3

ARIANA 

The world around me vanished. Reality slapped me so hard it left scars that buried themselves deep in my aching heart.

“I want all of you, baby,” Maya moaned shamelessly.

I watched, my feet glued to the floor. My mind screamed at me to get the fuck out. My wolf snarled, begging to be let loose so she could tear them both apart for their betrayal.

“My little slutty mate,” Leon groaned. His voice was like a blade, knocking the air from my lungs.

My brain finally processed his words. Mate? Maya was his mate? 

For how long had he known? Even if he’d only found out tonight, it didn’t give him the right to—

I fought back the tears.

 Helplessly, I stayed. I watched and I listened, and with every word they exchanged, my heart twisted in my chest.

He let out a loud howl, and she followed suit as they both peaked. I shuddered; my stomach turned, bile rising in my throat. I forced it back the same way I held my wolf back from lunging at them.

Leon fell to the side, pulling her into his arms. “From the first time I saw you, I knew you were mine.”

“Saw me, or fucked me?” she teased.

“Both! I knew you were my mate the moment I saw you two years ago. The first time I was inside you, it was confirmed. It’s like we were made for each other.”

“I bet you said the same thing to that stupid girlfriend of yours,” Maya replied.

Another stab to the heart. 

Stupid? Was she actually calling me stupid? S..she was supposed to be my best friend. 

I clutched my gown, struggling to breathe.

 Breathe! Breathe! Breathe! I screamed at myself internally.

“Never,” Leon said firmly. “She never allowed me to get this close to her, and I didn't want to anyway.”

“Oh, really?”

“I’m serious. You know why I’m with her. I want her throne.”

“Traitor!” my wolf growled.

“You and I both know the only reason I asked her to be my girlfriend was to woo her,” Leon continued. “Since she has no siblings, I’ll be the Alpha once we marry, and she’ll be the Luna. I’m only with her for the power. I would never leave you for her.”

I staggered back, hitting hard on the floor. My knees hit the tile with a soft, in an almost silent thud.

“You say that now, but you’ll forget me once you're Alpha,” Maya pouted.

“Baby.” He called her by the same name he used for me. Disgust coated my soul. .

“You know that once I gain the pack’s trust, I’ll kill her off and marry you. You are my mate. Even if you weren't, I chose you two years ago. I marked you then, and you became mine. Today, my wolf finally surfaced, and he chose you, too. We are meant to be.”

“Really?” She shoved him back onto the bed and climbed on top of him, a sly, disgusting grin on her lips. “Then let me entertain my dearest mate.”

The sound of their moans followed soon after.

“Fuck! I can’t wait to become Alpha and kill that bitch off so I can finally have you,” Leon growled.

“Me too,” she whispered.

Her words finally broke the spell. I blinked, and the unshed tears finally spilled over. I looked down at my hands; they were shaking violently. Without a word, I stood up and crawled away from the door.

I ignored the pain stabbing at my gut. I ignored my wolf, who was screaming at me to storm in and tear them limb from limb. I ignored the broken pieces of my heart that wanted to demand answers. What did I do wrong? Where did I go wrong?.

I had loved them both with everything I had. I thought that even if I was imperfect, at least I had them. At least I wasn't alone. They were my everything. I thought they loved me back, but you don't hurt the one you love. You don't betray them like this!!!.

I stepped out of that hellhole of a cottage, finally breathing air that didn't smell like sex and betrayal. The moonlight shone brightly, feeling like a mockery. It felt like the moon was laughing at my sorry soul, telling me how unlucky I was, how I had been so desperate for love that I couldn't see past their sweet smiles.

I stared at the ground, wishing it would swallow me whole so I wouldn't have to feel like I was dying while still being forced to live. When the earth failed to open up, I picked up my heels and left.

I didn't run. The distance between her house and mine was short, and I saw no reason to let my wolf out. If I did, she might go back there and tear them apart or run to our supposed mate.

I let out a long sigh. 

Step by step, I pushed myself forward like an empty, broken shell. I reached the estate, and the towering six-foot gates rolled open.

“The Princess is home,” a guard announced. I ignored him and quickened my pace. If I stayed around people, I would break down.

Inside, I was greeted first by my father’s worried look, then my mother’s fear-stricken face. She looked nothing like the confident woman who had wheeled me into the party; she looked like a mother terrified of losing her child.

“My dear,” Father said, pulling me into a hug. “Don’t worry. We will fix this.”

I went still in his arms. He must have found out about Alpha Levi.

“Nothing you don’t want will happen. You are safe. And you and Leon…”blood sloshed through my veins at his name,

 My wolf snarled.

 I clenched my fists so hard my knuckles turned white.

“…can still be together,” Father continued, unaware of the storm raging inside me. “I know people who aren’t mates who still—”

“Father.” My voice was colder than I expected. He pulled back and peered down at me. “I… I am tired. I want to sleep.”

“Of course, my love,” Mother said, reaching for me. “I will take you to bed.”

“No, Mum.” I drifted out of their reach and headed for the stairs. I paused halfway up and looked back at them. “I’m fine. There’s no need to worry.”

Lies. Fucking lies. I wasn’t fine; I was shattered. My love life, my best friend—it was all a cruel illusion.

 I wiped a stray tear that rolled down my cheeks before they could see it or maybe they just ignored it. “Good night.”

~~~~~~

Contrary to what I thought I would do; cry, cry, more cry, blame myself and cry more. I didn’t cry myself to sleep. I didn't blame myself. I sank into my soft bed and drifted off almost instantly. I slept with my wolf there to anchor me against the dark.

Morning came sooner than I wanted. I wasn't ready to face reality, but I knew what I had to do.

I rustled out a sigh.

I slipped into the bathroom and took a warm bath to soothe my stiff shoulders. I dressed in my favorite white floral gown, it ran down to my ankles but hugged my curves, my hair was pulled into a sleek bun. I stared at my reflection, the diamond pendant at my throat winking back at me.

I was ready.

As I walked downstairs, the maids went still and the guards looked shocked to death, but no one dared say a word. I reached the dining room where my parents sat. Their food was untouched, their gazes dimmed by the uncertainty of the future.

I wasn't a fool. I knew the dilemma we were in. Leon might have seemed like a simple, caring wolf, but Levi was different. He was brutal. Heartless. The King of Ruthlessness. Rumor had it he killed his own parents to take the throne. Rejecting a man like that meant war. We were a large pack, but Levi commanded half the territories around us.

“Good morning, Father. Mother,” I said, catching their attention.

“My dear,” Mother breathed. I sat at the chair opposite her and close to my father.

“You’re here.”

I smiled. “I’m fine.”

We sat in silence for five minutes before Father spoke. “I’m sorry things didn’t work out.”

I froze. I was the one who should be apologizing, not him. “Father—”

“No, dear. I should have…” He sighed. “I can’t change the past, but I will make sure the future is better. I don't care what it takes; you will not be forced into this. Levi is—”

“My mate,” I interjected. A strange sense of protectiveness surged through me.

They went mute just then I realised my rudeness.

I looked at both of them, determination burning in my chest. Then, I dropped the bombshell.

“I accept Levi as my mate.”