CHAPTERTWO
1157 Words
The Girl They Broke
Audrey could still hear the laughter.
Even hours later, long after the Blood Moon Celebration had ended, the cruel whispers followed her like ghosts through the empty pack streets.
“She actually thought the Alpha would accept her.”
“Did you see the look on Nathan’s face?”
“That rejection was brutal.”
Every word replayed in her mind over and over again.
Audrey pulled her coat tighter around herself as she hurried through the cold night, her vision blurred by tears she could no longer stop. The pain of the rejection still burned deep inside her chest like an open wound.
It felt unbearable.
Like something inside her had been violently ripped away.
Her wolf was silent now.
Too silent.
That scared Audrey more than anything.
Usually, she could always feel her wolf’s emotions — fear, happiness, sadness — somewhere in the back of her mind. But now there was almost nothing.
Just emptiness.
The rejection had damaged both of them.
She finally reached the small cabin she lived in near the edge of the pack grounds. Unlike the large homes owned by high-ranking wolves, Audrey’s house looked old and forgotten, with cracked wooden walls and a roof that leaked whenever it rained.
But it was the only place she had ever called home.
With shaking hands, she pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The silence immediately swallowed her.
Audrey slowly slid down against the door until she was sitting on the floor, hugging her knees tightly against her chest.
Then she broke.
A painful sob escaped her lips as tears poured uncontrollably down her cheeks.
Why?
What had she done to deserve that humiliation?
She knew Nathan didn’t care about her before tonight, but rejecting her publicly in front of the entire pack…
The memory made her chest ache again.
“You cannot seriously expect me to accept you as my mate.”
Audrey buried her face in her hands.
Maybe everyone was right.
Maybe she truly wasn’t enough.
Not pretty enough.
Not strong enough.
Not worthy enough to stand beside an Alpha.
A soft knock suddenly came from the door.
“Audrey?”
Becka.
Audrey quickly wiped her face, though it was pointless. “Come in.”
The door opened carefully, and Becka stepped inside carrying a small bag of food.
The moment she saw Audrey’s swollen red eyes, her expression filled with anger.
“I swear, if I see Nathan tonight, I’m going to punch him.”
Despite everything, Audrey gave a weak laugh.
“You’d lose.”
“I know,” Becka admitted while sitting beside her. “But it would still make me feel better.”
Silence filled the room for a moment.
Becka gently handed her the food bag. “You haven’t eaten all day.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“You need to eat.”
Audrey stared down at the bread inside the bag but made no move to take it.
Becka’s face softened. “Audrey… look at me.”
Slowly, Audrey raised her eyes.
“What Nathan did says everything about him, not you.”
“But he was right,” Audrey whispered painfully. “I’m weak.”
“No, you’re not.”
“I can barely fight. I’m not important in the pack. I’m nobody.”
“You are not nobody.”
Audrey looked away.
“That entire room agreed with him,” she said quietly. “Didn’t you hear them laughing?”
Becka clenched her fists angrily. “People in this pack worship strength. They follow Nathan blindly because he’s the future Alpha.”
“And he rejected me like I was disgusting.”
Becka didn’t know what to say to that.
Because it was true.
Audrey swallowed hard, trying to hold herself together.
“The worst part is…” Her voice cracked. “I still felt happy when I saw him walking toward me.”
Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks again.
“For one second, I thought maybe someone finally wanted me.”
Becka immediately wrapped her arms around her.
“You deserve so much better than him.”
Audrey closed her eyes tightly.
Maybe.
But it didn’t stop the pain.
—
The next morning was worse.
Audrey knew people would talk, but she hadn’t expected the humiliation to spread through the entire pack overnight.
The moment she stepped outside her cabin, conversations stopped.
People stared openly.
Some whispered behind their hands.
Others didn’t even bother hiding their amusement.
Audrey kept her head down as she walked toward the training grounds for morning duties. She just needed to survive today.
Then maybe tomorrow would hurt less.
Unfortunately, fate hated her.
The second she entered the training grounds, she saw him.
Nathan Blackwood.
He stood in the center of the field giving orders to younger warriors while sparring with one of the pack fighters effortlessly.
Strong.
Confident.
Untouched by what happened last night.
Audrey immediately turned to leave.
“Audrey.”
His deep voice stopped her instantly.
Every muscle in her body tightened.
Slowly, she turned around.
Nathan walked toward her, his expression unreadable.
Up close, he looked just as cold as he had during the rejection.
Audrey forced herself not to cry again.
“What?” she asked quietly.
Nathan glanced around as if checking whether anyone was listening.
“I wanted to make something clear.”
Pain twisted in Audrey’s chest again.
Of course he did.
“You humiliating me once wasn’t enough?”
Nathan’s jaw tightened slightly.
“The mate bond may still affect you for a while,” he said flatly. “But you need to understand that nothing will ever happen between us.”
Audrey stared at him in disbelief.
That was why he came?
Not to apologize.
Not because he regretted hurting her.
But to reject her again.
Anger suddenly burned through the sadness inside her.
“You think I still want you after what you did?” she snapped.
Nathan looked slightly surprised by her tone.
Audrey stepped closer, her eyes blazing with hurt and fury.
“You stood in front of the entire pack and treated me like trash.”
“You are being emotional.”
A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
“Emotional?” she repeated. “You destroyed me.”
For the first time, something flickered across Nathan’s face.
Guilt.
But it disappeared almost instantly.
“It was necessary.”
Necessary.
That word shattered whatever was left of Audrey’s heart.
She nodded slowly, tears filling her eyes again.
“I understand now.”
Nathan frowned slightly.
Audrey looked directly into his cold gray eyes.
“One day,” she whispered painfully, “you’re going to regret this.”
Then she turned and walked away before he could answer.
Nathan watched her leave, an uncomfortable feeling settling heavily in his chest.
For some strange reason…
Her words felt less like a threat—
And more like a promise.
- Writer
