Teresa Sean, a weak and sad she-wolf from the Autumn Pack, has always been in the shade of her bigger packmates, wishing for power and love. Betrayed by her mate and rejected by her pack, she finds herself at the hands of the strong Alpha Ryan Draxen of the enemy Comet Pack. Struggling to live in a world where love is a battlefield and power is everything, Teresa must rise above her past to face the dangers that threaten to destroy everything she holds dear. But with secrets hiding at every corner and a fate she never expected, can Teresa find the strength to claim her second chance and win her place by Ryan's side?
Chapter 1 Broken and rejected
Teresa's POV
With a racing heart, I entered the group of pack members. My mate Lucas and I wanted to talk about why everything has been feeling so distant lately. Perhaps it was all in my head and there was nothing wrong, that we were just going through a difficult time. But my heart fell when I saw him standing happily and chatting with a few other pack members. He appeared so... aloof.
I was not too close to be spotted, but close enough to hear them.
My heart fell when Lucas said, "I'm not staying with Teresa." His voice ripped through the atmosphere. She isn't strong enough to be my Luna.
My throat tightened with each breath. Immediately, my palm went to my chest as though it might ease the searing agony from his words. Feeble? He said that about me, but how? I adored him and I had always been devoted to him. Was it not sufficient?
A friend of his laughed. "Are you going to turn her down?"
Without hesitating, Lucas gave a cold, emotionless nod. Naturally. I want a strong person by my side. Someone who can assist me in seizing this bag. Teresa serves no use for me.
I was hearing things that I couldn't believe. I wanted to scream and run, but my feet didn't feel like they could move. I needed to speak with him. Those statements could not possibly be meant by him. Not after all that we'd experienced.
I got up the courage to approach him as soon as he was by himself. "Lucas," I said, my voice wavering. His eyes narrowed slightly as he turned, as though he didn't think I would overhear. "Is that accurate? Do you truly believe that I am weak?
Lucas appeared bored as he crossed his arms. "Teresa, don't add unnecessary stress to this."
I moved in closer, begging. Lucas, I'm your mate. It is intended that we be together.
"We're not ' supposed' to do anything," he sharply interrupted. "See, Teresa, both of us... It will not succeed. I need a Luna that will never leave my side and will support me as I guide this pack to greatness. Simply put, you're not that.
His remarks cut like a knife through me. With my voice breaking, I muttered, "But I love you." Does that not matter?
With a sigh, Lucas combed through his hair. "Affection? Love is not the topic here. Teresa, this is about power. I have bigger plans, and you don't fit into them."
Tears burned my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. "So, you're just going to throw me away? Just like that?"
He shrugged. "It's better this way. For both of us."
I stared at him, my heart bursting into a million pieces. The mate link we shared, the connection that was meant to be unshakable, seemed like it had been broken in an instant. I felt chilly and numb.
"I can't believe this," I said, shaking my head. "I thought... I thought we had something special."
Lucas smirked. Teresa, you're not strong. You're not fit to be a Luna. And I can't waste my time with someone who will hold me back."
It was more than I could handle. Tears clouding my vision, I turned and ran. His harsh words continued to reverberate in my head, shattering me even more with each passing one.
I discovered a remote location in the forest, far from everyone, close to the pack's boundary. I cried so hard that I fell against a tree and buried my knees in my breast. How is this possible to be occurring? I had always imagined myself as a powerful Luna, leading the pack with my partner by my side. But now, I had become nothing.
Not only did my heart hurt from the rejection, but it also hurt from realizing that everything I had based my entire life on had fallen apart so quickly. I had believed Lucas loved me and that he thought I had something valuable to fight for. However, he didn't. All he saw was weakness.
I was lost in my misery for hours as I sat there. Long shadows were being cast through the trees as the sun began to set. My thoughts were racing, attempting to figure out how everything had gone so wrong. Perhaps Lucas was correct. Perhaps I wasn't powerful enough. But now what was I meant to do? To what place might I go?
I had to leave this place. Not after his previous actions.
The relationship between us had been destroyed, and without that connection, I felt... empty. Like a part of me had been ripped away. I wasn't just heartbroken I was lost.
As I brushed away my tears, attempting to pull myself together, a loud howl split the air. My muscles tightened as I recognized something was wrong. I rose, staring at the far treelined. The sound of frenzied voices and the thumping of paws on the ground filled the air. Something was happening at the borders.
With perplexity and worry in my heart, I hurried back toward the Packhouse. Someone was yelling, "The Comet Pack! They're assaulting!"
My shocked eyes became larger. Our competitors, the Comet Pack, had always been there, but an attack? Why this time?
Before I knew what was going on, I saw warriors charging past me, getting ready for combat. My mind was still spinning from the rejection, but as the situation's reality set in, panic took hold of me. There was an attack on us.
Someone yelled out, "Teresa!" but before I could answer, powerful arms encircled me from behind. I gasped, straining against the tight grip, but it was no use. Much stronger was the person who had grabbed me.
I looked around, hoping to get a sight of my kidnapper, but all I could see was the Comet Pack logo on their armor. My heart felt icy.
"Leave me alone!" They dragged me in the direction of the jungle despite my cries for attention.
My chest throbbed with my heartbeat. And what would they do with me? I kicked and struggled but to no avail. The warriors showed no signs of fear.
A strong voice interrupted me as I was being hauled away from the others' line of sight. "Transport her to Ryan Alpha."
Ryan Alpha Draxen. The merciless Comet Pack leader.
I felt a wave of panic come over me when I realized I was being led to him, to the enemy. There was no way out. The state of my world has suddenly gotten worse.
And I was clueless about Ryan Draxen's intentions towards me.
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