Chapter 2 - Stoic Mask

Daniel didn’t stop fucking the woman. His hand twisted into her blonde hair, keeping her face down as if that could hide her from his fiancé. Maddie paused in the doorway, forcing herself to let the image burn into her mind. She knew he had a way with words and would try and smooth things over with her, but she wouldn’t allow it. There was no way in hell that she would let that man ever touch her again. She swallowed the lump in her throat. The lump that reminded her of how many times he had held her over the past two years, how many times he had kissed her, how many times he had told her he loved her. It had all been bullshit. How else could he be balls deep in another woman on the day of her birthday; of their engagement celebration?

The woman beneath him moaned louder now that she knew she had an audience, and the sound was enough to jerk Maddie from her shock. She knew it was Stacey. That bitch’s high-pitched voice was too grating to mistake.

“Am I not enough for you, Baby?” She managed to push herself up and smile at Maddie, victory in her eyes. “You’ve never complained before. Not about me at least.”

Maddie didn’t know who was worse; Stacey or Daniel. Both sneered at her, but the expression looked so foreign on her fiancé's... Ex fiancé's face. What had happened to the man she loved? The man who had held her tenderly that morning, in that very bed, and told her he couldn't wait to be her mate. She wrapped an arm around her stomach as it turned violently, but she refused to throw up. Instead, she kept her head high as she strode into the room, ignoring the couple on the bed. Their jeers and laughter weren’t worth her effort, though she couldn’t deny their sting, but as soon as she grabbed a bag and began packing, their taunts soon fell away.

Thick silence hung in the air and Maddie felt eyes on her. Clearly, she wasn’t reacting the way Daniel had expected, and that gave her a sliver of satisfaction to hold onto. It was just enough to tame the urge to rush the bed, fists flying.

“Aw, are you upset?” He sneered, though his voice had lost its bite. “Come on Mads, your pheromones aren’t sweet enough for me. You can’t blame me for looking elsewhere.” He laughed.

Except he hadn’t done that. Just that morning he had told her that her scent was the most delicious thing he had ever smelled. He had always told her they were compatible. He had told her... Well, it didn’t matter anymore. It was all bullshit. It wasn’t as if his scent set her body on fire. Not the way she had been promised would happen when she found her true compatible partner, but she was willing to be with him anyway because she loved him. Not anymore.

Her blood boiled, but she schooled her expression and continued, ignoring the nagging pressure behind her eyes that wanted to spill the emotion she was desperately trying to control.

“What are you doing?” The first edge of panic leaked into his voice. She was always better at fitting her leadership mask than he was.

Maddie only grabbed her most valuable items; the picture of her family, some of her books, her favourite dress that he never let her wear. It was just enough to fit in a small bag, that she slung over her shoulder before heading for the drawers. Without so much as a cursory glance in their direction, she fisted a few of her clothes inside.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Daniel’s voice rose to a shout, but she didn’t care to answer.

“Let her leave. Then I’ll get you all to myself.” Stacey purred, throwing Maddie a smirk, like bagging a cheating scumbag was something to be proud of.

“She’s not leaving.” He growled, the sound making his whore cringe away. He may not have ascended to Alpha just yet, but the strength of his future role rang in his tone.

“Actually, I am.” Maddie’s voice was stronger than she expected it to be, as she closed her bag. The zip echoed the roar of her anger that she hid behind a stoic mask, but her eyes held her cold fury.

“You can’t.” He hissed, his smirk dropping away.

She snorted and turned her back on him. What had he expected her to do? Beg for him to stop and stay with her? Allow him to sleep around while they were mated? Fuck that. He had lost her now and there would be no second chances.

“Get the fuck back here, Maddie.” Daniel growled, but she brushed it off. “You are in my pack; you will listen to me.”

His roar made the floor vibrate but she didn’t cower. Instead, she hesitated at the door and locked a harsh gaze on him, relishing the way he jerked back. Not only was he not the Alpha, but he would never deserve the title. The way an Alpha treated his Luna echoed the way they ran the pack, and she would never allow Silver Moon to be ruled by a cheat whose word meant fuck all.

“You are not my Alpha, and you will never be my mate.” She spoke the words so calmly that they took a moment to sink in, but by the time his anger echoed after her, she was already halfway down the corridor.