2. Checkmate.

CHLOE

Two hours later, I felt like a princess in my sparkling blue mermaid gown that accentuated my tiny curvy figure, as I walked down the stairs to the grand ballroom.

This was it.

The night of my graduation ball, I had planned to make it unforgettable. I had invited all the elite members of my class, the ones who were destined to be the future leaders of our pack. I had also prepared a special surprise for my boyfriend Jake, who had no idea that I was going to announce our engagement to my father, the Alpha.

But where was my dearest boyfriend hiding?

I scanned the cheerful mingling crowd for Jake, but I couldn't find him. I couldn't smell him either, but that was normal for me.

Unlike the other wolves who could scent their mates. I was still waiting for the day when I would shift for the first time, and feel the bond with my mate.

I know you might all think I was delusional but Jake had assured me that he loved me anyway and that he didn't care about the fate or the bond. He said he chose me with his heart, not with his wolf...

"Hey, have you seen Jake around?"

I asked a few of my friends if they had seen Jake, but they all shook their heads.

"No Chloe ," They all gave me the same response, I started to feel anxious. Where was he? He knew how important this night was for me.

He knew how much I wanted to share it with him since we had decided to have sex for the first time after the surprise announcement.

I decided to look for him elsewhere, hoping that he was just in the bathroom or getting a drink.

I walked around the ballroom, avoiding the curious glances of the other guests.

"Great party Chloe," one of my guest raised a champagne glass to me.

I nodded in acknowledgment and smiled politely at some of the elders, who congratulated me on my graduation.

"Wow, she looks so stunning today... Look at her dress and tiara. it must have cost a lot."

"You right Lisa, They do look expensive but what else can you expect from Chloe." some girls I passed by murmured.

I huffed a laugh to those who admired me for my beauty and status. But they were right. My father spoiled me rotten since I was born. I had learnt to ignore the jealous stares of some of the girls, who envied me for my lifestyle and having Jake as my boyfriend.

Jake, who was nowhere to be seen.

I was about to give up and go back to the stairs when I heard a guard whisper to another.

"Did you see Jake and Jess go upstairs to princess Chloe's room? They looked like they were in a hurry."

My heart skipped a beat. Jake and Jess? Jess, as in Jessica, my frenemy? The girl who had always tried to steal Jake from me, ever since we were kids? The girl who had always mocked me for being a late bloomer, and for not having a wolf? The girl who had made my life hell in school?

I felt a surge of anger and fear. What were they doing upstairs? In my room? I had to find out. I had to stop them. I had to confront them.

I ran to the stairs, pushing past the guard. I didn't care if anyone saw me. I didn't care if I ruined my dress. I didn't care about anything but Jake.

I reached the second floor where my bedroom was huffing and puffing. I hastily headed to my room. I heard weird noises coming from inside my room. Moans, groans, and whispers. I recognized Jake's voice.

"Oh, you taste so sweet," he grunted repeatedly and my heart skipped a beat.

Who did he refer to as sweet?

I opened the door, and my world shattered.

There he was, on my bed, with his lips locked with Jess. I feel like my beautiful room was dented by the sick act of whatever was going on between the two of them.

"What the fu…" I gasped clutching my chest.

Jess was wearing a red short dress that hugged her curves, and her dark hair was spread on my pillow. She had her arms around his neck, and he had his hands on her waist. They were kissing passionately as if they were the only ones in the world.

They didn't notice me at first, but I made sure they did. I slammed the door behind me, making a loud noise. They broke apart and looked at me with shock and guilt.

I felt a surge of pain, anger, and betrayal while my stomach knotted violently. I screamed. " What the fuck is going on!"

They looked at me, shocked and guilty but then again, they looked like they belonged together.

"Chloe, I-I can explain," Jake stammered getting off my bed and helping Jess to her feet.

"Explain what? How you cheated on me with this cockroach?" I shouted, tears stinging my eyes.

Jess sneered unapologetically," I'm not a cockroach, "

I didn't pay attention to her. Jake owed me an explanation for this nonsense...

"Jake," I huffed tilting my head one side and placing my hands on my hips.

"Chloe, please, calm down. It's not what you think. It's...it's fate," Jake said, trying to sound sincere.

I flinched away as I was caught off guard by his statement."Fate? Fate? Don't give me that crap, Jake. You don't believe in fate. You believe in yourself, and your ego, and your stupid football. You don't care about anyone but yourself. And now you care about her? The girl who hates me? The girl who is a freak?" I spat, pointing at Jess.

"Hey, watch your mouth, Chloe. You don't know anything about me, or us. We are fated mates... Do you know what that means? It means we are meant to be together, forever. It means we have a bond that you can never understand, or break. It means we love each other, more than you ever loved him," Jess said, her voice cold and smug.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. They were mates?

When did that happen?

This couldn't be true…

How could Jake be fated to her, when he loved me? How could he do this to me?

I snapped out of my mini-debate of questions and lunged at Jess, wanting to scratch her face, to rip her hair, to make her pay because she caused all this confusion.

But she was faster and stronger. She caught my wrist and twisted it. I cried out in pain, and she pushed me to the floor. I landed on my back, my dress ripped, and my necklace broke. I looked up and saw Jake and Jess standing over me.

"Chloe, please don't fight us, just forget about me," Jake said calmly. My heart sank into my guts.

Forget him?! Was he crazy?

I couldn't believe this was happening. I couldn't believe Jake was saying that to me.

He was supposed to be my boyfriend, my soulmate, my everything. And now he's leaving me for Jess, of all people in the pack.

Someone must be playing a sick prank on me because I just couldn't believe that my Jake would betray me like this.

Jess smirked triumphantly as she uttered my signature phrase I used when I beat her at chase, “Checkmate, Princess.” She had finally beaten me at something.

My heart clenched with rage.

How could they stab me in the back and rip my heart out?

I watch them as they walk away, hand in hand, without a glance back at me. They didn't care about me. They didn't care about how much they hurt me. They only cared about themselves and their selfish desires. They were the worst kind of people, and I hated them. I hated them with every fiber of my being.

I wasn't just going to sit back and watch their stupid love blossom.

I had to get my revenge for their sick prank!