Chapter 3

Samantha

The bed felt so soft, and I felt so at home waking up next to the man who I never thought could be my mate. I had never felt so much joy and pleasure in my life. All I knew was pain, but I was blessed and couldn't help but think my life would be better from today.

I moaned softly as Ric's scent hit my nostrils strongly again. I had expected his hand to wrap around me, seeing that I was awake, but it didn't come. I turned around to see my mate but was met with shock and disappointment when I found his side of the bed empty.

"You're awake." I got startled hearing his voice, and I trailed my eyes in the direction from where his voice came. A wash of relief filled me seeing him now. I thought he had abandoned me.

He was standing by my window, tossing his shirt over his body. My entire being reacted to him instantly, filling me up with love and driven by the ecstasy of the night. He turned around to look at me, and I couldn't help but be intoxicated by how sinful he looked. He was mine, and I was yet to believe it.

"Ric," I called with every ounce of affection in my voice. I wrapped the sheets around my naked body, still feeling shy to let him see me, then I stood up from the bed.

When I looked at his face, the smile on my face vanished suddenly. He was different; there was something cold about his demeanor, even though his eyes spoke differently. His eyes were filled with affection, yet he seemed different from the previous night.

What's wrong? I asked, observing a struggle in him. My concern grew. He looked like he was in so much pain.

"Don't come any closer," he said, but it sounded like a command. I was confused.

"Why?" I demanded.

"Get dressed, Samantha," he said coldly, avoiding my gaze.

"Why?" I asked, but he hesitated before looking at me.

"We need to talk..."

"About you being my mate?" I asked, cutting him off.

He stopped and continued, "About what we did...."

"You marked me!" I said as if trying to remind him. I didn't feel safe right now. My instincts were shooting warning signals.

"What are you fighting? You're not saying anything," I said, moving closer to him. He fixed his watch, avoiding my question. "Say something, Ric!" I yelled as tears glistened in my eyes. I saw his jaw clench, and he snapped his head in my direction.

"What about the fact I have a girlfriend I made a promise to?" If there was any word stronger than shock, that was what I needed now to explain how I felt. I staggered and blinked several times, still in denial of what I had just heard. I didn't want to believe what my mind was telling me.

My voice trembled as I remembered telling him about Lily and then his response. "But you said you didn't care," I said as I felt my heart losing its strength. It felt like a glass wall that was cracking, waiting for the right punch to shatter it.

"That was my wolf talking. You should have known better," Ric said, and a tear dropped down my eye. I was visibly shaking. I could feel my heart losing the last string that held it together.

I folded my fist and grabbed the sheet with my other hand firmly to help ease the trembling of my body. "Then what about me?" I barely said the words as tears filled my eyes and were almost about to drop.

Guilt clouded Ric's expression, but it didn't stop him from saying what he had in mind.

"I'm sorry, Samantha." Those words already sent the images of what he was about to do into my head. My lips were rounded, and a second tear spilled down my eye. Something was happening to my heart, so I quickly grabbed my chest as if that would help the aching.

Ric paused, watching me for a moment. I could see the fear that appeared in his eyes, but determination soon took over.

"You don't deserve this, but I have no choice." I could feel the pain in his voice when he said it, but it made no sense.

"What? Wait, no! Ric, you can't resist the mate bond. Can't you feel what I feel? Ric, please!" I begged, grabbing his hand tightly. "I can't bear it; my wolf is vulnerable. Please, Ric!" My voice broke out in a cracky, strained, bitter, and rough tone.

"I, Alpha Alaric..."

"No!" I screamed, but he didn't stop.

"...Reject you, Samantha, as my fated mate."

I fell to the floor, feeling the weight of rejection crush my heart and soul.

My wolf howled so loudly that I feared she wouldn't be able to survive the pain we were feeling. I begged her to be strong, but the pain felt like I was dying.

The pain was excruciating, beyond words could ever describe. It was something I never thought existed. A pain unbearable, yet I could do nothing.

I couldn't breathe. My heart felt like claws were ripping it apart. I saw Finn feel so much pain, but I doubted he felt it as much as I did. I believed why this was happening to me was because our bodies had already bonded, along with our hearts and souls, because we had made love to each other.

Alaric stood there watching me while I was being destroyed by the pain he caused me. He had guilt written all over his face, but what good was it if he had to hurt me this way?

"Don't leave me. Please...." I begged, using every last strength I had in the mind link to beg him as he walked towards the door. He stopped just a pull away from the doorknob and tilted slightly to catch a glimpse of me.

"I'm really sorry, Samantha," Alaric said as he stood by the door. I saw the guilt still etched on his face, but then he left me alone, rejected and broken.

My worst nightmare finally became my reality.