Prologue.

Volet’s POV

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. I failed.

My eyes stayed on Derek. I couldn't look away even though my chest burned. He was on the couch in the balcony with Cherry, his ex-girlfriend, sitting on his lap like she belonged there. His hand was under her skirt. She was breathing hard, clinging to him, her face flushed.

They didn't even bother to stop.

My stomach twisted. Heat rushed to my face, then drained just as fast, leaving me cold. I felt stupid for standing there, stupid for hurting this much. My fingers curled into my palms, nails biting skin, grounding me so I would not fall apart.

Derek finally looked at me. Not guilty. Not sorry. Just annoyed, like I had interrupted something trivial.

His friends, about four of them, all turned towards me, and I swear, I could feel the shift in the air. Like they were joking and I was the cause of it.

Cherry gave me a sinister smile then leaned in to whisper something to Derek. He gave her a kiss like I wasn't standing here.

She pushed herself off him and gave me one last glare before walking out of the room.

It all felt like some fucked up dream and with my heart thudding, I turned towards Derek. "What the hell was that?

“What was what?" He asked, giving me a dismissive look, and I moved closer, ignoring how his friends snickered.

"Cherry. Why was she sitting on your lap and why would you touch her like that?"

“Why are you acting like it’s your business?” Derek asked and I just stared at him like I had been slapped. “Because… I thought we were meant to be mates.”

His friends all let out over loud chuckles, nudging themselves, and I felt my face burn in embarrassment.

What the hell did he tell them and why wasn't he standing up for me?

Derek rolled his eyes. “Wow. You actually believed that?”

“You told me… You said we were fated. That the priestess confirmed it—”

“God, you're so gullible,” he laughed, and I stared at him, feeling a lump grow in my throat. “You really thought I’d be mated to someone like you?”

“W-what?” I stuttered, his words feeling like a hot slap. Derek slowly stood up, towering over me, that smirk still painted across his stupid face. “I’d never mate a whore like you.”

my lips parted, but no words came out. Heck, my legs felt like they weren’t even mine anymore.

“I mean,” he continued, “just because you gave me your virginity doesn’t mean I owe you anything. You thought sleeping with me would make you Luna or something?” His voice dripped with mockery.

His friends were laughing now, full-on howling like this was the funniest thing they’d heard all night. One of them called out, “Damn, Derek, go easy on her, she looks like she’s about to cry.”

Nayla, my wolf, let out a small sound, like a cry, and I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to hold it all in. Trying not to collapse in front of them.

I should’ve listened to every girl who warned me about him. They said he was a selfish whore but I had been crushing on him since I was ten, and I let that stupid fantasy blind me.

“I fucked you,” Derek said, his voice laced with cruel amusement. “But you were as stiff as a damn board. Whining about how uncomfortable you were. You were supposed to just lie there and take it.”

His friends burst into another round of laughter, nudging each other like this was a comedy show.

“What did you guys think?” he asked, turning to them like this was a group discussion.

One of them piped up, “With her grandma underwear? ” He scrunched his nose, imitating my voice in a pathetic high-pitched tone. "Oh Derek, I’ve never done this before, it would be nice if you could take it slowly.”

My heart dropped.

Those were my exact words. Every syllable. I said that to him. I couldn’t even breathe for a second as the realization slammed into me.

Did he… tell them?

He wouldn't. He couldn’t.

“We took photos too,” one of the guys said, pulling out his phone and scrolling like it was the most pathetic thing he had ever seen. He handed the phone to Derek, who grinned and turned it toward me.

“No—” I whispered. They had several pictures of me. One of me asleep naked and another one showing the soft look of pain on my face when he pushed in.

“‘Derek, that hurts, can you please give me a minute so I can adjust?’” he mimicked with a mocking pout, dragging the words slowly.

My knees nearly gave out. I wanted to throw up. I wanted to tear the phone from his hands and smash it, smash everything. But mostly, I just wanted to disappear.

I wiped at my eyes, my hands shaking uncontrollably. “Please,” I whispered, “please give me the photos…”

A sob slipped from my lips, but before I could say anything more, he cut me off.

“We should drop these off at her house,” he said to his friends, snickering. “Her mom would love to see what her little angel’s been up to.”

That’s when it happened.

My hand moved before I could stop it. I slapped him hard. The sound of it echoed louder than I expected. His phone slipped from his hand and hit the floor.

I dove for it, but before I could grab it, Derek shouted, “Hold her down.” Two hands grabbed me, one on each arm and panic exploded inside me as Derek fumbled with his belt, his grin getting wider.

My eyes widened as I saw exactly what he was about to do.

They were all going to take turns. And no one outside would hear a damn thing—not over the music and laughter of the mating ball.

No one would save me.

“Let me go!” I screamed, thrashing against their grips. My eyes reddened, and I forced myself out of their grips, falling into Derek's arms.

He let out a chuckle, his hands roaming where they didn't belong. Rage flooded my veins, and I pushed my head back, slamming it hard into his nose.

Derek let out a pained howl, holding his bleeding nose, and with the strength left in my legs, I kicked him hard.

He backed up in pain and he leaned back trying to stop the nose bleed...but he leaned too far back

His arms flailed around,and before I could blink

No—!"

He fell.

His scream followed him down, then complete silence.

“Oh my god…” one of the guys whispered, as he took a peek. I watched the blood drain from his face and I didn't need anyone to tell me I had just done something terrible.

“Murderer,” the other hissed, backing away from me. “You killed him. We’re telling the Alpha.”

“No,” I choked out. “Wait—wait, please—”

But they were already gone, running down the hall, yelling.

It didn't take long for the bells to start ringing and I could hear footsteps coming up the stairs.

They were coming.

Panic shot through me like lightning.

They would hang me for this, my legs shaky beneath me

My breath caught in my throat. I couldn’t be here. Not with his body on the ground, not with his blood on my head.

The footsteps got louder , snapping me out of my trance.

Run.

You have to run.

My legs moved before my brain caught up, I took in a few breaths, jumping over the balcony. I grabbed the vines that were wrapped around the wall, climbing down till I reached the floor. Tears blurred my vision as they slid down my cheeks, but I didn’t look back.

Didn't bother look at Derek's body

I just ran... like the devil himself was chasing me.