CARA’S POV
It’s been two days since my mate ran away. The image of his eyes filled with denial and regret still haunts my dreams, replaying over and over in my mind like a cruel loop. He stood there, frozen, his spoils from the hunt dangling in his hands as if they were the only things grounding him. Then, as if things couldn’t get any worse, he fled, rejecting our mate bond.
Every time I remember the disgust in his eyes, my heart shatters all over again. The pain is relentless, like a knife being twisted deeper and deeper with each heartbeat.
I heard footsteps approaching before I saw her. “My lady, it’s Debby,” came the soft voice.
“Go away. I don’t want to see anyone,” I sobbed, curling further into myself.
“My lady, I brought food. You haven’t eaten in two days.” She set down the tray, and the aroma of the meal wafted through the room, teasing my senses.
“It’s fine, my lady. Master was just paranoid and shocked. I’m sure he’ll come around,” she said in a tone meant to comfort.
“It’s been three days, Debby. Where is he? Has he chosen another, a stronger, more beautiful mate?” My voice trembled with despair.
“My lady, Master is not in the pack. He went on a business trip. I know that when he returns, the first thing he’ll do is rush to hold you in his arms,” she reassured me with a smile.
I sighed deeply. “All my life, I’ve been beaten and insulted for being weak, for being useless. I endured it all, hoping that when I met my mate, the one the goddess destined for me, everything would finally be alright. I thought my mate would cherish me, soothe my pains…but this pain, it’s unbearable. I want it to stop, but I can’t…” My voice broke as fresh tears spilled down my cheeks.
The initial happiness I felt when I first sensed my mate near, the tingling sensation and the scent that still lingers where he marked me, has turned into a nightmare. Seeing the disgust in his eyes, the pity, it’s too much to bear.
The room was silent, save for my sobs echoing through the space. Debby stayed quietly by my side, trying to console me, but her words felt empty. The food she brought had likely gone cold by now.
She cleared her throat, breaking the silence. “I understand the pain of not being with your mate. That heart-wrenching feeling as if you’re apart from your other half,” she said softly, drawing my attention.
“I also know the joy that comes from being with a mate, the happiness that never fades, the magic of the bond. It’s real, my lady. It’s a bond that’s inseparable, it’s magical.”
“But there’s also pain when mates are separated, either by circumstances or by nature. That same bond that brings so much joy can also be a curse,” she added with a bittersweet smile.
“I was separated from my mate shortly after we found each other. We barely had any time together before a pack war tore us apart. After the war, I couldn’t find him, dead or alive,” she said, her voice thick with emotion.
“What happened?” I asked, drawn into her story.
“My mate went missing. I searched everywhere, tried to reach him through the bond, but I couldn’t. I mourned him for ten years, abandoned my former pack, and prayed to the goddess to end my suffering. I wanted to die, to be found by rogues or to perish in the wilderness. The pain was unbearable…” She paused, lost in the painful memory.
“I’m so sorry…” I whispered, feeling guilty for my own self-pity.
“My lady, Master hasn’t rejected you. He marked you, and that means something. He just left. Maybe when he returns, you’ll see.”
“The marking was a mistake, Debby. He said it himself,” I replied, my voice hollow.
“I’ve known Master for a long time. He may seem cold, but deep down, he’s not as bad as he appears. Don’t lose hope yet. Let’s wait for him to come back,” she encouraged.
“Bring me the food,” I suddenly requested, surprising her.
“You want to eat, my lady?” she asked, seeking confirmation.
“Yes, Debby. I won’t let this break me. You’ve been through so much, yet here you are, consoling me when I haven’t even faced half of what you’ve endured,” I said with renewed determination as I pulled the tray closer.
“Why were you alone in the woods, my lady?” she asked, hesitating.
“I’m sorry, I was too rash,” she quickly apologized.
“No, it’s fine,” I assured her. “My pack is called Bluecreek Pack, a large and prosperous pack, but filled with evil people who have no conscience,” I said as old memories resurfaced, darkening my mood.
“I ran away from my pack. They planned to sell me to a neighboring Alpha, so when I found out, I escaped during a rogue attack. It was my salvation. That night, I was to be given to a man who would only use me as a sex slave. I was glad the rogues attacked; it was what they deserved for looking down on me, for torturing and abusing me because I’m a weak Omega.” My voice trembled at the end.
“Am I a bad person, Debby?” I asked, tears threatening again. “For feeling happy that those who tormented me got what they deserved?”
“It’s not your fault, my lady. You did what you had to do to survive. I would have done the same if I were in your shoes.”
“Those rogues who attacked your pack, how many were there? Were they led by someone?” she inquired, her tone suddenly more serious.
“There were about twenty or thirty. It was dark, and I was focused on escaping, but I didn’t see anyone leading them. They seemed disorganized, acting on their own.”
She nodded, a hint of relief flashing across her face, though she tried to hide it. Despite her kind demeanor, I knew the truth, she was a rogue, just like the others who followed my mate that night. The wildness in their eyes, their feral nature, it was unmistakable.
“Where are the other pack members? I haven’t seen anyone besides you and those I saw that night.”
“As I told you before, my lady, our pack isn’t here. It’s located somewhere discreet and hidden, it was created by Master,” she explained.
“Can I see the pack? I’m losing my mind cooped up in this cottage,” I pleaded.
“I don’t know, my lady…Master hasn’t given permission yet,” she said apologetically. “He ordered that you not leave the cottage.”
“Oh,” I muttered, my curiosity crushed and frustration rising. Of course, the “Master” was a control freak, dictating everything even in his absence.
“But who will know? We can mask your scent and create a disguise. No one needs to know, not even his watchdog.”
“Watchdog?” I asked, confused.
” his beta, the one in charge of the pack for now” she explained ” Wait for me here, let me prepare”
“Thank you so much, Debby,” I said gratefully as she left the cottage to gather what she needed for my disguise. She nodded, smiling at me before disappearing into the woods.