C10 Chapter 9. Unusual

9. Unusual

That slap jolted my insides.

I expected my mother to embrace me in her warmth and assure me that everything would be fine, but instead, she hit me, and I was not sure what to expect from her.

"You couldn't even acquire a boyfriend for yourself, and as usual, you bring me shame. I thought I'd be able to get rid of you once you found your mate, but he doesn't want you either. What do you think? I believe Edward rejected you because who would accept a weak person like you as their mate? You deserve everything" She spit out the words.

I couldn't believe my mother would think I deserved all of the sufferings I was in. I expected her to understand me, or at the very least tell me that there is a way out of everything. Still, instead, she's pushing me deeper into the pit I'm trying to escape.

I turned to face Sky, fearful that Mom would treat him the same way she had treated me.

"Sky, my darling, you have nothing to worry about, my child. You are the strongest omega in this pack. With the strength and charms you possess, anyone would be throwing themselves at your feet, baby," Mom whispered, touching his cheeks.

'How many times are you going to lower your expectations, Astrid? There is a difference between you and your brothers in your parents' eyes,' I chided myself.

"I know, Mom, but the anguish was unbearable; I believed I'd die that night," Sky explained.

"Shh, you don't need to utter such words, my boy. I know it might be difficult for you, but you are so young and have a long life ahead of you to make your choices. We don't need to rush anything," Mom assured him as if he were a baby whose sandcastle was destroyed.

"Yes, Lar, you should concentrate on your profession right now rather than worrying about some silly lady," Dad remarked.

"I understand, Dad. I guess I should go relax now after that exhausting night; it's the only thing I can think of," Skylar suggested.

"Sure, son, we have to depart to fulfill our responsibilities to the pack," Dad said.

They didn't even ask him who his partner was, whereas I was interrogated about everything.

Skylar began to walk away, and I began to trail behind, knowing that if I had to confront the anguish alone, I could do so without anybody witnessing my vulnerability.

"Where do you believe you're going?" Mom inquired, bringing me to a halt.

"Wi... With Skylar to home," I said, afraid for myself because I wasn't seeing my parents, who cared for me. Still, they were my worst enemies, capable of going to any length to destroy me.

"No way, you're coming with us to see your worth for yourself while your mate claims someone else as his luna," Mom stated, disgustedly staring at me from head to toe.

"I'm sorry, Astrid, but I can't save you from them, and I'm not even in the mood to debate," Skylar pleaded in front of me.

"It's fine, Sky, go ahead," I nodded, but I remained in my spot.

After Sky had gone, I cast another glance at my parents.

"Make every effort to disguise the fact that you are Edward's mate." Mom had warned me.

"Why are you taking me with you if you are so ashamed of me? It's best if I stay out of sight of everyone. "I dared to express my opinions.

"How dare you argue with me," Mom screeched. "You shouldn't question my conduct, or the consequences will be bad," Mom shouted as she took a predatory stride toward me.

I trembled and backed away, but she grabbed my hand and dragged me to the ground.

"Stay there and don't draw attention to yourself," Mom reminded me once more.

I nodded and moved to the farthest corner. Edward's sight met mine, and remorse swiveled in his eyes, but he soon returned his gaze to Charlotte.

I want to flee the situation, but my parents have tethered me here.

I was pretty foolish to come here in the first place. I anticipated meeting Edward and accepting his rejection correctly, but I'm not sure what else was in store for me.

If something unexpected happens here, I'm confident I won't be able to keep my cries to myself.

If only things go as planned, and only if my mother lets me leave this scene Without much drama, but I know she won't let me go even if I'm dying of pain; I think she enjoys seeing me suffer.

When Edward grabbed Charlotte's hand in his and began going toward his parents, everyone began to applaud.

They opened their arms to hug Charlotte and Edward. Soon, the ceremony began. They placed a goblet in front of Alpha Brad and Luna Lizzy, with a dagger laying on a platter next to it.

Alpha Brad took the dagger, clasped his wife's hand, and gently kissed her palm.

He first made a minor cut on his palm with it, then delicately grasped his luna's hand and made a small cut just enough for the blood to pour from it.

He took their hands in his and poured the blood into the goblet.

A warrior carried that goblet to Edward and Charlotte, bowed in front of the Alpha and Luna, and began sipping their blood, which is a ceremony in our domain.

Everything was going swimmingly until that happened. I was hoping that I wouldn't experience any discomfort because they were matched. Oh, how wrong I was.

I felt like I had swallowed a fireball that was destroying every inch of me from the inside as soon as Edward drank from the goblet.

I yelled in anguish as tears streamed from my eyes, and I began to sweat profusely, to the point where my clothes were wet in my own sweat.

Everyone around me gasped while holding a hand over their mouth. Before I could react, another wave of anguish struck, this time starting at my wrist and traveling from there before melting into my entire body.

"Ahh," I cried again, and the mark lit up when I looked down at my wrist.

I can't take it any longer, so I decided to put an end to it once and for all.

Everyone was staring at me as if I were a ghost, but all I could think about was getting rid of this.

I approached them and took a position directly in front of Edward.

"Astrid, what's wrong with you?" he inquired, looking at me with concern.

"I want you to reject me again," I managed to utter, albeit with difficulty.

"What!!" He gave me a wide-eyed stare.

I didn't have the strength to repeat my remarks, so I stared at him, expecting him to understand my unspoken words.

"Do It," I repeated once more.

"But Astrid, everyone will know you're my mate, and I can't do that," he replied quietly.

Even though I am on the edge of death, he is more concerned with his reputation.

"I don't care, do it anyway because most of them have figured out what's wrong with me by now," I yelled at him.

Hearing me, he was taken aback. They may have mistaken my generosity for weakness, but they are wrong. Everything has a limit, and I can't let others take advantage of it, so I must put a stop to this once and for all.

My parents' eyes dug holes in my back, but they could punish me afterward.

Edward sighed obviously, looked guiltily at his parents, and then returned to me.

"I, Edward Hudson, reject you, Astrid Jones, as my mate," he said dejectedly.

"I... I, Astrid Jones accept your rejection," I eventually spoke to his face, and only then did I find some peace in my heart.

I felt the pain leave my body gradually, and I was quickly pulled away from them.

I hadn't even had a chance to calm down when I heard them whispering. I'm not sure how it was possible because the distance was significant enough for even a werewolf to have difficulty understanding their words. Still, I could hear them plainly as if they were whispering in my ear.

"I'm sorry, Dad, I couldn't tell you this sooner, but I don't want a weakling as my mate," Edward explained.

Hearing him, I was taken aback. I've always known I'm a weakling; those words had been smacked in my face for I don't know how long, but hearing it straight from the person who has been the friendliest was stabbing me in the heart.

"You did it well, son," Alpha Brad stated, later adding, "she isn't suitable to be your luna." "But you might have done everything correctly, and no one would have known" He used to be so lovely that I didn't foresee him saying such things about me.

"I apologize for that, and thank you for your understanding," he replied to him, and they both smiled.

They turned back to face the crowd, and Alpha Brad remarked.

"As a father, this is a proud time for me. I present to you all your new Alpha, my son Edward. I know he will carry out his duties admirably, and I expect you all to respect and value him as you have always done to me." His voice rang out in the open air.

Everyone howled in support of the new Alpha and luna.

Charlotte drew her sleeve up, exhibiting her mark and confirming to everyone that they were mated.

When I see the unwantedness in my pack's gaze, my eyes hurt with unsheathed tears. I began glaring at everyone, starting with my own parents and moving on to my other pack members, until my attention was led to Edward, who was looking triumphantly at Charlotte.

I couldn't take my eyes off him, and I kept staring.

Soon after, he began screaming in despair while clutching his head. The weather changed suddenly from a beautiful sunny day to clouds forming around us.

The weather deteriorated as thunder roared and lightning struck the ground within a fraction of a second.

I didn't think about it and kept staring at Edward as he held various body areas, pleading for aid, but no one came to help him.

"Astrid," I felt someone shaking me violently.

I spun around to see who that was, and Lance gasped and backed away from me.

The weather had returned to normal when I looked up, and Edward was passed out on the floor.

I was wondering what happened to him when I turned around to look at my older brother, but he appeared terrified of me, and as I left his eyes to look at the other members, they too gasped and looked afraid of me.