My mate

Chapter 4: My mate

ARIEL'S POV

"But it's okay for the Alpha to ignore his mate?"

A low growl rumbled from his chest. Nyra trembled in fear, but I didn’t. I was done backing down.

"I don’t know what’s gotten into you lately, but I don’t like it," he said, face tight.

"The only thing that’s gotten into me is you, Alpha." My eyes stung as the words left my mouth. "You’ve been treating me like I’m the problem. Every time I try discuss it, you make me feel like I’m overreacting. Is it also my fault you were massaging your ex-lover?"

"Ex-lover?" he repeated, and my heart slammed in my chest. What was that supposed to mean?

"Yes, your ex-lover," I repeated shakily. "You crashed my party for her. You gave her a body massage in my absence. How am I supposed to feel about that?"

He didn’t respond, so I kept going.

"Have you even thought about why she suddenly showed up here? Where she’s been all this time? She could be a spy."

His gaze darkened.

"She’s not a spy, Ariel. And if it makes you feel better, I’ve already asked her all of those questions."

Despite the ache in my chest, curiosity stirred.

"What did she say?"

"Lysandra was captured by the Alpha of Crimson Hollow five years ago—as a slave." His voice was tight with anger. "A slave, Ariel. She only escaped during the raid by the rogue Alpha. Can you even imagine what she must’ve gone through? Maybe I should’ve searched harder for her."

His words hit like a slap. If that was true, maybe I had misjudged her.

But... she didn’t look like someone who had been enslaved. How did she escape the grasp of the ruthless rogue Alpha when so many others hadn’t?

Still, maybe it was time to trust my mate more. Maybe I was letting my insecurities speak louder than reason.

"I'm sorry," I said softly. "I was too quick to judge you."

Guilt crept into my chest, knowing he had given up searching for her after meeting me.

He walked to the couch and sat down.

"It's fine," he said flatly, eyes glued to his phone.

I got out of bed and went to sit beside him, trying to bridge the widening gap between us.

"Vayne mentioned you were thinking of rescheduling the ceremony," I murmured. "Do you have a date in mind yet?"

"No. I need more time to clear other pack activities first. Maybe two weeks," he said, not once looking at me.

Two weeks. Not long, I told myself.

"That’s fine."

I slipped to my knees, reaching for his shoulders, hoping to ease the tension there.

He caught my wrists gently but firmly.

"Hey, I’m kind of busy right now. And tired too."

"I know you’re tired. That’s why I wanted to help—"

"That’ll just stress me more. Let me finish this and go to bed, okay?"

He finally looked me in the eye.

I nodded and sat back down, but something in me wilted. He used to crave my touch. Now, it felt like he barely noticed me.

"What about the meeting with the elders this afternoon? Is everything okay?"

Maybe if we couldn’t talk about us, we could talk about the pack.

"Nothing important. Just some pack matters."

But earlier, he'd said it was important. I pressed my lips together, searching for anything—anything—to keep us talking a little longer.

His phone chimed. After a slight pause, he stood up abruptly.

I frowned.

"Going somewhere?"

He paused just long enough to grab his coat.

"Lysandra wants to see me. I’ll be back soon," he said, already heading for the door.

My chest twisted.

"Alpha Rhyder," I called.

He turned halfway, brows raised in silent impatience. I hesitated, but the words pushed themselves out.

"Do you still love Lysandra?"

I didn’t mean to ask that. It just slipped out—like a scream from a drowning girl.

For a second, something flickered in his eyes. It vanished before I could read, replaced by a deep frown.

"What kind of question is that? You’re starting to sound like someone who doesn’t trust her own mate. That’s not the Ariel I know.”

"And maybe that’s because your actions keep driving me into confusion?" I whispered, throat dry.

He sighed, exhausted.

"You better work on that confusion. It's already hard enough dealing with an omega as a mate, let alone a confused one."

Then he left.

I dropped onto the couch, my body hollow. What had I done to make him so bitter toward me lately? Was he regretting our bond again?

Hugging my legs to my chest, I buried my face in my knees and cried until sleep finally took me.

°°°°°°°°°°°

Days turned into weeks, and with each passing moment, I felt myself fading, becoming a shadow of who I once was.

Lysandra had been discharged two weeks ago and moved straight into the pack house. To make matters worse, they gave her the room right across from ours.

She was nothing but trouble, yet every time I brought it up, Rhyder dismissed me like I was overreacting—said I was just jealous. And maybe a part of me was. Who wouldn’t be, when another female had more access to their mate than they did?

But it wasn’t just that. I wasn’t that childish to complain only because of jealousy.

Lysandra was a snake—slick, calculating, and always slithering into spaces she didn’t belong. A constant pain in the ass.

The two weeks Rhyder promised to take before my Luna ceremony had passed. He gave some excuse about still being busy with pack duties. It hurt, but I was tired of nagging.

Stepping out of the armory, I was surprised to see Rhyder’s car back in the compound. He’d said he wouldn’t be back until evening.

I checked my phone. “Just 2 p.m.,” I whispered, hope flickering in my chest. Maybe he came home early. A smile tugged at my lips as I turned toward the house.

I had only taken a few steps when a sharp pain stabbed through my abdomen. At the same time, a strange scent filled my nose.

Tuberose

It made me nauseous.

I clutched my stomach, scrunching my nose as I forced myself forward.

I’d never felt anything like it. The pain was confusing, almost... wrong.

As I reached the hallway leading to mine and Rhyder’s room, I heard something—strange sounds, soft at first.

My steps slowed. My heart pounded hard against my ribs. The pain grew sharper, sweat prickling my skin.

I leaned against the wall for support, each step heavier than the last as the sounds grew louder. They were coming from Lysandra’s room.

Someone was... with her.

I should’ve turned away. Pretended it was just a random wolf. But Rhyder’s car parked outside made me pause.

I winced and took another step, straining to hear.

“Faster... uh. Please, ah!”

No. It had to be someone else. It couldn’t be him.

I turned, ready to check our room, hoping Rhyder was inside, maybe asleep. Maybe he could take me to the pack hospital.

Then Lysandra’s voice rang out again.

“Yes! More, Rhy!”

I stilled. My throat went dry.

The pain in my chest exploded.

Sweat soaked my skin.

Somehow, through the burning ache spreading through me, I managed to push the door open just a crack and peek inside.

There they were—Lysandra on all fours, Rhyder thrusting with a kind of desperation, like he was trying to forget everything but her.

The scent hit me harder now. It was her scent. Undeniably hers.

And the pain—it finally made sense. Wolves don’t just know when they’re being betrayed.

They feel it.

They smell it.

They smell whoever their mate was cheating with.

A sharp gasp tore from my throat. Tears blurred my vision and spilled down my cheeks.

They froze.

Rhyder turned, eyes wide.

“Ari—el,” he stammered.

I turned and bolted off, but not before I saw the cruel glint in Lysandra’s eyes. She was smiling in victory.

I slipped out the back door, not wanting to see anyone. Then I ran—faster and faster—into the forest.

My mate...

I dropped to the ground, clutching my chest.

It felt like I was going to die.