2: Betrayed

EDEN

The hallway was dark, which was not usual. Willow didn’t like to come up to a dark hallway so the lights were always on.

I tripped over nothing and came falling down. Pain surged through my elbow and knees, which braced my unfortunate fall.

Loud and obnoxious laughter from behind makes me realize I wasn’t alone. Almost the entire people downstairs had come up with me.

What did they want? They aren’t usually this interested in me unless they wanted to bully me.

Deciding to ignore them, I picked myself up and dusted my hands. Staring at the ground wouldn’t help me see any better. So it is better I move on.

The whispers and laughter comes to a halt when I’m by the door.

That feeling of unease returns, this time it is much worse than before. Something churns in my belly and I let out an involuntary shudder. My hands tremble again. I exhale a shaky breath and shake my head. Nothing is going to happen.

Why was I feeling anxious? Is it the fear that I wouldn’t get my wolf and Ryker will decide he doesn’t want to be with me anymore? Or is it another thing?

Pushing those worries aside, I pushed the door open the same time the lights came on.

My limbs turned to lead, tethering me to the threshold of agony.

The image before me, of Ryker in bed with another woman. Tangled sheets and whispered moans as he pounded into her over and over again caused a lump to form in my throat.

The echo of their whimpers and words of passion reverberated in my ears. A pain I've never felt before, raw and unrelenting, gripped my chest, squeezing my heart for whatever ounce of love and trust it was worth.

Tears welled in my eyes, blurring the scene that marked the end of my life with the one person I thought would have my back. In this bleak world, he had been the only light for me. And I was watching myself lose him in real time.

A soft needy moan fills the hall followed by a grunt. I could barely hear it over the loud sound of laughter filling every other cervix of the house. My eyes stayed on the bed, my senses hyper fixated on them. I was hearing everything, seeing everything so clearly.

“Yes, Ryker. Right there baby. Oh, you’re so good.”

The familiar voice makes my mouth fall open. My heart squeezes harder, until my knees become too weak to carry me. Somehow, I'm still upright and my eyes, unblinking.

“Fuck.” Ryker’s pleasurable groan pierces my heart. “You feel so good.”

A loud moan fills the hall and I watch both of them shudder in wanton pleasure.

The laughter in the hall gets louder. And then it is all I can hear.

“Did she really think she was going to end up with him?” someone snickered.

“She is dumb. Of course she didn’t realize he was just using her for her body.” another added.

“What body? She looks like she hasn't eaten in years.”

They all break out into more laughter and the whispers get louder. I’m a trembling mess, unable to move and leave the place.

Ryker finally turned, at first he was confused as to why there were many people in the doorway of his room. And then his eyes landed on me.

I waited for the onslaught of emotions and his pleading. I waited for him to get out of the bed and come to me.

I was too weak in my mind and I knew I would have taken him back. I only needed him to come to me, to choose me.

He didn’t.

I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat and took a shaky step forward. Pleading with my eyes for him to get up. There is still hope for us, he just has to reach out and snatch it.

“Ryker, what is the meaning of this?” My voice trembles.

Nelly sits up from the bed, pulling the sheets up to cover her chest. She smiles cruelly at me then she kneels on the bed, holding Ryker’s shoulders. She places a kiss on his naked skin. And pain sears through my heart again.

“Come on, tell her baby.” She drags her long nails down his skin and he shivers in pleasure. His eyes darkened with lust.

Ryker looks up slowly, after she urges him to. He was completely lost in her that he couldn’t focus on anything and anyone.

When our eyes meet, I finally see a flicker of emotion. It was gone as soon as it appeared.

“I’m sorry, Eden.” He says, with no ounce of regret in his voice.

No. No. No. This can’t be. I have to be dreaming. I pinched myself hoping I’ll wake up. I only feel pain and the startling realization that this is real.

“You’re sorry for what? For cheating on me with that bitch?” I didn’t know when I yelled.

“Don’t speak to her that way!” His enraged scream makes me shake in fear but I don’t back down.

I glared at his form through my blurry gaze.

He gets up from the bed, stark naked before looking around for his boxer shorts. Then he pulls it up his long legs and stalks toward me.

My heart sinks and fear fills me. I have never seen him look this angry. And for the anger to be directed at me.

“You do not call her that, ever again.” He stands in front of me. His 6 '1 frame towering over my smaller 5' 8.

I laughed loudly, shaking my head. “Oh, now you have a problem with me calling her the bitch that she is. You always call her that!”

His growl is so frightening that the ground beneath me shakes.

Ryker grabs me by the arm. His claws are already protruding which makes it hurt more as he digs them into my skin.

“You will not call my mate a bitch, ever again. Am I understood?”

Wait. Mate? Did he just call her his mate?

It hit me like a gut punch. Nelly is Ryker’s mate.

This has to be a dream. No, a nightmare!

“No,” I whisper brokenly. “No, it can’t be. You said you loved me!”

I don’t know where I get the strength to push him away. But he staggers back a few feet. I follow him and start hitting him in his chest mindlessly.

“You said you hated her for how she treated me. And now you go and fuck her. You fucking liar.” I’m screaming and crying and hitting him. None of it makes the pain burning in my chest go away.

Multiple hands grab me from behind and I’m pulled off of him. Ryker looks like he is about to kill me. And I don’t know just what makes me look over his shoulder at Nelly.

She is still in bed, smirking as she watches me make an absolute fool of myself.

“How dare you hit me?” Ryker growls, stalking toward me.

I cowered in shame. I try to speak but no words leave my mouth.

“Leave!” He roars, staring into my eyes. “Leave right now and never come back. If you do, I’ll kill you.”