Chapter Two : Goodbye And Good Riddance

RIVER

His words hit me like a wave and I stand frozen to a spot, my whole body numb.

I chuckle dryly, trying to laugh it off but the scowl on Ryker's face tells me it was no play.

"What do you m….mean?" I stutter, gulping down the lump in my throat.

"Don't you get it?" Zoey scoffs, rolling her eyes at me. "Ryker has found a new girlfriend — a new mate and that's me." She smiles proudly and he raises a brow at me when I look at him.

"This is a joke, right?" I ask, my stomach churning with a bad feeling.

Is this a prank?

"I know you're so daft to understand a thing, River." Ryker shakes his head with pity and moves closer to me, his eyes holding a dark glint and contempt basking under his expression.

He continues, trailing a finger along my cheek. "Zoey and I have been dating for three months and now I'm going to take this ring off your finger." He takes my hand and shoves the ring off my finger roughly. "and put it on Zoey's finger." A smile dances on his lips as he slips it on his best friend's finger.

After that, he gives her a peck on the forehead and his friends shout and chuckle amongst themselves.

"From now on, you're no longer my mate." He declares, his voice sharp and thick, "I want someone who can add value to me and Zoey is the one I have chosen in your stead. We've only been together for three months and she's given me every cause to be rest assured that my career would end up a success."

"Now I can be sure that I'd get shortlisted among the newbies to join the SGBC. Zoey's brother's one of the members and I can get in through him." He adds, watching her in affection as he speaks, then he turns to me, anger shimmering in his hazel eyes, "unlike you who's baseless and has no use to me, Zoey has shown greater potentials and she's one of the most beautiful she-wolves I've set my eyes on."

His words are like a dagger, piercing through my heart. I am left wounded and my wolf growls within me as the weight of rejection slips in.

My tears are profuse but Ryker doesn't seem to care, yet he is only hell-bent on making his best friend comfortable and leaving me alone — neglected and rejected.

"Ry….Ryker." My voice breaks as I call, "so this is all because of the nomination? You just got engaged yesterday; you proposed to me yesterday and now you suddenly take back the ring out of the blue and engage your best friend instead!"

I can't help but yell but Zoey's scowl makes me pause and I point at her, my finger trembling.

"Aren't you so shameless?" I say through gritted teeth and she gives me a slap on the face which hits me like an heavy blow.

I hold my cheek which is now reddened and swollen. My hair is all dampened and curl along my face due to sweat.

My legs wobble and my stamina now fails me.

This is more than I can take. How can Ryker be so petty?

It doesn't even hurt much than seeing him standing undisturbed while his best friend hits me.

He has always defended me before now. What changed?

I guess his obsession for fame ruined all the love we've built together, perhaps, the one I've struggled to build while he does nothing but chase his top priority which is his career.

"How dare you call me names!" The shameless vixen bickers, grabbing my hair in a fist. My scalp hurts and now I wince on pain.

I'm not so strong but Zoey is an intimidating she-wolf — she's tall, pretty and has a nice shape.

Ryker fell for all of that and it's clear. I've been so stupid to think he'd love someone like me, I've only played nothing but the role of a fool for fucking eight messed up years.

"Ryker doesn't want you any more. Isn't it so simple?" She hollers, her voice a mixture of mischief and burning hatred. "You're so pathetic, River. Just accept the rejection and get the hell out of here."

I'm shattered, My wolf stands to reject me in the presence of everyone, what more pain can I ever get?

"I, River Moonstorm accept your rejection." I declare, struggling to keep my voice steady but a new confidence sips in and I feel this is me breaking from the yoke of being a slave to him.

I feel the bond between us shatter to pieces and my wolf keeps thudding, restless.

Ryker grins, "Thanks, River. You can take your leave now as Zoey and I would love to celebrate our engagement without you. Your….presence sucks."

Zoey chuckles at his mockery and pats my hair. "Good girl. Bye, bye and I wish you good luck finding a new mate that's if anyone's willing to mark you."

I let out a soft laugh, trying to put on an unbothered expression yet I can't take the provocation that threatens to break me apart.

"Hey, couples." I snap my fingers and the two turn around to face me, their breaks scrunching up.

"I wish your new mate gets fucked by a donkey and the pictures spread all over the internet, Ryker."

Gasps erupt in the room and I raised my chin, a proud smile tugging at my lips.

"You Vixen!" Zoey cusses, her fists tightened.

My eyes are fixed on Ryker as I speak. "I promise you'd come back begging for my love, ex mate but you'd never get a second chance." My words come out like a swear and Ryker is left stunned.

"Goodbye and good riddance." I mumble and dash out of the VIP room.

A tear slips down my face as I walk away, I had just lost everything.