Saved by the Alpha

Nora's Pov.

“It's never too late to beg the moon goddess, Nora.” Flora and her two friends laughed at me.

“Do you think the moon goddess has time for cheap wolves like her?” One of them mocked and the trio shook their hands in agreement as they laughed so hard.

I continued my chores as I wasn't in the mood for their usual bullying, they didn't even respect the fact that I was older than them.

“Wait! Come to think of it, she doesn't have a wolf at her age so why should the moon goddess care?” Flora teased. It was so sad that my sister could be part of ridiculing me but she wasn't to be blamed. Mom and Dad had always preferred her to me since we were little.

“I won't stand here and watch you humiliate me, Flora,” I warned with my voice shaking.

“And what will you do if we don't stop?” Flora asked as she took slow steps towards me, my heartbeat increased as I knew she was stronger than me.

“Just stay off my back, Flora,” I warned her, glancing at the wall clock as I was late already.

“What's going on here?” My body trembled at her presence, my mom held a disgusted look at me. I always wondered what I did for her to hate me so much.

Her eyes moved to the huge wall clock that hung in the center of our large sitting room.

“Are you done with the chores at the Alpha's house?” She asked and I shook my head scared at what she'd do after she found out I hadn't finished the chores.

“Let me understand something, Nora. You came to this family as a female whereas the scan result showed you were a male child.

As if that wasn't enough you didn't get your wolf when you turned sixteen and now you are twenty-one, the only thing you could do as a living being was to take your duty seriously in the alpha's house yet you can't do that too.” Mom yelled and hot tears started to rush down from my eyes. I knew a slap or kick would come next.

I felt a sting on my right ear as mom twitched my ears and I wallowed in pain.

“Why are you so useless, Nora? Why? Tell me,” Mom asked and her voice increased at each word.

“Please, forgive me, Mom. I was already done washing your clothes when Flora added hers and…”

“Hey, hush it there. Are you trying to blame me for your sluggishness? You were so slow in washing that was why you haven't finished up yet.” Flora flared in her defense, cutting me short, her friends giggled beside her casting disgusted faces at me.

“You don't have to explain anything, I know her too well.” Mom patted Flora on her back, finally letting go of my ear.

My heart ached at how much they never failed to show their hatred towards me. Sometimes, I felt like ending it all. Were they correct to say the moon goddess hated me? Obviously, they were right.

Even she-wolves who were eighteen had their wolves already. I was twenty-one years old but without my wolf. I couldn't even dream of finding a mate as you could only sense your mate when you have a wolf.

My life was useless. I didn't have a family, you would agree with me that these people weren't fit to call family. I had no friends, no wolf, no mate. What a loner I was.

“What are you still standing here for?” Mom asked, I was too afraid to lift my head. She would have slapped me by now so I was expecting it soon.

“I…I want to ask for…” I stammered not knowing what exactly to say so I closed my mouth.

“I thought as much, will you get out of my sight now?” Mom commanded and I took to my heels. I was still running till I couldn't breathe properly anymore.

I was so weak and it wasn't my fault, I didn't have a wolf. I didn't create myself so why was everyone picking on me, why the blame? Jeez. I f**king hate these people.

My father was the beta of the pack, he always reminded me how I brought shame to him by being a female and still being without a wolf. I was supposed to be accorded respect but reverse was the case. Mom went as far as giving me out to be one of the royal maids.

A beta's daughter! What a shame.

Flora was perfect in all aspects. Academics, her facial features, her fleet of friends and yes, she had a wolf. My younger sister had her wolf while I didn't.

The only thing we had in common was that she didn't have a mate yet. I knew she had a boyfriend because she always sneaked back home late and giggled with her smartphone but she kept the wolf's identity a secret from me. Sadly, I didn't have a smartphone.

Everyone thought I was bad luck. All my life, I've been reminded of how much of a joykiller I was. I've forgotten what it meant to smile.

I finally sneaked into the Alpha's house without anyone noticing except a few guards who didn't care about me, I scurried my way to the inner chambers which was my duty post. I didn't want to barge into the gamma in charge of cleaning else I'd be in hot soup for coming late again.

I barely made it into the room when my body crashed on a hard surface which sent me to the ground. I scream out loudly at how my left knee collided with the sharp edge of the metallic door.

A voice cursed in whispers and I whimper recognizing the voice. I prayed silently hoping it wasn't who I suspected. My head slowly rose to confirm my suspicions and I was correct. It was no other person than Alpha Zeke, the future Alpha of our pack, the Brimstone pack.

Sh*t. I cursed silently. What have I gotten myself into? His hazel blue eyes pierced into mine causing me to writhe in fear.

“Are you crazy?” He growled at me, I couldn't dare raise my head one more time. With both palms clamped together I pleaded for his forgiveness.

“I'm so sorry, it wasn't intentional.” I bit my lip as I spilled out those words without thinking. How the heck didn't I see him coming?

Alpha Zeke was as cold as his father, I'll say worse. His never-smiling face made it hard to tell if he was angry or not. He loved to be respected and he never failed to show how useless people were to him. What made it worse was that he was too handsome, it was safe to call him a Greek god. His hair was always styled to perfection with his alluring cologne that could be perceived from a far distance. More reasons why I should have seen him coming.

The only thing was that he was still single. He didn't have a mate just like me, that was why he hadn't been made the Alpha yet. According to Mom, he could claim anyone as his Luna since he would be the Alpha of this pack.

I almost forgot I had been lying on one spot when he tugged at the collar of my shirt to pull me up.

“Raise your head!” He commands in a loud voice and I raise my head immediately, avoiding anything that'll cause him to lose his temper more. His eyes widened in surprise as our eyes locked into each other. My lips curled into a soft smile but it was only a matter of seconds before I froze due to the anger and disgust written all over his face.

“How are we mates?” His voice sent shivers down my spine as I processed the question.

Alpha Zeke is my mate?

“Answer me, Nora! How the f**k are we mates?” He growled louder, attracting the attention of a few wolves.

I was surprised that he knew my name and a little bit happy. The circle of onlookers increased drastically and just then Mom and Flora were there, gnashing their fangs at me, once again I had brought shame to them. The other time was when I used the wrong recipe to prepare the Alpha's food, Zeke's father.

“I don't…didn't know that we are mates,” I stammered. The other gasped as they murmured between themselves.

Does this mean I'll be the Luna of this pack? Wait, he didn't even like me.

“Over my dead body I'll have you as a mate, what does the moon goddess take me for? A wizard? To marry this witch.” He spat.

“I'm sorry, Alpha.” I apologize, for nothing in particular. Hell yes, we were mates but I didn't make that happen. He'll have to obey the moon goddess right? That's how this should work, I thought.

The whole pack was now gathered as they awaited his verdict.

“I, Alpha Zeke Xavier, reject you, Nora Swan as my mate.”

Alpha Zeke turned towards his guards who were on standby and the next words that left his mouth broke me into a billion pieces.

“I hereby banish you from this pack.”

Nora's pov “I hereby banish you from my pack."

Wait. What? I gazed at him hoping he was pulling a stunt on me but I was wrong. This was the first time I was having a conversation with him, why the hate? My head turned in the direction of my mom, Flora looked victorious as if she just won the lottery.

“Guards, what are you still waiting for?” Alpha Zeke thundered.

“Wait! Why?” Tears flowed uncontrollably from my eyes.

Zeke sneered, his voice laced with anger and contempt. “Really?”

“She must be a joker, she's asking why,” he waved his hands in the air signaling everyone who gathered and they chuckled, agreeing with him.

“Take a look at yourself, Nora, you are wolfless, weak, and useless. You don't even come close to your sister.”

I turned to look at Flora, she held her head up high in excitement grinning from ear to ear.

“It's Flora I want.” My eyes widened at his statement.

Did he just reject me for my sister?

“Come to me darling,” Zeke spread his hands for Flora, she held a proud look on her face as she walked majestically into Zeke's bosom.

“Unlike you, Flora has a wolf. She's beautiful, strong, and perfect to be the Luna of the Brimstone pack. You can't possibly think I'll dump her just because you are…were my mate.”

I couldn't take this anymore, I wanted to run away from here, from everyone. I could no longer hide my tears, the laughter and excitement in the air increased as everyone mocked me.

So Flora had been dating Zeke all this while. I knew she had a boyfriend but I never knew it was the Alpha's son. Zeke didn't respect anyone, how would he obey the moon goddess?

“Accept the rejection, Flora, it's your fate.” Flora's words pierced through the crowd, her eyes burning with hatred and disgust that made me wonder why she disliked me this much.

“Accept the rejection, accept the rejection,” I covered my ears with my palms bending my head down as the whole pack chanted. It felt like the whole room was closing on me.

“I accept it, I accept your rejection, Zeke. Can I just go?” I couldn't bear this pain and shame anymore. I raised my head to see my mom, she had a smile on her face, and for a second I was surprised. But why should I be? Her favorite daughter was going to be the Luna of the pack, that was a huge achievement for her.

“You may now leave my pack, you are not allowed to go along with anything. The guards will usher you straight out of the pack. Never you show your face here Nora. Be gone!” His words shattered my heart a million times. Was this a joint force or something, why did he have to banish me? My head was spinning with a lot of questions but I needed to let one out before leaving their f*king land.

“Mom! Why do you hate me so much?” I caught my mom unaware, her eyes showing how she regretted giving birth to me.

“Just leave already Nora, you've humiliated us enough.” She said without looking at me.

“Just tell her mom, she deserves to know at least she's finally leaving our lives now.” Flora's voice echoed from behind me.

“Tell me what?” I asked, confused. The rest of the pack were mute, waiting to understand what was going on.

“You are not my child Nora. You are my late elder sister's only child. I offered to take you in when she died during childbirth.” I watched the woman I thought was my mother spew unbelievable words from her mouth, I couldn't contain my shock. My mouth opened to speak but no words came out.

“Enough of this family drama, guards do your job, NOW!” Zeke ordered and I was dragged roughly out of the house. All I could do was cry as everyone glared at me in pity. My whole life had been a lie. I was too weak to think about where I would go from here. I just wanted to leave this world, the pain, the lies, the shame.

Nothing mattered anymore, I was a mistake.

“Leave and never come back.” The chief guard ordered as he pushed me out of the gate that led to the outskirts of the pack.

What am I coming back to do in Brimstone? This was my end.

I guess my journey to being a rogue starts now. No clothes, no money, no destination.

What a messed up life.