Chapter 2 ~The Rejection~

Adriana held the wall for support, feeling like her world had come crashing down.

She couldn't deny what she had heard within this door.

Xavier was having an affair with her sister.

The realization hit harder than their words and her despair turned into rage.

How dare they?

How dare he deceive her and call what they had a convenience?

Adriana straightened and pushed the door open but what she saw made her chest wrench the more and Mia whined again.

Her sister was in Xavier's arms and his head was bent to her neck, nuzzling it.

Ashley was the first to notice her presence and she gasped. “Adriana.”

Xavier stiffened and he slowly lifted his head and turned to face Adriana.

Adriana stared at them, feeling the tears threatening to pour but she held them in.

“Adriana…” Xavier stared back at her but his face held nothing Adriana was expecting.

No guilt. No shame.

Instead, he was staring at her as she had intruded on his special moment.

“What are you doing here?” His question made her stomach churn.

“That's what I should be asking you.” Adriana's voice came out steady and controlled unlike what she was feeling inside.

“What's going on here Xavier? Why are you with my sister?”

Xavier's face set into a grim line. “Is that what they have been teaching you? On how to speak to your husband in an uncultured manner and act all rude?”

Adriana stared back at him in disbelief. Was he coaching her about manners? After what she had caught him doing?

She shifted her attention to Ashley who hadn't spoken a word since she had caught them.

“So you now lust after my husband?”

Ashley scoffed. “Point of correction, you did. Xavier was always mine from the beginning but you stole him away from me using your mate bond as an excuse. You don't know how much I hated hearing you talk about wanting him and marrying him.”

“I met him before you and we fell in love but you just came out of nowhere using that damn mate bond. I was meant to be his wife not you, but father wouldn't hear my plea and only listened to your fucking whine, always choosing his spoilt first daughter over his other daughter!”

Adriana felt slapped across the face and her words got lost.

Xavier took hold of Ashley's hand and placed a peck there. “My beloved, don't stress yourself out, I don't like it when you shout. You know you have my heart and no one else.”

Ashley smiled up at him and he pressed his lips on her forehead.

All of this in front of Adriana who still couldn't form a word.

The shock washed over her again. The betrayal is creeping into her.

How could she not have seen the signs?

Those few times Xavier had visited, he would disappear for some hours, and her sister was never around.

How he had avoided her touches and cuddles using stress as an excuse?

How had she been so blinded as to the extent of accepting his proposal?

A proposal he had flung in her face after she had spoken about not wanting to wait any longer.

Now her mate stood before her, holding her sister like she meant the whole world to him, ignoring the cry of her wolf that mingled with his.

“Why?” The word finally escaped her lips. “Why? If you knew you wanted my sister why did you propose?”

Xavier sighed. “Because you acted all too desperate. You don't care about anyone's feelings except for yours Adriana. Just because we are mated doesn't mean I would want you for a wife, not all mated wolves marry but you just couldn't wait to get a husband, could you?”

His words stung, and a tear slipped out.

Beg him. Mia’s broken voice echoed in her.

Beg him, Adriana.

No! She said to Mia. I will never do that.

“You shouldn't have come in here Adriana, you should have just obeyed the marriage tradition and waited patiently for me at the Red aisle.”

His words held no remorse and Adriana wiped the lone tear away from her face, feeling her anger creeping back.

“What was your reason for agreeing to the marriage?” She waited for his response but he clicked his tongue and humped.

“What was the reason?” She repeated.

“Is there any good in knowing why? You will just get hurt.”

Then it clicked. The way he avoided this one question. It now made sense.

"The merger," Adriana whispered.

For the first time since she entered the room, Xavier's composure slipped.

She was right.

“You did this because of the merger my father promised you.” Adriana scoffed as everything fell into place.

"My father wouldn't merge his pack with yours unless you married me, would he?”

“Well now you know, so go back to your room and wait for the wedding to begin so that we can please daddy.”

Adriana's fists curled at her sides. “I would never get married to you Xavier. Never in my life. This wedding is never going to happen.” She held her head high and she looked at her sister then at Xavier.

“Since you feel like I am a hindrance to your happiness and have come between your love.”

Mia moved restlessly as if she knew what she was about to do and Adriana's heart ached with pain as she did the one thing she thought she would never do in her life.

“I, Adriana Eliana Blackwood, reject Xavier Leo Thornaxe as my mate.”

Mia wailed inside her and Adriana felt like her insides were being clawed at.

Xavier's face turned into a sneer. “How dare you do that?!” His voice thundered and he staggered a little, the weight of the rejection hitting him and Ashley held him.

Adriana struggled to hold herself from falling to the ground. Mia's wails were getting to her.

She had to finish this and she can't afford to crumble to the ground.

She took a deep breath and continued coldly.

“And let me tell you this, I'll make sure this merger doesn't pan out. I'll tell Father every damn thing and about your betrayal.” With that said she turned on her heels and left them there.

Xavier stared at the doorway long after Adriana disappeared.

Ashley paled.

“Xavier! What are we going to do? She is going to tell father, if she reaches him everything will be over. Father will disown me!”

His jaw tightened.

“Ton!” He called loudly and his head guard came rushing in immediately.

“Yes, Alpha.”

“Adriana has found out everything and she is on her way to Alpha Raymond.”

“What should I do to her?” Ton asked waiting for the order.

"Make sure she never reaches him.”

Ton bowed and hurried out.

After Ton left, relief slowly spread across Ashley's face and a smirk formed on her lips.

*********

Adriana let the tears out now and they flowed freely. The weight of the betrayal and her rejection overwhelmed her and she struggled to walk, dragging her feet on the marble floor.

She needed to get to her father or Rita.

Maybe they could help with the burning in her chest.

She saw Rita talking to a maid and made to call her but a hand clamped over her mouth and dragged her off.