Moon Born

Chapter 4

I sat at the breakfast nook in the kitchen, poking at a plate of waffles while staring out the window. My heart hurt, and the house seemed more like a prison with each passing minute.

"Hey..." Harmony said, entering the kitchen.

I stood, dumped my plate in the sink, and brushed past her.

"Come on, Ell..."

"Don't. Talk. To. Me."

She sighed heavily and left the kitchen through the opposite door.

"You can't be mad at her forever," Mom said, standing in the library that was right outside the kitchen.

"Sure I can."

"It's not her fault."

"Mom, I don't care. I'm hurting. Why can't she, him, or you seem to understand that? I'm feeling emotions over here. Not to mention the complete humiliation of them marking each other in public."

"Ellie, come on now."

"No, Mom. Why can't anyone just let me be sad? Why can't anyone understand that I'm hurting right now? I may forgive them eventually, but right now, no."

"This is an exciting time for your sister. You should be happy for her."

"I don't want to be happy for her. I've loved Alex for as long as I can remember. I was convinced he was my mate. He's not. I'm not going to be able to just turn that off right away."

"Honey, when you meet—" I cut her off before she could finish.

"No, Mom. I'm not staying. I'm not helping Harmony plan her future with the man I loved. Ashley and I are leaving for a few weeks after finals."

"Leaving? Where?"

"Everywhere. We're going to visit the other packs and just get away."

She tsked and shook her head. "I don't like that idea. We don't just leave the pack."

"I don't belong here, Mom. I'm not dealing with her being the next Luna. I can't."

I felt tears spill down my cheeks. She sighed heavily and nodded.

"I have to go to school. I'll see you later."

I grabbed my bag off the table that sat in the corner of the foyer and made my way to the front door. My heart dropped seeing Alex's car sitting in the driveway. I could feel vomit rising in my throat.

"Hey, Ellie, you wan—"

I turned and walked away from him before he could even finish.

"Hey! Come on! Don't walk away from me!"

"Don't talk to me."

"I'm your future Alpha. You can't speak to me like that," he yelled.

"I just did. Leave me alone."

"Ellie!"

"Stop, Alex!" I shouted. "I'll tell you the same thing I told my mom. I'm going to be in my feelings right now. You marked Harmony in public. At our birthday party. You could have had the decency to talk to me first. A heads up. Something. But no. I didn't even get that. You literally pushed me out of your way."

"El..."

I looked up when I heard the familiar beeping of Ashley's car. "Come on, loser," she said. "Get in."

I smiled lightly and hurried to her convertible. She lowered her sunglasses a bit, wrinkling her nose at Alex.

"Ew. He's at your house."