i almost doubted my fated mate

ARIA Tears. That was the order of the day for me in the Darkhowl pack. Sometimes I wish I was never born or the Moon goddess could just strike me down. Perhaps that would have been better than living or should I say ‘walking dead? “Hey, and who is going to get that place all cleaned out?” One of the wolves shouted at me. “But that isn't my duty…I don't even know anything about the mess made in there,” I stuttered in answering. A loud laughter followed suit. One that made it seem like I had just spoken like an i***t. “Look at her…so you can speak? What gives you the gut, you lowlife cursed b***h?” she lashed out. I dare not raise my eyebrows at those words. I could feel my wolf give a nudge but I ignored it. “This is all your fault, aunt Jeanne….death shouldn't have taken you away from me…” I muttered. She was my protector in the pack, my guardian and the only person I have, that I could call family. Before I could say another word, a heavy slap landed on my face and I held my cheeks as I groaned in pain. “Just look at you…you think you matter in this pack? Oh oh, please,” she burst into laughter, “....you are nothing but a trash body waiting to be disposed. I looked forward to the day you'd be sent out of here cause you don't belong here, weakling!!” “Now get all of those things done before I….” “Before you what?” That barritone voice clouded the room and everywhere went silent. It was Stefan Lockwood, the Alpha of Darkhowl pack. “So this is the way you all treat her when I am not in sight? Uhn?” He said in an authoritative tone. The ground shook as he spoke…”Don't make me release my anger on you.” Th1e wolf bowed her head all through as he speaks and the minute he ended, she ran off in fright. “I'm sorry, Alpha Stefan. It won't happen again…” she uttered on her way. “My love,” Stefan spoke softly. A tear dropped from my eye that very minute, this would be the umpteenth time he would be coming to my rescue. Stefan, the only person I can say is closest to my heart. He is my family and my everything. “Thank you, my Lord. If not for you, I would have been insulted and beaten at the same time,” I said with a teary eye. He drew me closer to himself and without saying a word, he hugged me tightly. “My mate, do not mind them. When we finally get married and mated at the ceremony, no one will dare harass you…..” “.....I give you my word, Aria…no one would ever touch you or embarass you,” he added. He knew exactly what to say to make my heart calm. The joy of becoming his Luna as the mating ceremony approaches. I looked into his piercing eyes and I blushed. “My Stefan, My Alpha. Where would I find confidence if not around you?” I utttered in a weak tone. He helped me to my feet and led me to his chambers, “Aren't you excited for what is before us?” He whispered into my ears. “Of course I am…I can't wait, my love,” I answered, wiping the last bit that escaped my left eye. His hands browsed my shoulders down to my waist and stayed there, he pulled me closer to him and kissed my neck passionately. St--stefan,” I moaned out his name slowly like an intentional stutter. He grabbed my butts and lifted me off the ground in style… We made love like every other night, one more pleasurable than the latter. ****** I sighed. This time around, not a sigh of relief but of fear and anxiety that crept within me. I had thrown up one to many times the previous day and now I am feeling feverish and my skin is turning brightish red.. “That was a peculiar sign,” I said to myself..but I didn't want to believe it was what I was thinking. I rushed outside to the garden to sit under the bright sunlight and lo, my skin glowed. And my wolf purred. My eyes widened in surprise….”Oh Goddess, I'm pregnant,” I muttered. “For the Alpha, our fated mate,” my wolf added. I smiled. “Stefan would be so happy to hear this. We have dreamed and spoken about being finally mated to one another and now I'm about to hit him with the greatest surprise, the news of an unborn heir,” I whispered to my wolf. “I can't wait to tell him,” I spoke further. “I can't wait for the shock when the others see him choose us as his one true mate,” my wolf uttered. Finally. I was about to become the happiest Omega in the whole of Darkhowl pack. I sat in the garden the whole day till the moonlight appeared. It was night before the grand mating ceremony. The preparations had begun and one could hear the sound of Beta howling for the rituals of the night at the Circle, the sacred ground where the Alpha shows the entire pack his fated mate. “Should we tell him before we head to the Circle?” I asked my wolf who had been undeniably excited within. “Oh, no, let's wait till after the rituals,” she replied in a hasty tone. The Circle was filled to the brim and I could see the other Omegas mumbling and murmuring as I walked in. “What is this one looking for?” I heard one of them say out aloud to the other. I looked away. “They won't see it coming,” I spoke in an inaudible tone. The silence that raided soon as Stefan stood up from his exalted chair, was one of a kind. Our eyes met and I smiled. There was something off. He didn't seem happy to see me. As the ritual commands, fated mates are to hold hands the minute the horn is blown. I walked towards Stefan, with my hands ready to stretch towards his, “My love,” I whispered as I got nearer. He laughed out hysterically. “Who is your love?” He smirked. “I never loved you. You and I are not meant for each other. Find someone unfortunate like yourself!!!” He spat out. Uhn?