Chapter 4

Matthew

I couldn’t stop looking at Claire. Her face was pale. There was a white bandage covering her head, and a few scratches on her face from the shards of glass that had hurt her from the fall. She looked pitiful, but was breathing peacefully and alive.

Still, I couldn’t believe it was my own mate who did this to her.

Mandy was never violent. Sure, she was sarcastic with the way she had treated Claire, but Mandy never openly expressed her disapproval of her. After all, we already talked, right? I already told her the real score between me and Claire. We were not an item, nor was she my mistress. We were just good friends. Whatever love I felt for Claire was nothing but platonic. She was part of the pack I was leading, so I had to help her as much as I could. I thought Mandy understood. But apparently, she didn’t.

I sat beside Claire’s hospital bed, waiting for any sign that she was waking up. I couldn’t shake the worry that had settled in my chest the moment I saw her hurt.

I just wanted her to be okay. I just wanted her and Mandy to get along.

Was that too much to ask?

The doctor came in. His white coat almost blended into the bright hospital lights. He looked at me, then at Claire. He bowed as a sign of respect before updating me about Claire’s condition.

“She will be fine,” he said calmly. If only he knew how much I needed to hear those words. “It’s a mild concussion. She needs rest, but there’s no need to worry. She was definitely out of danger.”

“Thank you, doctor,” I said as I let out a long breath. The tension left my body. I was relieved to hear that Claire would be fine. But that happiness was only short-lived as my thoughts immediately turned to Mandy and her words earlier.

“I, Mandy Willem, reject Matthew Lewitt as my mate.”

I couldn’t understand her. Why had she rejected me so easily? How could she utter those words like it was nothing?

I knew Mandy wasn’t dumb. She knew the power that those words held. We were fated mates. Our connection transcended even far beyond the physical connection. It was fate. It was destiny.

How could she disregard the will of the gods?

Worse, she hurt Claire. Not just a slap nor a hit but she pushed her to a glass table that made her injured. Did she not consider Claire? Claire only wanted to surprise her with some birthday decorations and this was how she repaid her?

When did she learn to be ungrateful?

I was disappointed. No, I was angry. Was it really that hard to say she was sorry? Why was she always so hard on Claire? Sure, she was my first love but that was all in the past. Mandy was my mate and I chose her. Meanwhile, Claire and I were good friends. We were nothing more than that. I wasn’t cheating on Mandy. She had no right to treat Claire like a mistress because she was not.

I rubbed my hand over my face. Mandy used to be so nice and understanding. How could she become someone who was cold and cruel all of a sudden?

I was pulled out of my thoughts when Claire started to stir. Her eyes opened slowly, and she blinked at me, confused. She looked so weak. My heart hurt seeing her like this.

“Matthew…” she whispered. It was obvious she was still in pain. “I’m sorry…”

My heart tightened. “Sorry for what?”

She looked up at me with her eyes filled with tears. “I never meant to cause trouble between you and Mandy. I should have not come back to Arrowville. I’m sorry for everything.”

I shook my head quickly. “Don’t say that, Claire. You didn’t cause any trouble. It’s not your fault. You’ve done nothing wrong.” I paused for a moment, but then my thoughts turned dark again. “It’s Mandy who needs to apologize.”

Claire’s face fell, but she nodded. Fresh tears slipped down her cheeks. If only Mandy was as considerate and understanding as Claire. Perhaps, they could even become good friends in the future.

“I know. I’ve messed things up, haven’t I? But please… don’t drive me away. I had nowhere else to go. I am even willing to be an omega. I’m begging you…don’t banish me from Arrowville.”

I felt a pang in my chest at the sound of her voice. She was so fragile, almost like a delicate flower. Claire had nothing else to rely on. As an Alpha, of course, I won’t abandon her.

I reached out and held her hand.  “I won’t do that to you, Claire. I promise,” I assured her. When I saw her smile, I knew her anxieties were gone.

My thoughts went to Mandy again. Maybe it was time for her and me to have a serious talk about her attitude. Because clearly, it was getting out of hand.

“I need to go. Call me for anything urgent. I will send some omegas to tend to your every need.”

She gave me a weak smile. “I understand, Matthew. Go ahead. And please, tell Mandy I didn’t mean to upset her. I just want us to be friends.”

“I will,” I nodded.

I squeezed her hand before standing up and walking toward the door. I didn’t want to leave her, but I had to. I couldn’t let Mandy just walk away like that. She needed to know that she had crossed the line and that there were some consequences to what she did.

It took me a few minutes to reach the Alpha mansion. I wasted no time and looked for her. I went upstairs to her room, imagining her reading a book like she did nothing. But as soon as I opened the room, it was empty.

“Mandy? Where the heck are you?” I called. I searched every corner of the room…the bathroom…the study…the walk-in closet…everywhere. That was when I noticed a few things missing. Immediately, my heart throbbed inside my chest.

I rushed downstairs and talked to the omegas. They all exchanged meaningful glances until the omega leader stepped up and said,

“We’re sorry, Alpha, but Luna Mandy already left. And by the looks of it, we think that she has no intention of coming back”

At that point, my world crumbled beneath my feet.