No one moved.
The entire pack stared at me in shock.
Wolves knelt across the clearing, confusion written across their faces.
Even Alpha Kaiden looked stunned.
"What is this?" someone whispered.
My neck burned like fire.
I grabbed it, breathing hard.
"I—I didn't do anything."
But deep inside me, something had awakened.
Something ancient.
Kaiden stepped closer, eyes narrowing.
"You're hiding something."
"I'm not," I said, my voice shaking.
He looked unconvinced.
Around us, wolves slowly stood again, murmuring nervously.
"This is bad luck," one elder muttered.
"A cursed bond."
The humiliation hit me harder than the rejection.
Laughter followed.
Of course.
Weak Selene caused trouble again.
Kaiden's voice cut through the noise.
"Leave."
At first I thought he meant the crowd.
But he was looking directly at me.
"You are no longer part of this pack."
The words sliced through my heart.
I turned and walked away.
Behind me, I heard whispers.
But the strange burning mark on my neck pulsed again.
And somewhere in the darkness…
Something answered.