Episode 2: The Girl Who Left
675 Words
Rain began to fall before Zara reached the pack gates.
The sky itself seemed determined to mock her.
Each drop soaked through the expensive wedding dress she still wore. The beautiful silk that had made every woman jealous only an hour ago is now dragged heavily against the muddy ground.
She kept walking.
One foot after another.
The guards at the gate stared at her in shock.
Nobody stopped her.
Nobody dared.
The rejected bride of Silverstone Pack walked straight into the darkness beyond the space line and disappeared.
Only when the manor was no longer visible did she finally stop.
The tears came all at once.
A painful sob escaped her throat.
Then another.
Then another.
Years of hope shattered inside her chest.
"Why?" she whispered.
Her knees hit the wet earth.
"Why wasn't I enough?"
The forest offered no answer.
The Moon Goddess offered no answer.
Only silence.
For nearly an hour she remained there beneath the rain, crying until her throat hurt and her eyes burned.
Then she heard footsteps.
Someone was running toward her.
Fast.
Zara immediately stood.
Her wolf instincts sharpened.
A moment later, Nadia burst through the trees.
"Nadia?"
Her best friend threw her arms around her.
"Oh, Zara."
The words broke whatever strength remained.
The two girls stood in the rain holding each other while the world fell apart around them.
"I came as soon as I could," Nadia said.
"They are looking for you."
Zara laughed bitterly.
"Looking for me?"
Nadia nodded.
"The elderly are furious."
"Why?"
"Because half the pack witnessed the future Luna being abandoned at the altar."
The words stung.
Abandoned.
That was exactly what had happened.
Nadia hesitated.
"Alpha Caden has locked himself inside his office."
Zara looked away.
"I do not care."
It was a lie.
A terrible lie.
Part of her desperately wanted to know if he felt guilty.
If he regretted hurting her.
If he had thought about her at all.
Nadia squeezed her hand.
"Come home."
Zara's eyes widened.
"What home?"
"The one where people actually love you."
For the first time that night, Zara smiled.
A real smile.
Small.
Broken.
But real.
Together they traveled through the forest toward Zara's family home.
The journey lasted hours.
By the time they arrived, dawn was beginning to paint the sky silver.
Her father opened the door.
The moment he saw her wedding dress, he understood.
His face darkened.
Nobody needed to explain.
Without saying a word, he wrapped his daughter in his arms.
And for the first time since the ceremony, Zara felt safe.
Three days passed.
Then seven.
Then fourteen.
The entire werewolf realm learned what had happened.
News traveled faster than wildfire.
Every pack discussed it.
Every Alpha heard the story.
The abandoned bride.
The forgotten Luna.
The girl who lost everything.
People pitied her.
Zara hated their pity.
One afternoon she sat alone outside her family's small house when a black vehicle rolled to a stop nearby.
Her father frowned.
"We are not expecting visitors."
Neither was Zara.
The car door opened.
A tall woman stepped out.
Elegant.
Powerful.
Dangerous.
Her silver eyes immediately locked onto Zara.
A strange chill ran through Zara's body.
The woman smiled.
"You are Zara Cole."
It was not a question.
Zara stood slowly.
"Who are you?"
The stranger walked forward.
"My name is Valeria Nightshade."
The name meant nothing to Zara.
But her father suddenly went pale.
Very pale.
Fear flashed across his face.
And that terrified Zara more than anything.
Valeria noticed.
A small smile touched her lips.
"I believe it is time you learned who you really are."
The air seemed to freeze.
Zara frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Valeria reached into her coat and removed an ancient silver pendant.
The moment Zara saw it, something exploded inside her chest.
A strange power surged through her veins.
The pendant began to glow.
So did Zara's eyes.
Everyone froze.
Even Valeria looked surprised.
Then the mysterious woman whispered four words that changed Zara's life forever.
"You are not an Omega."
- Writer
