Regret For The Rejection

1. LAYLA

"Get her! " I heard as an arrow whizzed passed my left check drawing out blood.

Branches slapped against my face as I sprinted through the forest, lungs burning with each breath. The footsteps behind me were getting closer. Whoever they were , they weren't stopping and neither would I.

The wind howled through the trees, but I could still hear them.Heavy, relentless footsteps , closing in on me.

I had to keep running. I had to get to him.

My mate . My Alpha. Drake

He was the only one who could help me, the only one who would protect me. I stumbled over a fallen log , nearly crashing to the ground, but my legs kept moving, powdered by adrenaline .

My wolf growled in frustration , begging to shift but I couldn't.

Not now ,not when I was so close.

The Packhouse was just ahead, beyond the clearing. If I could make it there ,I had be safe. I knew that Drake would be there . He had to be.

I burst through the treeline panting hard . Relief surged through me at the sight of the Pack's lights glowing in the distance. But something was wrong . The usual guards weren't at the border. Instead, there was laughter....music ?

I froze for half a second, confusion and fear colliding in my mind. What's happening?

The footsteps behind me snapped me back to reality. No time to think. I bolted across the clearing,my heart hammering. Whatever celebration was going on, it didn't matter. I needed Drake. He would stop whoever was chasing me.

I could barely hear my own thoughts over the pounding of my heart as I pushed past the edge of the trees and into the Pack's territory.

The lights were brighter now, the music louder. Voices floated through the air -cheerful, carefree voices that didn't fit in with the terror gripping my soul.

I stumbled into the Pack's courtyard, gasping for air. A few pack members glanced my way ,their smiles faltering a bit when they saw the state I was in. But no one stopped, no one questioned me.

My head spun as I took in the scene before me.

It wasn't just any celebration. It was ...grand . Decorations hung from every corner, table lined with food and drinks.

The pack members, talking, laughing ,dancing oblivious of the danger I had just escaped.

My stomach twisted as dread clawed at me ? Why wasn't anyone on guard? Why was everyone acting like this was a festival ?

I pushed through the crowd , ignoring the curious stares , my eyes scanning for him. For my Drake.

I needed to find him. He had to say something to me. He had to help me.

Suddenly, a young man stepped in my way, concern flickering across his face. "Are you okay ? You look like -"

"I'm fine." I snapped, pushing him aside before he could finish. I didn't have time to explain. I didn't have time for anything except for Drake.

The further I went,the louder the laughter grew, the more uneasy I felt. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was horribly wrong.

I rounded the corner towards the main hall, my breath coming out in short, ragged bursts. The large doors were open ,light spilling out into the courtyard. My heart pounded in my ears as I stepped inside,the voices inside growing louder.

I stopped dead in my tracks.

It was a -

Gracious moon goddess,this just can't be happening.

I felt like I was in the wrong place.

It was a Mating ceremony.

No....it couldn't be.

I stood there frozen ,my body refusing to move as I took in the scene before me.