THE UNWANTED
1804 Words
NATALIA
“Are you sure you don’t want me to drive for you?” Tristan reluctantly asked.
We barely talked after he had calmed down. He was shaken by how he reacted, and as much as I wanted to be with him, I couldn’t shake the image of Lorelei comforting her. It was melding with the image of Lorelei I originally knew.
It was maddening.
It’s like I was being duped without them trying. I needed to escape before I fully broke down, and I certainly couldn’t spend the night in the same bed. It was a cowardly thing to do, but I don’t think either of us can have this conversation with a clear mind.
I told him I wanted to go home before the full moon. I’m sure my family wouldn’t appreciate the surprise visit, but I’d rather deal with that.
My wolf opposed the idea, giving me small protests earlier, but eventually stopped when Tristan agreed to the idea almost immediately. I think he also needed time to think, or maybe he’s losing care about me. I don’t really know anymore.
I shook my head and pulled the smile I could muster at the moment. “It’s okay. I know it was a long day for you.” I zipped the bag I packed since I didn’t actually plan to go home but stay in our pack house instead. “It’s just for the night. I’ll see you at the company tomorrow. We have a meeting with investors anyway.”
He stared at me briefly, contemplating what to say or if he should insist.
“Do you want me to call Ivy to accompany you instead?” Tristan suggested this time.
In normal circumstances, I would rather stay at Ivy’s than go home, but she is just as involved in my worries. She was also spending time with her brother after he had been gone for a while, and I didn’t want to casually drop my marriage issues onto her.
“No, thank you. I’m really okay, alpha. I guess I just missed my family all of a sudden.” I answered. It wasn’t a total lie. They barely tolerate me, but they are still the only family I have. I also miss our territory and the rest of our pack members.
I went close to him and pressed a light kiss to his cheek like nothing was wrong, like I wasn’t crumbling inside. He gave a small smile and somehow looked relieved at my gesture.
“Alright, but be careful, okay? Call me if anything happens, absolutely anything. Call me at any time.” He reminded me while accompanying me till we reached the door.
I simply nodded, “Goodnight, Tristan,” I muttered before walking away. I didn’t dare turn back and went straight into the car, driving away as soon as I had the car door shut.
Everything that I had been trying to hold back shattered in an instant. A sob quickly escaped my lips, and my vision blurred from tears. I blinked rapidly, not wanting to put myself in danger.
My grip on the steering wheel tightened as I took deep breaths to steady myself, but it barely helped.
“I’m so pathetic.”
I thought the worst thing about everything was realizing that no matter what I did, fate would always find a way to keep them together. But when I saw how much pain it brought all of us, I figured that it was me all along. I was miserable, but they were as well. Tristan was struggling, trying to suppress his instincts, while Lorelei was clearly trying to stop herself from approaching him, too.
I already knew what would happen, and yet I still willingly let myself fall into this situation. Fate showed me that I was the outlier, that I was the unwanted one through and through. I was brought back in time for a chance to escape and not be with Tristan, but I blew it the moment I was given the smallest chance of love and acceptance.
I composed myself before getting out of the car. I don’t expect people to welcome me, but I don’t want people asking questions.
When I arrived, the people guarding the territory looked at me in confusion but barely reacted. They only asked if there was something wrong before letting me pass. They didn’t say anything else, which I hoped was a good indication that my father or anyone in the family was around.
I felt nostalgia hit me right after I stepped inside. The scent felt familiar, almost comforting. Maybe this was what I needed so I could think. I made my way to the pack house, taking my time and barely running. It felt so long since I’ve been here. I don’t have a lot of good memories in my pack, but I’m still glad I have somewhere to go.
I had just put down my bag in the women’s common rooms and was about to prepare to shift and run into the woods when I felt a familiar presence.
“I knew it stank when I came in.” Kyline didn’t waste time and insulted me.
My body tensed up, and I immediately felt the peace I had felt earlier vanish in a snap. I turned to Kyline. She was leaning against the door frame with her arms crossed over her chest.
As usual, she looked at me like I was the most disgusting person in the world, but her expression changed after seeing my face. Kyline probably noticed my swollen eyes from crying earlier.
She’s going to tear me apart piece by piece.
“Ah, now I see why you came back. Is your husband finally seeing how unlucky he was to you, or worse, did you already bring your misfortune to his pack? Don’t tell me he’s already divorcing you?”
Kyline never said anything good to me, whether in the timeline I went from or this present. She was one who didn’t change. I should already be used to her antics, but her words hurt more because of what was happening.
“Can we please not do this today, Kyline? I went here because I missed my pack. Believe it or not, you’re included in that. Please don’t ruin it.” I stood from my seat and planned to just walk away.
I thought she already stopped, but it didn’t take long before she blocked my path right after I reached outside.
“You’re running away, so it’s probably true. Tell me which is it. I’m curious.” She insisted while blatantly blocking my way.
I bit my lower lip. I can’t deal with this today.
“Or maybe it’s really karma,” she mused, voice dripping with sarcasm, “Your mother was a w***e, and now you’re getting exactly what she had; a man who pretended to love you but quickly got bored. Tell me, did that alpha already find another woman?”
I froze on my spot. It didn’t matter that I heard worse or that I told myself that I was already used to it. In the end, it still hurt because it was true.
My hands formed into fists, nails digging into my palms as I forced myself not to cry. It wasn’t even about pride anymore.
I’m just tired of feeling miserable.
“Stop it already.” I helplessly muttered, barely any voice coming out of me.
“Stop what? Telling the truth? You shouldn’t have come back here, Natalia. This is not your home. It never was. You’re always going to be nothing but a reminder of my father’s greatest sin. Nothing more, nothing less because you-”
Our conversation was cut off when we felt a presence approaching us with a heavy intent. Before I knew it, Tristan was already by my side, glaring at Kyline. His expression looked calm, but I could feel his restrained anger.
“My wife came here because she wanted to visit her family, but if this was what she gets, then we’d rather go.”
Kyline was obviously surprised with his appearance, but I was the most stunned. Why is he here? Why did he follow me?
“I’m just saying the truth.” She answered fearlessly.
Tristan took a step closer to her, “Natalia is more than whatever you’re insulting of her. Her parents’ sin isn’t hers to bear. I know where you’re coming from, but it’s time to let it go. I won’t let you insult her like that ever again.”
Kyline, ever so stubborn, was about to argue, but another voice resonated in the place before she could push further.
“That’s enough, Ky.”
Even Xavier is here…
Kyline’s smirk faltered. She turned at our brother, surprised that he was stopping her. “Why are you suddenly taking their side? We all know why she was married off.”
Xavier’s expression darkened, “I said, enough. Go inside. Now.”
Kyline scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Oh, please. She—”
“If you don’t shut up, I’ll make sure that this will reach our father. I will also make sure that you are reprimanded for disrespecting another pack Alpha and Luna. Natalia might be our sister, but she is now the Luna of Shadow Grove pack. Respect her status.”
Kyline glared at me again and stormed away from us without another word. I looked at Xavier with pure guilt in my eyes. I was so desperate to get away that I didn’t think this would happen.
“Are you okay?” He asked, almost making me break down in an instant. I can’t even look at Tristan in the eyes.
I nodded, “I’m sorry for causing trouble.”
Xavier shook his head, “I should be the one apologizing to you. This is still your birth pack, and you are supposed to be free to return here without any fuss.”
He glanced at Tristan before his eyes went back to me, “Now, is there any problem with you two that I should know? Do you want to stay here, Natalia?”
I quickly shook my head. “I really just want to visit. I didn’t intend for that to happen.” I denied it before they got the wrong idea about Tristan. The last thing that I wanted to happen was to get them involved.
My desperate lie didn’t seem believable, but Xavier dropped the topic.
“We’re going.” Alpha Tristan suddenly announced.
Before I could react, I already felt Tristan’s hands holding me. It wasn’t forceful or anything, but he immediately pulled me away.
If running away isn’t the answer, then why does it feel like staying will only break me further?
- Writer
