Yet another betrayal

ALINA’S POV

I blinked multiple times because I didn't understand what he was uttering. It felt like a dream…like a prank.

The world around me suddenly grew colder. My eyes darted to everyone around and none of their eyes were on us. They all bowed their heads, avoiding her glance, standing stiff like marble statues under a heavy spell of fear and shame.

“Didn’t you hear me?” he growled, exuding a presence that sucked the air out of the room.

His voice echoed like a predator’s final warning before a kill.

“You…had no…right to cut my chain! I'm still a member of the pack!”

A smirk played on his lips, pulling slightly to one side, revealing the sharp glint of his canine teeth. It made his already harsh features look even more sinister. His eyes held a dangerous amusement. He stepped on the locket, grinding it under his boot until it shattered like glass. Then, without warning, he grabbed my hand.

“Not anymore, Kitten!”

Before I could move, he yanked me with a force that left me stumbling. I tried to break free from his grip, but it was hopeless. His hand, rough and calloused, clamped down on mine like steel. Each tug sent pain shooting up my arm.

“Let me go! Hey! Hey!” I yelled, twisting, my feet barely keeping up.

Finally, we reached a room—a dimly lit one with a massive blackened oak desk at the center, and stone walls that hummed with old magic. He pushed me inside. I fell, landing hard on the cold stone floor, breath knocked out of me.

My gaze was directed to the ground until I heard,

“Get up now and get dressed! I'm claiming you!”

I removed the strands of hair stuck to my mouth and burst into laughter as I carefully stood up.

“Claim!!! You gotta be kidding me?” My face turned dead serious, “News flash…Sean was my very last mate. You can't claim me because I can never have mates!”

He scoffed, crossing the room like a man confident in his darkness. He leaned against his desk—muscles showed through his black shirt.

“You thought…I didn't know. Alina…I can see the curse in you…” He paused, biting his bottom lip like the taste of truth amused him. “It's funny how you underestimate me!”

I pursed my lips, still not understanding his words.

“I didn't want to work with you…you…”

“But you accepted my offer…didn't you?” He yelled, cutting me off.

“Noxi…”

He flinched, then roared, his eyes now fully golden, feral and glowing.

“Don't you dare call me Noxi. It's Alpha Noxi to you!”

My eyes softened at his sudden outburst. Isn't this the same man I saw two days ago? How did he turn so different? So arrogant?

“What do you want with me? That's all I ask…” My lips quivered as I spoke.

As if satisfied, he wore a chilling smile and walked toward me. The room seemed to shrink as he crouched to my level, his face inches from mine. His breath was warm, but his gaze was ice.

“Are you deaf?...” He paused, waiting like a snake before the strike.

“Huh?” He raised an eyebrow.

I shook my head. “No.”

His voice, low and husky, was like velvet laced with venom. “I saved you from the wrath of the enemy. You are mine! Now…I claim you as my temporary mate… You are to pretend to be my mate until I cut you off. You owe me!”

“I can't…” I paused, clenching my jaw. “My dreams as a leading pack doctor won't be cut short. I was made for the job—that's why I came across you. It was fate!!”

He pouted and raised a brow as a strand of hair fell to his face, curling over his temple. “Fate? Well, if fate brought us together…my Luna will never be a doctor!”

Those words hit me like a stray bullet. Even though I wanted to accept his offer, there was no way I'd forfeit living my dreams.

I staggered back, “You…are crazy!!”

I was about to reach the exit of the door until my body hit a huge figure. I turned around to see three big, strange-looking guards. Their faces were void of emotion, eyes shadowed beneath their hoods, standing like gatekeepers to hell.

“Where did these come from?” I muttered to myself.

Next thing I heard was a chuckle from him.

“Alina…we could do this the hard way or the hardest way!” he said with no intention of changing his words.

I was starstruck but still keen on my decision. How could he do this to me? Why does everyone want something in return? No one in this world wants to give from their heart. It's terrible yet scary at the same time.

“So…”

Angered and overstimulated, I kicked a plate from a nearby table, sending shards flying. My breathing became ragged and shallow.

“Why are werewolves like this? Can't…you do something for free? What possibly do you want with me? I mean…there are more beautiful girls you can…” I stopped in my words as my eyes darted to the TV screen flickering in the corner of the room.

It showed Sean and the hooker.

My fists clenched and my heart broke at the sight of their closeness. I guess he wasn't that alone while in France. She is his forever mate.

The volume increased.

“So…Mr. Sean, why are you cancelling your major projects with the Rocket group?” a reporter questioned.

I saw him smile at the woman, and it shattered my heart into smaller pieces than it was. That should be me. But no, he never let me interfere with the human world. He never introduced me to the other world.

He started after staring at her for a few seconds. “Well, I don't want to risk endangering my future—which is my wife!”

“You bastard… you betrayed me! I stayed indoors for years to satisfy and I became the last standing fool… you… will regret this!”

Suddenly, I felt a strong arm on my shoulders. I knew it was Alpha Noxi as he whispered in my ear,

“Then make him regret losing you! You deserve more… make him regret it!”

I knew what he was doing and didn't want him to manipulate me.

“Your tactics can never work on me. Get your wolf elsewhere and find a better girl!”

I wiped some tears from my face and turned to walk away, but stopped in my tracks when I heard a particular voice. It was my parents.

I turned around to see that hooker in between my parents.

“My parents have never been so prouder of me. The money directed to the Rocket group would be used to start my company. They have always been my rock, Ti Lamor…”

From one tear turned into a sea of tears. My parents shared with her the name I called them—Ti Lamor (My Love Always).

They betrayed me not once but twice. Now, they've disowned me as their daughter.

My lips trembled but I couldn't help myself to say, “I… want to get… REVENGE!”

*****

LATER THAT NIGHT

I sat by the balcony, the wind brushing past my skin, thinking how I blindly accepted Alpha Noxi's offer. But what could I have done? Watch as the people I trusted betrayed me? No… I won’t stay silent.

Suddenly, I saw guards moving to the front of me. Their formation was sharp, their eyes lowered as they bowed.

What was happening?

My eyes darted to the sight of the last person I'd ever think of seeing. It was my ex-mate—Sean.

His grin grew wider as he walked forward, every step calculated, arrogant, as if he owned the world.

But I didn't let him intimidate me.

“Get the fuck out of here! You don't deserve to be here!”

He cackled then slid his hands into his pockets. “You are so funny… just as you cried like a baby when I sent you packing. Packing? I meant… stranded…”

“Shoot him! Kill him! I'm your Luna so do as I say!” I yelled, commanding the guards who didn’t even move an inch.

“You thought you had some power in the palace. Well, why don't you see the person who let me enter?”

I watched him walk past me, and I followed close behind, my fists clenched.

“Who let you in? Huh? Answer me?”

He stopped at Noxi's room and turned around, shushing me.

“Shut the fuck up! You are so pathetic that I can't stand looking at you. You trust people so easily that you forget the worth you possibly don't have…”

“What?”

Suddenly, he opened the door—and behold, I saw Noxi betraying me in the most painful way ever.

It was gruesome…

And…

PAINFUL.

How could he do this to me?