Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

~~Maddy’s Point Of View ~~

Some secrets are meant to remain unspoken, and taken to the grave. An example of this, is the kiss I just shared with Rowan Jace Grey—the Lycan Alpha President of the Ashford Pack.

I gripped the lace of my blouse, holding it tightly to stop my fingers from trembling. I shook my head in denial again.

No, no he can't be my mate.

That's impossible.

I already have a mate.

De-Shawn is my mate. I can't have two mates. There's got to be a mistake somewhere. The Moon Goddess doesn’t grant two mates unless the first mate is dead, and Shawn is far from dead. He is still very much alive.

That's how it works for every she-wolf out there. You can only get a second-chance mate after the first one is dead or has rejected you.

My mate, De-Shawn Sinclair, would never do that. We realized we were mates two years ago, and since then we have strengthened our bond through mating and cohabiting together.

Moments later my phone screen lit up and when I looked it was my mate, De-shawn.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, gently reaching for the phone to see the message on the screen.

[Baby, are you okay? It's 11 PM, and you're still not back. Hope you're okay.]

Staring down at my phone, my eyes grew wet, and I blinked back tears. The guilt of what I had just done weighed down on me with every passing minute. I just cheated on my mate, and I'm scared he might have felt it.

Fated mates feel pain when their partners cheat on them with someone else.

Or perhaps he didn't feel anything because the person I was with is also my mate?

‘Alpha Rowan J Grey the First, can’t be my fated mate. It has to be a prank.’ I thought, my hands trembling against the faux leather Gucci bag while my heart raced with conflicting thoughts.

He is older—far older than I am. Sixteen years difference, to be exact.

He is married. He has a Luna, who also happens to be my godmother, by the way.

He also has kids,three kids that I know of.

By definition, Alpha Rowan is taken and off the list, so how is he even my fated mate?

No matter how much I try not to think of what happened in that room I just can't.

The thoughts kept lingering in my mind; How I had walked into his office that day very excited. Alpha Rowan J Grey isn't just an alpha to me. He is someone I have had a crush on for the longest.

I know it sounds stupid to even harbour such thoughts but something about Rowan just draws the eye.From his dark light brown eyes to his broad shoulders and the mixture of blonde and black hair that curls down to his neck, he's the only political figure who could pass as a stripper.

In fact, he’s too hot to be a stripper, if you ask me.

Mate mate…. Flashbacks of my wolf voice came ringing back in my ears and I shook my head.

There must be a mistake somewhere. I can't have two mates.

It was just a kiss, Maddy. Nothing much. I reminded myself. Anything to make it feel worthless.

Just a kiss— one I'd take to my grave because if it gets out it could end my relationship with De-shawn and it could also end Alpha Rowan's marriage.

The sudden honk of a car snapped me out of my thoughts, and when I looked around, it was my bus stop. I stepped out of the cab.

Wasting no time, I trekked home—a place my mate and I decided to live after my step mother asked that I leave the house some months ago.

Minutes later, I arrived at our door and paused, my heart thudding hard against my ribs.

The guilt weighed heavily in my chest,it just wouldn't go away as I hoped.

My wolf also made it worse,she kept whining low in my chest, claws scraping my ribs like she wanted to tear out the guilt knotting my stomach.

I adjusted my clothes, hoping he wouldn't notice anything and start to suspect me.

But one thing was wrong,his cologne. His scent was still clinging to me.

Alpha scents are usually hard to wash away,especially a Lycan one.

I heaved a long sigh before pushing the doorknob open and walking inside.

Looking around, I didn’t see De-Shawn, but I heard the splashing of water from the bathroom.

I knew at once he was in there, and my heart sank into my chest. That was the first place I wanted to rush to so I could wash off his scent.

My eyes darted around the room, and once they landed on the guest bathroom, I tossed my fake bag onto the couch and rushed in.

Pulling off my clothes, I stripped myself naked before stepping into the shower. But the first thing I saw was a bruise on my neck.

Quickly stepping out I walked closer to the mirror in front of me,my fingers flew to my neck tracing the hot bruise where his teeth had grazed…Goodness if Shawn sees this I'm done.

Walking back into the running shower,I scrubbed vigorously, letting the water wash away my guilt while praying it was all gone and not still clinging to my skin.

Once done, I walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my body, and the first person waiting for me on the couch was De-Shawn.

I looked at his face, and my heart started to race again. I wondered if he noticed anything or suspected something.

“Baby…” he said, jerking up from the couch and approaching me. “What happened? You came back so late?”

I steadied my voice before speaking. “Uh… you know how these things are. It's our last day for the year, so we had a lot to wrap up,” I lied, looking anywhere but at his face.

“Why didn’t you come upstairs to take your bath?”

A smirk curled at my lips. “Nature called, babe. I couldn’t help it,” I lied, and he only hissed his playful tone.

We both laughed, and then he walked over to our mini dining table and picked up a file.

“Babe, guess what?” He grinned, his eyes filled with warmth as he approached me.

“What is it, Shawn?” I asked, forcing a smile. "You know I'm not good at guessing."

“Just say it, babe.”

He rolled his eyes. “Okay.”

He handed the file to me, and I immediately opened it, my eyes scanning through the pages to see what it was before I felt his hands wrap around my waist as he leaned in to kiss my neck.

I froze, my heart sinking. No, not there, Shawn!

That was the exact spot Alpha Rowan had kissed. I was scared his scent would still be lingering there.

“I got it…” he murmured against my skin. “The project I’ve been working on all this time. The one in Greece worth over twenty million dollars with the humans. They approved it, and I’ll be leaving for Greece.”

It was supposed to be big news, one that should have made me incredibly happy for my boyfriend, but I only faked a smile.

“Congratulations, babe,” I mused, “I’m so happy for you!”

“So when will you be leaving?” My curiosity got the best of me this time.

De-Shawn unwrapped his arms from me and walked to face me.

I pressed my lips together, jaw tight. I thought I had said something I wasn’t supposed to. Or perhaps he had sniffed another man’s scent on me.

“Me?” he repeated,raising his brows.

“Not ‘me,’ baby,” he corrected, closing the space between us and pulling me close. “It’s ‘we,’ Maddy. I’m going to take you along with me. I want you to come with me to Greece. Next month, new year, new start. Just the two of us. Leave everything here,the crazy job, this bitter city, all of it and let’s get married on some cliff over the sea and build the life we’re supposed to have together.”