CHAPTER 3

“Surprise!” Damien smiled, flashing his perfect set of white teeth and throwing his hands in midair as if this was supposed to be funny. Damien was the son of the ruthless Alpha Kendrick, my father's sworn enemy and from my teen years, I've been warned to steer clear of the Hamilton brothers.

“How did you get into my room?!” I rasped, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

I didn't wait to get a response from Damien. Instead, I began to scamper for my dress, my head twirling in circles. Damien is definitely not a callboy, he’s a man I should never even speak to!

How did this happen? What have I done?

"Calm down," Damien said softly, reaching to hold my hand but I flung my arm away from his’.

“Don't you dare touch me!” I yelled as tears stung my eyes.

I picked the last pair of my shoes and made a beeline for the door. I didn't think nor bother to look back… I just slammed the door shut and ran down the hallway.

My mind kept racing with chaotic thoughts. How did Damien get into my room? And of all the ways that I could lose my virginity, why would it be with that notorious playboy?!

I took one last stride in my walk of shame and stumbled into the elevator but just as the elevator doors were about to close, I looked up and saw a glowing red sign on the wall that read “Wing B”.

No fucking way! My room was supposed to be 403 Wing A but in my drunken haze, I'd somehow ended up in Wing B, which was Damien's room.

“Fuckkkkk!” I yelled at the empty elevator, burying my head in my palms in shame as the memories from last night came rushing back. How I'd strutted into Damien's room, removing my clothes piece by piece while he stared at me in surprise. How I'd gone on my knees and sucked him like an amateur. How I'd begged him to fuck me when he wanted to pull away.

I can't even play the victim card because from all indications, it looked like I was the one trying to seduce him.

“And here goes my dignity,” I heaved a defeated sigh as the elevator doors swung open.

I stepped into the lobby, making a mental note to never cross paths with Damien ever again but just as I was about to step into the revolving doors, I bumped into a firm wall— which weirdly has a heartbeat.

I instantly backed away and looked up to see what I'd bumped into and the sight that greeted me snatched air from my lungs. The magnificent figure standing right in front of me looked just like a photocopy of Damien— hot and incredibly good-looking.

But there was something different about him.

It wasn't just the slightly short black hair, or the silver eyes which pierced through me coldly.

He was exuding an intoxicating sweet scent.

I was hit with nostalgia. I recognised the scent… it was the exact, overpowering sweet scent that had enveloped me the day I met Lucian. But why is this ‘Damien replica’ suddenly exuding such a scent?

As if on cue, my wolf began to huff, pant and leap in excitement. It took me a minute to finally recognise the face.

Dante Hamilton.

He was Damien's twin, but unlike him, Dante possessed an arctic coldness that made the air around him feel twenty degrees colder.

And the moment I locked eyes with him, my wolf didn't hesitate this time; she tore through.

"MATE! MATE! MATE!" echoed in my head.

My eyes went wild. My knees felt like jelly as a chill descended in my heart. I tried to shake it off but the mate bond slammed into my consciousness with crystal clarity. It was unmistakable.

I stumbled backward in horror as Dante's piercing silver eyes locked onto mine. He touched his temple, his eyes twitching and his brows furrowed as he stared at me.

Then I realized he felt the same thing.

But his expression returned to the usual coldness as he caught my arm to steady me. Without thinking, I wrenched myself away from his grip and fled before he could speak a word.

I stumbled into a cab, my heart beating in a frenzy in my chest. Dread settled in the pit of my stomach. What the hell was this supposed to mean?

Not only had I escaped a heart wrenching mating ceremony, I had also discovered my second chance mate was the twin brother of the man I had just slept with.

And to make matters worse, he was the son of my father's greatest enemy— Alpha Kendrick Hamilton. The man who had tried to kill my father so many times.

I grew up with the dark stories. I was trained to hate the Hamiltons. Yet here I was, mated unmistakably with one of his sons, Dante… after I’d accidentally had sex with the other son!

My fingers trembled badly as I fished for my card to pay, but the driver simply smiled and drove off.

The palace gates loomed above me. Behind it, the penthouse stretched towards the sky, mingling with the dawn fogs, causing the air around my nose to become colder.

I can't face Lucian.

The missed calls, the strange scent all over me, my hair… I couldn't defend it yet. So I walked around through the back entrance, my heart racing.

I slipped past some guards and walked straight to my chambers. I just needed time to think and sort out my thoughts. But as soon as I stepped into my room, I met a familiar figure sitting at the edge of my bed, her hands clasped over her thighs.

“Mo… mom?” I whispered shakily and almost immediately she turned to my direction. The look on her face told me everything.

My mom knew everything that'd happened to me within the past few hours.

My legs trembled as I walked towards her and immediately I got close to where she sat, I collapsed into her arms and broke loose.

“Mom, it shouldn't have been this way!” I cried. “I sacrificed so much for him. Why would he treat me this way? Why would Lilith betray me with such cruelty?”

She rubbed my hair and kissed it. She too was crying.

“I have a confession to make,” she said quietly.

The air snapped. I leaned backward and stared at her. Something flashed across her eyes and I stiffened. She threw a furtive glance at the closed door and then locked eyes with me.

“About Lilith, your sister and your mate.”

I sniffed and sat upright, my heart pounding wildly.

“I knew about their secret relationship,” my mom said.

I jerked backwards immediately, my head twirling. I glared at her like she was a devil.

“What..?” I croaked.

My mom knew all these were happening and she allowed it?

She nodded. “I had known for months. The stares they exchanged across tables, when you were too obsessed with Lucian’s eyes. All those so-called inter-pack meetings, where Lilith would mysteriously disappear with him, those trips weren't innocent.”

I remembered the scenarios and a sickening feeling descended on me. On some occasions, I had willingly let Lilith go with him.

“You'll be his assistant, sister. I trust you to keep him sharp,” I would say, trusting her completely.

Lilith would laugh and, while holding my hand, promise me he would lack nothing. Never had I read any other meaning into those words.

But here it was, as clear as day. And my mom knew about them all this while?

“I was too afraid to speak up because of your father,” she sighed. “His alliance with the Lycan Prince means the world to him. Being Lucian's mate is the only thing holding that alliance. Please, Freya, I want you to forgive Lucian and —”

“Mom, that's enough,” I snapped.

This time, there were no tears in my eyes. If my mother, a woman I told everything about me, had known about this scandal, then I wouldn't spare her, either.

“Does dad know about this?” I asked.

Just then, the door opened and there was my father. Tall and scowling.

“Lord Lucian searched the entire pack for you. Where did you go?” his voice boomed, rattling my insides with a fresh wave of dread.

“He betrayed me, Dad,” I said, tearing up again. “He was having sex with Lilith!”

“And so?”

My stomach churned and my head snapped up to see my dad's face. I stared at him, my heart shattering into a trillion pieces.

“If the Lycan Prince decides to have a little fun with Lilith, what is the big deal? Was that why you left the pack?” dad said dismissively.

“He is my mate, Dad!” I retorted, anger surging through my veins as I sprang up to my feet. “He has to be faithful to me! What are you even saying?”

He surged forward, towering me.

“He is the Lycan, you're a mere she-wolf. You are useless if you don't get engaged with him. So, whatever nonsense you are thinking should end right now. Go into his chambers, get down on your knees and apologize with tears in your eyes. Am I clear?”

Lilith walked in and immediately broke down in tears.

“I'm really sorry. All this is my fault. I shouldn't have let my genuine affection for the Prince get the best of me. Maybe I should just leave entirely.”

She fell on her knees, shedding fake tears.

But much to my horror, my father immediately ran to her, picked her up and dried her tears.

“You shouldn't be sorry for love. If only Freya was a little more reasonable, you wouldn't have been going through this terrible trauma.”

I stared at my mother in disbelief as I staggered backwards. She came close, looked at me with pity and whispered, “That's the way it's meant to be, Freya. You must accept being a political tool. Just like I did. So, do as your Dad said. Apologize to Lucian and to Lilith.”

I didn't speak. So my father stepped forward.

“Enough of your drama. Lilith is hurt more than you claim to be. Do as you're told before prince Lucian changes his mind about the mating ceremony tonight.”

I nodded in agreement and watched with disgust as they smiled and congratulated themselves. Even Lilith gave me a triumphant smirk.

But they had no idea what I planned to do…