felt heavy against the ground; I could barely walk.

My chest tightened, and I was burning with thirst. I looked around, hoping to find a stream nearby, but it was summer, and all water sources were already dry.

I wanted to survive. I promised myself to hold onto life, but I felt too weak. The rejection was incomplete, and it was killing me. I felt a pull every minute.

Adrian was angry—I could feel it, and it was breaking me—breaking my spirit.

My whole body went numb. My legs lost what little strength they had.

I wept.

Moon Goddess, please help me.

I heard a growl on my right, and my eyes widened as I saw a huge wolf approaching.

“N...no,” I muttered, gripping the back of the tree I was sitting under.

Another wolf followed, and soon more appeared. Now, there were four, lunging toward me.

They were bad wolves. Deadly rogues who hunted weak wolves to prey on at night.

My heart stopped beating.

“P…please.” I begged, my voice low and frail.

Goddess, please help me. I silently prayed in my mind, but they didn't stop moving, their mouths watering with solid hunger.

June, you are so dead.

They surrounded me, ready to pounce.

But then a sudden rustle came from behind me, and a bigger wolf appeared from the shadows, growling a loud command.

“Stop.”

The rogue lowered their heads before

scurrying away in fear.

Darkness swallowed my vision, and the last thing I saw before losing consciousness was a pair of black boots.