Ava

With an unusual agitation, he raised his voice and said, "Ava, I never loved you. I can't be your mate. You're an Omega and you're still a weak wolf carrying lower caste genes."

"Why would you say such words to me?" My voice trailed off.

"I just realized that this whole thing was a mistake," he said coldly, making everything appear to happen more quickly than it actually did.

I could hear Rae's best friend and beta, Kyle, laughing across the room, showing how gleefully thrilled he was to be present at that moment.

"I, Rae Dunn, reject you, Ava Steele, as my mate. You were a nobody before we were mated, now you'll go back to being a worthless she-wolf."

A stab of pain shot through my heart. Not only did I feel shattered, but my wolf also experienced the anguish of rejection. I questioned when I gave in to the delusion that Rae was genuinely in love with me. How on earth could he trick me for three years straight? I questioned myself.

"I, Ava Steele, accept your rejection, Rae Dunn," I said. He looked at me, his face cold. My heart was beating so fast.

He gave me a disdainful look and turned to go without looking back and I forced myself to suppress the need to tell him that I was pregnant.

Rae would definitely feel the bond between us being broken, even if I didn't feel it at the time.

Rae walked away without saying anything, showing no regret or expression on his face. I was saddened all the more.

Kyle stayed behind to relish this very moment. He always said I wasn't good enough for Rae.

"This is the time when you will desperately flee and never return to the pack." I heard Kyle say.

My voice lodged in my throat with the tears I refrained from streaming down my eyes. I realized that he wasn't just telling me, it was a command. With a growl, Kyle grabbed my neck and forced me up against the wall.

"Did you truly believe that a frail orphan such as yourself would be his Luna?" he asked with a smirk.

I was unable to respond because all I could feel was Kyle's resentment pulsing through my body.

He continued coldly, "Leave Ava, no one wants you here. You'll always be a nobody."

He let go of me right away and walked away, grinning contentedly, without waiting to hear what I had to say.

I couldn't stand up as my legs grew weak. I decided, as I lay there on the ground, that I was going to move on from my past and Rae's rejection.

I realized that before long, the whole pack would be aware of my rejection and would make fun of me for the rest of my life. So with all my might, I sprinted back to my room. I didn't have time to be sad and depressed. I unlocked the old box that held all of my possessions, removed everything, and sealed everything in a plastic bag.

In order to avoid being seen, I waited until dusk. My wolf kept sobbing because our mate had treated us so crudely. I vowed never to return as I took one final look at my house, my eyes blurry in the chilly, dark night. I wiped away my tears and ran deep into the jungle.

As I ran, memories of the day I and Rae were mated flooded my mind.

THREE YEARS AGO

An ambush claimed my parent's life. My aunt, Larisa never discussed it, so I never found out how it had actually happened. Seeing me shift for the first time was all I wanted my parents to witness. Though my wolf was starting to show signs of being different from the other wolves of the pack, I still didn't want to shift.

My eighteenth birthday wasn't really thrilling. Nobody knew the whole thing except for my aunt. The omegas in the pack, however, had always been ignored, and nobody had bothered to find out what happened to my parents.

Anytime I turned a year older, my confusion and uncertainties returned and they plagued me. Things got worse as I was enslaved by my aunt Larisa and her husband, Colin. I was under their vicious care till Rae entered my life and saved me from her wicked grasp.

I was snapped back to reality when I noticed Kyle's presence in the room.

"Get dressed immediately, the Alpha's son is waiting for you." Kyle said with contempt laced in his voice.

"Th- the Alpha's son?" I whispered, shocked at what I just heard. I met Rae at a party when I was 15 and since then, I haven't been able to get him out of my head. I felt pulled towards him and I could only watch him from afar and well, have wet dreams about him. Who was I kidding? He's the Alpha's son and way out of my league. But I was confused. Why was he here and why was he waiting for me?

"Are your ears as useless as you are?" he growled, "Worthless orphan, don't keep him waiting."

I could no longer hear Kyle's thundering footsteps as they gradually disappeared. But the pressure he had placed on my shoulders the moment he walked into my room continued to fester, virtually immobilizing me. He hated me because, in his eyes, I was of a lower caste and hence unworthy of being Rae's mate.

Thinking about what Rae wanted with me made my body shiver. I'd wondered for a long time what the son of an Alpha would want with an omega like myself. Maybe Kyle was correct to say that I wasn't deserving of the future alpha. What made me Rae's mate of choice? I was hated by my aunt and she used me as her personal slave while raising me as an orphan.

I was once told that although I wasn't as powerful as I should have been, I had a beauty that no other girl in the pack had. Perhaps there was something about me that Rae found endearing. Did he really think I would be a good mate? Despite his reputation as a ruthless and unrelenting wolf.

The deeper I ran into the jungle, the more memories flooded my mind.

My mind kept dragging me back to the vows and promises Rae had made, the ones I had once believed with all my heart.

Ava

The memory flashed back vividly, taking me to the night of intimate desire of my mate, and Alpha, Rae.

He tugged at my arm with a smile. I smiled back at him, knowing what was next. Mating.

"I wanna show you the bedroom," he said.

"I wanna see the bedroom," I replied.

Rae led me into his bedroom. I had my bath and changed into a form-fitting white dress that accentuated my curves. I felt my cheeks flush as his gaze moved over me, the intensity in his eyes clearly telling me that he liked what he saw.

Slowly he lifted his gaze to mine and our eyes locked. Heat blazed from the depths of them, warming me from the inside, drawing me to him like gravity and I found myself taking a few steps forward.

"Why me Rae?" I asked, still surprised.

He replied, "Because you're my mate, Ava. Can't you feel it? I've wanted you since the day I set my eyes on you, but you weren't of age. I couldn't wait one more day. You are mine, today and forever."

"Forever," I whispered. The moon goddess surely had a sense of humor. Mating me to a future alpha? But what can I do? I've always wanted him too.

He pulled me in by putting his arm around my waist. His free hand gripped my hair roughly and drew my face dangerously near to his as his grip tightened around my waist, forcing our bodies together. I closed my eyes, expecting him to grab me and kiss me brutally, but instead I felt his lips brush across mine with such gentleness that it sent thrills down my spine. My breath caught at the feel of another gentle brush on my lips.

I put my arms around his neck, but he pulled my hair and threw my head back before I could even put my lips to his.

His lips slid deftly over my throat, kissing and nibbling as I clung to him, unable to stand on my own. His hands gripped my hips and went down my back, forcing me further closer to his body as though I wasn't close enough. His scent engulfed my thoughts, impairing my ability to think.

I was lost in a sea of pleasure, drowning. I felt like I was floating on air and my feet were no longer feeling the floor, then I abruptly found myself on the bed with Rae on top of me, trapping my hands above my head. His eyes were burning with need and hunger as he smacked his lips against mine. His kiss was powerful and raw, heating me from the inside out. His hands slid beneath my clothes and stroked me in ways that were at once frightening and sensual.

Rae's kisses turned from sweetly intense to painfully intense, almost bruising my lips. I heard the tearing sound of fabric.

He studied my face, then slowly drew back and removed his shirt. My eyes were veiled with desire and my cheeks flushed. As my eyes swept over his exposed upper torso, he could hear the ferocious pounding of my heart.

Placing my hand on his chest, he held it, sensing that I wanted to touch him. After a little pause, I cautiously started to feel his body with my hands.

I ran my hands down his chest, stomach, up his arms and shoulders, my eyes showing nothing but admiration as I touched him. Then my fingers traveled down his spine and he groaned with pleasure that burned so deep it was nearly painful.

He waited patiently as I satisfied my curiosity and got to know his body, even if he was in a sweet torment. It was his time after I was finished. He brought his body close to mine, using his hips to keep me in place as his lips found mine to kiss. He groaned deep in his throat as his tongue slid across my bottom lip and I writhed beneath him, producing a delicious contact. He repeated the act, aware of the impact it had on me, and I groaned in return. He removed my clothes with ease and used his lips, tongue, and hands to explore my body. I could tell that he enjoyed the taste of my skin, as well as the sound of my moans.

"Rae!" I gasped as he grazed his finger down my inner thighs, coaxing shivers out of me. He did the same thing again but this time with his tongue, making me quiver uncontrollably. He couldn't help but smile at my reaction as he continued teasing me with his lips and tongue.

"Please Rae..." I said breathlessly as my hands fisted in his hair, bringing his face to mine.

He gave me the kiss I desired, and I gave it to him with a fervor that shocked and painfully aroused him at the same time. I let out a cry of delight as his fingers moved between my thighs and felt my tender, hurting skin.

As Rae's hand slowly stroked me, the pressure in the pit of my stomach increased rhythmically with each stroke, leaving me dumbfounded and almost out of breath. As the sensation grew stronger, I dug my fingers into his hair. My muscles tensed, a spasm passed through my body, and I cried out as my head fell back.

I just lay there, my body limp, astonished by what just happened. Whatever it was, I didn't want it to end.

"We're just getting started, honey," Rae whispered in my ear.

And then the kissing and stroking began and my body was on fire once again.

Rae grabbed my hips and I felt a sharp pain, but it was only brief. Then came the amazing sensation of our skin touching and the friction starting a fire inside of me.

He was gentle at first but then he pounded into me like it was his last.

And there went my innocence. We made sweet love all night but something was missing. I was unmarked.

We were mated and that too for three years. Since I was mated to him and we became a significant pack member, I didn't care about Rae's reputation or the fact that he didn't mark me. Marking was a serious decision to take, so maybe he was just taking his time. After all, he loved me. It was enough. Also, I was relieved from the misery of living with my aunt Aurelia.

Ava

PRESENTLY

I thought he loved me, but I was wrong. Mates were known to love each other and are unable to live without each other. Why was my case different?

With a broken heart and a child growing inside of me, I ran hopelessly. I was sprinting down the path that would take me directly into the human realm.

I vowed to myself that I would take care of myself and be a good mother, all the while keeping Rae in the dark about the existence of our child.

I was at a loss over what to do the next day. How do I get help, and who should I ask? The pain in my chest made me feel miserable and I was hungry.

I was looking for food in a garbage can when I felt a soft hand on my arm and heard a woman's voice.

"Are you hungry, miss?" she said with a twinkle in her eyes, yet there was sadness in her gaze.

I shrank back. Although the woman didn't look dangerous, I had lost all faith in people. I responded to her by nodding my head.

"Come with me. I'll get you something to eat. You shouldn't be searching the trash can, you can get sick."

The woman persisted, and eventually I gave in to her persistence and trusted her. She treated me with so much respect and I got to know that Leila was her name. I felt secure next to someone for the first time.

Leila insisted that we visit the doctor right away after noticing that my tummy continued to swell as the months passed.

Although I was aware that I was pregnant, I had no idea how many children I would be carrying.

"Quadruplets?" I fell back into the chair.

The doctor was talking about how blessed I was to have four lovely babies at once, and I was buried in my own thoughts.

The torment I'd experienced since leaving the pack made having quads seem like a minor thing. I was afraid, though, and I couldn't hide it. I was afraid of how I would care for four infants on my own, so I sobbed while my wolf howled at the full moon.

"You're no longer alone Ava, you have me now," Leila said.

The hardest times I had to face in order to adjust to life as a person were the one thing I would never forget. Leial took me into her home. At the same restaurant where she worked, she got me a job. I was eager to start over somewhere new, somewhere no one would find out about my secret and away from the humiliation of rejection.

It had been seven years since I buried the past in the depths of my memory.

I began to feel more human as I adjusted to my new life.

And I had much more motivation to survive and fight for the quads after they were born.

The quads were running around my bed in a frenzy the moment I had opened my eyes.

My cell vibrated on the other side of the bed. I extended my arm across the bed to grab it.

"I'll be ten minutes late."

It was Leila's message. How could I doubt Leila's devotion to the kids when she had taken on the role of their protector? It made my heart feel warm.

I finally made it to the door and Leila grinned broadly as she stood there and gave me a hug.

"I apologize for the mess, these kids are driving me crazy," I said, feeling down because I was never able to keep the house clean.

"Everything will be in order when you return."

Leila stopped to gather the toys that were strewn all over the house's entryway.

"You know that's not necessary, Cat," I told her. "The kids are a handful already"

She chuckled, "Don't overthink it, Kamara. You know I enjoy spending time with the boys."

As they spoke, the kids hurried towards her like they did every time Leila arrived, and gave her hugs that nearly suffocated her.

"Are you sure that spending the night here won't be a problem?" I asked.

With her arms still around the kids, she said, "That question is getting annoying, Ava. You can leave peacefully to work. I'm good with the kids."

I hugged them all before I left.

"I'll look after my siblings, mom, I promise." Logan hugged me tightly. He always felt responsible and protective of everyone around him, including me. The instinct to protect ran deep in his bones.

It was impossible to look at Logan and not remember Rae. His father's bravery was even more like his own.

Running my hand through the boy's hair, I said, "You're my Alpha, and because you're strong and fearless, you'll guard the entire pack."

At midnight, a knock came at the door.

Leila frowned, looking at the time and wondering if anyone would be there at that hour. She set down the cup and thought about responding as the knocks grew louder.

Her heart was beating fast as she paused halfway, hoping the person would give up and go away. With four children in the house, Leila felt helpless and refused to open the door. She heard footsteps fade away after a while, and then the knocking stopped. Just as her heart began to stop and she made her way quickly to bed, the front door was ripped clean off its hinges and violently hurled across the room, barely missing her.