Chapter3
1083 Words
Elyra’s POV
The garden had always been my sanctuary, a place where I could breathe, where the world’s cruelty didn’t seem so suffocating. But tonight, as I stood hidden behind the bushes, I wasn’t here for peace. I was here because I had heard Clara—my own sister—whispering in the dark, plotting against me.
Her words still echoed in my head. She doesn’t get to just walk away. I want her to suffer.
The betrayal was still fresh, cutting deep into my chest. I had always wondered why she had acted like she didn’t know me, why she had looked at me with nothing but disgust in her eyes.
But now, I knew. She hated me. She wanted me gone.
I should have left right then. I should have turned and walked away, but my feet wouldn’t move. My fingers curled into the soft earth beneath me, my body stiff with shock.
Then, I felt it.
A presence beside me.
I gasped, jerking my head up to find Alpha Beckett standing next to me, his imposing figure towering over mine. His blue eyes burned into me, unreadable as always. I hadn’t even heard him approach, too lost in my own thoughts.
“What are you doing here?” His voice was cold, demanding, leaving no room for evasion.
I swallowed hard, struggling to form words. My mind raced for an excuse, but my tongue felt heavy in my mouth. If I told him the truth—that his new lover was scheming against me—would he even believe me?
Probably not.
So, instead, I whispered the first thing that came to mind. “I was saying goodbye.”
Beckett’s brows furrowed. “To what?”
“The garden,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’m leaving.”
Something flashed in his eyes, something I couldn’t name, but it was gone before I could decipher it. He stared at me for a long moment before exhaling sharply. “Good.”
I felt my throat tighten, but I refused to let him see how much his indifference hurt.
Then, before I could say anything else, another voice rang out.
“What’s she doing here?”
I turned to see Clara walking toward us, her expression twisted in irritation. Even now, after everything, I still wanted to believe there was some part of my sister left in her, some part that still cared.
Who knows, maybe the little girl that I had once combed her gair every night was still in there somewhere beneath that cold exterior.
But I was wrong.
Clara’s lips curled into a sneer as she looked between me and Beckett. “Were you spying on me?”
“No,” I said quickly, shaking my head.
Her eyes narrowed. “Liar.”
I stiffened.
“I saw you crouching behind the bushes,” she continued, her voice rising with accusation. “You were spying on me, weren’t you?”
“No,” I repeated, trying to keep my voice steady. “I wasn’t.”
Clara scoffed, shaking her head in mock disbelief. “You’re pathetic, Elyra. Stalking me? Watching me in secret? You’ve always been so desperate for attention.”
A few pack members had already gathered, drawn by the raised voices. Their suspicious gazes locked onto me, their murmurs growing louder. I felt my stomach twist as their distrust settled in the air like a thick fog.
“Enough, Clara,” Beckett muttered, rubbing his temples like this whole situation was exhausting him.
But Clara wasn’t done.
“She’s been acting strange all night,” she declared loudly, turning to the crowd. “I don’t trust her. Who knows what she’s plotting?”
Plotting?
How could she accuse me of such when clearly she was the one who is plotting something against me.
I let out a bitter laugh. “You’re accusing me of plotting?”
Clara’s eyes darkened. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you were planning something wicked.”
The murmurs grew louder, a wave of suspicion rolling through the pack members. I could see the doubt in their eyes, the way their expressions shifted as they considered Clara’s words.
“She’s right,” someone muttered.
“She’s always been trouble,” another chimed in.
A cold sweat broke out on my skin.
“No,” I said, my voice cracking. “I would never—”
“Liar!” Clara shouted.
The crowd erupted, their voices merging into a storm of accusations. It didn’t matter what I said. It didn’t matter that I had done nothing wrong. They had already made up their minds.
“She doesn’t belong here!”
“She’s dangerous!”
“She should be thrown out!”
Panic shot through me, my heart pounding in my chest. I looked to Beckett, desperately hoping he would stop this madness.
But he didn’t.
Instead, he exhaled slowly, then turned to one of his men. “Bring her things.”
The world seemed to tilt beneath me.
“No,” I breathed, shaking my head. “Beckett, you can’t—”
But he wasn’t listening.
The pack warriors returned moments later, dropping my belongings onto the ground. My chest ached as I stared at the meager possessions I had left, scattered at my feet like broken pieces of my life.
“Leave,” Beckett said, his voice final. “And never come back.”
My breath caught in my throat.
This was it.
After everything I had endured, everything I had suffered, this was how it ended.
I lifted my head, forcing back the tears that burned my eyes. I wouldn’t let them see me break. I wouldn’t give them that satisfaction.
I gathered my things, my hands trembling as I held onto the last remnants of my life here. Then, I turned to Beckett, my gaze locking onto his.
“You brought me back to this pack just to humiliate me,” I whispered. My voice was steady, but inside, I was breaking. “You’ll regret this.”
He didn’t react.
Not even a flicker of emotion.
I clenched my fists, then turned and walked away.
With each step, I felt the weight of their stares, their judgment pressing down on me. But I didn’t stop.
I wouldn’t give them the pleasure of seeing me collapse.
I wouldn’t look back.
I had no home. No family.
But I still had myself.
And that would have to be enough.
- Writer
