Claimed by the Lycan's Mark

Chapter Three: Everything sucks

~Aiyana~

I didn’t know how long I stayed kneeling on the ground, probably hours, hoping that my father would revoke his judgement. But all he did was turn a blind eye to my pleas and groveling. That was when I knew that I’d really lost it all. I’d lost everything that I held dear.

Resigned, I stood to my feet, my knees wobbling from the long hours of kneeling, and made my way to my room to gather the little life I had. Once in my room, I took an empty bag and dropped it on the bed, ready to begin packing.

I stared at my room, relieving the memories that I’d made there. My hands trembled as I tried to fold my clothes and tuck them inside the bag.

My room was small but cozy, filled with little pieces of my life. The worn-out books I’d read a hundred times were stacked neatly on the bedside table. A faded scarf that my mother had given me before she died hung from the chair in the corner.

I reached for the scarf, my fingers brushing against it. My mother’s scent was long gone, replaced by the clean scent of fabric softener, but holding it reminded me of better times. Times when I felt loved. Times before my father got married to another woman who tore my family apart.

My throat tightened as I tied the scarf around my neck, pulling it snug like it could somehow shield me from the cold reality outside my door.

I didn’t have much to pack. A few clothes, a toothbrush, and a handful of keepsakes that wouldn’t weigh me down too much. The bag wasn’t even half full when I finished, but it felt so heavy as I slung it over my shoulder.

I was taking a last snapshot with my mind when my door opened.

“Aiyana?”

I turned to see my stepsister, Maren, standing at the edge of the door. Maren was two years younger than me and had the kind of delicate, doll-like beauty that made people stop and stare. Her long, blonde hair glowed even in the dimmest light, and her bright blue eyes were wide with what looked like concern.

“Maren,” I said, my voice hoarse from crying. “What do you want?”

She stepped inside, her hands clasped in front of her like she wasn’t sure what to do with them. “I heard what happened,” she said softly. “I’m... I’m sorry, Aiyana.”

Her words caught me off guard. Maren had never been particularly kind to me, but for a moment, I thought maybe, just maybe, she meant it.

“Thanks,” I mumbled, sitting back down on the edge of the bed and dropping my bag.

She hesitated before crossing the room and sitting beside me. “It’s not fair, you know,” she said, “What dad did to you. I mean, you’re his daughter. He should’ve listened to your side of the story.”

I swallowed hard, my heart aching. “He didn’t want to listen. He made up his mind before I even got home.”

Maren nodded, her expression somber. “Still, it must hurt. Losing everything like this.”

The lump in my throat grew, and I bit down on my bottom lip to keep myself from crying again. “It does,” I admitted. “But it’s not like I have a choice. He exiled me, Maren. I have to leave.”

She was quiet for a moment, and I thought maybe she was actually feeling sorry for me. But then her lips twisted into a bitter smile.

“You know,” she said, her tone shifting, “it’s kind of funny.”

I frowned, turning to look at her. “What’s funny?”

Her eyes shone with victorious cruelty “That you finally got what you deserved.”

I blinked, stunned. “What?”

She stood and placed her hands on her waist. “Don’t play dumb, Aiyana. You’ve always had everything handed to you. The best clothes, the most attention, the she-alpha in view, every single thing! I’ve spent my whole life living in your shadow, watching everyone fawn over you like you’re some…some kind of goddess.”

“Maren, that’s not true. I never asked for any of that—”

“Of course you didn’t,” she snapped, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “You didn’t have to. It just happened, right? Everything always goes your way, doesn’t it?”

I shook my head, trying to make sense of her sudden outburst. “Maren, I didn’t—”

“And now,” she interrupted, her eyes shining, “you’re finally out of my life. For good. No more perfect Aiyana stealing the spotlight. No more ‘poor little Aiyana’ getting all the sympathy. You’re gone, and I couldn’t be happier.”

Her words hit me like a slap to the face. I stared at her, disbelief and hurt warring inside me. “I thought you came here to say goodbye,” I said quietly.

She laughed almost maniacally. “Oh, I did. I wanted to see the look on your face one last time. To see you finally realize that you’re not better than the rest of us. You’re just... pathetic.”

My cheeks burned with anger and humiliation. “You don’t know anything about me,” I snapped, standing up to face her. “You think my life has been perfect? You think I wanted any of this? To lose my mate, my pack, everything?”

“What mate are you talking about?” Maren scoffed, “You mean my boyfriend? The one who has always had eyes for me before you tried to bewitch him with your stupid mate bond fallacy?”

I didn’t hear the words at first, not really. They floated through the air, curling round my ears but my brain refused to accept it. My lungs forgot how to breathe. My heartbeat stuttered as if it didn’t know which betrayal to die from first. I tasted salt on my tongue before I realized that I was crying.

“What did you just say?” I croaked out, my eyes turning red.

“Aww, poor Aiyana,” Maren mocked, rolling her eyes. “Is it that you cannot accept the fact that my handsome alpha couldn’t mark you for two whole years just because he prefers me, who is much more exposed?”

I clenched my fists, my wolf growling inside me. “Get out, Maren.” I said, knowing that the possibility of me attacking her in this state was high.

“Or what?” she taunted, stepping closer and flipping her hair at me. “You’ll cry on me? You’ll throw a pity party?”

Before I knew it, we were in each other’s faces. She shoved me, and I shoved her back very hard, our voices rising as we hurled accusations at each other.

“You’re a spoiled brat!” she screamed.

“And you’re a jealous little—”

The feel of her hand hard against my cheek silenced me mid-sentence. I staggered back, my head spinning from the force of the slap. Before I could react, she slapped me again, her nails scratching against my skin.

“Maren!” I shouted, clutching my stinging cheek.

At that moment the door burst open and her mother stormed in.

“What is going on here?” she asked.

Maren crumpled to the floor and clutched her face like she’d been the one hit. “Mom!” she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks. “She hit me!”

My jaw dropped. “What? No, I didn’t—”

“Yes you did!” Maren countered. “She hit me five times just because I came to sympathize with her. She accused me of being the reason dad is throwing her out of the pack.”

Her mother’s glare burned into me like fire. “How dare you?” she hissed, rushing to Maren’s side. “What kind of person hits their own sister?”

“I didn’t hit her!” I protested, my voice shaking with frustration. “She hit ME!”

But it was no use. Maren’s crocodile tears and pitiful whimpers drowned out my protests.

“Get out,” my stepmother snapped, “Now.”

I wanted to scream, to fight back, but what was the point? I was already leaving. I grabbed my bag and stormed out of the house, wiping angrily at the tears streaming down my face.

The forest was quiet as I walked, my footsteps crunching against the fallen leaves. My cheek throbbed where Maren had slapped me, and my heart hurt with everything that had happened within the last twenty-four hours. I cursed out everyone: Kade, my step sister, my stepmother, and I screamed how I was going to take revenge on them as I walked on slowly.

I didn’t realize how far I’d wandered until the forest began to change. The familiar trees of Silverpine Pack’s territory gave way to darker, denser woods. The air grew colder and seemingly more dangerous.

I stopped, glancing around nervously. “Where am I?” I muttered, clutching my bag tighter.

A low growl rumbled through the air, and I froze. My heart pounded as I scanned the area, searching for the source of the sound.

And then I heard a voice that was deep, smooth, and filled with authority.

“Well, well,” it said, the words dripping with amusement. “What do we have here?”

I spun around, my breath catching in my throat.

And there he was.