5

Chapter 5

KARA

A light tap at the door made me stir in my sleep. I stretched and felt a harsh tingle cut through my forehead, jerking me from my sleep. 

The smell of flowers and something intoxicating caught my nose. Something felt different. Maybe it was the unfamiliar scent or maybe it was because my bed felt softer and warmer than usual.

I slowly opened my eyes. My vision was blurry at first before everything adjusted in place. I stared at the chandelier; the first thing that came into my view. How did I get here? I sprang up.

Migraine. The tingle I felt earlier slowly faded and was replaced with intense pounding.

"Mmm," I moaned and clutched my head in my hands, trying to halt the pain. I hated the way I was feeling. Did I get drunk last night?

I glanced around at my unfamiliar surroundings, did I time travel? Everything in the room conveyed luxury. Did Papa move us here? A low hiss escaped from my lips at the pain I was feeling in my head. Cold kissed my bare body and that was when it occurred to me that I was naked. I batted my lashes, as I gazed down at myself, my nude staring back at me. 

I slowly recalled the events from the previous night. Shit. It was real. I and the Alpha prince made love. My cheeks heated up. The Alpha prince was my mate! My wolf leapt in elation. I giggled childishly and sniffed in the intoxicating scent of my mate that clouded my senses. My fingers brushed my neck lightly, the place he had marked me. I winced at the pain. It was exhilarating. Pain had never felt so good.

"You're awake," Braden said, bringing my attention to him.

I almost jumped, I didn't even know he was there. How long had he been watching me? I scanned his tall and sexy frame and leaned against the wall. He was beautiful. I hugged my knees to my chest, feeling his gaze linger on my body. My cheeks went crimson again.

"Good morning... mate?" The word mate left my lips silently. It felt good to finally have someone to call my own. 

I was about to say something else when I noticed the change in his demeanour. His face went blank as he paced the room. Did he hate the way I called him mate? I could swear I saw him stiff when I called him mate. I bit my bottom lip.

"Get your things and leave," He said.

I stared at him in disbelief. I couldn't believe my ears. "Huh?"

"Leave."

"Did I do something wrong?" I asked, perplexed. Why was he acting so mysterious? "I'm sorry-"

"Get out," He yelled this time, sending shivers down my spine. Not the type of shivers that you get when you're turned on, but the type that catches you off guard.

"What?" I whispered as tears pricked the corner of my eyes, threatening to spill out at any moment.

"Don't make me repeat myself," He warned, his voice laced with anger.

Where was the fervour and tenderness of yesterday? I wondered. He seemed like a different person now. Gone was the kind and perfect gentleman. He exuded an aura that choked and made my breath hitch in my throat. I felt stupid no matter how I tried to console myself, stupid was the only word I could use to define my current circumstance.

I gradually got on my feet, feeling sore all over. My legs were wobbly like jelly. I searched around frantically for my clothes, wondering what must have gone wrong. He was so sweet and gentle with me yesterday. He said he loved me. I saw it in his eyes when he marked me. Was that all a facade? 

Strong pairs of hands grabbed me by my waist. Braden. He draped the bedspread around me. I gazed into his cold eyes and couldn't hold back my tears. He googled back at me in contempt. They slipped down my cheek. I opened my mouth, trying to speak. I should say something but the words wouldn't form. I gulped. He tugged me by my arm with such force that I almost tripped myself and threw me out. 

"I don't want you," He said avoiding my eyes "And I never want to see you again," With that he slammed the door in my face.

His rejection pierced my soul. My wolf howled. It seemed as though a thousand knives were tearing at my skin and the wounds were being grazed with wolfsbane.

The tears kept pouring no matter how hard I tried to fight them. I could hear the whispers of the people, their laughter pricking at me like needles in an open wound. Their gaze was so intense I could almost feel it burning into my skin. It only made me feel worse, like a piece of shit that was auctioned at a museum. 

Just yesterday I felt my life was going to fall in line but it seemed as though I had an immense belief in the moon goddess and she just thwarted my fate. I was devastated but the fact I couldn't pinpoint what went wrong made anger reverberate through me.

I hugged the bedspread tightly to myself as I made my way out of the Alpha's manor. What were people going to say now? That the Alpha spent a night with me and now he's rejected me. Publicly. Why did he even claim me in the first place if he knew he was going to reject me? Or had he found out about my background? I wouldn't blame him. If I was the Alpha, I would reject me than mate with a failure. 

All I brought with me was disappointment. My father would hate me. He would rebuke me and I wasn't sure if I could take it. More tears slipped down my cheek as I walked down the street. Ignoring the curious eyes that burned into my skin, I headed for the only

place I wanted to be. Home.