Chapter 3 Cast Out

Astoria POV

Even now, as Amelia grabbed a fistful of my hair and wrenched my head back, forcing me to look at her, I remained silent.

“You’ll never be one of us,” she hissed, her fingers tightening until I felt my scalp sting. “No matter how long you stay. No matter how much you endure. You are nothing but a useless hybrid of Vallesteria.”

I met her gaze, as I remained unyielding from all the torture I got. Even blood trickled from the corner of my mouth, I didn’t say anything.

I didn’t have to, because I have no reason to fight back with her petty jealousy.

But deep inside me, beneath all the pain that I received, was the hatred that I felt towards them.

I vowed that one day, they would be the ones on the ground and I would be the one standing over them.

“What’s going on here?” A sharp, familiar voice cut through their laughter.

In an instant, they froze. Amelia’s fist poised to strike me again halted mid-air as tension thickened around us.

I forced my swollen eyes open just in time to see Amelia’s body tense, her grip still twisted in my hair.

A flicker of hesitation crossed her face before she quickly straightened, schooling her features into one of false innocence.

“Father,” she said smoothly, releasing me as if she had never touched me. “I was simply teaching this curse sister of mine about her place.”

I barely felt my body collapse onto the dirt. The scent of my blood and dust clung to me, it was thick and suffocating.

Every part of me ached, but I didn’t move not because of the pain but because of the heavy pressure I felt.

Even though I don't have the wolf’s power or magic from the witch, still I could feel this powerful and dangerous aura that surrounds us.

I didn’t even breathe as heavy boots stopped in front of me.

Slowly, I lifted my gaze and met the cold unforgiving eyes of my Alpha father.

His expression was unreadable as he stared down at me, his powerful frame casting a shadow over my battered body.

I wanted to believe even after everything that there would be something in his eyes.

Like a flicker of pity, regret, or even a little hesitation. But there was nothing to be seen.

Only the contempt and disgust are written in his cold eyes.

“Move aside,” he ordered.

Amelia stepped back with a smirk, a smug satisfaction curling at the edges of her lips.

Then, before I could even know, a rough hand fisted in my hair.

I gasp in pain, and a soft-tore sound escape from my throat as I was yanked upright.

Sting exploded along my scalp, it’s still fortunate that my hair is still intact on my head when they love so much to pull it.

The pain was now slowly tolerable. Maybe because my body was already broken, so broken that numbness slowly crept in, dulling the pain, and swallowing me whole.

Every time I was beaten to death, I felt so small and at the same time, I had no power to fight back. I was powerless against them.

I am nothing but a mere punching bag for their entertainment.

Suddenly, I groaned as my father dragged my whole body through the dirt. My knees scraped against the cold ground, and my limbs were broken from the hit I received from Amelia, and my body is too weak to resist him.

I knew where he was taking me. In the clearing, where all the packs gathered.

It was the place where punishments were carried out.

My heart beats with fear as we enter the open space, the flickering torches casting an eerie glow against the faces of those who had never once looked at me with kindness.

I barely had a second to brace myself when he threw me forward.

I hit the ground really hard, the impact rattled my ribs and I felt another bone break inside.

Pain flared through my whole body, but I gritted my teeth and forced myself using my hands and knees to rise even when I felt bowing to them. I didn’t care as long as I didn't look so pitiful in their eyes.

The dirt felt damp beneath my palms, and suddenly the cold seeped into my bones.

My whole body trembles as I manage to fall down, not yet. Not in front of the packs.

My head is still too heavy to rise so I maintain it facing the ground.

But I felt their eyes on me.

Watching and waiting for Alpha to decide what he would do with me

“From this day forward,” My Alpha father’s voice rang through the night, “Astoria Vallesteria is no longer part of this pack.” He declared with a finality.

A gasp rippled through the crowd and my breath caught in my throat.

My eyes widened in disbelief.

No, not this.

I could endure more, anything but this…

My body begins to shake. I wanted to beg, but before a word came out of my mouth, his words were like a knife that struck me in my heart.

“She is hereby cast out," he continued, his tone filled with nothing but disgust. “She will never be welcome here again.”

A momentary silence settled before their laughter and joyous voices echoed through the woods, as if my father’s decision had brought honor and victory to the entire pack.

I force myself to lift my head, my vision blurry and my body trembling with every breath I take.

I look at my father. He stood tall, his back straight, and his jaw clenched.   

“Father…” I whispered, hoping he could hear me and take back his word.

However, he just stared at me coldly. I had spent my life yearning for his approval, affection, and acknowledgment, looking at me as if I was nothing.

His eyes met mine one last time.

“Leave immediately,” he said. “Or die in the hands of the pack.”

Then he turned his back on me.

And just like that, it was over.

I couldn’t breathe and I couldn’t think.

Tears burned my eyes, hot and humiliating.

But I didn’t allow them to fall.

I swallowed the sob clawing at my throat, forcing down the pain that twisted in my chest.

My fingers curled into the dirt as I forced myself to stand up.

My body was shaking and broken. But no one spoke, and no one helped me.

As I was struggling to stand up, I didn’t bother to look at them because I knew, not a single person here is willing to help an outcast hybrid like me.

Even my legs threatened to give out, and my vision blurred, even as my heart shattered inside my chest.

I walked away and I never looked back.