Chapter 2: Cursed And Cast Out
Brenda’s POV
Pain.
When I opened my eyes, it was all I experienced.
Everywhere on my body hurt. My brain ached. I had swollen wrists. I felt as though my back had been pulled across gravel.
I lay on the dungeon's damp, chilly floor.
Nearby, chains shook. The air was heavy with the stench of blood and mold, and the walls were stone. I shuddered.
Where had I gone?
A stab of pain went through my ribs as I attempted to sit up. I winced and moaned.
Then everything suddenly returned.
The ritual. The rejection, Damian.
Selene.
The shame.
I grabbed my chest and a tear ran down my cheek. The anguish of the severed mating relationship remained. Inside of me, it was still burning fiercely. The fact that he had treated me like trash, however, was far more painful.
even after I had sensed the connection. Even after I’d assumed we were meant to be.
A loud clang made me jump. The door to the dungeon squeaked open. With two guards on either side, Luna Iris took over.
She had a chilly look on her face. The torchlight glistened on her long black gown. "Well, look who's awake at last," she replied in a disgusted tone.
I made an effort to sit more upright. “Why am I here, Luna Iris?”
She didn't respond. Rather, she signaled the guard to advance. Something was thrown at my feet by him.
My cloak was torn.
"You attempted to woo the Alpha," she remarked icily. “You humiliated the pack. Do you believe we would overlook that?
My heart fell. "No! That was not the case. We were doomed. The relationship between mates—
"No bond existed," she yelled. "You enchanted him." Or maybe you’re just delusional.”
"I would never—"
"You will be banished," she remarked sternly. "Permanently barn
ed from the Lycan Pack."
I went cold. "What?"
"You no longer belong to our group. You will be led to the Moonshadow Forest's edge. You're on your own after that.
My mouth quivered. Don't do this, please. I didn't do anything incorrectly.
Luna Iris's eyes narrowed. "You had the audacity to take our Alpha. That is incorrect.
I ignored her. "Where's Lily, exactly?" My closest companion. My sole companion. She will clarify. She is aware that I wouldn't—
Luna Iris smirked and replied, "She's not coming." "Nobody is."
I suppressed my tears. "She... she made a promise."
She commanded the guards to "take her away."
Roughly grabbing my arms, they pulled me across the floor. I shouted as pain ripped through my side again.
"No! Please! I did not take any action!
However, nobody paid attention.
Nobody ever did.
He observed me being hauled out from the balcony of the pack house.
Damian.
He stood there with his arms folded across his chest, face like stone.
He remained still.
didn't speak.
However, I knew he noticed me.
As I was dragged to the gate, he gave me a direct look.
There was no warmth in his eyes, but I could feel them like fire on me.
Just a little bit of confusion?
No. I must have imagined that.
I felt like screaming his name. to inquire as to why. To plead with him to trust me.
However, I didn't say anything.
I had pleaded enough.
Beside him, Selene materialized and lightly caressed his arm. "Are you alright, Damian?" she said kindly. "You haven't said anything."
He didn't respond to her. He had his jaw clinched.
She bent over. Before the ceremony, she put something in your drink. I noticed her.
At last, he turned to face her. "What?"
Selene's look expanded. "You were unaware? I was reluctant to speak, yet Hours before the ceremony, I saw her slinking into the kitchen. Perhaps she cast a spell.
He knitted his brows. Are you implying that she compelled the bond?
"I believe so," she said, feigning melancholy. "There is no other explanation. You're an Alpha. Otherwise, you would never be paired with her.
Damian looked off into the distance. Quiet.
Selene tightened her grip on his arm. “You did the right thing by rejecting her.”
Slowly, he nodded.
But his eyes didn’t leave the woodland beyond the pack limit.
I was pushed through the woods by the guards.
I wandered onto the rough trail next to the Moonshadow Forest, barefoot. The trees were whipped by a cold wind. The sky was rapidly growing darker.
One of them grunted, "We leave you here."
With tears in my eyes, I turned to face them. "Please. Don't abandon me. Out there, there are rogues. I'm going to die.
The other remarked icily, "That's not our problem, Omega."
"You're fortunate that we didn't kill you," the first one continued.
Without saying another word, they turned and walked away.
I was the only one standing there.
left behind.
I took a look around. The trees reached into the night like claws. In the distance, wolves' howls could be heard.
When my legs failed me, I fell to my knees.
Now I was nothing. Not a family. No house. Not a pack.
Not even my wolf spoke. Following the rejection, she had become silent. As if a piece of her had passed away.
I stood slowly and wrapped my arms about myself. There was nothing I could do.
I had to relocate.
For what seemed like hours, I walked. I shuddered. My feet were bleeding and ripped. Each step was more difficult than the last.
The forest grew denser. colder. There was a hazardous odor in the air.
Behind me, I heard rustling. With my heart racing, I turned but saw nothing.
Then it came to me once more.
Branches breaking.
Snarling.
Eyes observing me.
My breath caught.
My legs failed me once more when I tried to run. I hurt my shoulder on a rock after falling hard. I let out a painful cry.
That was the end of it.
I couldn’t move anymore.
I was lying on the woodland floor, looking up through the trees at the moon.
"I'd rather not die." I said.
My eyelids flitted closed.
But right before I passed out, I heard footsteps.
Then a quiet voice.
The voice declared, "She's the one." deep. Be calm. Ye
s.
Gleaming silver eyes stared down at me as I barely opened my eyes.
Beside me knelt a man in a veil of shadows, his face harsh.
He made a grab for me.
Then everything turned dark.