Not Your Mate Anymore

Part 2-1 Betrayed Hearts

At that moment, all eyes were fixed on me, and I glanced at my siblings, desperately hoping that I had misunderstood. The expressions on their faces confirmed my worst fears. Luna Natalie mouthed an apology, and I wished I could disappear. Percy, my mate, had chosen Ralyn over me. He had made a choice. Couldn't he have waited just five more months until my 16th birthday? Was it too much to ask for him to wait until I was ready to mate?

Anger surged within my wolf, a primal desire for bloodshed, but I remained frozen in shock. The full weight of my emotions hit me later, as I returned home. In that meeting hall, I was too stunned to react. My sister, Josey, tried to speak to me, but I couldn't find my voice. I looked at Percy and saw him kissing Ralyn—a simple peck, but he was my mate. My possessive wolf saw red, longing to tear Ralyn apart, but I was paralyzed. To add insult to injury, Ralyn smiled at me. The audacity! She smiled, fully aware that Percy was meant to be mine.Everyone in the pack knew Percy was destined for me.

When I turned 13, I experienced my first shift, meeting my wolf for the first time. At the stroke of midnight on my birthday, I underwent the painful transformation, a moment eagerly awaited by all. Typically, the alpha hosts a shift party for new wolves, but my father deemed my wolf too extraordinary to be revealed just yet. Instead, I had my first shift at our lakeside manor in human territory, witnessed only by my family. My wolf, a pure white beauty, prompted my father's belief that my purple irises were a special blessing from the moon goddess.

My sister was also a white wolf, but with green eyes. A few days after my shift, I returned home, and upon seeing me, Percy growled, declaring me as his. Everyone present witnessed it, which explained why all eyes were on me now. My irises vanished, replaced by black orbs, signifying the presence of Athena, my wolf. My brother sensed the urgency and swiftly carried me away, cradling me in his arms, back home, where I was confined to the basement until I could regain control. It took two days to soothe Athena, but during that time, Percy never visited.

When I finally emerged from my seclusion, there were no messages or calls from Percy. He had vanished. We weren't even officially a couple, yet he had abandoned me. My heart shattered into countless fragments. He hadn't even made an effort to explain himself or reach out to me. He simply left me, alone and cold, with unfulfilled promises hanging in the air. My mate now belonged to someone else, and there was nothing I could do about it.

A week had passed, and I had locked myself in my room, neglecting food, hygiene, and fresh clothes. I remained in the same desolate state, thankful that we had our family home instead of the pack house. As I dwelled on the memories of the meeting hall, exhaustion overwhelmed me, plunging me into a deep slumber.

In my dream, I found myself in a sunlit field, encompassed by familiar sadness and lethargy. I welcomed these sensations, even knowing it was a mere dream. A presence lingered behind me, emanating a powerful aura that compelled me to turn around and reach out. I was drawn to that energy, and as I faced the source, I saw my mother, gazing back at me with a sad smile. "Hello, my little moon," she called me, using her tender nickname.

I was taken aback. "Mother? How is this possible? Where am I? You look the same," I exclaimed, struggling to comprehend the surreal encounter.

"Oh, my little moon, you are dreaming, my precious girl. Your subconscious sought solace and summoned me. You possess great strength to conjure a place like this," my mother explained, awe evident in her eyes.

"So, I'm dreaming of my departed mother," I scoffed, unable to find comfort in a spectral presence."I am here in spirit, just as you are, my little moon. Can you not feel the power coursing through your veins? Has your wolf taught you nothing?" My mother's words resonated within me."Athena is a fierce and bloodthirsty wolf. I do my best to keep her in check. Besides, Daddy said my white wolf should remain hidden since no one in the pack has ever seen one," I replied sadly."My dear, it is time to reveal Athena to the world. Let her guide and heal you. Do not waste away in your room, burdened by a false sense of shame. Your mate has not rejected you; he is still rightfully yours. However, I advise you to keep your distance from him," my mother advised, her voice commanding.

"How can I stay away from him when all I want is to be with him? I'm not even angry at him. I still love him, and it weakens me," I cried, torn between conflicting emotions."YOU ARE NOT WEAK!" My mother's voice resounded with unwavering determination."You come from a sacred bloodline, a force to be reckoned with. Rise from your bed and put an end to this pity party. I did not give birth to you so you could waste your life on a boy who is beneath you!" Her rage filled the room.

In all my memories, my mother had always been the calm, rational one, while my father was the one with a fiery temperament."WAKE UP NOW! DON'T WASTE ANOTHER SECOND!! SABRINA KIMBERLEY TRENT, WAKE UP NOW!" Startled, I jolted out of bed, nearly knocking my sister over."Easy there, Sab. Can't you see what I'm wearing? I can't let you ruin this dress!" Josie exclaimed.

"I'm sorry, Josie. I... I had a nightmare," I stammered."I know. We all felt your power in the kitchen. The alpha and Percy are on their way to speak with Dad, pack business. I was asked to tell you to calm down," Josie explained."Athena's power surfaced?" I asked, seeking confirmation."It was more than that. It felt as if you weren't alone. You were mumbling and crying in your sleep," Josie said, embracing me.

"I'm so sorry you're going through this. Father is furious, and Remi has been trying to calm him down, but he won't listen. He scolded the young alpha for disrespecting the moon goddess and rejecting his true mate, who is alive and aware," Josie said, conveying the family's frustration."Daddy raised us to believe that mates are sacred. So, it doesn't surprise me, Josie," I pointed out.

"Sab, you need to get out of bed. Percy can't see you like this. He hurt you, I understand, but resist the bond, big sis. Go to your closet, get dressed. Show him what he's missing," Josie urged. "Remi is waiting outside to talk with you again, to remind you that you can find love once more. Please, get out of bed."

During my time in the basement, after the emotionally draining pack meeting, Remi would make regular visits to see me. She acted as my guiding light, unchaining me from the restraints, providing me with nourishment, and tending to my needs. Unlike regular wolves, silver didn't cause us harm. Although it momentarily stung our skin, we quickly healed. Josie and I were exceptions, resembling Lycans in this regard—vulnerable to silver but far from powerless. Whenever my brother chained me, Athena, my inner wolf, refrained from fighting him or the rest of our family. While she desired Ralyn, my family's safety was of utmost importance, and I didn't want to harm them.