Fated

Chapter Thirteen: Outcast

Jason’s P.O.V. 

The phone alights on the bedside table, stirring my sleeping wife beside me. 

Sitting upright against the board of the bed, I reach over and grab the source of the light, quickly dimming the brightness. 

I unlock the phone and quickly glance over the new message. The message from the source of our worries right now. 

“Yes, Alpha Jason. I will be there for 11am.”  

At least she’s smart enough not to argue about this meeting. 

Not smart enough, however. 

Her pregnancy could ruin our pack. My son. 

And I will never allow that. 

I must protect our pack, my son, from this pregnancy. 

I will not allow her or this illegitimate cub to ruin all of my hard work. 

Claire’s P.O.V. 

I return to the warm embrace of my bedroom, having (thankfully) just finished my latest bout of morning sickness. 

Though, the comfort provided by my bedroom only stretches so far over the turmoil inside of me.  

I take a seat on the edge of my bed as my mind reels. 

Why does Alpha Jason want to meet me?  

How did he find out about everything?  

Is he the only other person who knows? 

What does he want? 

Should I be worried? 

My mind reels in anxious anticipation, another bout of morning sickness creeping its way up my body. 

Okay. I take a deep breath.  

It’s fine. He probably just wants to help, or to ask me some questions. 

I shouldn’t panic. 

Alpha Jason is a good person, a good leader. 

I’m sure I have nothing to worry about. 

Despite my efforts, my anxiety doesn’t calm. Instead, I just decide to try to pretend everything is fine. Though, every part of me hurts right now. The idea of even standing right now, seems so difficult. 

I would give anything to just throw my fluffy pyjamas back on, cuddle up deep under the duvet, and watch something, all day. Every day, ideally. Doing anything otherwise seems unbearable.  

Even getting dressed feels like too much, like this massive strain on my mind and body.  

But, quite simply, I have to obey the wishes of Alpha Jason – I have to meet him.  

I just hope he will handle all of this okay.  

But something in my gut suggests otherwise. 

I force myself up and pull myself into a pair of jeans, throwing a nice, but loose, sweater on top – enough to hide my stomach, although barely swollen at all, it comforts me to hide it. 

Once finished, I make my way to the pack house – a walk that takes only a couple of minutes, but I wish it took more.  

As I approach the house I wonder if anyone else is inside. The pack house has phases of being very busy, and phases of being so quiet and empty you might assume it was abandoned – if not for the lavish décor, that is. 

Regardless, Isaac could be there. And I can’t dare to face him yet, if ever, honestly... I still don’t even think I’ve processed what has happened - how drastically everything has changed in one night. 

All I know right now, is that I just feel so betrayed. I never want to trust anyone like that again. 

I approach the large double doors to the pack house now, and my knees shake feverously underneath me.  

I internally beg to the Goddess that Isaac won’t be here as I get closer. 

But before I even get a chance to knock, the door swings open.  

In my hyper anxious state, I am so shocked by this sudden movement that my whole body jumps back, my eyes shut closed. 

A second or two of silence pass - me still too afraid to open my eyes, before being interrupted by a deep, commanding voice. 

“Claire?” The voice cuts through the tense silence. 

I peek an eye open, only to be met with the dark gaze of Alpha Jason. 

He seems so cold and unfriendly right now... 

Maybe something happened... 

“Alpha Jason,” I straighten up in response, bowing my head a small bit. 

“Come inside,” He commands, “Follow me.” His voice is dark, heavy.  

I follow him upstairs, my anxiety knotting my stomach with each step. I feel that my eyes are constantly searching the pack house for any sign of Isaac – praying he isn’t nearby.  

“Isaac isn’t here. No one is here.” Jason’s words, as if on que, send a small wave of relief over me. But they leave a bitter taste in my mouth. 

His appearance is as usual; clean cut, smart-casual clothes. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him in any kind of dishevelled state – nor have I ever seen him in sweatpants, or other comfy clothes. Nor his wife, now that I think about it... They have always seemed to want to enforce their status, in every way – lavish home, lavish clothes... Perhaps that is all Alpha’s and Luna’s, though. 

A tiny part of me feels grateful, as I think this, that I am not the future Luna of this pack.  

Dressing up every day is too much work for me. But even that positivity is fleeting in this moment. 

Finally, we reach Alpha Jason’s study and his own private meeting room. 

“Take a seat, Claire.” He gestures at the seat opposite his own, on the other side of the large, ornate desk. 

I do as he says, and sit in the dark leather seat, matching the rest of the décor in the room.  

I wait for him to speak, to tell me why I am here, shuffling my fingers. 

“Claire,” He starts, and my face darts up to look at him, “I asked you here to discuss your pregnancy.” 

I nod, my cheeks flushed with a dash of embarrassment. 

“As you know, Isaac is the future Alpha of Curadh.” 

I nod. 

“I am also sure you know, that he has indeed found his mate.” 

I nod. 

“And as you may or may not know, his mate is from Curadh too - but you are not her.” 

I pause, before averting my gaze and nodding hesitantly. 

So, he knows.  

Did Isaac tell him?  

Who else knows? 

He continues, “You are probably also aware that Isaac has chosen to hide his mate; going directly against the traditions of Curadh.” 

My gaze still averted; I nod again. 

“And the reason he did this, is because of you, Claire. You, and your pregnancy.” 

I can’t bring myself to nod this time. 

I hadn’t thought of this yet. I hadn’t realised.  

Is this why Isaac left me during the party?  

Did he realise once he saw Sophia? 

Is this why he asked me to leave early? 

My heart tugs painfully, still crushed by the massive weight on top of it.  

He lied to me so easily... 

Jason continues, “You must be aware of how Isaac hiding his mate has damaged our pack and our reputation.” 

He doesn’t wait for a response this time, simply continuing, “So I am sure, someone as smart as you can deduce how damaging your pregnancy would be to the pack, if found out.” 

Jason pauses, waiting for a response. I bite my lip, gaze still averted, and give a small nod again. 

“So, Claire,” His voice commands my gaze, “In order to ensure your pregnancy is never found out by our pack, or anyone else; as your Alpha, I will give you two choices.” 

My heart rate races and my stomach clenches. 

How could this be happening? 

Alpha Jason was always so warm – he had never been cold and commanding like this. Not to me, anyway.

“You will either undergo an abortion, or you will leave Curadh. Forever.” He pauses for a moment to gauge my reaction, before continuing. 

“If you choose to abort this cub,” The word sounds poisoned in his mouth, “You must never speak of it to anyone. No one can help you. You will pretend all of this never happened, and your life here will continue as normal.” 

I feel ill. 

“If you choose to keep the cub,” He continues, wincing at the word ‘cub', "You will be banished from the pack. You will leave before tonight. You will not tell anyone where you are going or what you are doing. And you will never contact anyone from Curadh ever again – including your parents.” 

He pauses again, as if waiting for some kind of response. But I can’t speak. 

“Claire,” He commands, utilising his Alpha voice, “What is your choice?” 

The room spins around me and I put a hand on the table to stabilise myself.  

This can’t be real. 

Jason’s command washes over me, subduing the shutting down of my body, and forcing an answer out of me. 

I take a deep breath, stabilising myself. 

Looking up to meet his gaze, I give him my answer, my face void of any and every emotion. 

“I’ll leave.” 

“Okay.” He looks down, disappointment flashing over his face very briefly. 

“Then, Claire Whelan, I hereby banish you from Curadh. You are forbidden from ever entering the grounds of Curadh again, and you are forbidden to contact anyone from Curadh ever again. If you do so without prior approval, you will face punishment... by death.” 

I swallow, frozen in place, but my body shaking. 

Alpha Jason continues as if not having shattered my entire world, “However, Claire, as I have known you since birth, and as a duty to your father and the Beta of this pack... Here,” He hands me a hefty envelope, and I peer inside, slowly and reluctantly. 

The envelope is filled with money – notes. 

“This should be enough for you to survive off of for a small period.” He hands me a small piece of paper, “This contact should be able to help you find accommodation outside of the pack.” 

Alpha Jason rises from his chair and begins walking towards the door, pausing beside my seat. 

“And Claire,” His voice sounds tight, reluctant. “If you change your mind about the abortion, you can use that money.” He hands me another piece of paper, “Contact me on this number if you change your mind, and you will be welcomed back as if nothing happened.” 

“Also, if you run out of money...” He looks away from me, a little sheepish, “Let me know. I owe that much to our Beta.” 

Tears threaten to spill from my eyes as I attempt to stand. 

How is this happening? How is this real? 

Is this real? Am I dreaming? 

A very vivid, fever dream caused by pregnancy hormones, perhaps? 

But I know, deep in my heart, that this is real. I can feel the bond to my pack being cut – but not quite cut yet. The agony of that will hit later, I’m sure. 

“I’ll... Go now.” I stutter out, my voice catching in my throat as I move to the door. I don’t know if Alpha... If Jason said anything else as I left.  

It feels like I’m sleep walking as I make my way home... Like I’m trapped underwater, in a small, suffocating tank, as my surroundings continue on without me, as if I never existed.  

I can’t bare to look at my surroundings too much. I can’t bare to think of my memories here. Because that’s all this place and these people will ever be now – a memory. 

I get home and for once I am so thankful that my parents aren’t here – if they are, that they don’t notice my presence. That they don’t give me a hug and a warm welcome home. That they don’t offer me tea or hot chocolate. That they don’t ask me to watch something with them by the fire. 

I’m grateful. 

The tears have been streaming down my face for a while now. My skin feels raw. 

But I don’t have time to care about these things. 

As if being controlled by someone else, my body begins packing – taking my holiday suitcase from the storage room and packing as many essentials and other clothes as it can fit.  

Not that I’ll be able to fit them soon, anyway. 

I glance down at my stomach, and I know, that despite all of my pain, despite what hell I might have to endure – that I’ve made the right choice. 

I have always been pro-choice, and I still am. But I know that I want this cub, my cub. I know this is right. 

And already, I know I’ll do anything for my cub. 

And with that, my body has finished packing. 

I glance around my room, taking my phone out of my pocket completely emotionlessly – I decide to take some pictures and videos of my bedroom and the rest of my home. So that I can remember.  

If I can’t come back, at least I have this. 

I’ll always have this. 

It feels as though the heavy weight that had sat upon my heart, has now pushed through my entire body – dragging everything down with it. As though everything in my body just wants to stop. 

But I have to keep going... 

My eyes catch sight of the clock, and I realise my parents will probably be back soon. They like to stay indoors in the evening. 

My heart shatters into millions of pieces once again.  

I’ll never get another chance to tell them that I love them. 

Another chance to thank them. 

Another chance to hug them. 

I have to leave. 

And so, I do. I leave. 

Suitcase in unsteady hand, the dark embrace of the outdoors envelopes me, concealing me from preying eyes.  

With that – my last moments at Curadh, at my home, are gone.