Betrayed.

Jasmine's POV

I managed to reach the venue of the mating ball just in time.

I scanned through the crowd to locate my family and found them sitting under the canopy right next to the Alpha's family.

I was putting on an old, worn-out dress that could fit in five people of my size. This was the best dress I could afford, and I didn't want to miss witnessing Chloe's shifting process.

With my head downwards, I walked toward my family and I hadn't even taken a seat when my mother shouted:

“Why are you here? Who invited you?”

As heads turned to look in my direction, I felt a wave of extreme shame.

“I didn't want to miss witnessing Chloe's shifting ceremony,” I responded passionately.

“Dressed like a hag? You are such a disgrace and shame to this family,” Chloe spat hatefully.

“I am sorry,” I apologized.

I glanced forward to see if Jason had witnessed this disgraceful scene, and was grateful to find he wasn't within earshot.

“Stop apologizing and leave here right now, or go sit at the far back. You are embarrassing us,” my father ordered in an icy voice.

I couldn't dare to frown my face or rebel against them and exited the place quietly.

I found a suitable place to sit away from them, but I would still have a good view of what was going on.

Suddenly, I began to feel uneasy and restless. I rubbed my sweaty palms together and glanced around nervously.

It felt like some unknown force was fighting to take control and begging for release.

It was gradually approaching dusk, and the moon shone brightly.

Not wanting to attract any more attention to myself, I rose quietly and left the arena.

I stopped when I had gotten a respectful distance away from the ceremony. I found a gigantic tree and rested against it.

I heard the sound of bones breaking. Was that from me?

Next, pain followed. No, it wasn't the type of pain you felt when you were injured or beaten.

This was a hot, searing pain that felt like my skin was on fire and my flesh was melting. It burned me both internally and externally.

I fell to the ground, crying, screaming, and pleading for help. I wanted this to cease, to stop, but it kept getting worse.

My hands and legs began to morph into paws, my skin into furs. My bones were also being elongated and stretched.

After ten minutes of feeling pure hell, the whole pain suddenly ceased. I felt suddenly taller.

“Hi. I'm Elsa. I'm your new wolf,” a tiny, soft voice spoke. I swear, I fell in love with my wolf immediately.

“Hi. I'm Jasmine,” I responded curiously.

'Elsa' sounded like an adorable name.

“Don't you want to see what we look like?” Elsa asked.

“I would like to, but there's no mirror nearby.”

“There's a clear stream nearby. We can get a near-perfect reflection of how we look. I'll lead the way,” Elsa said and took off before I could even say anything.

She arrived at the stream, walked towards its bank, and stopped.

I closed my eyes, took in a deep breath, and opened my eyes to look at our reflection in the water.

A shocked gasp escaped my lips.

Her fur was all covered in white color and had dabs of pink and blue everywhere. I had never seen a wolf this unique and beautiful. Her teeth were sharp and elongated.

“We are so beautiful,” I whispered in awe.

“Yes, we are,” Elsa smiled.

I suddenly wished Jason was here so he could see how beautiful we were.

Talking about Jason, why don't we go show him how we looked?

I took in a deep breath and shifted back into my human form and walked towards the venue of the mating ball.

Jason was not in seat. Even better, so I could talk in private. I tried to mind-link him, but it wasn't working, and so I decided to go check him in his house.

Perhaps he had gotten tired of the party and had gone home to rest.

I fastened my pace, too excited to show Jason my wolf.

As I got nearer to his house, I began to feel somehow uneasy but waved it off.

Jason's room window was slightly open, meaning he was around. I got to his door entrance and paused.

The footwears at the entrance belonged to more than one person, and one of them looked slightly familiar.

In fact, I had washed it and cleaned it up for her earlier this morning before she left for the mate ball.

Chloe in Jason's room?

My heart was beating wildly, and my hands were already trembling.

I heard voices coming from inside the room, and I pressed my ear closer to the door to hear what was being said and who were those inside.

“How do we handle it when that stupid sister of mine finds out we are now together?” I heard Chloe's voice clearly.

“I don't care. You, my mate, are more important to me than that hag,” Jason's voice came out next.

“No atom of sympathy for her?” Chloe giggled, clearly pleased by his words.

“At all. Let me tell you a secret. I have never loved her, you know… I only felt pity for her. I have always liked you, and I'm glad you turned out to be my mate.”

“A strong Alpha like me needs a strong, beautiful Luna by my side, not that weak slave...”

I froze. I could not believe what I was hearing.

This was not happening. No, no, no.

Without thinking, I pushed open the door and barged into the room. Never in a thousand years would I have expected the sight that lay before me.

Jason and Chloe lay fully naked in each other's arms, and my eyes caught something else — the fresh mate bond mark on Jason's neck.

“J-Jason?” I croaked in disbelief.

Both turned to look at me simultaneously, and Chloe sat up, clapping her hands. “Wow, wow, wow. Look who we have here.”

I ignored her and faced Jason, my lips trembling.

“Why are you here?” Jason asked, glancing at me coldly, as though he had never seen me before.

My legs couldn't hold it anymore, and I fell on my knees, crying.

“This is a dream, right?” I whispered more to myself.

“Sorry, girl. This is reality.” Chloe snickered.

I gathered myself and looked at him. “Is Chloe your mate?”

“Yes.”

“You promised that we are going to remain together. Are you going to reject her?” I asked in a desperate tone.

Jason's face darkened. “Did you really believe that shit? You must be so dumb.”

“Tell her, baby.” Chloe rolled her eyes and flashed me a look of contempt.

I fell down and began to cry. My body shook as tremors of sobs wrecked through me.

I was in a state of utter despair. I loved Jason so much, I couldn't live without him.

Furthermore, I glanced at him with tear-filled eyes. “How about the five years we shared together?” I couldn't believe all this was going down the drain right before me.

“They mean nothing, Jasmine. I never loved you. All I felt was pity.”

My heart shattered into pieces. Everything else faded around me, and all I could feel was pain and hurt.

This pain I felt was worse than the shifting pain I had felt earlier. It felt like a part of me was being butchered. I bowed my head to the floor and sobbed bitterly.

I had an idea. What if I pleaded with him? To let me stay by his side, even as just a side piece or mistress. He could remain with anyone else, and he didn't have to love me back as long as he let me be with him. I wanted him; I loved him. I—

“You are always horny,” Chloe giggled and slapped his chest playfully.

“I just can't get enough of you, babe,” Jason responded and captured her lips with his, kissing her aggressively.

Right here in my presence?

Chloe's moans of pleasure and the sounds of their bodies against each other filled the room.

I finally couldn't take it anymore.

“It's okay. I'll take over now,” Elsa whispered softly.