Ameliorate

A Rift in the Moonlight

"and the last pack that will be aiding us is the Broken Bow pack," Rip's voice trailed off as the name hung in the air like the foul stench of a corpse. The words hit me like a claw in the chest, and I felt Ryder tense beside me.

Broken Bow. Aiden's pack. My former mate's pack. The pack I had left behind, along with the pain and rejection, five years ago.

I was taken aback, my mind a whirlwind of emotions. How could Rip do this? He knew what Aiden had put me through, the scars he had left on my heart. The wound, though old, was still raw; now it felt like Rip had poured salt into it.

Without a word or even looking at Ryder or Rip, I turned and rushed into the woods, my heart pounding with anger and betrayal. My wolf roared within me, matching my fury with her own. I needed to be alone, away from the pack and the reminder of the past I had tried so hard to put behind me.

The anger consumed me as I ran through the dense forest. I could feel my wolf's presence, her fierce energy, as if she too shared in my rage. I had worked so hard to rebuild my life and find where I belonged, and now it felt like everything was unraveling. I stopped as I reached a break in the forest. A large weeping willow stood graciously amid the small clearing. I sat down against the cold, damp bark. "Why him?". "Why now?". I don't know if I can handle his presence, Killa whimpered. "We'll be okay," I assured her. "We can finally reject him and be free from this torture." I chuckled softly. What are you laughing at..this isn't funny, Killa snapped. "I know, I know, but the thought of being free is almost unreal," I whispered the last word as though it were a jinx.

As time passed, I began to feel restless, so I started making my way back to camp.

Rip watched my return, his expression torn between guilt and frustration.

The Next Day

The pack dinner, an annual tradition that brought the pack together, was just hours away, but I had clarified that I wanted no part in it. As the evening approached, I refused to return to the Pack house. I stayed hidden in the woods, unwilling to face Rip or the pack. The thought of seeing Aiden again and being in the same vicinity as the man who had rejected me sent shivers down my spine.

Ryder tried to find me, his worried calls echoing through the trees, but I ignored him. My anger was a burning fire, and I couldn't quiet it. He was still waiting.

Back at the camp, tension hung in the air like a thick fog. The pack members prepared for the arrival of the allied packs, their excitement tinged with concern for my absence. Rip felt a growing unease, torn between the duty of an alpha and the guilt of betraying me.

As the Alpha, his inner wolf roared with frustration at my blatant disrespect. He wanted to put me in my place, to remind me of my position in the pack hierarchy. But as a man, he was hurt by my refusal to even look at him.

Rips POV

HOW DARE SHE IGNORE US? We're her Alpha..we're her- "STOP Tal!" I bit out in frustration. "Look, Alpha Aiden rejected her without a second thought," I began, "She's hurt that we allowed the person that put her through agony into our home..which is also her home," I explained. I know, but she could at least spare us a glance, Tallan, my annoyingly aggressive wolf scoffed. "Give her time she'll come around." I mumbled the last bit, wondering if what I said was true.

Bryns POV

The annual pack dinner came and went, but I remained hidden in the woods, my heart a storm of conflicting emotions. It was the first time I had missed the gathering, and it sent a clear message to the pack. I was angry, and I wanted them to know it.

As the night wore on, I finally returned to the outskirts of the camp, my rage still simmering beneath the surface. The tension was palpable, and I could feel the pack's eyes on me, their curiosity and concern evident.

And so, as the first light of dawn broke over the horizon, I stood at the edge of the camp, still refusing to look at Rip or speak to him. The day the allied packs were set to arrive had finally come, and with it, the battle against the Rouges loomed ever closer.