Chapter 3: Betrayal

Sadie’s POV

I followed the soldier slowly down the hall toward the Lycan Prince. My heart was heavy with the weight of my decision. Could I really do this? Could I really enter the Luna Selection knowing that I might have to give up Karte forever?

I felt like the world was collapsing all around me, like the corridor walls were closing in on me as we walked. The guilt clawed at me, making it hard to breathe as I thought of Karter.

How could I ever face him after this?

My room was just up ahead. My heart ached as I thought about the note from Karter, the one that asked me to run away with him. I’d been so happy that day. I’d been so…

A strange noise came from my bedroom, stopping me dead in my tracks. I listened. I heard voices inside the room, familiar ones. My wolf was suppressed so I couldn’t rely on her hearing. I struggled to hear the sounds better.

They were moans, I realized. I glanced from the door to the soldier. He must have been able to tell by the look on my face that stopping here was important because he didn’t rush me.

“Tell me. Whose body is better? Mine or Sadie’s?” a soft, sweet voice asked coyly.

“Yours. Hands down,” a male replied in a breathless whisper. “Sadie might be beautiful, but what good is a beautiful body I can’t touch? She’s frigid. It’s exhausting. But you on the other hand…”

His voice was cut off by a peal of giggles. I stood, frozen. I felt like I’d just been struck by lightning.

I recognized those voices. Karter and Delphine. My mate and my sister.

“Why did you follow her back here?” Delphine asked in a sugary tone. It was followed by the sound of a kiss.

“Beta Luca found her,” Karter said indifferently. “He said the Prince captured your father and begged her to come back. My hands were tied. You know how it is – she thinks I’m ‘the understanding mate’. The compassionate boyfriend.” He chuckled.  “What was I supposed to do? I couldn’t exactly convince her to run. Don’t worry though. We have time. We’ll find another way to get her out of the pack.”

“I’m not worried,” Delphine said with a satisfied purr. “I know we will. Then you’ll reject her and marry me. And we’ll take over my father’s Alpha position together.”

They both laughed again.

My hands trembled with rage as my heart broke in half. Was this really happening? The two people I trusted most in the world had betrayed me? I couldn’t breathe. The pain of the betrayal ripped through me, giving way to fury.

Unable to control my anger, I burst into the bedroom. Karter and Delphine were entangled on the bed, completely exposed. A saw a flicker of panic on Karter’s face. But not Delphine. She didn’t even flinch. Instead, she fixed me with indignant eyes, a smug smile on her face.

I barely even recognized her! Who was this woman, glaring at me with disdain? She was such a far cry from the sweet, innocent, supportive sister I’d known and loved.

I stormed over to the bed without thinking—

Smack!

I slapped Delphine hard across the cheek. Delphine lunged at me, but Karter caught her, holding her back.

“How could you?” I cried, my voice shaking. I was unable to control the flood of emotions pouring out of me. “I trusted you! Both of you! Why would you betray me like this?”

The moment Karter and Delphine recognized me, their expressions were filled with shock. But they quickly regained their composure.

Delphine sneered and touched her cheek. “Trusted me? Hah. I don’t think so. You’ve only ever treated me like your servant! Everyone has! My whole life, I’ve taken a back seat to you! It’s like father only had one daughter! No one ever notices me. And as long as you’re around, no one ever will!”

“So you decided to steal my mate?” I demanded, my voice rising.

Delphine leaned smugly against Karter’s chest. “That was the plan at first, yes. But now? Now I love him.”

“Our father’s been arrested, Delphine! Because I tried to run away with a man who didn’t love me. And you knew? You knew this whole time? This will destroy the entire pack!”

Delphine’s expression  was cold. “I don’t care. Father’s never cared about me. And neither has the pack. If he dies, so be it. Karter and I will take over. The pack will be better for it.”

Delphine’s words stabbed through my heart like a dagger. I turned to Karter.

“And you?” I demanded. “You betrayed me too? But why, Karter? You’re my mate – my Moon Goddess-blessed mate?”

I needed answers. How could he do this to me? I thought he loved me.

“You’re too uptight, Sadie,” Karter quipped, looking bored. “Mates are supposed to bond right away. But you wouldn’t even let me touch you.” He scoffed. “You wanted to wait until after marriage. Do you know how embarrassing that is for me? All the other wolves mock me because of you.”

Laughing? He was the one who said he’d respect my wishes!

Just as I was about to snap back, the soldier entered the room just then. “Miss Sadie, the Prince is still waiting for you,” he said dryly.

I couldn’t hold back the tears. They streamed down my face. I looked at them both in disbelief. I had so many questions, so much more I wanted to say. But it wasn’t the right time. So I turned to leave with the solider, my heart shattering as I walked away.

But before I left, Delphine smirked. “Good. Go. Run along now like a good little girl.”

The soldier’s next words caught us both off guard though.

“Actually, Miss Delphine, you need to come with us too.”

Delphine frowned. “Why?” she rolled her eyes. “Only one daughter from each pack can participate in the Luna selection. Father already made his choice,” she said snidely.

“Not this time,” the soldier said coldly. “This selection is different. ALL she-wolves must participate. And that includes you.”