Zuria
I stood frozen in the doorway, my breath catching in my throat. The scene before me didn't feel real—Arien, my mate, tangled in bed with Cherry. My vision blurred, my legs trembled beneath me, and I barely managed to keep myself from collapsing by gripping the doorframe. The sudden noise made them turn, their eyes locking onto mine.
Adelaide whimpered inside me, the pain in her cry reflecting my own devastation.
Arien didn't look guilty. He didn't look ashamed. His expression held nothing but mild irritation, as if I were merely an inconvenience. Slowly, he pulled away from Cherry and stepped off the bed, walking to where his sweatpants lay crumpled on the floor. He picked them up, slipping them on with unhurried ease, then faced me.
Cherry sat up, pulling the gag from her mouth, her lips curling into a smirk. She made no attempt to cover herself, instead letting her gaze rake over me with open amusement.
I swallowed hard, my voice barely above a whisper. "What… what is going on?"
Arien raised a brow. "What exactly did you see?"
My breath shuddered. "I saw you in bed with Cherry."
"Then that's exactly what it is." He folded his arms, his tone completely void of concern.
I shook my head, refusing to believe what was happening. "But I'm your mate! How could you do this to me?"
He scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Oh, come on, Zuria. Do you really believe in that 'mate bond' nonsense? That's just a fairytale for weak wolves clinging to destiny."
My heart clenched. "You told me you loved me," I whispered, tears pooling in my eyes. "I love you."
Cherry let out a loud, exaggerated sigh. "Ugh, are you slow? He doesn't love you. Never did."
My gaze snapped to her, but my focus returned to Arien, searching his face for any sign of regret, any hint that this was a misunderstanding. But there was nothing.
"I lied," he admitted, his voice void of emotion. "I never loved you, and I never will."
Adelaide howled in agony, and I felt myself sway. My mate—the one person who was supposed to cherish and protect me—had just shattered me without a second thought.
"Then why?" My voice broke. "Why pretend? Why let me believe—"
He sighed, as if he were explaining something simple to a child. "Because I had never slept with you before. I figured I should at least get that out of the way before I let you go. But honestly?" He smirked. "You bored me. You're too soft, too naive. The whole innocent act? It's pathetic. And it's a real turn-off."
Cherry giggled from the bed, clearly enjoying every second of this.
Arien continued, his words slicing into me like a blade. "Plus, you're beneath me, Zuria. You're a low-class nuisance who clings too much. I can't have someone like you beside me as Luna. You'd be a liability. It hasn't even been a full day since I found out you were my mate, and you've already made me exile people. Do you know how much money I've wasted on you these past few weeks?" He scoffed and shook his head.
I dropped to my knees. The weight of his words crushed me.
"I was hoping for someone like Cherry," he admitted, gesturing toward her. "Look at her. Beautiful, sophisticated, wealthy. What do you have to offer me?"
My fingers curled into fists. I had mocked Cherry earlier for losing him. Now, the joke was on me.
"You should've just rejected me that day," I choked out. "It would've been easier for both of us."
Arien let out a humorless laugh. "I couldn't. Not with my parents and the whole pack watching. They never would've allowed it." He shrugged. "So, I planned this instead."
I stared at him in disbelief.
"Anyway, that's enough talking," he said dismissively. "It's time for you to leave."
My head snapped up. "You're throwing me out?"
"Yes," he said simply. "It's the best option for you. Trust me, you don't want to be here when the whole pack finds out I rejected you. The humiliation alone would be unbearable. So, I'm giving you an easy way out." He crouched down, leveling his gaze with mine. "It's for the best."
I stayed frozen, hoping—praying—that this was some sick, cruel joke.
But Arien grew impatient. "Do I need to spell it out for you?" He stood back up, taking a step away.
His next words shattered the last piece of me that had been holding on.
"I, Arien Calloway, officially reject you, Zuria Stone, as my mate, given by the Moon Goddess."
The bond snapped. The pain shot through my chest, sharp and unbearable, like my soul was being torn apart. I clutched my heart, gasping as my lungs struggled for air. The agony of rejection wasn't as physically devastating since he hadn't marked me, but emotionally? It was crippling.
"And I hope to never see you again," he added, before casually walking back to Cherry.
She smirked as she climbed onto his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Mmm, now that that's over…" She giggled, pressing her lips to his.
I watched as they kissed, as if I weren't even there. As if I hadn't just lost everything.
Something inside me broke.
I inhaled sharply and forced myself to my feet. My body felt numb as I moved to the closet, grabbing a duffel bag. I shoved in whatever clothes my hands landed on, only taking what I had brought with me—not a single thing he had ever given me.
I reached into a secret compartment in the closet, pulling out a cookie tin filled with my life's savings. My fingers clenched around it before I shoved it into the bag and zipped it shut.
When I turned, Arien was watching me. I met his gaze, feeling nothing but a hollow ache inside me. I had actually believed he loved me. I had let myself trust him.
And now, I was leaving with nothing.
I stepped outside into the cold night, the fresh air stinging my tear-streaked face. I turned back one last time.
Cherry leaned against the doorway, clinging to Arien. "Goodbye, Zuria," she cooed mockingly. "I hope we never see you again."
Arien simply smirked. He lifted a hand in a lazy wave.
I turned away, forcing myself to keep walking.
Adelaide whimpered inside me, but I had no words of comfort—I didn't even know how to comfort myself.
I looked up at the moon.
The Moon Goddess really must hate me.
All my life, I had known nothing but pain. And just when I thought I had finally found happiness, it was ripped away.
People always said the Moon Goddess was kind, that she gave her children the mates they deserved. But maybe… maybe I wasn't one of her children. Maybe I wasn't meant to believe in her at all.
I had spent my entire life moving from one hell to another. And now, I was walking away from this one.
I didn't know where I was going. I only knew I had to leave before morning. The thought of facing the pack—their pity, their whispers, their laughter—was unbearable.
I thought of the Alpha and Luna, of Lorrie and Dave, Avery and Cole. They had been the only ones who had ever been kind to me.
But I couldn't stay.
I reached the bus station just in time for the last bus out of town. As it pulled up, I hesitated for a brief moment.
Once I stepped on, there would be no turning back.
I looked over my shoulder one last
time, at the only home I had ever known.
Then, without another glance, I climbed aboard and never looked back.