Chapter 1

Lyra's POV

Kaelen’s lips brushed slowly along the edge of my ear, and his hand ran through my long, dark hair as he leans in for a kiss.  

"Don't we need to wait a little, to make this more magical moment?" I asked because I couldn't silence the voice of doubt that was telling me not to. 

This wasn't how I imagined my first time to go. I wanted It to be special, I wanted It to be on my wedding night, I wanted my virginity to be a precious gift to my mate Kaelen, after he had marked me and shown to the whole pack that we belong together. But him not making it known to everyone worried me.  

"I love you Lyra and I can't wait any longer to have you" Kaelen said, holding my hands and spinning me around.  

"You look so beautiful and absolutely breathtaking in this dress but I bet you would look better without it" Kaelen complimented and I blushed a bit.  

"I just want to know" he cut short, placing a kiss on my forehead but I couldn't shake the feeling of not belonging gnawing deep inside me.  

Growing up in a pack where I was bullied and termed as the debilitated one, I was not regarded as anything special. It was a hard life and nothing made sense.

 The pain and humiliation each day grew worse, until the moon goddess smiled on me and I finally found my mate and he was no ordinary wolf but the next in line to become the beta of our prestigious pack.  

Every moment I waited to find Kaelen was worth the while. The pain and rejection I felt was no longer lingering in my head, as Kaelen was exceptionally kind and loving towards me. 

I hope for the moment he would mark me and everyone would know we were together and I was no longer useless.  

"I know you are worried because I have not made our relationship official" I nodded my head in agreement to his words. Finally he knew what was holding me back and why I was hesitant in allowing him to have his way with me.  

"I assure you Lyra, I am also waiting for the moment I would be officially made Beta and then right in front of the whole pack I would make you mine. You are so special to me and I want to make you feel that way too. For now I want us to keep it between us and give everyone the shock of their lives" I smiled inwardly, I definitely loved his plan and the thought of the look on everyone's face would be worth it.  

Kaelen always had his ways with words that melted my heart and once again he had calmed my fears and tossed my reasoning aside.  

I stirred at him, his deep blue eyes bearing a tale of passion, his lips curled up and his perfectly built body, made me desire him even more. But there was a wave of doubt that washed over me and before I could resist him again, his deep baritone voice came calling.  

"Now come here you naughty girl" Kaelen said as he pulled me closer for a kiss. I tried to hold myself back and answer the one question that had always bugged me  

"Was this what I really wanted?"  

But I've come too far to listen to reason with myself, I just let myself have fun with how his tongue was shoved deep into my mouth. 

***

We’d been lying in bed a long time and it was after twelve o'clock. After the passionate thing we just had, I thought I’d cook for Kaelen. 

I beat some butter and eggs and put in a couple more ingredients that made my pie unbeatable and presently dinner was served. 

I served Kaelen and he almost ate his fingers as he complimented my cooking.  

"You will make a fine wife" he teased as he stood up and said he had to meet up with some of his friends.  

He said he would be back soon since it was just a casual hangout with the guys.  

"Ok but don't be long" I said as he shut the door behind him. I slumped into the chair and thought of the rough childhood I had, how I gave up on fate bringing any good things my way until I met Kaelen.

 He changed every bitter experience to sweetness for me. I smiled in relief and the hope of my future with him gave me strength and courage to move on.  

I stood up to clear the table and I found Kaelen's phone.

 He must have forgotten it. I hurried out to look for him but he was already a good distance away, so I pursued him to give him his phone.  

I made my way into the pack house, striding with the knowledge that before long everyone would know Kaelen and I were mates, but I halted at the door when I heard Kaelen and his packmates discussing his future plans. 

"Kaelen, you will soon be made Beta and you are yet to show us your mate?" One of his friends asked in a stern voice and my heart skipped. 

The moment I was waiting for had arrived and I was so excited that Kaelen would finally tell everyone I was his mate.  

"Or could it be that Lyra is your mate? Since you guys are close and she always loves to hang around you" Another of his friends asked and I continued to smile as I anticipated his response.  

Kaelen laughed hysterically before responding to his friends.  

"Lyra? Oh please. I can never settle for some as weak and frail as her. She is just a fling, who seems not to ever get enough of me, always coming back for more".  

They all roared in laughter and Kaelen killed every form of hope that remained inside me. 

"I am yet to find my mate, but when I do, I am sure it will be someone worthy of me. Someone from the royal family or better still a Beta like myself"  

I staggered backwards almost losing my balance, then I quickly held my hands across my mouth to stop me from yelling.

 My ears drummed a constant reminder of  

his mean words, while my eyes suddenly became heavy with tears.  

Kaelen's words bore the pain of a thousand arrows fired at my heart, each pierce, a sad reminder of the fact that I had been played and taken for a fool by the man I trusted with my life.