Chapter 1

TESSA

"You must have slept with other men. There's no way this baby is mine!"

The claim was immediately followed by a loud crash that made me flinch as Alpha Frederick slammed a flower vase onto the floor. I stepped back to steer clear of the sharp glass shards that could pierce me.

My whole body shook with fear, but I forced myself to meet the eyes of the man who now looked at me with hatred and disgust.

With a quivering voice, I spoke.

"N-no. Y-you are m-my first. I never s-slept with any m-men after y-you Alpha."

Didn't he still remember the pain and bleeding I experienced that night the first time he entered my body? And the way he even promised me that everything would be okay?

How could he just forget it? And then he thinks I cheated on him with someone else? Doesn't he see that he's the only man I ever truly loved?

“Stop it, Tessa. Don't you dare try to fool me. I was drunk that night I didn't know what I was doing." He exhaled deeply as he ran his fingers through his tousled dark hair.

His eyes were now red with anger, a deep frown creased his forehead as he looked at me, and his gaze was entirely devoid of the warmth and love that was once there when we were making love that night.

I shook my head because I knew what he just said was not true.

He was sober when we did it. It was the night after his birthday party when he pulled me into his room and carried me to his bed. He even mentioned how beautiful I look and how my scent is driving him crazy to the point where he can't resist it.

All of those memories are still vivid in my mind.

"I'm the Alpha of Ashwood Pack now, so know your place. You could never make me believe that the baby you're carrying is mine."

With that, Alpha Frederick threw the pregnancy test I handed him back in my direction.

A tiny white object landed right at my feet. No words can describe the pain I felt as I picked up my pregnancy test and held it tightly in my hand. Why is he turned so cold and heartless towards me?

How could his demeanor change overnight?

“Go find the father of your baby on your own and don't ever come to me again. Get out of here now.”

Just as Alpha Frederick was about to turn his back and leave the room, I quickly stopped him. "H-how c-could you do t-this to me? I'm y-your m-mate!"

My voice cracked and came out softer than I meant, but at least it got him to stop. He turned around, his intense gaze cutting right through me. In a flash, Alpha Frederick stood right in front of me. Then his hand clamped around my slender neck, so tight as if he were trying to break it.

"What the fuck did you just say? I dare you to say it again!"

His grip left me struggling to find my words.

But even if I were to die right now in the hands of the man I love with my whole heart, I won't take back what I've said.  Because that's the truth. We are destined, mate. The bond appeared just after he cum inside me that night.

Even though I never had my first shift and hadn't connected with my wolf yet, I could feel how strong our bond was.

"I-am y-your d-destined m-mate." Finally, I managed to get the sentence out.

Alpha Frederick shook his head vigorously.  My neck went from sore to numb, but all that pain was nothing compared to the ache in my chest when I saw how he denied our sacred bond.

"No! You're fucking tricking me! I should've listened to your sister Bridget when she warned me that you're trying to take advantage of my kindness!" He seethed "I shouldn't have been so nice to you but kicked you out of my pack as soon as I realized you had feelings for me!"

A tear slipped down my cheek.

So he was already aware that I had feelings for him? And he still chooses to treat me this way?

"You're not my mate, Tessa. An Alpha like me can't possibly have a mate who is wolfless and stuttering like you."

I heard insults like that almost every day, from my own family and everyone else in the pack. But hearing it right from his own mouth, the pain feels doubled.

Suddenly, the door swung open and a few people burst in. I couldn't turn my head to see who they were. Just then I heard Odette, my sister's friend, shouting.

"Frederick what are you doing?! Let her go! You're going to kill her!"

And like a wildfire doused with the ocean, the anger in Alpha Frederick's eyes faded as soon as he heard Odette's voice. He finally let go of my neck. I collapsed onto the floor, gripping my chest as I desperately struggled to catch my breath.

"Oh, what happened to you, darling? Why are you so mad?" Odette asked him in a soft voice.

I lift my eyes and see her hand resting on his cheek, while the other is placed on his chest. Alpha Frederick didn't push her touch away at all. Instead, he grasped her delicate hand and held it firmly.

"This girl trying to trick me by claiming that she's my mate. She thinks I'm going to believe her." Alpha Frederick responded to her, but his hateful glare was fixed on me.

"What? Is that true, Tessa?" Bridget gasped in shock.

I glanced back and saw her standing next to Atlas, my brother. They both stare at me, their faces a mix of shock and fury.

Atlas walked over and in a heartbeat, he was towering above me.

He yanked me by the hair, forcing me to get to my feet. "Is that true, bitch? You're claiming you are Alpha Frederick's mate?"

I just let out a hiss of pain while trying to get him to let go of his grip. My scalp felt like it was on fire. But Atlas yanked his hand, tugging a few strands of my hair out. Making me cry in agony.

"Answer me! Are you saying that? Are you trying to kill our family’s reputation?" Atlas hissed in my ear.

"Atlas, you must let her go first if you want her to answer," Bridget said to him.

Although slowly, Atlas finally released his grip on my hair. I took a few moments to process the shock and pain I was feeling. As I glanced up, everything looked hazy through my tears.

Yet the sight of how Alpha Frederick wrapped his arm around Odette's tiny waist, waiting for me to say something, was crystal clear. Bridget and Atlas looked at me like I was nothing more than a piece of trash rather than their little sister.

Taking a deep breath, I spoke.

"I-im n-not lying. W-we a-are mate. T-the b-bond formed a-after-"

But before I could finish my sentence, Alpha Frederick's booming voice cut me off.

"Guards!"

A second later, two of his pack members, tall and burly men stormed into the room. They bowed respectfully to Alpha Frederick.

With a gesture in my direction, he gave a command that shattered my heart into pieces.

"Dragged this girl to the dungeon!"