Chapter 3 ~Framed

TARA:

I was dragged across the hall like a thief.

Christine didn’t even care that she was dragging a living being, while Alpha Nolan strolled behind casually. I was taken up to the stage where the Alpha would be seated.

All eyes were on me: The confused, the sympathetic, and the judging eyes.

But I dared not look back at them. My eyes were blurring with tears again and crying in front of the whole pack would literally end me.

“Go on, Tara, tell them what you were telling us inside.” Christine urged me.

This was how it was going to end—the sacred mate bond that I was supposed to share with the Alpha.

“I, Tara Vale…” My unshed tears choked me.

‘Don't cry, don't cry.’ I encouraged myself.

“Of Red Moon pack, reject you, Alpha Nolan… as my mate.” I heard the crowd gasp. But I didn't have time to bother about that as I felt a sharp pain, the pain from the severing of the bond. My chest was on fire and I knelt to the crowd, clutching my upper body and drowning in my tears.

Like a pet, Christine patted my head.

"Don't cry, little she-wolf."

“I present to you all, my Luna, Christine. And the mother of my unborn pup.”

I heard roars of congratulations and when I couldn't stand being the wounded animal, I picked my injured self and ran away. I heard the head maid screaming my name but I didn’t care. She could kill me later and I wouldn’t mind.

I ran back to the pack house and to my quarters, locking the door with a loud thud. I threw myself on my mat and cried my heart out. My body hurt all over; from the earlier push and from the sting of betrayal.

Back then in the room, my tears welled, blurring the betrayal into a haze of skin and shadow, but nothing could erase the scene from my mind. It had been seared into my soul.

I heard a strong knock on my door. I already knew who it was and didn’t bother standing up.

“I’m giving you 10 seconds to walk out of there, you worthless thing. How dare you disobey direct orders and humiliate the Alpha and his Luna like that? I’m going to teach you a lesson you’ll never forget.” She threatened and continued knocking. It was a good thing my door couldn’t be brought down. I would have been a corpse by now.

“Leave her alone!” I heard Ellie. She was one of the few people who could stand up to the head maid.

“Can’t you see she’s hurting from a destroyed bond? Give the poor girl some space.” She yelled at her.

“Shut up, you spoiled brat. Or I'm—”

“Or what?” Ellie challenged her. I would have appreciated her kind gesture on a good day but right now, they were nothing but a nuisance and I wished they would both leave me alone. After what seemed like hours, the hallway became quiet. Their argument distracted me from my current pain but after they left, I was forced back to reality.

My tears and agony ran for days. I didn’t stand up, eat, or drink anything for over two days. Was that what heartbreak felt like? Ellie had told me how her crush then broke her heart but I didn’t fully grasp the feeling. Until now.

My wolf was in emotional turmoil. She wouldn’t stop mourning the loss of our mate. But we didn’t have any choice but to suck it up and move on, right?

‘If it’s truly meant to be, it will be.’ My subconscious encouraged me.

On the third day of starving myself, I stood up to get food. I was weak and almost staggering, and I knew that nobody would offer me a meal, not when I’d ghosted everyone for days. If they didn’t willingly give me, I would have to steal it.

A heartbroken girl's gotta survive.

As I opened the door, a body fell at my feet.

“Ellie? What are you doing out here?” I was surprised to see her in front of my room.

She stood up and hugged me, pouting her lips like a child.

“This is all my fault. I shouldn’t have brought up that crazy idea. I’m so sorry, Tara. I should have listened to your worries. I was being selfish.”

She held me tightly as though she wanted to strip me of my remaining last energy.

"You can let go now, Ellie." I said, feeling a bit choked.

"It's been three whole days, Tara. Why didn't you come out?" She held my hand and began pulling me to goddess knows where. Probably to the kitchen.

"Didn't you get hungry? Or thirsty? I'd be dying right now if I were you." She casually said. I didn't blame her one bit because even as an omega, her life had always been perfect. She was the pretty girl with a higher family status than any other omega around. I always wondered why she stuck here when she had the opportunity of living a better life.

"I am hungry. That's why I came out." My voice came out as low and weak. When I began to hear loud laughter, I paused on my tracks. I wasn't ready to face anybody, not after being humiliated in front of the entire pack. Those girls would never let me breath for a second if they set their eyes on me.

Ellie understood and smiled.

"Instead of going back to your room, you can wait in the storage room. Almost nobody goes there, unless they need some sheets. I'll bring you some food and water."

"Isn't that...risky? Madam would never allow it." If Ellie was caught sneaking food to me, it would land her in trouble. The last thing I wanted was another scene that would put me in the center.

"Just go. I'll be there. Shut the door, okay? So you'll be alerted when someone enters." She instructed and I left, praying in my heart that she was successful. I managed myself to the storage and shut the door behind me. Truly, nobody went there. Every corner of the room was covered in dust, almost choking me. I had to leave the door a bit open so fresh air could come in.

I had waited for over eight minutes and Ellie wasn't coming. My worms threatened to tear through me as my stomach grumbled loudly. I was about standing up when I heard the creaking of the door.

"Ellie... What took you so—" Happily and expectant, I stood up and dusted my dress. I was hoping to see Ellie with a plate of food and water to drink but I was met something else that almost caused me to scream.

The head maid...standing at the door...a knife stuck to her chest...

I covered my mouth with both palms, horror striking through me like lightening.

"Help----me---" She cried, blood strolling down the sides of her mouth. Without thinking twice, I rushed to her and helped her lie down.

"Who did this to you?" I asked, scanning her body. It wasn't just an ordinary knife. It was a silver knife that was stabbed deep into her.

"I don't know..." She was struggling to breathe. "They came up from behind..." She coughed out blood. "Pull...out the knife..." I could see hot tears freely running from her eyes. She was in pains. But what could I do?

Right! Remove the knife.

"After I remove it, I'll go get help." If the knife stayed in her, she would die before help arrives.

"One..." With shaking hands, I grabbed the head of the knife. I was sweating, what if she didn't make it? I hated her but not enough to wish her death and definitely not one as agonizing as this.

"Two..." My grip around the knife tightened. "Three!" I yelled and pulled out the knife with all my remaining strength.

"I'll go het help," Before I could drop the knife and stand up, soldiers appeared. And there he was, Alpha Nolan, in their middle. My heart raced, seeing him again, but the look on his eyes... They were the same as that night.

My attention got caught back to the almost lifeless woman on the ground.

"Why aren't you doing anything? She's hurt." I yelled and stood up. It was then I realized something.

I still had the knife in my hand.