Chapter 3

• Alpha Richard Brown's Stance
• "You caused all this shit, Ray. You forced me to be here!" I seethed, venting on my Beta and best friend, Raymond. I was back at our table, away from all the drama.
• "How is this my fault? All I did was accept the invitation to be here. I didn't set her up as your mate,"
• "The moon goddess was certainly behind herself when she did this pair-up. Did you get a good look at the girl?"
• "I did,"
• "And does it make any sense that a weak, useless and disgusting girl like her would be my mate? My ride or die?"
• "Uh, I don't know, man. I can't say the moon goddess made a mistake. That would be blasphemy," Raymond winced.
• "Blasphemy or not, I don't care. The moon goddess pulled a fast one on me tonight and I'm calling her out for it. Pairing me up with a girl like that is madness. I rule a fucking empire, man. What help will she give as my Luna, when she can't even meet my gaze? The way she trembled in fear made her seem like an Omega. Still can't believe her Father is the Beta of this pack,"
• "You've said enough, man. C'mon, give the girl a break," Ray said, "And if you look at it from a less judgemental view, she's not so bad as your Luna,"
• "What did you just say?!"
• "For real, man. So what if she's without a wolf? There must be other good traits about her and you'll never know unless you try to find out. The moon goddess is never wrong in her pair-ups. We just gotta take that leap of faith and trust that it's gonna be worth it,"
• "A leap of faith, my ass. If I take a leap of faith with that girl, I'll break my neck. There's no way I would have endured a day without rejecting her,"
• "Okay, I understand. But did you have to humiliate her the way you did? It would have been better if you rejected her secretly, and saved her some face. Now she's gonna be a laughing stock among her peers,"
• "I couldn't give a flying fuck if the whole world blasts her for the humiliation I put her through," I said coldly,
• "Now that makes you a stinking ass,"
• Ray snorted.
• "A stinking ass?!" I repeated in surprise, "Dude, what's wrong with you? How the hell are you taking that girl's side instead of mine?!"
• "I'm not taking sides here, Richard," He denied.
• "It seems to me like you are,"
• "I'm not. I'm just saying it as it is. Humiliating her and her family like that was wrong. And you know the truth hurts, so deal with it. But don't forget, you were wrong," Ray stated flatly and walked out on me.
• "Ray!" I called out, but he didn't turn around. He disappeared into the crowd and went ahead to chat with other Betas from the different packs.
• In an hour, the party was over and we had to leave. Our drive back to the pack is dreadful as we both ignore each other. We refuse to acknowledge each other's presence. He wanted me to admit that I was wrong, but I'm not gonna admit shit. Because I wasn't, and Raymond gotta understand that.
• Raymond is my childhood friend and my best friend. After the death of my father, the former alpha of Black Claw Pack, and his Beta, Ray's father, I became the Alpha of the pack, and Ray automatically became my Beta. We have our fights and the time we just piss each other off. But I know he always got my back, and I got his.
• Jane's Stance
• Rejecting me was not enough for my so-called mate, he went as far as humiliating me and my mother.
• What kind of mate is that? Out of the thousands of people at the party, why did it have to be him? I never said I wanted a dominating Alpha as my mate.
• A Beta would have been enough, or even a Gamma or an Omega. I don't care. All I asked for was a mate who's gonna love me. But I got hell instead and now it's burning up my heart into flames.
• I wish I had a wolf. I wish I was stronger than him, then I wouldn't be feeling as weak as I was feeling right now.
• I'm emotionally drained. I have no will to live. I locked myself inside my room, not daring to step out of my room.
• After what happened tonight, I wouldn't wanna face anyone. I'm so ashamed of myself right now. All I wanna do is cry and sleep.
• A knock came on my door again, "Jane, please open this door," Mother pleaded. She's been knocking since we returned, but I just couldn't bring myself to open the door, "Jane, please open this damn door. We need to talk,"
• "Mother, I'm tired. Can you leave me alone? Let me be, please," I said in-between sobs but my mother refused to go. She kept knocking and begging me to open the door.
• With a sigh, I got down from my bed and opened the door.
• "Mother, what is it?" I asked her, as I wiped my tears.
• "Jane," She began sobbing, pulling me into a tight hug, "I'm so sorry, love. I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry for being a weak mother. I couldn't protect you from getting hurt, I feel so worthless right now,"
• "Don't say that, Mother. You stood up for me, and that means a lot to me. Thank you so much, you're the best mother any girl would ever wish for," I said to her.
• We stopped hugging and she wiped my tears with her thumb.
• "Everything will be alright, I promise," she comforted me.
• "Mother, no one likes me here. No one wants to be my friend. Everyone despises me, even Father hates me too. What is my offense? Is it because I have no wolf?"
• "Don't say that, sweetie. Your father loves you," she said.
• "No, I don't think so. He never loved me, you heard him back at the party. He would have rejected me if he could. Mother, I'm broken already, I want to leave this place. I wish to leave this hell,"
• "What? Do you want to leave me, Jane? What did I do wrong? What is my offense, sweetheart?"
• "Nothing, mother, you didn't offend me, you never treated me badly, but I need to leave this place. I have to leave this pack. I'm depressed and sticking around will only make it worse. I'm only going to get suicidal if I spend one more in this hellhole,"
• My mother was speechless. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out of it. She's shocked.
• "I am sorry, Jane. I want you to be happy, and if leaving will make you happy, then I'll help you contact my sister. She's the Luna of the neighborhood pack, not so far from our pack. I will send you to her. You will be okay if you start a new life there," Mother said.
• "Thank you, mother. I love you," I mumble, hugging her tightly.
• "I love you too, my darling.
• I was ecstatic by the news. New Life. A New Start. Here I come. I can't wait.
• We were still hugging each other when my Father walked in.
• "Here you are, Clara. I've been looking everywhere for you," He said to mother, "What are you doing here with this girl?" He asked, pointing his finger at me.
• This girl! Am I not his daughter?
• "Why do you despise me so much, father?" I dared to ask him. I couldn't keep It in anymore, I need to hear it from him, why he hates me so much.
• "Father?" He repeated with a scoff, "What are you thinking? How can I recognize a useless girl like you as my daughter? Even your mate, who is supposed to love you, rejected you as if you are nothing. You're nothing but a disgrace to me, Jane. You've always been,"
• "Joshua, how can you say that to your daughter?" Mother said, tugging at his arm. "What is wrong with you?" How can you hurt her with your words like that? She's my daughter, our daughter for god's sake,"
• "Your daughter, not mine. Stop calling her my daughter, Clara. You know I fucking hate her. I'll rather die than accept her as my flesh and blood," he finalized and walked away.
• I began to sob anew, hugging my Mother. "I told you he hates me."