Chapter 4

"The pain of the broken mate bond is tougher than I thought," Beck said to himself.

He tried standing up but fell almost immediately, “I am going to be the Alpha of this pack in less than three days, I can't be this weak because of a broken mate bond.” He told himself as he began to try to get up again.

He forced himself to stand up and sucked in the pain. He took a couple of steps and almost fell down but held on to the nearest tree he could touch.

The walk to the pack house was quite far because he had to get Veronica to a place where no one would see or hear him rejecting her and now it had blown back in his face, because he had to walk a very long journey before he could get back to the pack house.

He endured the pain throughout the walk and began thinking of how his Father and Blue, his sister, would react to what he had just done. Well, his father would most definitely have nothing to say, while Blue, his little sister, on the other hand, would be so glad. She didn't like Veronica anyway and she hated the thought of her being his mate.

“Blue really does not like Veronica, and I will never know why she hates her so much." He said to himself, “Well, maybe it's for the same reason that I rejected her too- No one wants a weak Luna!”

Pain seared through him from the broken mate bond as he got to the pack house. He looked around the bustling pack center, his eyes searching for the familiar figure of Veronica.

Veronica’s beauty was the type that wasn’t hard to miss and on more than one occasion, they have had some attacks from some nearby wolves and other creatures because of how attractive she was.

But that was the problem! Being that beautiful and weak was too trouble-seeking and bothersome. He had dreams of expanding the pack when he became the Alpha. They could make as many rogues as possible, submit to them and join the pack.

“A man like me, destined to stand above others, couldn't have a Luna that was as weak as Veronica.” He murmured.

When the pain tore through him one more time, he clenched his fists tightly, determined to not let it show.

He looked up at the sky and the cloud was still covering the Moon. For two years, he had tried to overlook his thoughts of Veronica being really weak. It was one thing for her to be an omega, and it was another thing for her to be weak but she was both; an omega and a very weak one at that. That could only mean one thing- A DISASTER!

“You should lead the full moon celebrations tonight with Ben,” His father’s voice rang out from behind him, interrupting his thoughts.

“Okay, dad.” He responded.

He was going to be announced as the new Alpha in less than three days. His father asking him to lead the celebrations wasn't a surprise. And since Ben was going to be his Beta, it was just perfect.

" And where's that thing?”His father asked, with disgust.

“What thing, dad?” He asked, pretending not to know what his father meant.

“Glaring at him, his father spoke further, “You know what exactly I'm talking about. I haven't seen her since she left the pack house with you earlier today." He said, his eyes sweeping through the pack grounds.

“She might be around somewhere, we got back a long time ago.” Beck lied.

“Where did you go, though?” His father asked, searching his eyes for answers.

“Nowhere serious. We just had a walk.” He lied again.

“Why do I feel like you are lying?” He said, raising his eyebrow.

“I'm not, dad. Like I said, we only went for a walk and we got back a while ago.” Beck replied.

He couldn't understand why he kept lying about Veronica, it was not like his family wanted her anyway but he just found it difficult to tell anyone that he had rejected her because he knew they would mock him since they had warned him and showed their displeasure and disapproval right from the start, but he was just being so headstrong. If he was going to tell them, it would definitely not be that night. He had to keep the pretense up and not let anyone find out, at least, not yet.

“Well, I don't care if you both went for a walk or not. With the news of you becoming the next Alpha in just a few days, I'm sure you know what to do already, because there is definitely no way that that thing will be accepted in this pack as the Luna. The earlier you get that, the better for you!” His father said.

After three years, everyone in his family had increased their hate for Veronica and the thought of her becoming one of them was dissatisfying. His mother was very reluctant to accept Veronica right from the start, despite hearing every single convincing word from Beck about how being an omega didn't matter. She would definitely have mocking comments about him if she ever found out that after professing his undying love and support for Veronica, and being adamant all those years, he finally succumbed.

Breaking the news about their broken mate bond at that moment was not going to be an easy task. Though it is something they all had longed for, it still wasn't going to be easy for him to say it after being stubborn in the past years.

His father had ruled the pack for a hundred and fifty years and in those years, he had made sure that the omegas were treated differently from the others. Even where they stayed was different from the others.

" I understand, Father," He said to his father as he walked away.

His eyes soon began to scan the vicinity in search of Veronica, because knowing Veronica, she'll eventually show up after a couple of hours but he needed to see her first because they had to have a little discussion.

“She mustn't talk to anyone about our broken mate bond, so it'll not affect my Alpha position.” He thought in his head.

Ben and two others walked up to him and not long after, all the thoughts of Veronica had long gone to the back of his mind and all that mattered were his Alpha duties.

" Where's your Veronica? I thought she was with you?" Ben asked, smirking. It was obvious that he wasn't asking about her because he cared for her but was trying to tease Beck.

“Can't I just take a break from Veronica?” He thought to himself.

“Since when do you take a break from Veronica?” One of the two other guys asked, and they all, except Beck, burst into a mocking laughter.

Beck's mood went down and he could feel the pain of the broken mate bond again.

" Beck, are you okay?" He heard Ben ask him.

" Yeah, why?" He said, looking up to see a worried look on Ben and the two other guy's faces.

" You look like you're in pain." Ben said as he stared at him intently.

“Oh no, did I accidentally let the pain pass through my face? That's not good. They should never know about the broken mate bond.” He thought to himself again.

" Oh, I hit my toe on the chair, nothing to worry about," He lied. “It seems like lying is not hard for me to do today.” He thought to himself as he realized how smoothly he had been lying ever since he got back from the woods.

" Oh, okay. Well, If I had a beauty like Veronica as my Mate, I would give offerings to the Moon goddess every day." Damion said, as he bit his lips, showing his obvious interest in Veronica but this irritated Beck, who glared at him like he was going to tear him to shreds in just a minute.

“With the fact that she's an omega?” Beck asked him.

“Of course not!” He snapped back.

" Exactly, what's the point of being so beautiful but weak? I mean, she can't even beat Henry, our weakest wolf in a hand to hand combat or wolf form," He said, his emotions and thoughts getting the better of him.

The group became silent as he stood up, no longer in the mood to talk to them anymore.

" But you knew that all along l, didn't you? I mean she is weak but she is still your mate." Ben said, looking at him.

" And why should I have a weak mate? Is that who you want as your Luna? Someone who can't protect herself from danger and risks other wolves' lives just to save hers? Answer me, is that who you want as your Luna?" He snapped at Ben, his voice a little loud, causing some people to look over at their table.

Ben didn't say anything and neither did the other boys.

“ I can't let them suspect that I did anything right now, at least, not until I talk to Veronica.” He thought to himself as he impatiently waited for Veronica to show up.

" Sorry, I'm just a little stressed and worried that I might not be able to protect her." He lied and they sighed.

“Well, I was never in support from the start, you have just been so adamant and I do not know why.” Ben said, shrugging, “I guess she is your baggage and you just have to carry it.”

“I don't think so anymore.” Beck murmured but they all heard him.

“What do you mean?” They asked in unison but instead of answering, Beck looked up into the night sky. Confirming that the moon was at its strongest already, he stood up and signaled to Ben to do the same.

“It's time.” He said.

Beck and Ben climbed up the platform that had been built just for the ceremony and his eyes scanned the crowd one more time for Veronica but even up until most members of the pack had transformed and howled into the night sky, he didn’t see her familiar frail figure.

" Help, someone please help, I can't find Veronica! I think she has been kidnapped! HELP!!!” Kiera suddenly cried out as she ran towards them.