Chapter 3 Shattered

I never imagined I'd find myself in a situation where the man who professes to love me would completely shatter my heart. I envisioned a future with Zoran, one I truly wanted, but now it feels like that dream is slipping away.

His words keep replaying in my mind: "I want to marry her." I can't believe he said that to me. He wants to marry someone else while I'm here, trying my hardest to be the person he deserves. The little things he used to say suddenly carry weight, and now it feels like I'm not enough for him.

With tears streaming down my face, I gaze up at the moon and wonder, "When will I ever be good enough for anyone? When can I be the wolf that no one looks down on?"

As an Omega, I face constant criticism about my rank, and it never feels good. I'm often told I'm not good enough or that I need to try harder, even though I train as much as I can. Standing at just 5 feet 4 inches among people who tower over me at six feet only highlights my perceived shortcomings and I guess now, Zoran thinks the way they do. He doesn’t want me because he thinks I’m not good enough.

It's still hard to accept that Zoran doesn't want me anymore. After everything we've been through, my life revolved around finding my mate and making it extraordinary, but without Zoran, I can't shake the feeling that I'll never find my true partner. My dad was right when he warned me not to place too much hope in a man I wasn't mated to. Anything can happen, and despite Zoran's promises of forever, he broke that vow without hesitation, telling me he found someone else he likes.

More tears streamed down my face as I trudged along, each step feeling heavier than the last. I had nowhere to go, and the thought of heading home filled me with dread. I really didn’t want to face anyone because then everyone would know what happened, and it would just turn into a chaotic mess. I had shared so many dreams and plans for the future with Zoran that the idea of going home and admitting what happened felt beyond embarrassing. Especially telling my dad—he had already warned me not to plan ahead with someone who wasn’t my mate, but I brushed it off, convinced that love was more powerful than any of those warnings.

Just then, my phone buzzed, jolting me from my spiraling thoughts. I glanced at the screen and saw it was Tasha calling. She was probably worried sick about where I’d been. I answered her call, and before I could gather my thoughts, she exclaimed, "Where are you? I’m dying to see the ring."

More tears fell as I opened my mouth to tell her the truth—that Zoran and I had broken up—but the words got stuck in my throat. Instead, I closed my mouth, grappling with how I would break the news to her. A soft whimper escaped me, and I could sense her concern shift instantly. "Nyla, are you crying?"

A single tear rolled down my cheek as I finally managed to respond in a barely audible whisper, "Zoran broke up with me." I said and I could feel my heart shattering all over again.

"What!" she exclaimed,

"Yeah, he broke up with me,"

"I don’t get it, what about the ring?" she questioned, her brow furrowing in confusion.

"It’s not for me. It’s for someone else," I replied, a single tear rolling down my cheek. I told Tasha everything that happened between me and Zoran, every detail spilling out in a rush. Just like me, she was confused and utterly shocked. Zoran had never shown any signs of cheating or even hinted that he wanted someone else, but now it was painfully clear—he didn’t want me; he never wanted me.

Tasha, not knowing what to say, finally asked, "I’m so sorry about that Nyla. I know it’s hard but you need to come home now, it’s getting too late and it’s not safe out there."

"I don’t want to come home; I want to get my head straight first. I’ll be..." I started, but before I could finish my sentence, a car sped toward me, its tires screeching against the pavement, nearly hitting me and causing my phone to slip from my grasp and crash onto the ground.

My heart throbbed painfully as I fell to the ground, adrenaline coursing through my veins, and I turned to look at the car. The driver stopped abruptly and stepped out—a man I didn’t recognize, definitely not from the Black Pack community. He was tall, with an air of confidence, and as he walked toward me, my gaze was drawn to his striking features.

His hair was a deep shade of black, cropped shorter on the sides and cascading messily across his forehead, giving him a slightly tousled yet effortlessly cool look. The sunglasses perched on his nose were stunning, fitting his face perfectly and adding an air of mystery to his already striking appearance. Even though his body was obscured by a plain white T-shirt that clung just enough to hint at the muscles beneath, and ripped jeans that accentuated his long legs, I could easily imagine the incredible physique he must possess.

As he strode toward me, his gaze unwavering, I initially thought he was coming to offer help. But instead, he simply stopped in front of me, his expression filled with frustration, and he groaned. "Are you crazy? Do you wanna die?" his voice rich and deep, sending a shiver down my spine.

I found myself at a loss for words, completely captivated by him. I couldn’t shake the feeling of an intense connection, something that went beyond mere attraction. It wasn’t a mating bond; it felt closer, almost like we were linked by something unexplainable. Usually, I would have jumped up and shouted at him for nearly killing me, but I didn’t—I just couldn’t. I was so captivated by him that I wasn’t even angry, and I couldn’t explain why.

His eyes bore into mine, and he said, "You should watch your way next time," before turning to walk back to his car. I remained frozen on the ground, still under his spell. As he climbed into his car and began to drive away, it was like a fog lifted, and I regained my senses.

I quickly sprang to my feet, my heart racing as I reached for my phone. I told Tasha, who was still on the line, her voice laced with panic as she asked me if I was okay, "Something just happened."

Before I could elaborate, he reversed his car back to me in a heartbeat. As he rolled down the window, our eyes locked once more, and time seemed to stand still. He removed his sunglasses, revealing the most mesmerizing ocean-blue eyes I had ever seen, deep and captivating like the sea itself. There were no words exchanged between us; it was just a moment of pure connection, suspended in the air. Then, just like that, he drove away, leaving me breathless and questioning if that connection I felt was something deeper— perhaps a mate bond.