Chapter 2

Mandy

I turned to face him. I met his eyes with a calm I didn’t feel. The words I wanted to scream lodged in my throat.

“I’m an Alpha. It’s my responsibility to protect my pack and its members. Claire is part of my pack. It is my duty to help her in times of need.” 

What about me? I’m your mate. When will you protect me?

But in the end, I chose to shut it. Instead, I forced a faint smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “There’s no need to explain, Matthew. I understand perfectly.” 

His shoulders eased and his expression softened. He thought he’d diffused the situation, but he couldn’t see the fury raging inside me. 

The silence hung awkwardly between us until Claire yawned. She was struggling to stand and wobbled. Her balance was conveniently failing her. Matthew, her savior, caught her before she could fall. 

“Careful,” he murmured.

Claire apologized with a pitiful smile. She was claiming the small cut on her knee was affecting her ability to walk. Without hesitation, Matthew scooped her into his arms. He cradled her like she was made of glass. 

“Claire needs to rest,” he said, already heading toward the guest room. “I’ll take her upstairs.” 

I was stunned at my post. My emotions rolled beneath the surface as I watched him carry her away. My vision blurred as tears welled in my eyes. 

By the time I wiped them away, my decision had solidified. This would be the last time I cried over Matthew. The last time I let either of them hurt me. 

Picking up my phone, I dialed the one person I could count on. My best friend, Abbie.

“Get the villa ready in the Goldenridge Pack. I’m moving out. It’s time to start over and forget everything about my mate.”

The next day, I was reading a book on the sofa when Matthew came. I glanced at him for a moment before getting back to what I was reading. I heard him take a deep breath before speaking.

“I’m sorry, Mandy. I know I have been neglecting you lately.”

I was caught off guard by his sudden apology. And yet, I remained indifferent about it.

“No need to apologize. My Dad is an Alpha too so I know the responsibilities that come from the job.”

But Matthew didn’t look convinced. Instead, he approached me, knelt in front of me, and held my hands.

“Even if you say it’s okay, deep down, I know it wasn’t. There is no excuse for me being absent in your life most of the time. I promise I will make it up to you. If you want, we could take a quick vacation.”

If Matthew had said this to me a few months ago, I would have been the happiest she-wolf in the land. But remembering how he constantly chose Claire over me and did some things for her that he never even did for me, my heart ached with the realization. Matthew was no longer the mate I gave my heart to a long time ago. And with that, I could no longer hold to his empty promises that I knew he would break anytime once Claire calls him again.

“I just remember, it’s your birthday on Friday. Got any plans?

I shrugged my shoulders. “None. Will just stay here and rest.”

“No, Mandy. You have to celebrate,” he insisted. “Birthdays only happen once a year. I'll take care of everything, don’t worry.”

I stared at him with a blank expression. Matthew's sudden gentleness and care were highly unusual. He had not shown this side of himself since Claire entered the picture. But I wasn't stupid. I knew this wouldn't last.

The moment his phone rang, my suspicions were confirmed.

“Beta Jared called, I am needed at the Northern Border. Don’t bother waiting for me tonight.”

He no longer waited for me to respond before storming out of the house again. I shook my head and smirked. Did Matthew really take me for a fool? I knew it was Claire who called because the ringtone that played was the one he had assigned specifically for her.

***************

Friday morning came.

I was awakened suddenly by the noise downstairs. Laughter and loud voices echoed throughout the Alpha mansion. Frowning, I rubbed my eyes and glanced at the clock. The wall clock said it was only 6 in the morning. Obviously, whatever was happening downstairs was way too early for this commotion.

I got out of bed grumpily and stepped into the hallway. I saw an omega walking passed our room and called her immediately.

“What’s going on? Why is it too noisy downstairs?” I asked.

The omega curtsied first before speaking. “There are a few visitors downstairs, Miss Mandy.”

My forehead creased. “Visitors? At this hour?”

“Yes, madam.”

I made my way down to check myself. There was a rule in this house that anyone who wished to see Matthew should wait until 9 AM to see him. Obviously, those who were downstairs were either unaware of this rule or thought they were too special for it to be applied to them.

Sure enough, I found Claire and a few of her friends.

“Good morning, Mandy,” she greeted like she wasn’t disturbing anyone. I just nodded in acknowledgment without smiling.

“What brings you here at this hour?”

“Oh, about that,” she said excitedly. She gestured her arm to show me her work. “We came here to decorate the Alpha mansion for your birthday. I asked Matthew to supervise it myself as I want it to be perfect for you.”

I looked at the decoration she and her friends were talking about. It was nothing but a few white balloons stuck to a glossy foil curtain. There was a happy birthday banner at the center and that was basically it.

“Isn’t it lovely? It clearly suited your love for mediocre things.”

With the way her friends giggled, I knew Claire was low-key insulting me. What should I expect? She was seducing someone else’s mate, so should I expect a better attitude from her?

“I really appreciate what you did,” I stated sarcastically. “But you should not have wasted your time doing this. Instead, you should have focused your time on doing more useful things like…I don’t know...staying away from someone else’s mate?”

The smile on her face disappeared. Her friends' mouths formed an “o,” clearly not expecting retaliation from me. Well, I refused to stay silent any longer. I wouldn’t let her disrespect me inside my territory. I couldn’t care less about what she and Matthew were doing when they were together but I won’t let her act like a bitch inside my own home.

Claire shook her head while smirking, then gestured for her friends to leave. Her friends protested but eventually followed her orders. Claire checked her wristwatch while still wearing a smug expression. She looked at me dangerously. No, it was as if she were challenging me to something.

“Do you really think it was I who was forcing myself on Matthew? Oh, you are so wrong, my dear.”

I crossed my arms and scanned her from head to toe. “Isn’t it you who’s constantly calling him to come to you? If that’s not called 'forcing,' then what should I call it?”

"Wanna bet?" she challenged. "I will show you how crazy Matthew was over me. In fact, I’ll put you in your rightful place and show you once and for all how Matthew values me."