Diana POV
“Why are you doing this, Darren? For God’s sake, we were best friends, and you. What did you say to Charlotte—that I’m your mate? Is that right?” I fell on my knees, crying and sobbing.
The man standing in front of me didn’t flinch. I was wailing my heart out, but it felt like all my cries fell over deaf ears.
“Oh, come on, that was in the past. I just pitied you all these years,” he uttered leisurely.
“However, two years ago,” the color of his eyes went a shade darker as he clamored.
“I found you as my mate.” He clenched his fist, hurling daggers at me.
“I hate that the moon goddess chose you as my mate.” His words pierced right across my heart, slicing it apart.
How could he be so cruel? He wasn’t like this. I had to get my old Darren back. He couldn’t hate me like this. I instantly clutched his leg and begged.
“Please, Darren, you know how much I loved you all these years. You and I.....” The tears flowed down my cheeks as these words left my mouth. I looked pathetic just because of him. He loved me all my life and made me dependent upon him, and now, when I couldn’t imagine surviving alone, he was leaving me.
I hiccuped. “I love you, Darr –,”
But before I could complete my sentence, Darren grasped my jaw firmly and pronounced.
“Alpha, call me Alpha,”
I winced in pain because his grip was way harsher, but my heart bled over his demeanor. “Why are you doing this, Darren?” I tried to ask, helpless in front of him. The king of my heart was tarnishing me and my soul in the worst possible way.
“I said Alpha,”
He gritted his teeth. “It’s Alpha for you, little Diana.” He commanded, tightening his hold around my jaw. I felt immense pain like my teeth and jaw would break. I endeavored to free myself while refusing to give in to his command
“Darr–” I again tried to call him, bearing all the pain, just to awaken him. He was my everything, but this time, he growled at me, using his alpha command.
“Alpha,”
Suddenly, I felt my shoulders heavy because of the assertiveness his tone held. I attempted to revolt against his command. However, I was nothing in front of the invincible alpha, Darren.
My shoulders bent at the concession. “Alpha,” I said.
Darren sneered. He enjoyed my pathetic self. How could he?
I was in a hex when he left my chin, and I fell back. Without wasting more time, he turned around to walk away.
Watching him go away from me jolted something in me, and I gathered myself again for the little hope I had left and ran towards him.
“Please, don’t go,” I back-hugged him.
“I know you still love me. You care for me, so you saved me from those bastards. Please don’t ignore me, If I did something wrong. You can tell me. I’ll do my best to make it correct. But please don’t show me your cold shoulder.” The tears cascaded down my cheeks. I instantly fell over my knees and spoke.
“If you want, I can beg you, but please don’t leave me. You know I can’t live without you.” I didn’t care about dignity or anything because this man was more than anything in this world for me. I tried everything I could to stop him.
And if the Goddess had listened to me, he turned around and looked at me.
“Darren, you’re the only one I have had in all these years. Please don’t leave me. I’d die.” I enfolded my arms around his leg and spoke. Without caring about my visible skin through my torn clothes, I just begged for some mercy, care, and love.
“Anna,” finally, he spoke. My name came out of his mouth like an icy wind in the heat of summer. I shivered because of the intensity he held onto me, and my heart melted for him all over again.“Look at yourself,” he said lightly. I raised my face and looked into his honey-brown eyes, trying to find my old Darren back, who loved me unconditionally.
“Look at yourself. How can I accept a weakling like you as my mate and Luna?” He yanked my hands off his legs along with all my hopes. I fell to the ground and looked at myself; indeed, I looked wretched. The sleeves of my dress were missing along with the portion of clothing on my belly, replacing a print of that bastard’s hand, and there were a lot of visible scratches on my pale white skin. The blood was oozing out of those scratches. However, I didn’t care about these wounds because the internals were more painful.A lone tear lurched through my eye as I realized Darren was right; if he had not come on time, those two bastards would have ripped me.
“How can I accept a weakling like you who couldn’t even save herself? How can I accept you when you didn’t even get your wolf on your eighteenth birthday? What do you expect from me?” I wasn’t even able to come out of the first trance. He again tossed harsh proclamations toward me that fell right to my heart.“How do you know?” Only those words left my mouth. Surprised, I looked at him because it was a matter of time, and only I knew about it.He just disclosed my secret to me. I broke all over again.
He realized what he had just done or whatever happened, but at that exact moment, the color of his eyes went a shade darker, from amber to dark orange or more like red. The color fluctuated.
My heartbeat increased.
“Da-Darren,” I stuttered because it was the first time I saw this color of his eyes.
‘It’s his wolf or,’
Before I could think more, he bent on his knees before me, making my heart skip a beat. I looked amazed when he extended his hand toward my face and caressed my cheek. “I’m the alpha of this pack, Anna. I know about my people as well as you.” His voice was soft and warm. It melted all my worries and started to heal my inner realm, which was damaged and destroyed.
“I know you better than you know yourself.” He added, tugging the strand of my hair behind my ear. And I softened in the warmth he gave me at that moment. A lone tear of happiness lurched from my right eye as I knew my Darren was back.
I lifted my face and looked into his eyes.
His expressions were gentle. He looked like my best friend, Darren.
I raised my hand and put it in his hand.
“Darren,” I hiccuped.“I-- I love,” I was about to say more, but he retracted his hand with the speed of light and stood on his feet. I looked at him, baffled. His expression changed, and he turned his back to me. I knew my world had collapsed around me, and I screamed.“Darren.” The pain was visible in my voice. However, he didn’t flinch.He just clenched his fist and spoke.“I, Darren Walker, Alpha of Moonstone pack, reject you, Diana, a mere weak ---““No!” I cried out, putting my hands on my ears.I didn’t let him complete his rejection and stood up from there.
"No, you can’t do this. I won’t let you do this.” I shouted repeatedly and ran from there.
I didn’t want to listen to that. Darren was mine, so how could he do that? I didn’t stop or turn to look at Darren with the fear that he would reject me. I couldn’t take his rejection. I just ran for my life, for my love.
We were already in the woods, so I just ran a few meters and reached the edge of the ridge. I looked down the cliff, and a shiver crawled down my spine.
‘I can die but not face your rejection. Loving you all these years had made me dependent upon you, and now I can’t live without you.’ I looked back from where I had come. However, no one was there.‘He didn’t arrive for me like he used to do.’ A tear escaped from my left eye. Darren didn’t care for me anymore. He had changed in these two years. Still, I thought he may have had some reasons for neglecting me, but today, I knew all my answers. He didn’t want a weak She-wolf like me to be the Luna of his pack.
“He didn’t want me as his mate.” I closed my eyes, and the last few tears in my eyes escaped, gaining a sigh from my heart.
“I wish if I get a new life, then I wouldn’t be a weak she-wolf, or you just wouldn’t be a powerful alpha,” I whispered, looking at the sky. The moon was red, revealing the condition of my heart. I’ve decided I couldn’t take his rejection or hospitality. In my life, I had only one person, and now he also wouldn’t want me. I’ve nothing in this world that cares for me or loves me. My life was a burden for Grandpa and Nanny Sophie. They had done enough. Now it’s their time to do things for themselves.
“Please, Moon Goddess, make him mine in my next life.” Saying this, I closed my eyes.
“I love you, Darren,” I whispered and jumped from there.
My body swayed down the cliff towards the end. The sad life I had lived flashed before my eyes. Grandpa, Nanny Sophie, and Darren. They appeared in front of me, spoiling me with their love. My Darren was everywhere in my memories. I smiled for the last time when the waves of water hit me hard, engulfing me in the depths of darkness.
Diana's POV I was crying from my bruised heart in the woods when I felt his hand on my shoulder. I raised my head, and he wrapped his muscular arms around my shoulders from behind. I didn’t need to turn or look at him to know who he was. I just knew from his fragrance that he was mine. I leaned back on him and closed my eyes to let the remaining tears flow down my cheeks. “Why are you crying when I’m here?” He whispered close to my ear, making my heart skip its beat. I smiled and inclined my head toward his firm chest. There was solace for me, my home. “Let me stay like this,” I spoke, inhaling the scent of his fresh cologne mixed with his musky, woody fragrance with a tinge of spice. His fragrance had always calmed my inner realm. “Don’t leave me,” I mumbled, placing my hand on his hands around my torso. He said nothing but wrapped his arms around me possessively. However, what happened next? He left me. How could he? I turned around. He wasn’t there. "Ren, ren,” I shouted his
Diana POV “Madam,” I was in a deep sleep when I heard someone’s voice. I didn’t know when I fell asleep thinking about Darren, and now, when someone called me, I forced myself to open my eyes, but everything just hurt. I wanted to rest without disturbance. "Madam, wake up. It’s time for your meal and medicine.” The voice conversed again. I knew she wouldn’t go because she came for my medicine. That’s why I lost to my inner self and opened my eyes, only to see a woman in her mid-60s. “I’m glad you woke up,” she smiled at me and helped me to sit on the bed. “Thank you.” Those were the only words left in my mouth. “You can call me Clara. I’m the caretaker of this place. I took care of you the previous days.” She arranged the duvet for me and offered a bowl of porridge. I hesitated to take it. “I know you just woke up, and you have many questions running through your brain. I’ll answer them all. First, eat this porridge and have your medicine.” She spoke again, sensing my discomfort,
Diana POV One month later, It has been one month. However, I had caged myself in the room. Clara tried to take me for a walk many times, but I forbade her. It looked like my heart had lost all the attractions of life. Alpha Marcus visited me every day, but he asked nothing. Maybe he wanted me to open up myself, but I wasn’t ready. I had lost myself along with Darren. I remembered that night he was so close, yet so far. I was thinking about him looking outside the balcony when Clara entered the room. “I always found you here, looking outside. It looks like you are waiting for someone.” Clara spoke. “He’ll never come,” I mumbled. “Hmm, what did you say?” Clara asked. Maybe I was loud enough for her to listen, so I turned around and looked at her. “Nothing,” I shook. Clara pursed her lips. “Madam, you need to go out and walk around the cottage. You’ll feel better,” she spoke, placing the soup on the table. “I don’t want to go out. I’m fine here.” I said, turning towards the balc
Diana POV“But How? How can I do everything? I know nothing,” I retorted.“I’ll guide you, but in one condition.” He proclaimed."What is your condition?” I became worried.“You have to give your fullest. You can’t leave everything in the middle or say you can’t do this or that. You have to do what I’d say to you.”I quickly nodded. I didn’t know why or where I got this boast, but I wanted to get strong. Maybe I ought because of Ren, my heartbreaker.“I’ll give you time. You can think about it and then answer me. Because once you say yes, you can’t run away.” His voice was stern. His aura was dominant.“Why would I run away if I’d get strong and achieve everything I want?” I said.“Still, you must think about it before giving me an answer.”I instantly kneeled before him and pleaded.“Please, take me as your apprentice. I want to learn from you. Please, I need it. I promise I won’t stop in the middle and do everything that you’d say.” I kowtowed before him. He held me by my shoulders a
Diana POV The rest of the night, I wasn’t able to sleep. I thought about a lot of things. Marcus’s words were continuously repeating in my head. He was right. I must get strong to stand beside Darren, my tormentor. It won’t matter if I had a wolf once or not if I got sturdy. I recalled yesterday’s dream where Darren wanted me to get strong. I assured myself Darren wanted me. He just wanted me to get powerful. Once I’m fit and hefty, he’d accept me as his mate, as his Luna. I was happy I met Marcus, and he saved me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have thought about this aspect and ended my life. What if I didn’t have a wolf? I could spend my life with my people by other means as well. Today, I was determined to work on myself for me and Darren because he was everything to me, and I could do anything to live with him. Thinking about him, I closed my eyes, but Raymond’s face flashed. ‘He had some positive energy around him that attracted me.’ I thought, and the rest of my night went thinking ab
Diana POV “What happened? Are you alright?” He looked at me from head to toe, creasing his forehead with obvious lines of wrinkles. “That mark on your neck.” I gestured towards his neck. He touched it. His expression changed. “Why do you have this? Is there any meaning to it? I also had one on the back of my neck.” I turned my back to him and showed him my mark of lotus and arrow. “Do you see it? We have the same mark.” I was astonished and confused. “No, it’s not the same. Your lotus is glowing while my arrow is. They’re not the same.” I frowned. “Don’t you find it strange?” “No, let’s go. We’re getting late. Alpha would be angry.” He said, holding my hand and pulling me towards the cottage. “But you didn’t tell me why we had this mark,” I asked again, trying to remove his hold, but his grasp tightened, and he halted to look at me. "Tell me,” I asked, staring into his black orbs. He sighed and said. “How would I know? Early when you came to the ground, and I was staring at y
Raymond POVDiana exited the room, but Alpha lowered his eyebrows at me and I knew what was coming towards me.“I’m sorry, Alpha.” I immediately fell to my knees.“I told you to hide this mark and not reveal it to her. Didn’t you listen?” He hit the table with his fist so hard that his knuckles turned white.“Sorry, Alpha, I have hidden it, but earlier, when my wolf tried to take over me, the spell broke. The powder I used to hide the mark disappeared, and I didn’t acknowledge it. I’m sorry. Please forgive me.” I bowed, touching the ground with my forehead.“Get up Raymond. I have already told you we can’t tell her. She had to know everything on her own. It’s her destiny. We can’t help her. We only need to protect her.” Saying this, he stood up from his seat and walked towards the window.“But Alpha, why do we need to hide it from her? It is only fair that she is aware of her circumstances.” I was worried about her. Her innocent eyes and face showed the situation of her heart. She was
Diana POVOne year later,On the edge of the lake,It’s been one year since I was here. I learned a lot and my relationship with Clara, Alpha Marcus, and Raymond had increased to another level. Now they were my small little family that protected me and helped me to be a better version of myself and I loved them. I couldn’t say I forgot Grandpa or the nanny, but now my pain had reduced. Darren still haunted me in my dreams, but I never looked back and fought to go forward to achieve something that was mine, written in my destiny, and conferred to me by the moon goddess. I was way fitter than Diana one year ago and all credit went to Raymond, my best friend. Even though he was weird sometimes, he had become my best buddy in the last year. He trained me physically and mentally, but emotionally, I knew I still lacked. Whenever I dreamt about Darren the next day, I couldn’t focus on my training.“What are you thinking?” he pulled me out of my thoughts. I saw him. He was playing with the wat