Abandoned at my Shifting Ceremony

ESSIE:

"I still don't know how I got mated to someone without a wolf. You are so useless..."

Conrad had repeated those words to me on various occasions reminding me of how much I amount to nothing because I was without a wolf. But now that I am finally getting my wolf, where is he?

It was not a fairytale about how painful the process of having your first shift was. I have heard it many times. But no one ever told me it was this excruciating to the point that I couldn't move my body.

I could feel my bones breaking into pieces and getting attached to each other again. It was always swift and I could not find the breathing space to get used to what was going on.

"Conrad, where are you?" I mouthed through gritted teeth as I lay on the floor while my body went through the changes that would enable me have my wolf for the first time in my twenty one years of living.

If only I could mind link him so he would know I was out here alone and helpless in the woods. At this point, I was vulnerable and anything bad could happen to me.

The mistake I made was going out into the woods alone. My stupid self just had to feel so emotional at the wrong time.

But I couldn't help it. Conrad had left me to be by myself on this special day that was supposed to be my shifting ceremony.

Since I got married to him three years ago after discovering that I was his mate, I have never for once had the convenience of spending time with him. He always looked for a reason to be away and that always hurt me.

I thought today was going to be different since it was a special day. I had already gotten the maids and deltas to prepare a ceremony for today when all of a sudden Conrad woke up and decided to leave the packhouse as usual.

"Where are you going?" I had asked him when he began to step out of the packhouse fully dressed like he had somewhere important to be.

My question must have surprised him because I would never ask him for his destination whenever he left the packhouse. Maybe it was because of the fear I had for him or the fact that I didn't want to get on his bad side.

I thought he was going to snap at me when he turned around to look at me with a frown etched on his face but he simply said, "I have duties to tend to."

Conrad was the alpha of the pack and that meant I was his luna. And as the alpha, whenever he said he had duties, he was talking about his work of overseeing the pack.

"But you haven't had anything to eat," I told him.

"Don't feel like it."

"You—" I had to stop my statement because I could tell that he was getting infuriated. And the longer I kept him waiting, the more infuriated he was going to be.

I just sighed and said nothing else while I watched him step out of the packhouse. That was right after he gave me a once-over that expressed disappointment.

That scenario that had occurred this morning had let me rush out of the packhouse in tears as I drifted into the woods to clear my head. I never knew that would result into something I had totally unplanned.

I first noticed the change in my body when my head starting throbbing as I rested my back on the tree. I thought it was from crying excessively and thought to stand up so I could leave for the packhouse. However, my legs failed me and I fell to the ground with a loud thud. That was what brought me to this present situation.

"What is happening to me?" I had asked myself before realizing the changes were actually me getting my wolf. I knew today was the day I would finally get my wolf but this was unplanned nevertheless.

All of a sudden, I heard sounds of something moving around. At first, hope filled my heart that there was help coming my way. However, that hope changed into despair when I noticed the pattern of the movement.

I would have called out for help with the little strength in me but I knew I needed to stay quiet. My fears came into light when my eyes caught sight of what I guessed was coming at me.

Rogues... Three of them.

Their stench filled the environment and I could almost feel it at the back of my throat.

They rushed at me almost immediately their eyes saw me and I wish I could stand up to defend myself or even escape from here. But my body denied me the chance to do any of that.

As they tore at me with their claws, I could only think of how miserable my existence was.