Hated By My Mate Series novel Chapter 9

---- Aurora's POV ----

I returned home completely defeated. I could feel the exhaustion taking a toll on my body. I guess that's what happens when you shift for the first time and haven't had a proper meal in two days. Now that I think about it, I've spent two days straight crying my soul out, all because of my so-called soulmate.

I walked through the door and stumbled back when someone ran into me, hugging the life out of me. It was my stepmother, Montana.

" Where were you?!! I got up and went to check up on you and you were gone!!" She exclaimed. "I called to Emma's place to see if you were there and you weren't!"

"I'm sorry Montana. I... My wolf needed a run." I said trying to calm her a bit.

"You're wolf? You finally met her? Oh my goddess Rory!" She squealed in delight. "What's her name? What does she look like? When are we gonna take a stroll together?" She bombarded me with questions, but I felt my eyelids giving up on me.

"I'll answer you tomorrow Montana, okay? Right now I need to lay down." I told her.

"Ooh sure, sure! Right, first shifts always take a toll on you when you just begin. You must be exhausted. Come, let me help you to bed." She hooked one of my arm over her shoulder and helped me up the stairs to my bedroom.

"Thanks Montana." I said before I embraced darkness.

I sat at the beautiful clearing I found this evening.

I was in my human form.

The place was so peaceful and serene. It was day and the sun shined over the lake making it look like it glistened and the wild grass that grew around swayed with the summer breeze.

Suddenly a dark cloud covered the skies, making the place turn gloomy. The lake turned murky as mad unsettling waves disturbed it's once peaceful waters and the sweet Summer breeze turned into a strong whistling husk.

The green grass faded and dried creating just a horrible patch of dried and cracked soil around me.

Then the sound of dried leaves and fallen branches cracking caught my attention making me more alert about my surroundings.

I looked around in fear as I tried calling out to my wolf but got no answer.

From within the few bushes where the dried leaves were still intact, emerged a huge black wolf whose blue eyes looked as if it was shining. It's fangs bared as he growled at me.

It kept coming closer and closer until it launched itself at me, digging its sharp fangs deep into my neck.

I was woken up by Montana gently nudging me.

I was panting and sweating as I looked at my stepmother in confusion and fear.

It was just a nightmare.

"Uuh, what is it Montana? I know I promised to go running with you but isn't it too early?" I grumbled as I sat up on my bed looking at my alarm clock on the night table, but when I turned to her, I noticed her grim expression, immediately alerting me that something was wrong.

"What's wrong Montana?" I inquired.

"You... You have a visitor downstairs dear." She said with a bit of fear and sadness in her voice.

"Who's looking...?" I started to ask but got cut off.

"Hurry up and get presentable, honey." Montana said before getting up and leaving me in complete confusion.

Could it be the alpha again here to torment me?

I was somewhat right, but not completely because the person who awaited seated in our living room was the head of the leaders housemaids chatting merrily to my stepmother while the other held a somber expression. What could I have done now?

"Mrs. Kala?" I called out gaining the attention of the two, earning a beaming smile from the older one.

I highly doubted that.

"I'm sorry dearie. But we must hurry." Mrs. Kala interrupted us. I turned to look at my stepmother.

"It'll all be alright Rory." Montana said. "Go on. Pack your things. We don't want to get the alpha upset."

I thought about it... getting that man upset. What difference would it make, after all, he was always upset but still, I nodded and headed up to my room to pack up my things before leaving the place I called home for who knows how long. Once I was done, I walked back down and heard part of Mrs. Kala's and Montana's conversation before they noticed me.

"...he accused her of robbery just yesterday. why does he even want her there as a maid?" My stepmother asked.

"I really don't know Mrs. Craton. I asked myself the same thing when the notification came in early this morning, but an alphas order is definite and we just have to go with it, not matter how bizarre we see it." Mrs. Kala answered back.

"Ahem." I cleared my throat gaining the two ladies attention.

"... I'm ready..." I said.

"Perfect honey. There's no time to waste. Let's get going." Mrs. Kala said as she stood and started for our front door.

I followed behind before stopping and turning to face my stepmother one last time.

"It'll all be alright Rory. Remember this will always be your home." She said as she tried to encourage me.

I ran back to her and hugged her as tight as I could, earning an embrace as tight as mine.

"I'll miss arguing with you." I told her as I tears ran uncontrollably down my cheeks wetting her shoulders, earning a chuckle from her.

"And I'll miss trying to wake you in the mornings." She said. "Take care honey." She said before we let go of each other and I followed behind the head of maids, looking back at my home for one last time.