Chapter Four

I woke up the next morning wearing a huge smile. Ever since the death of my mother, I had not smiled that big. In fact, I had not smiled at all. With my pitiable life here in the manor, there was no place for happy emotions but today was different. I was tinkled pink remembering what had transpired last night between me and the Alpha. He had made love to me three times. There was still the soreness to prove it. I had left early this morning before the manor woke and ran back to my room.

I wondered when the Alpha would make it known to the public. I could not wait to be by my mate’s side and spend forever with him. 

I quickly prepared and got ready for the day.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning, Tasyra.”

The maid I’d saw as I walked into the kitchen greeted me back, it was also the maid who had come to inform me that the Alpha wanted to see me. Then she looked at me in wonder.

“What has got you in such a good mood this morning?”

“Nothing.”

“You’re grinning from ear to ear.”

“Let’s just say I feel awesome this morning.”

“Awesome?”

“Yes.”

“Well, it’s a good news though so you should be feeling awesome.”

I frowned, slightly befuddled.

“What good news?”

Do they know already? My heart raced wildly in my chest. Had the Alpha made it known yet?

“The one I suspected the Alpha was calling you for last night.”

“I thought you said you did know why he was calling me?”

I questioned, not quite understanding anymore.

“I said I suspected. I was not sure but it was already known so I thought he must have been calling you to assign you some duties.”

“What exactly are you talking about?”

I abandoned the broom I was about to use.

The maid stared at me as though she could not understand me.

“What do you mean? Why did the Alpha call you last night?”

“That is no longer important. What duties did you think he was about to assign me for and why?”

I was now curious to know.

“You have not heard?”

“Heard what?”

“Oh yes, I remember you don’t actually care for manor gossip.”

And she was right. I had no time to pay attention to gossip. I was always on my own, doing my own thing. Moreover, I was extremely avoiding getting into trouble with the Luna.

“I care this one.”

“There is an engagement party happening tonight.”

“What engagement party? Who’s getting engaged?”

“Who else? The Alpha, of course.”

Blood drained from my face. She must be lying.

“The Alpha is getting engaged?”

“Yes.”

“To whom?”

“The Beta’s daughter.”

“What?”

That had come out as a squeak.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, I am fine.”

She eyed me strangely and continued with her duties. I quietly left the kitchen. No, she must be lying. It’s still early, the Alpha was probably still in his chambers. I went there and knocked.

“What are you doing here?”

He asked as soon as he opened the door.

“You’re getting engaged?”

He drew me in and closed the door.

“What is it?”

“Are you getting engaged?”

“Do you have a problem with that?”

He was not denying it. So it was true.

“But why? You…we…last night”

I could not properly form words. My lips trembled badly, I was barely upholding myself.

“Last night was a mistake.”

“A mistake?” My heart could not be more shattered than it already was. “How can you say that, Haden?”

“It is Alpha to you.”

He glared daggers at me. 

My head bowed in submission.

“I’m sorry, Alpha.” Then I raised my eyes to his face. “But how can you?”

“How can I what?”

“What we shared last night? I mean, you and I, the…”

Words failed me again. I was shaking so bad, I could not believe the day could take such an unpleasant turn and it was still early.

“I told you it was a mistake. And don’t make it sound as if I forced myself on you or cajoled you into it.”

“I’m not saying that but you and I shared something great last night. We bonded.”

“No, we did not bond. There was no bond.”

“So what happened here last night?”

“It was mere sex between two consenting adults.”

This wave of humiliation hit me so hard that my knees buckled, I held the bed post for support.

“Mere sex? No, you’re lying. It was not mere sex. You felt the bond too. You felt the mate bond.” I walked to him and held his hand. “Why are you doing this to me? To us?”

“I am not doing anything.”

He snatched his hand away.

“We are mates. Bound by the Moon Goddess herself. We are mates by flesh, blood and soul. Don’t do this. We’ve already consummated the bond.”

I could not afford to lose him. He was my first. The only man to have ever seen my nakedness and he was my mate. Why was he doing this? More tears replaced the ones that had fallen either to the floor or my gown.

His laugh was short and mocking.

“Don’t build castles in the air. We did not consummate anything. Don’t you know the rule of mate bond?”

I stared wordlessly at him.

“You silly girl. We are not yet mates until we both accept it.”

“I accept you as my mate.”

I uttered, desperate to hold onto my mate. 

“You did not let me finish.”

“What?”

“We both must agree but if one of us rejects the mate bond, then it can never be.”

“No. No. No. Please don’t do this. We belong to each other.”

“Stop being pathetic.”

His words pierced my already shattered heart and it bled more. I clutched my chest as I tried to control my tears.

“I, Alpha Haden of Moon Rock pack, reject you Tasyra, a common maid as my mate.”

His expression was stony and his gaze icy. So icy that I quivered from the coldness of it. “Now get out!”