10. His betrayal.

Raphael's POV

'Make sure you take care of her, I don't want her going around making a scene. I want my reign to be smooth.' Mason mind links me the moment he leaves the room.

'Yes, Alpha.' Asshole, how could he treat a woman like that, I would have punched his face, were it not for the pack rules? Being his Beta, I'm supposed to submit to him if not willingly, then he can make me submit. I hate this, but it's my fate. Also, it's better to do it on my own than being forced to.

Trice is shocked, I could see her eyes widening the moment she found out I was Mason's Beta. I feel like I betrayed her somehow, I don't really know why though.

As Mason's ceremony was going on, after I took my oath as the Beta and Mason was introducing Zahra as his mate, my insides were churning, something didn't feel right. I focused my hearing to the surrounding, and I heard a commotion which seemed to be happening outside the tent. I could feel myself being drawn to the commotion, so I excused myself the moment the crowd started cheering. To be honest, I felt like the party didn't really concern me. It felt odd for some reason. And Mason isn't really the type of person I will be thrilled for.

He has been my friend for years, but it has been more like a forced relationship. I hate these norms, if only the goddess had given us a better Alpha instead. I can't say it out loud either because it would be like challenging the Alpha to a duel to take the throne.

I could have, but my health doesn't allow me.

I see a small crowd of mainly the manor workers surrounding something.

“What's happening.” I ask one of them, now that I'm Beta, I'm supposed to know every little thing happening in the pack.

“She just fainted out of the blue.” She replies, as the rest make way for me.

“Who fainted?” I ask as approach the girl lying unconsciously on the floor.

“It's Beatrice, she…” I don't wait for her to finish, the moment I recognize the person on the ground. It's her, I don't know how to describe her, I scoop her up and run towards the nearest clinic. The pack hospital seems a bit far.

Seeing her motionless, all curled up, her delicate face framed by soft waves of hair that spilled across as I carried her. Her skin so pale as moonlight, Her lashes flutter slightly, but her body remained still, her breath barely rising and falling.

The tightening in my chest was eating me up, I've never felt this way before. I've been this afraid in my life, even when my parents locked me up as a boy, I wasn't this afraid.

I pace up and down the waiting area as the doctors work on her. The ward door screeches open and a nurse comes out, I study her face first before asking. My heart seems to be beating in my ear as my mouth opens, “Is she okay.” I ask, my throat so dry.

“Yes Beta Raphael, she is doing alright, it's just fatigue and stress. She will be okay so don't worry. You can go in and see her, she is just resting.” She smiles. I'm about to go in when out of nowhere I'm being shoved aside as Mason storms past me and into the room.

how he got to know I have no idea.

I've never seen Mason worried about anyone in his life. He has had to live a carefree life so it baffles me.

***

I'm really glad she is awake now. Seeing her drawn like this is shattering me. I wonder what connection we have. I call her Trice instead of Beatrice, she is fiesty, the only female I've looked at twice.

But what does Mason have to do with her though?

“You are his Beta?” She asks, pain evident in her tone. I just nod. “Wow, I can't believe this.” She clutches her chest all of a sudden, lifting her hand up as if to ask for help. I reach out for her, afraid.

“Make it stop.” Her head lowered down, her hand clutching to the hospital robe even more. “Please.” She begs.

“What is wrong, Trice, nurse.” I shout, and she comes running in, the doctor behind her, they push me out, though I don't want to leave the room.

What is happening and why does it affect me like this?

I pace up and down the corridors, I try to link Mason, but I'm completely shut off.

“What happened to her?” I ask, when the doctor finally comes out after what seems like an eternity.

“Let's go to my office, I will explain.” He says leading me down the hallway. My eyes are fixated on the ward door, I don't want to leave her alone.

“Don't worry, the nurse will look after her.” He adds when I hesitate.

My heart is beating so fast when I sit in front of the doctors' desk, my eyes not leaving his face, I try to read it, but there is no expression there.

“Please just tell me.” I start to lose my patience.

“It appears she was feeling the betrayal of her mate.” He starts to explain.

“Betrayal? Mate? I don't understand.” I shift uncontrollably at the mention of the word mate. She belongs to someone? Betrayal?

“My conclusion is that. The young lady has a mate, but it appears he is cheating on her that's why she experienced the pain since they didn't reject each other yet.” He explains, rage builds inside me as I try to imagine who would do such a disgusting thing to their mate.

“How dare he, I will kill that person for sure? Is she alright.” I ask. The doctor nods. "But she needs a friend now, It's cruel though because that pain can kill." He continues, I can't listen anymore. I storm out of his office. I can't go into the ward room looking like this, I calm myself down before walking in.