Bring It On, Mates!

The Bastard

~ Aylana's POV ~

"Are you seriously going to propose to him? I know that he treats you well, but still… you are a she-wolf and, as the next Alpha and a werewolf, he should be the one to propose to you. Aren't I right, aunt Stella?" Hayley, my only friend and the only person after Nathan who treats me and my mother like a normal person, said while she was helping us out with preparing the food for the pack members.

Unlike others, she doesn't say filthy things about me and she doesn't even disrespect my mom for being a mute and a mateless woman. I don't know why she treats us better… I mean, she is the daughter of Gamma and she clearly has a better position than me and my mother in this pack.

My mother smiled at her and I could tell just by her expression that she was extremely happy for me. Today is not only a big day for Nathan, but also for me. He will get the position of the Alpha of the Wind Winder Pack and I will be his Luna.

I quickly set up the table for Alpha Jason and his wife. The pair don't like me much as I am just a lowly omega in this pack. Someone without this pack won't even function for a day, but they still act like I am just a nuisance. They could easily hire maids for today's party, but who would waste money when they have free slaves like me and my mother, right?

Before Alpha and Luna could eat the food, Livia, Beta's daughter, sat at the dining table with one of her boyfriends.

"Serve the food to us, b***h! Do you need an invitation or what?" She rubbed her temples and I could tell by her scent that she had quite a lot of drinks last night.

Having an argument with her is seriously not worth it. I put the salad on the guy's plate whose name I can't remember.

"I want to eat you, not the salad." The blonde guy said with a disgusting smile. He was tightly grabbing my wrist. He tried to forcefully kiss the back of my hand.

"Why are you struggling so much, huh? Oh, is it because of Nathan? I don't think he will mind sharing you with him." Livia sneered at me and when my mother glared at her for saying such things about me, Livia stood up from the chair and before I could stop her, she slapped my mother hard across her face.

I know it's normal for her to take her anger out on us, but there is a limit to everything. I freed my hand from that jerk's grasp and I then stood in front of my mother before she could hurt her again.

She kept her hand around her chest when she saw that someone weak like me dared to look at her into her eyes. Livia grabbed my hair and her boyfriend started to kick my mother. She was wincing in pain and, like a useless person, I failed to stop them.

"What could you do, bastard? Don't forget your place just because Nathan treats you a little nicer than other omegas." She slapped me hard while she was still grabbing my hair.

I laughed at her as I was aware why she was acting like a total maniac, "You are jealous, aren't you? You failed to seduce my Nathan and that is why you are saying all this stuff, right? He will never choose you, Livia. Accept this truth or you might be completely heartbroken after tonight's party."

Livia gritted her teeth and she then slammed my head against the diner table and she didn't stop there, she continued to slam my head until she saw blood oozing out of my forehead. I fell on the cold floor and Livia then continued to hit me around my chest and abdominal area. I curled up like a ball so that I could protect my face.

Hayley tried to get in between, but I stopped her as I didn't want her to get into any sort of trouble because of helping me out. She will certainly stop when she gets tired and then I will be able to have a breath of relief. This might be the last time that I am suffering like this as, after today's ceremony, Nathan is going to protect me from all harm. He did promise me that he would cherish me and I am going to believe his words.

Livia played with her brown hair and before leaving, she said something that made me quite confused, "You might have golden eyes, but you certainly don't have a golden future, Aylana. It's quite hilarious that you are not even aware why the other pack members loathe your existence so much."

Livia threw all the food that was on the table. Alpha Jaycen is certainly going to punish me for wasting food. He is going to only blame me even though the one at fault here is her.

After saying those ambiguous words, she left without even looking back.

What was that?

Tsk, I should not let her ruin my mood. I looked at my mother and after I wiped away her tears with my fingers, I gently rubbed the places where the asshat kicked my mother. My mother held my face with her wrinkled hands and she then cleaned the blood that was oozing out my forehead with the sleeves of her worn out top.

She looked at Hayley and she just nodded her head.

What the heck are they planning now?

"Let's go. Aunt Stella has prepared a little gift for your birthday. You might not be aware of this, but she had started to save money after your last birthday.

Aunt was unhappy that she failed to give you a nice dress that day and she secretly witnessed how others were bullying you for wearing hand-me-down clothes that day.

So, she even worked as a floor cleaner in a nearby cafe for the sake of giving you a new dress on your eighteenth birthday. She doesn't want you to feel embarrassed on this birthday. She wanted me not to tell you anything, but I was not able to hold back myself." Hayley said calmly.

There were no words coming out of my mouth. There were only tears in my eyes. How could she do so much for me and yet she never thinks about herself?

Without saying anything to her, I just embraced her in a tight hug and she gently wrapped her arms around me.

Hayley had already cleaned the dining room and my mother pushed me out of the kitchen, so that I could go and change into my new dress that she had bought for me. I wanted to help her in cooking, but she was not ready to listen to me.

"Let me help you out, mom." I turned to look at her, but she shook her head while she continued to push me out of the kitchen and Hayley just followed me with a bright smile on her face.

I walked towards the room, which was more like a cupboard, but something is better than nothing, right?

There was a mirror and a pull-down bed. That was enough for me and my mother. At least, we don't have to sleep on the cold floor.

The gift that my mother had prepared for me was placed on the bed and when I opened it, I found a beautiful full-sleeved white skater dress and a pair of heels.

How was my mother aware that my arms were covered with burn marks? I never told her that Alpha Jaycen kept the hot iron on my arms because I failed to find Luna's favorite hairpin. It must be Hayley. She must have told mom.

I was doubtful that they would accept me as Nathan's mate. No, I should believe what Nathan told me and that he will take care of everything related to his parents.

Hayley was waiting outside, so I immediately changed into my new dress. I opened the door for Hayley and she just gazed at me from head to toe.

Am I looking that bad? Why is she not saying anything?

Before I could ask her anything, she simply walked inside the room and after picking up the hairbrush, she started to detangle my hair.

"Your bluish-black hair is so lustrous. If only they will give you a proper meal, then you will also have a perfect figure.This is the smudge free lipstick that I got for you." She winked and I rolled my eyes at her.

What the heck is always going inside that head of hers? How the heck am I supposed to get a proper meal when Luna is worried that me and my mother might finish all the food of the pack and she also believes that giving us three meals is of no use, but if they completely starve us, then they won't have anyone to clean and cook and that's why we are getting food that's barely keeping us alive. If not for the chores, she might have already kicked us out of the pack.

Hayley put some mascara on my lashes and she then applied the lipstick on my lips through a brush that she was carefully holding.

When I looked at my reflection in the mirror, I was not able to believe that it was me who was standing in front of the mirror. I was taken aback by my own appearance. I tried to pull the sleeves of the dress as I could see the ugly marks on the back of my hands.

My mother came inside the room and I could see a burn mark on the back of her wrist, but she hid her hand behind her back.

"Don't try to mask your pain with that fake smile of yours. Who did this? Livia, Luna or the Alpha?" I asked her,but she just shook her head. Did the Alpha target her today just because he didn't find me in the kitchen?

I know that she is not going to give me the name of that person who burnt her hands and who am I kidding… What else could I do other than witness her being abused by the higher ups? Will our condition in this pack change if I become the next Luna?

"Go get your man, girl!" Haley tried to lighten the mood and I just smiled at her.

My mother gave me a platinum ring that she always wore around her neck. It's strange that she never tells me about her past, but I believe that one day she will tell me everything about herself. I tightly clenched the ring in my fist, I embraced them.

It took me quite a long time to get ready. The party is going to start anytime now. Nathan did say that after getting the position from his father, he would announce to everyone that he was going to take me as his fate. He told me that he doesn't care even if I am not his fated mate. He promised me on my sixteenth birthday that he would never leave me.

"Woah!" I almost lost my balance because of these heels, but even then I am going to wear them as these are something that my mother bought for me after doing strenuous work.

Nathan must still be busy with his work and I know him… he surely didn't even choose the clothes for the ceremony. Well, he always wears the clothes of my choice, so I am going to surprise him by selecting the clothes for the party. I walked out of the room and then I walked straight towards his room, which was on the second floor.

While I was walking towards Nathan's room, I suddenly smelled the sensual and sweet scent of vanilla. I walked closer towards the bedroom, but when I kept my hand on the doorknob, I heard the voice of my wolf.

'It's our mate. I am your wolf, Aylana. You can call me Aurora. Our mate is inside, but…' Aurora didn't complete her words and she sounded like she was in a lot of pain.

"Until when are you going to act like a proper guy in front of that dumb b***h, Nathan? For the last two years, you have been making a fool out of her and that fool is blindly believing in you. Are you seriously going to take her as your mate?" I could tell by her voice that she was none other than Livia.

What are they both talking about and why is she moaning?

"Argh! I never wanted to take that weak omega as my mate, but just today I got to know that she is my fated mate. I don't have a choice, but to accept her for the sake of my wolf.

Tsk, I just wanted to use her, but now I have to bear her existence. Why did the moon goddess choose someone like her as my mate?" I could hear the thrusting sound coming from the room.

When I opened the door, I saw something that I never thought of witnessing in this life of mine. Nathan was on top of a woman and he was moving back and forth at a furious pace.

The ring that I was clutching tightly… it fell on the floor when I saw him having s*x with some other woman.

"Why… why? I repeated the same word over and over and, sensing my presence, Nathan finally turned and, this time, I was able to clearly see the smirking face of Livia, with whom he was cheating on me behind my back.

Nathan stopped moving when he took a deep breath, a smile playing on his lips. He got up from the bed, covering his lower body with a bedsheet and Livia also covered her body, which was covered with hickeys.

I was about to lose my balance because of the sudden revelation, but before I could fall down, Nathan wrapped his arms around my waist and he then pulled me closer to him.

"Why are you so surprised? I was planning to throw you out of the packhouse after having you, to show everyone that Nathan Archer never fails at getting something that he wishes to have, but I didn't expect even the slightest that you would be my mate. You see, I can't hurt my wolf, so I will fulfill his desires by marking you and then I will seal our bond." He whispered to me and I could feel how he was grinding his lower body against me.

What is he saying? He just wanted to prove to the others that he could have everything just because he is an Alpha and even a lowly omega can't even refuse him. I hate him… I hate Alphas… I hate this bond that is breaking me from the inside.

My whole world has been shattered into pieces because of this single man. I have loved him and only him since my childhood. I always prayed to the moon goddess to make him my fated mate, but now I am not at all happy to find him as my mate. I am completely broken.

"Tsk, you have struggled so much to bring her to this bed, Nathan. You even made all other pack members hate her by giving her special attention and telling them not to mess with her as you care about her.

You turned everybody against her, so that she would only be able to depend on you in the packhouse. It was a masterstroke to win her trust." Livia clicked her tongue in annoyance and I looked into Nathan's deep blue eyes, but it didn't have the same affection that I once felt for him.

It was cold as ice. I waited for him to deny what Livia claimed, but he just dragged me towards the bed by grabbing my wrist.

Everything… Everything was a lie. Those sweet words that he whispered in my ears, the way he stood against the people who bullied me and the way he tenderly treated me… it was nothing but lies.

"Let go of me, Nathan! Someone like you can never be anybody's mate." I tried to free myself from his grasp, but he was too strong for me.

He threw me on the bed and after removing the bedsheet from his lower body, he walked closer to me. I tried to escape by getting out of bed. Before I could do anything… Nathan pulled me down by grabbing my right leg.

I looked at Livia in the hope of getting help from her; however, she just laughed at me.

"Why are you still acting like a virgin? I wanted a pure mate, yet I have to tolerate you. Livia told me how you seduced other werewolves behind my back." Nathan growled at me and he just pinned my hands above my head.

I tried to tell Nathan that all of this was made up by Livia, but he was more interested in spreading my legs instead of listening to me.

He can't be the man with whom I fell in love… he can't be my Nathan.

Sometimes we don't want to see the naked truth that is lying in front of us… sometimes we just don't believe in reality and that's what is happening to me.

Nathan was the one who always protected me from any harm. However, if the protector becomes the enemy, then one should do everything possible to protect themselves.

He hovered over me after spreading my legs and Livia was just enjoying the show. My screams were falling on deaf ears. I have to do something for myself.

"Why are you screaming, Aylana? I am your mate and this is the most natural thing that happens between fated mates, so what's the point of making a ruckus?

I have every f*****g right to you. If you don't lose your virginity, then let's have a little test, shall we?" Nathan sucked my earlobe with his filthy mouth.

He then groped my bosom while he moved his fingers under my panties.

What right is he talking about?

The test was nothing, but an old wives' tale. How could some bloodstain decide if I am a virgin or not? I thought that he was different, but he was clearly not.

No, I don't want to mate with him in this way. This was not how I imagined my first time with him.

I tried to reach something which was placed nearby and I finally reached the table lamp which was placed on the side table. Before Livia or Nathan could think anything, I smashed his head with the lamp.

Blood started to ooze out and the bedsheet was covered with his blood. I pushed him away with all my might and after pulling up my underwear, I tried to run away, but Livia tried to stop me, so I also hit her with the same strength with the table lamp that I was holding and she just screamed in a painful tone.

Before getting out of the room, I turned to look at Nathan and he was still wincing on the bed while he was holding his head.

"I never thought that your true face was so disgusting, Nathan. You betrayed me and you trusted Livia's words instead of believing in me… you believed in her more than me. When we don't have trust in our relationship, then what's the point of this bond, right?

I, Aylana of the Wind Winder Pack, reject Nathan Archer, the future Alpha of the Wind Winder Pack, as my mate. From this day on, we don't share anything between us." Tears were rolling down my eyes when I said those words to him. I picked up the ring that I dropped on the floor.

'Ma… mate.' Aurora howled inside my head and I could tell that she was suffering because of my words.

'I am sorry… I am so sorry.' I again and again asked forgiveness from my wolf, but she was too hurt to even reply to me.

"Don't you dare to f*****g step out of the room. Come back here, come back, b***h!" Nathan growled and I just cried, remembering the sweet moments that I spent with him.

I shouldn't have met him, I shouldn't have believed in him… maybe I am destined to be hurt again and again, so it's better to bear the pain, as in the end, only scars remain. I ran out of the room after rejecting Nathan.

Werewolves wait all their lives for their fated mate, as second chance mates are quite rare to find and one might remain mateless all their lives, yet I ended up rejecting him.

"Aylana!" I heard Nathan's voice and that just scared me.

I ran out of the packhouse without thinking about anything. I ran towards the dark forest, but the heels that my mother gifted me were not helping me much, so with a heavy heart, I threw them away.

"s**t!" My dress got a little torn because of the branches.

My feet were not only bruised, but they were also bleeding. Nathan's voice was getting closer to me, so I hid behind the big old tree.

I tightly covered my mouth. He was the next Alpha of the Wind Winder Pack. He had amazing hearing and sensing abilities. I don't know how long I could hide behind this big old tree. I might have turned eighteen today, but I still haven't had my first shift. Unlike others, I don't even have a healing ability.

My wolf was still recovering from the pain that I had caused her. I can tell this as I am also suffering from that pain. I am even finding it hard to stand up properly on my bruised feet. The heels… the first heels that my mother gifted me after so much hard work. I threw those heels somewhere in the forest as I was finding it hard to run in them. My beautiful white dress is not only torn, but it's also covered in blood.

"You can never escape from my grasp, bastard. Don't you love me, huh?" He brought his lips closer to my ear and the word love coming out of his mouth was making me want to throw up.

I looked up at the clear night sky and for the first time I wanted to ask something from the moon goddess… how much more… How much more do I need to suffer?

Pain is not always temporary… at least it's not the case with me. Maybe, after this day, all my sufferings will come to an end and maybe... the pain that I am feeling right now... it might all end up with me.