CHAPTER 5

LIORA BROOKS

THE PAST FEW weeks could be a fairytale for me as I lived in the pack house. I was still ostracized by most of my peers as they believed what Natalie said to them, but I was not bothered by any of those. My life had gotten considerably better. I remained in the pack house, I didn’t even leave the small assigned to me. My meals were brought to me, the only face I saw almost every evening was Robert Jr.

He came to my room and kept me company. I hated to admit it but I was starting to fall for him. It was more than a crush. It was how I would imagine love to feel. I always had a nagging thought at the back of my head that he was betrothed to my cousin, and they would be mated. There was no space for him, but I could not help myself.

Every day, I looked forward to the evening when he would come to chat or teach me how to play his video games. But even though we were friends, I still could not tell him the truth about how my uncle treated me and what he planned to do to me. I had not seen them since I moved to the pack house, but from what Robert Jr told me, a new cabin was being built and will be completed very soon, so I might be moving back with them. That was a day I already dreaded.

A small knock roused me from my reverie and the door opened. As I had expected, it was Robert Jr. His face was not smiling as he walked in.

“What is it?” I asked immediately.

He shook his head and sat on the bed. “It is nothing.”

I placed my hand over his hesitantly. “What is it?”

“My mating ceremony with your cousin has been set for tomorrow,” he said. I slowly withdrew my hands, but he held me. “I don’t want it. You know I don’t.”

“Well, there is nothing you can do. It is your duty,” I muttered.

“Don’t say it like that,” he said to me, taking my hand. “I want you. Not her. You think I will have as much fun with her as I have had with you?”

I looked away uncertainly.

“Look at me, Liora.” He said in a soft tone. I dragged my gaze and stared at his handsome face. “I will fix it, okay?”

“How?” I managed to ask.

“Don’t worry about that. Just trust me, okay?” he rubbed my hands gently, not looking away from him. Our gazes were locked. I don’t know who leaned in first, but I knew the next moment, his lips were on mine roughly and he was tearing away my shirt and pushing me slowly onto the small bed.

This was my first time, but I loved and trusted him, so I allowed him to take me in a way no man had.

WHEN I WOKE UP the following morning, I was alone, I got up from bed and stretched.

Is this how my first time is supposed to feel? I wondered. I did not feel any tingle like I was led to believe from the books I read.

Did I enjoy it? I asked myself. I shook my head and pulled out the sheets from the bed. I held it to my nose and inhaled it deeply, taking in the remnant of his scent. I might not have enjoyed the sex, but I definitely felt closer to Robert Junior.

Today was his mating ceremony to Natalie, but he did not want it. He had told me that he was going to fix it. I had to be there even though I was not invited or required to be there.

I peeked out the window and saw that the pack was busy. The ceremony had started in the pack hall already. I quickly washed and dressed up. I wanted to be there when Robert Junior dropped the bomb on Natalie and chose me instead. The thought made me giggle as I tiptoed out of the pack house and made my way to the hall.

The hall was beautiful and decorated. There were members from other packs in attendance, it was bigger than I thought. Natalie was going to be humiliated in front of all these people. I walked in and made my way to a corner where I took a glass of wine and nursed it patiently.

“What are you doing here?” My uncle's voice snarled in my ear as he gripped my upper arm tightly. Without waiting for my response, he sniffed and said, “You… I can smell that boy. Did you give yourself to him?”

I smiled triumphantly.

“You slut!” he growled. I could tell that he wanted to hit me but not in front of all these people. “Is that how cheap you are? In just some days, you are already opening your legs for him.” He spat.

I frowned and looked away right on time as Alpha Robert walked out, grinning. “I want to welcome you all to the mating ceremony of my son, Robert Junior, to his lovely mate. Natalie Croods.” The crowd clapped as they both walked out.

I looked at Robert Junior intently. He was going to do it anytime now. He was going to break it up with Natalie now. I gripped my glass in anticipation as his eyes roamed the hall and locked with mine. Then he smiled and turned around, pulling Natalie into his arms and kissing her deeply.

My heart sank faster than the glass fell from my hands.

I could hear Alpha Robert chuckle and say, “Easy, boy. You have all the time in private to do that,” as he separated them

Over the loud ringing in my ears, I also heard my uncle laugh. “What did you expect? That he was going to dump your cousin for you simply because you slept with him? So you are both stupid and naïve-”

I turned and hurried out of the hall before he finished speaking. Tears brimmed my eyes and blocked my vision. I struggled to swallow through the huge lump in my throat as I stumbled blindly through the street, finding a safe enclosure where I could weep my heart out.