The Mate Switch

“I could never be with someone as pathetic and useless as you!” Gloria laid huddled on the floor, staring up at the man who was supposed to be her protector, her other half. The one the Moon goddess deemed fit to be by her side. “Why are you doing this?” she sobbed out, her heart constricting with both fear and despair. If he couldn’t stand up for her, who would? “I’m your mate, the bond proves it. We’re destined to be together.” The laugh that followed not only made her flinch in hurt, but shook her insides to the core. “Destined to be together?” Elias laughed once more. “You’re a maid, and I’m royalty. You’re an omega, and I’m the son of an alpha. This is a mistake, and I refuse to accept it.” “What are you saying?” “I, Elias Fenrirson, reject you, Gloria Lunaris, as my mate!” She tried to get up before the end of his sentence, to run towards him and stop him from completing it. But her legs suddenly felt heavy and her chest ached like it had been pierced by a thousand swords. It was done. The bond was broken. All that was left was for her to accept it. “Please…” She shook her head stubbornly, refusing to cooperate, when a cold sharp object rested upon her throat. What followed was a shrill voice she’d heard one too many times. “Say it!” Celeste bellowed into her ears. “Say it or I swear to the goddess, I will tear into your skin with this silver blade and leave you to bleed to death.” With no other option, and a trembling voice, she spoke the words she couldn’t bear to hear. “I, Gloria Lunaris, accept your rejection.” A searing pain ripped through her chest as the bond shattered completely. She gasped, clutching her heart, collapsing to the ground, her body convulsing as if the moonlight itself scorched her. The sound of Celeste’s roaring laughter only made it worse. “Poor little orphan girl,” she mocked, strolling to Elias’s side. “Did you really think you’d end up with the alpha’s son? What? Does this look like some fairytale bullshit to you?” Elias chuckled. “Look at her. So pathetic.” He grabbed his girlfriend and placed an intimate kiss that seemed never ending as Gloria watched, suffering in pain. “This is what a real woman looks like,” he said, watching her with disgust. “You don’t even deserve to look at me. You don’t deserve to breathe the same air as me. You’re just a lowly nobody that no one cares about. No one would miss you if you suddenly disappeared.” “No one can know a worthless servant girl like you was ever bonded to Elias,” Celeste sneered, walking towards Gloria with intent in her eyes. “He’ll be the laughing stock of the entire pack.” Sensing something off, Gloria tried to crawl further away, but she was still too weak to drag her body to safety. Celeste caught up, kicking her across the stomach and turning her around so they were making eye contact. “Please…” Gloria begged. “I won’t tell anyone.” Celeste’s lips formed a half smile. She bent to speak in Gloria’s ears. “I know, but I’ve wanted to do this for so long.” Gloria’s tears streamed freely now, mingling with the dirt beneath her. “Please… I’ll—” Celeste’s blade flashed under the moonlight. She slashed it across Gloria’s side, the silver burning her skin. Gloria’s strangled scream echoed through the trees as Celeste shoved her onto her back. Elias gave her one last look, eyes devoid of emotion. Gloria tried to scream again but no sound came out of her mouth, she tried to plead to the Moon goddess to have mercy on her even though a part of her blamed the goddess for her predicament. Why give me a mate if he isn’t going to accept me? Celeste grinned wickedly, yanking Gloria up by her hair. The omega’s vision blurred, consciousness slipping. Every breath felt like her last. Every heartbeat a reminder that she was completely at their mercy. Her body vibrated with pain, her wolf silent, distant, as though retreating into the farthest depths of her soul. She couldn’t fight back. She could barely breathe. “I miss…” she was trying to form the words, trying to keep her eyes open. “I want…” The laughter around her began to fade, the world blurred. She didn’t know how long she’d been laying there, or if her murderers had walked away. The image of two little girls flashed before her eyes, happy and without a care in the world. It seemed like another life. A century ago. Her vision grew hazy. She was starting to see things, like her exact image staring down at her, tears and regret brewing behind those big silver eyes. “Am I dead?” she whispered tiredly. “No, Glo,” her other self replied. “But whoever did this is about to be!”