Chapter 3
1054 Words
Verity POV
"I know who you are, Omega," Leon whispered in my ear, "you're that scum they found in the woods years back after my father and Jessica's father defeated your Pack and killed everyone you loved. It disgusts me to think that the moon goddess actually thought I would consider a scarred waste like you. I'd rather die."
Leon's words were so venomous I wasn't sure how I was going to heal my heart later. When he drew back I felt tears roll over my cheeks. I wiped quickly under my eyes remembering I was surrounded.
“It looks like future alpha Leon has found a mate,” a voice from the crowd yelled, misreading our closeness. But I had a feeling Laura didn't.
"What's wrong?" Laura asked, following my gaze to Leon.
I couldn't speak. My wolf growled weakly inside of me. I felt the connection severe and it didn't feel very nice. I heard of people getting rejected, I've been tortured my whole life but nothing was as painful as this.
"This filth won't be my mate!" Leon said, addressing the crowd. "I reject her as my mate! No mate of mine will be a disgrace."
The room blurred around me as I struggled to hold back tears. I clutched the tray in my hands. But the true sting came from Leon's next words, words that cut through my soul
"I choose Jessica as my mate."
Without warning, the tray slipped from my trembling hands, crashed onto the floor, and shattered into pieces. Gasps and whispers filled the air. Leon had not only rejected me but had chosen another right in front of everyone. And not just any other girl, he chose Jessica.
"Verity, I'm so sorry, Laura said, Maybe it's a misunderstanding. He can't possibly do that to you."
As the room buzzed with whispers and murmurs, I stood there, my eyes locked on Leon. I wanted to vanish, to escape from Leon, Jessica, and especially Laura who was doing nothing to make things better.
Leon wrapped his hands around Jessica's waist, pulling her into a tender kiss, tears welled up in my eyes.
"Verity, calm down. It's going to be okay," Laura said placing what was supposed to be a comforting hand on my shoulder. I couldn't take it, I was so upset.
"Okay? How can it be okay, Laura? When will you realize that nothing is ever going to be ok for me, Laura, that the least you can do is let me be."
"Why are you still here then? Jessica demanded, "Get out of here and be by yourself."
"Jessica, stop it," Laura said, standing up for me at the worst possible time. I needed air away from all of these people.
The cold night air nipped at my face as I ran, my shoes were starting to hurt so I pulled them off and held them. Now barefoot, the world around me blurred into a hazy mess, and my breath came out in ragged gasps. I didn't know where I was going; I just needed to escape the suffocating pain of this place. Not even my powers could help me now.
When I was sure I was far enough, I stopped in front of a cabin with a sign hanging from the top that said 'Everyone's Bar' I knew I was outside our territory, outside of Emberfall covenant pack territory with no one to protect me. I could hear the dull music, and I could see the dim lights from the cabin windows. I hesitated for a moment at the entrance, unsure if this was the right place for someone like me. But it was here or back to Emberfall covenant pack territory.
I pushed the door open, and the air hung heavy with a funky mix of smoke and liquor, very different from the mating ceremony. I didn't care. I needed something to numb the ache inside of me.
I found a spot at the bar and ordered a drink, my fingers trembling as I clutched the glass. I downed the first one, the second, and the fourth when I noticed a man in the corner staring at me. It was probably the alcohol so I looked away and proceeded to the fifth glass. Out of the corner of my eyes, I could see the man stand up and approach me. I was too sad to consider his looks.
"Are you some kind of warrior?" he spluttered.
"What?"
"Sorry it's just I noticed…you have um, scars on your arm and your face. They're like warrior scars."
Normally I would try to shield my face with my hair because I haven't learned how to heal literal scars but I couldn't care less tonight. "Trust me, I'm no warrior."
"Then what's a fine lady like you doing in a place like this?" he asked, a charming smile playing on his lips.
I scoffed bitterly, wiping away a stray tear. "Fine? If I was fine," I made air quotes, "Leon wouldn't have rejected me in front of everyone."
He reached out, his fingers gently caressing my cheeks. "No one should make someone as beautiful as you cry. Can I buy you another drink?"
I shrugged, the numbness spreading through me. "Sure, why not? You can buy my sixth drink."
"Or, I could buy your one, two, three to sixth drink?" he swayed.
"I see you're drunk. I guess anyone who comes to a bar like this is bound to get drunk," I said.
"I'm not drump," he swayed again.
"I think you mean drunk."
"Yeah, that," he laughed, "So are you drowning your sorrows or celebrating?"
"Oh, I'm definitely celebrating," I wasn't too drunk for sarcasm. "Yup, celebrating how shitty my life's been for years and also celebrating being rejected by my mate."
"That's an awesome thing to celebrate. We should toast to that," he raised his glass for a toast and I did the same. "To shitty lives!"
"And shitty secrets that'll kill you if it ever got out!" I had no idea why I just said that but the words were out and it felt right. We clinked our glasses together and he was half in a second.
"You wanna hear a secret, Verity?" He said. My heart leaped. This complete stranger just said my name.
- Writer
