Amanda's POV

Excitement burned through me. A heady feeling accompanied my waking moment.

This day seemed like a dream.

I was going to be mated to the man of my dreams.

At this moment, I wasn't Amanda, the cursed girl, or Amanda, the witch. I was going to be Amanda, The Betas lover.

"I reject you, Amanda Wood," Beta Long said, with a serious and stern expression.

He didn't move.

His dark eyes held an unknown emotion.

Was that disgust?

Anxiety wrapped its chilly tendrils around my heart.

My breathing increased in frequency. This time, it wasn't due to excitement.

"L-Long," my stuttering voice called out as fear wrapped around my soul.

Long didn't move.

The multiple eyes of the other pack members settled on me like a wet blanket.

A red cloud gathered in my cheeks because of the embarrassment coursing through my veins.

No!

I can't let anyone or anything ruin this day for myself!

"But... why?" I stammered out the words as tears hung in my eyes.

I was already feeling the mating bond getting scattered.

"You're not a virgin!" he said, loud enough for the whole pack to hear.

Everyone's eyes were on me.

I felt ashamed and disgraced.

"No..." I tried to defend myself, but it was way too late for that.

The pack elder was there, her eyes locked on mine with a facial expression that sent chills down my spine.

"Amanda Wood!" she called out.

I walked close to her, my whole body shaky.

"How true is it?" I lifted my head gently, feeling the flow of betrayal in my veins.

"Yes, he took it away," I finally replied, and this time I just didn't care what would happen next, since I already knew the punishment that came along with it.

"She's a fool!" someone from the crowd said.

As I tried to look at the person, my eyes met that of my main enemy and rival.

Alica.

I have always hated her more than any other person in the entire pack.

"You know the punishment already," the elder's voice gained my attention back.

"Yes," I nodded.

I walked back to the middle of everyone, even though I hated what I was doing.

"I, Amanda Wood, will leave this pack before the sun rises and will also never get in touch with anyone in this pack." As soon as I finished the words, tears dropped down from my eyes.

The pain flowed through my veins.

I could feel it.

I walked away from the whole crowd even though they were all saying different words, which I totally ignored.

Approaching my little hut where I called my home, I heard footsteps.

"You came to kill me already?" I asked as I gently walked into the room.

My eyes scanned the room to see my best friend standing there.

"Hey, you aren't meant to be here!" I said, trying to sit down.

"Yes, I know, but I can't just..."

"There's nothing you can do about all this," I interrupted.

"Amanda," she held my hands, joining me to sit, "I will always be by your side and have your back." I withdrew my hands from hers.

I felt really pained, but my whole family was viewed as cursed and worthless. We were always hated by the entire pack even though we did nothing to them.

Sent to live in the most dangerous part of the pack.

Also, killing my parents, and now they're sending me out of the pack.

"Sliva, I have always been a good girl all my life, so why am I getting this in return for all my good deeds?" I asked as tears streamed down my face uncontrollably.

"Good people always get bad in return, and you need to be strong," she said, patting me gently.

I couldn't reply to her anymore as tears flowed uncontrollably this time around.

"I already helped you pack up a few items that you would be needing." I immediately lifted my head from her body. I looked at her for a while.

"But why?" I asked her, trying to clear my watery eyes.

"Friends." She smiled before I gave her a hug.

"You have to leave now before the sun sets," Sliva said.

I finally took an exhale, cleared my wet eyes, and applied a fake smile to my face.

Everything happening now just felt like a dream to me. A dream that I never wished or wanted to happen, but now it was all happening.

"I will miss you." I gave her one last hug while she sniffled.

She finally pulled apart from the hug.

I picked up my little animal skin bag and left the room while tears hung in her eyes.

I walked down to the pack central with my head facing down.

Everyone was there waiting for my presence and my last words before leaving the pack.

The pack elder was also there, sitting and waiting for me.

I stood looking at everyone there.

"I, Amanda Wood, will leave this pack territory permanently and never re..." Before I could finish my words, I heard a voice from behind.

"What a funny girl." It was Alica and her foolish friends laughing and pointing at me.

But I ignored them.

I took a deep breath.

I scanned the whole place but couldn't see any sign of Beta Long, nor any of his friends.

"I will leave this pack today and never return for any reason." I finally finished my speech.

As I tried to take a few steps away, Sliva rushed toward me and gave me a tight hug with tears streaming down her face.

"Sliva..." the pack elder said in a strong and harsh tone.

"Check your bag as soon as you leave the pack," Sliva whispered into my ear.

Pain filled me.

She finally left the hug, waving me goodbye.

"Hey, you!" The strong tone made me look back.

It was Alpha Noir and his brothers.

"You aren't leaving this pack." I looked at him with a crazy reaction.

He was just an alpha and not the elder to make such a statement.

"I claim you as my mate."

Immediately, I felt it.

The bond.