1.The Beginning
853 Words
Calista
4 Years Ago
Most people would say an eighteen-year-old is capable of making sound, well-thought-out decisions and that love can fix everything.
I was living proof that both statements were lies.
My knees ached as I knelt on the cold concrete floor in front of the Alpha awaiting my punishment.
The pain did not compare to the dread curling in my stomach. I could feel every gaze on me from the hundreds of pack members that were present. It was drizzling but the spectacle was too interesting for anyone to be cooped up in their house.
"Calista Frost," Alpha Nolan’s voice rang out, loud and clear.
"You are here today to answer for your crimes against the pack.
Whispers rippled through the crowd, but I barely heard them. My heart was pounding loudly in my ears.They saw me as a traitor, but I never meant for any of this to happen. I clenched my fists, fighting to stay composed.
"As the future Luna, you were meant to mate with my son, Marcus, but instead, you chose to tarnish the bond by sleeping with his brother, Aerion."
I dared to glance at Marcus. I had no right to, not after what I had done.
The pack law was clear and I had violated it.
"You have shamed your pack, your family, and your Alpha," he continued. "And for breaking the pack law, you must face the consequences."
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. I tried to catch Marcus's eye, hoping—begging for some sign of pity. He could say that he had agreed to it, given me the permission to sleep with his stepbrother. He could save me from whatever his father had in store for me. But he was no longer the man I had loved for five years. Deep down, I knew he wouldn't.
Alpha Nolan turned toward Aerion, his voice dropping but still loud enough for the pack to hear. "Aerion, as the other person involved in this... incident, you are given the choice. Will you take Calista as your mate and bear the responsibility for her actions?"
For a moment, the world seemed to stop. My heart froze in my chest, hope rising in me despite everything.
This was my miracle.
Maybe Aerion would take me in. Maybe there was still a chance. He must have approached me at the party because he liked me even a little bit.If there was anyone who could save me, it was him.
The courtyard fell silent, everyone waiting with bated breaths.
Aerion’s eyes met mine and the silence stretched out. His face betrayed nothing.
Finally when his answer came, it was flat. As if bored over the whole thing.
"No. I will not, " he replied, arms at his side as though what was happening did not matter to him the slightest. As though I did not matter.
The rejection hit me like a punch to the gut. The bond between us screamed in agony, but Aerion stood there, unmoved. I almost fell to my knees gasping from the intensity of the pain.
It felt like someone had reached inside my chest, torn my heart out and was squeezing it while I watched.
My wolf, Lyra, whimpered in the back of my mind, pleading with me to reveal the truth about our bond, to beg Aerion to change his mind. But I couldn’t.
Tears blurred my vision and I couldn't exactly tell why I was crying. Was it the bond or my situation?
Alpha Nolan’s gaze moved back to me, his eyes lacking all the warmth I had once known.
"With Aerion’s refusal, there is no question left. You stained the future of this pack with your selfishness. You have caused a rift between Marcus and Aerion. Were you to bear a child from this disgraceful union, the bloodline of the future Alpha would be forever tainted. Your actions have placed the very future of this pack at risk. For this, there is no forgiveness.
His words echoed through the crowd and most murmured in agreement.
His next words were final, like a death sentence, "Calista Frost, for your actions, you are banished from this pack. You will leave these lands and never return. This is your punishment. Should you set foot on GreyHound Pack territory again, you will be hunted like the traitor you have become."
The finality of his words hung in the air, suffocating me. There would be no trial, not even a chance to argue my case. Being separated from the pack hurt but not as much as Aerion’s rejection.
With trembling legs, I forced myself to stand. I looked one last time at the surrounding faces, the pack I had once called my family, the man I had loved, and the mate and bond that had failed me. No one had stepped forward to help.
I was alone.
And with nothing left to hold on to, I turned and walked out of the courtyard.
I had one goal in mind, to find an alpha who could mark me and remove Aerion’s mark on me for good.
- Writer
