Chapter 2

I could hear them talk as I walked out to leave.

"Don't bother about her, Alpha Axel. You know very well she'll come back to you," one of them said, his words certain, filled with mockery.

"Yeah, she's just throwing a tantrum."

"I'm so sorry I caused a fight between you two," the bitch cried, her voice trembling in pretence. "Forgive me, Axel."

My muscles tensed. I restricted myself from walking back into that room and playing the video to their stupid faces. They had no idea I knew about them. Their little forbidden rendezvous. But it all made sense now.

All the times he'd ignored me for her. He had always put her first in everything.

At first, I used to think he was just being kind to his foster sister so she would never have to feel left out. But now I know why.

With my fists still clenched, I stormed out of the hospital and headed straight for what was meant to be Axel's and my wedding house. A gift from his grandfather, Eric Davenport.

The housekeeper met me with a smile. "Mrs Davenport," she greeted. "Congratulations and happy birthday."

Right… it was still my birthday, yet Axel didn't care to remember.

It ached. My chest tightened, but there was no point dwelling on the hurt. He's not worth the heartache.

"Thank you," I replied, but a questioning look flashed on her face as she studied my expression. Before she could ask any further questions, I left the living room and walked upstairs.

My plan was simple. Take my belongings and leave Axel's life for good.

I walked past his room, the door wide open with a broom by the entrance. The housemaid must've been cleaning it. But just as I turned away, my eyes caught on a white tablet on his desk.

He'd always been protective of his devices, never leaving them lying around or in anyone's possession. Yet today, I saw his phone with Charlotte.

Carefully, I reached for the tablet. The screen flashed on. A bright image of a girl watching the sunset. The familiar silhouette and blonde hair made me realise Axel's screensaver was Charlotte.

A knot formed in my chest. I tapped the screen. A password was needed.

My fingers trembled as I typed in our anniversary date, but as expected, the screen buzzed. Incorrect. His birthday, my birthday. Incorrect.

One last try. The very day I can never forget. The day he never showed up for my graduation because of a particular birthday.

0423

The phone opened. The password was Charlotte's birthday.

My breath caught. I tried to hold it together, to remind myself that Axel was a piece of crap unworthy of my love or affection.

The phone was almost as empty as a brand-new one. Until…

"Charlotte Over the Years." A large widget on the home screen, with Charlotte's smiling face.

I clicked the widget. Bile rose to my throat as I watched memories of Charlotte and Axel together. Laughing, travelling, doing all the things I'd begged him to do with me.

He had always claimed not to be a picture person, refusing every picture with me. The only photo we had together was the one Eric Davenport forced us to take for our wedding preparations. Even then, he barely had a smile on his face.

Yet here he was, grinning wide, arm around Charlotte, happy as ever.

I should have known. Of all days to know the truth, it had to be the day we were meant to perform our mating rituals.

I should have known I'd always been the other woman to him.

I'd spent years believing his promises. Years waiting for a love that never existed.

Well, not anymore. Fuck you, Axel.

A single suitcase was enough to contain most of my expensive clothes and jewellery. I threw in everything, all at once.

The loud noise echoing through the halls.

"Mrs Davenport, are you travelling again?" the housemaid asked, standing outside the doorframe.

Being a lawyer, I always travelled to different states to represent my clients. To think Axel almost talked me out of having my own career.

"Hm." My response was short as I zipped the suitcase, but just as I struggled to lift it, a firm hand gripped my suitcase.

Axel stood tall before me, his eyes darkened and brows knitted. His grip tightened on my suitcase. "Cae, where are you going to?"

I scoffed. "None of your fucking business." But my voice croaked, betraying me as my eyes reddened.

"Cae…I’m sorry for today." Axel released a long breath, sighing as he pulled the suitcase away. His hands rested on my shoulders.

I winced. Shrugged them off.

"How long were you going to play me?"

"Play you?" His voice was low. Brows furrowed like he was completely oblivious.

"What the hell is going on between you and your fucking sister, Axel?" I roared, losing composure.

I had tried to keep my anger at bay. Promised myself that he wasn't worth it but I couldn't.

"Are you still upset that I couldn't attend the mating ceremony today?" He sighed. "Aurelia, there's absolutely nothing strange between Charlotte and me and I had to be there for her because she got into an accident." He massaged his temples. "You know how fragile she really is."

My blood boiled, rage curled within me.

How could he say such to me? To justify abandoning me on our special day for a girl that was barely wounded despite the claims of an accident. A girl he fucked while spilling dirt on my name.

"Fucking leave my sight!" My teeth gritted, hand balled into a fist by my side as I fought to restrain my anger.

I sniffled as tears welled up in my eyes but Axel wouldn't leave my sight, rather, he wrapped his arms around my head, pressing me towards his chest.

"Alright, Cae, I know I upset you today, and that's my bad. Think about the time we've spent together. I promise the next ceremony will be even grander."

But it was at that time I smelled her scent…on him.

Bile rose to my throat as I struggled to free myself but his grip was firm.

"I'm really sorry, my love." He cooed. "I know you said all of that out of anger and you don't mean it."

His fingers stroked my hair softly as he pressed my face tighter into his chest. Her scent suffocated me.

Tears welled up in my eyes as the memories of the video rushed through my head. Him thrusting into her walls, her moans, their dirty talks about me yet now…this?

How could he do that to me yet act this soft towards me? Caressing me and telling me there's nothing strange between the both of them even though I'd seen the sex tape and his tablet?

Why?

Axel pulled away from the hug as I immediately blinked away any tears.

"I got something for you."

He pulled out a shiny necklace from his pocket and with a smile on his face, he tucked my hair to the side and wore the pink diamond necklace on my neck.

That was the gift I've always wanted, but the diamond's sparkle stung a bit right now.

Staring possessively at the necklace on my skin, his eyes drifting towards my curves as the veins on his jaws thickened before rising back to my face.

"You look beautiful in this necklace Aurelia." He softly cooed, hand caressing my neck as he bit his bottom lip. "Will you wear this to my grandpa's birthday banquet tomorrow?"

I scoffed. "What makes you think I'd agree to that?"

His lips curled into a smile, his thumb caressing my face. "Because you're about to become my wife, my soon to be Luna and I'm desperate to show you off to everyone there."

Axel leaned forward, his lips reaching for mine but I turned, pulling away completely.

His brow furrowed.

"You've had a long day, go take a shower." I spoke.

His furrowed brow smoothened in an instant, his lips spread into a grin as he wheeled my suitcase away from me.

"I'll be back in a jiffy."

And with that, he was gone and I was all alone in the room. My thoughts spiralling.

Immediately, I pulled out my phone. Logging into my I*******m and as much as I hated it, I couldn't help it.

I clicked on her profile, scrolling through her story until…

Five hours ago. A picture of her neck. A hickey and a exact pink diamond necklace with a tiny caption.

"Axel said I looked good in this."