Astrid was cast out of her powerful family and rejected by her mate, Karl - the love of her life all for the same reason. She was a weak, wolf-less omega bearing a curse of a century. Her hopes to win Karl's heart shatters after his ex-fiancée and mate returns. Unable to bear the pain of being a standby mate, she divorces Karl. She leaves the Gray sky pack, carrying a secret that would shake his world and alter her fate. When threats arise, Astrid returns to a world that betrayed her. Now stronger, confident and more powerful than ever, Karl is desperate to win her back. As old flames reignite and dark truths come to light, Astrid must decide if she should give Karl a second chance or secure her future with the man who stood by her side. From being rejected and cast out...Astrid becomes the most wanted wolf in Gray sky-alongside her offspring.
Chapter 1 Prologue
Prologue
~~~ASTRID~~~
"This curse clings to me like a second skin, Rowan. This is my fate!" I cried as Rowan, my elder brother pulled me through the dark path. We'd been running for what seemed like an hour now.
From who? Or what?
My home. The irony!
Funny how the place I used to call home now turned against me after my father's death. For reasons best known to my family and the councilmen of the Black Water back, I was my father's murderer.
That was the only valid excuse they could use to execute me-the weakest link of the Copper family.
My family's name hangs at the peak of the history of black water. Known to be the only family with the strongest wolves, all alphas came from my family. Just like my father, who was the alpha before he was murdered an hour ago.
I looked at my hands. They were painted in my father's blood, crying for justice. Rowan wasn't listening to any of my pleas. I wanted to face my fate. That fate which has kept every mouth in the family and pack talking. But Rowan, he just wanted to take me to safety.
"Rowan, stop!" I cried, trying to pull back. But his palm was tightly wrapped around mine, pulling me through the thick, wet bushes.
"You must leave, Astrid. If the elders find you, they'll kill you," he responded with heavy breaths.
"Wouldn't that be fulfilling the prophecy? Rowan..." I yelled his name. He stopped running and pulled me closer to him. My heart raced as I stared into his red eyes which pierced into mine through the darkness surrounding us.
He didn't mean any harm, but he had that dangerous look of a Copper whenever we were angry or frustrated.
"You are weak, Astrid. Everyone sees you as a stain in the family. You're already carrying a curse. You're wolfless! Can't you see! Can't you see they are trying to get rid of you? I know you didn't kill father," Rowan yelled.
Tears trickled down my eyes as I shook my head, refusing to listen to him. Aside my father, Rowan was the only person who paid attention or showed care to me. He wasn't always that way, but one day, he changed his attitude towards me.
"You have to let fate..."
"Fate has nothing to do here,Astrid. Your fate awaits you outside Black water. The next time we see, we'll get justice for father," Rowan interrupted. Before I could utter a word, he pushed me down the hill.
I tumbled over obstacles, hitting my back and head on several of them till I got to the base. With a wince, I staggered to my feet. When I looked up, Rowan was gone. Now I had just me. Her sacrificed his reputation to save me, so I had to protect myself.
I turned to my heel and dashed into the woods. My heart hammered in my chest as I raced through the darkness, Images of my father lying in his blood taunting my memories. I had run for hours when I finall saw the light at the end of the woods.
Bright, yellow. That was the only description I had of it. With my hopes raised, I struggled with my sore legs, running through the stony soil and mud till I burst out at the express.
Without warning, a car swerved around my corner, its tires screeching as it knocked me off my feet. For a second, I was flying in the air, the wind flushing against my face. The next second, I landed on the floor, crashing my head on the glass.
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