Chapter 3

Katherine's heart pounded painfully in her chest as Ethan's rejection echoed in her ears. She felt a wave of nausea and disbelief, her body trembling uncontrollably. This couldn't be happening. Her mate—the one who was supposed to be her destined partner—had just cast her aside.

"Y-you…" Katherine stammered pitifully, a tear falling to her cheek as she clutched her chest tightly. The pain was overwhelming, excruciating even.

She opened her eyes to see Ethan's hand wrapped around Sophia's, her eyes flickering to the beta and gamma who were grinning from behind the man. She squeezed her eyes closed, the pain didn't seem to be stopping. She had been left for ruin. She shouldn't even be here. She should've died along with her family; at least then, she wouldn't have to see this.

"I, Katherine, accept your rejection," she managed, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Ethan's cold, dark eyes locked onto hers, his expression filled with disgust. "You are no longer welcome in the Blood Moon pack," he declared. "As of this moment, you are banished, Katherine."

Katherine gasped slightly, she forcefully wiped the tear off her cheek, she raised her head, eyes trailing the men who now stood behind Ethan. The same ones who stabbed him in the back mercilessly. Katherine's eyes dropped to Sophia, her best friend. The other simply huffed irritatedly and looked away.

"Make her leave. I can't stand this anymore," Sophia gritted out through the mind-link as she glanced at her father who nodded. The beta stepped forward, mouth open to speak but he was cut off.

"I hope it's all worth it. You all betrayed my father and my family. You betrayed the pack. I hope it is worth it," Katherine spat out bitterly.

"Betrayed the pack?" The beta sneered out thickly, scoffing. "Look around you and tell me who was betrayed. Everyone that matters to the pack is alive and unharmed. The pack will always be put first regardless of anything," the man spat out.

Katherine grew paler, her eyes flickering around the place, and he was right. The pack members were okay. The only ones dead were her family.

The ache in her chest grew bigger at the realization, her body trembling.

"My father treated each and every one of you like the most precious things ever. He cherished your friendship and he-"

The beta flared up angrily, his face red. "That's enough! Your father was nothing but a lying, shitty scum. Did you really think you knew him? The same man that-"

"That's enough! You are no longer a member of this pack, Katherine. You are now an outcast and a rogue," Ethan snarled, his fangs slipping out.

Ethan's eyes grew darker, his jaw clenched hard. "Take her away," Ethan ordered. Two guards stepped forward, their grips ironclad on her arms as they hauled her to her feet like a criminal. Katherine didn't fight it, what right did she have? She had lost everything and was now truly alone.

As the guards dragged her through the pack territory, Katherine's heart ached with each step. Memories of her family, her childhood, and the life she had once known flashed before her eyes. They reached the edge of the pack's land, the border she had never crossed, and yet somehow she was crossing today.

She was shoved roughly across, Katherine stumbled forward, falling to her knees in the dirt. The guards turned away without a word, leaving her to face what had now become of her life. Katherine stood up, wrapping her arms around her body tightly, the cold air seeping into her skin. She stared at the place she once called home and cried.

Katherine wandered through the woods, her footsteps heavy and uneven. Each step felt like an eternity, her body ached horribly, her soul down. She felt sick and had stopped to throw up along the way. She had no idea where she was going. Her father had isolated her most of her life, so she had no one to turn to.

'Even those she had, already turned on her,' Katherine thought to herself.

For two days, she had walked aimlessly, without food or water, her mind a fog of pain and confusion. Her clothes were torn and dirty, her once long, flowing brunette hair, now matted and tangled. Her skin was a mirage of purple, pink blemishes and bruises. She was a shadow of her former self, a ghost limping through the forest.

As the sun began to set on the second day, Katherine stumbled, her body giving way to exhaustion. She fell to her knees, her hands sinking into the dirt. She had no strength left, she was miserable. Katherine closed her eyes, hoping that sleep would take her away from her misery.

But as she sat there, on the brink of exhaustion, a sound reached her ears. It was faint at first, but it grew louder, more distinct. Voices. She forced her eyes open, her heart pounding heavily in her chest. She looked around, trying to make sense of what she just heard. For two days, she had heard nothing but animals cry and birds chirping. This was new. She was near the border of a new pack's territory.

Gathering every bit of energy she had left, Katherine pushed herself to her feet. She staggered forward, her feet hurting and bleeding. The voices grew clearer, and she could see the faint outlines of people in the distance.

Katherine gasped, her heart drumming in her ears as she drew closer, the figures came into focus. They were guards, patrolling the border of their territory. Katherine whimpered, tears clouding her eyes. She took a step forward but was stopped; one whiff of her scent and they knew.

"A rogue!" one of the guards exclaimed.

"State your mission! We do not…" The rest of his words drained out in her ears. A piercing ringing echoed in her ears. Katherine fell to the ground with a thud, her eyes slipping closed as she struggled to speak.

'I'm not a rogu-'