I am sitting in the library with my best friend, Anna, and a few of our course-mates as we review some topics for the last exam of the semester. I am silent, not altering a word, for my mind is occupied with the dream I had last night—I wouldn't exactly call it a dream, more like a memory mocking me. The words that broke my heart into a million pieces are still fresh, replaying themselves like a broken record in my head.

"You're a psycho, Celeste. I can't be mated to you. You're fat and disgusting. You are not fit for a Luna."

"Andrew, what are you saying?" I asked my mate, my voice cracking and tears streaming from my eyes. I knew what was to come; he was going to reject me. The disgust and hatred he held for me were clearly showing in his eyes.

"I, Andrew Walter, soon to be Alpha of Crest Fall Pack, reject you, Celeste Sampson, as my mate and future Luna of Crest Fall Pack."

My eyes glistened with tears, and my eyes stung from trying to keep them in. I took a deep breath, blinking rapidly to keep the tears from falling.

I looked to my left, where Anna was seated, and saw her giving me a concerned look. I could tell she was about to ask me what was wrong, and I shook my head, telling her that I was okay. I knew she didn't believe me, but I was also glad that she didn't push it.

Instead of thinking about my ex-mate Andrew, I decided to focus my attention back on my studies.

*******************

When I got to my dorm later that evening, I collapsed onto my bed and stared up at my ceiling. I reached for my phone in my bag and saw seven missed calls from my mother.

"Shit," I cursed under my breath. I shook my head, already knowing why she was calling.

My fingers gingerly hovered over Mom's name, and I quickly clicked on the call button before I had time to back out. Placing the phone to my ear, I listened to it ring and ring before she picked up.

"Hi, mom," I breathed out. "How are you doing?"

"Celeste!" Mom's voice said loudly, making me take the phone from my ear before she damaged my eardrums.

"I have been calling your phone for hours."

"I was busy with college, mom," I told her, using my right hand to take my hair out of its bun.

"Yeah, yeah," she said. I could tell she was rolling her eyes at what I said.

"So, your dad and I were hoping if you could come home for Christmas this year," Mom asked.

She had been asking me every Christmas for the past three years to come home, but she knows I can't. I closed my eyes, using my hand to rub my temple. I couldn't deal with this.

"I can't, mom," I gritted out, trying my best not to lash out. She knows I couldn't go back to Crest Fall, especially with Andrew being the new Alpha of my old pack.

After Andrew rejected me as his mate, I moved to New York after high school and tried to start a new life. I am currently in my last year at New York University, studying to become a psychologist.

"Oh, come on, Celeste!" Mom shouted, "We haven't seen you in three years. We miss you, sweetie."

I closed my eyes tightly and puffed out a breath. Andrew shouldn't be the reason why I shouldn't see my family. He moved on, and I should too.

"Okay, I'll be home this Christmas, mom." I told her. I couldn't let my jackass of a mate ruin me, and besides, I had to accept his rejection to stop feeling the pain whenever he sleeps with another female.

I heard her gasp into the phone. "That's wonderful, baby! See you in a week."

"Okay, mom," I replied, a big smile forming on my face from her enthusiasm.

"Love you, baby," Mom said.

Before I could reply, the call beeped, signaling that she had hung up. I slammed the phone on my bed. I got up and decided to run a little to blow off some steam. I put on my running gear and walked out of my dorm room, meeting Anna on the other side about to open the door.

"Celeste, where are you going?" She asked, looking confused.

"I'm going for a run," I told her, passing by her. I was not in the mood for conversations. I know I am a little bit hard on her, but I just can't help it.

I walked around campus, making my way to the forest at the back of the campus. I started jogging slowly when I came close to the woods. I looked around, extremely grateful that it was deserted. I liked it more when it's silent.

I ran for about 10 minutes and decided to shift into my wolf form. It's been a long time since I let her out.

"Fuck," I said loudly as my bones reformed into their nature. My bones cracked loudly in the silent forest, my senses heightened. After shifting into my wolf form, I stretched, then started running.

I took off into a full sprint, my tongue hanging from my mouth. I ran for about 40 minutes, then stopped at a stream. I was about to take a drink from it when I heard a branch crack. I turned around, searching for the source of the noise but found nothing. Then I took a deep sniff of my surroundings and almost gagged from the terrible smell. Rogues.

I growled loudly, letting them know that I knew they were hiding behind the large trees. Three brown wolves came out, their red eyes glaring into my green ones.

I had two options: 'Fight or Flight,' and guess what? I chose flight. I wasn't stupid enough to stay and fight three dangerous wolves, knowing they would tear me to pieces within one minute.

I turned around and ran as fast as I could, making my way back to my dorm. I let out a bark when one of the rogues bit my tail. That hurt like hell, you motherfucker.

I live in a human-populated area, and I have never encountered any rogues. I have only ever met two lycans in the past three years living in New York.

I ran around the forest and finally lost the wolves chasing me. I knew this woods like the back of my hand and used that to my advantage. I stopped where I had shifted into my wolf and took a long sniff, making sure no one was here. I shifted back into my human form, put on my gear, and went back to my dorm.

It's been a week since the incident happened. I would have reported it if there was an Alpha around, but this area is filled with humans and a few lycans. The only way the rogue problem can be handled is if it's reported to the Alpha King, and I sure as hell know that I won't be doing that.

I am packing a few clothes for the trip to Crest Fall Pack. My mom already asked for a visit permit from her Alpha, which, of course, is Andrew. My skin fills with goosebumps from the thoughts of seeing Andrew again.

Although I have not cut ties with Crest Fall Pack, I do

not feel like I am a member of the pack. No one ever liked me anyway because I was fat and ugly.

Yes, I was a little bit chubby, but I was far from ugly. I had the perfect figure eight, and no one had to tell me that because I knew.

I shoved some sweatpants into my already full suitcase and zipped it up, praying to the Moon Goddess that it doesn't burst.

I signaled to Anna that I was ready since she would be driving me to the airport. We arrived at Delta Airlines and parked the car. We got out, I brought out my suitcase, and placed it on the floor, drawing my coat closer to myself to protect my body from the cold.

I turned to Anna and smiled. "I'll miss you," I told her, hugging her.

"I'll miss you too, bitch," she whined like a child, tightening her grip on me.

"Okay, okay, now get off me," I told her, laughing a little.

I got on the plane to Kansas and took out my iPod. I plugged in my earpiece and scrolled through my playlist. I clicked on "Someone You Loved" by Lewis Capaldi.

I watched the flight attendant make the announcements that are usually made when the last passengers are boarding.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Captain has turned on the Fasten Seat Belt sign. If you haven't already done so, please stow your carry-on luggage under..."

I rested my head and increased the volume of the music, drowning out everyone and everything around me.

This is going to be one hell of a fucking long week.