Him?

Scarlett's pov

No, no, no this cannot be happening.

My heart thudded in my chest as I hesitantly turned around to face the all-so-familiar face of my mate. Back then I thought he was the most handsome male I had laid my eyes on. That day he took my breath away. Little did I know that he was secretly planning to take my breath away for real. I couldn't help but drool over him as I happily accepted him as my soulmate. My heart was soaring high as Iris shrieked out the confirmation that he was indeed my soulmate. 

However, today, I heard nothing but silence. Iris didn't utter a word. She didn't even stir in my head and all I felt was fear and repulsion when I laid my eyes on his ridiculously handsome face.

I gulped as I made eye contact with him. With his entire body tensed, he was staring right at me. His eyes were dilated and he looked as though he was ready to pounce on me. I anxiously looked around to glimpse at the spectators. As I expected, they all looked thrilled. Finding one's mate was a remarkable forte. So I understood why they were overjoyed. 

I, on the other hand, was wishing in my head that this would never occur. I remembered how thrilled I had been to discover my soul partner. I recalled wanting to live out the rest of my days with him. However, things were different this time. Although the people, the food, and the music were all the same, how I felt was quite different from how I had previously felt.

I saw the beaming faces of my parents. The guests were exchanging glances of excitement while some of them whispered among themselves in joy.

Everyone was obviously thrilled about our relationship. It was no little thing for the sole daughter of the Crimson Crescent to mate with the strongest alpha of the northern packs. It would strengthen our bond and lead to more security. Threats from rebels and other foes would decrease. In addition to that, since I was the heir to Crimson Crescent, we would eventually merge the packs and become the biggest and the most powerful pack under the sky.

At least, that is what everybody anticipated happening. I was devastated when calamity struck. Numerous condolences were sent my way. Michael feigned to comfort me, and I stupidly accepted his entire display of affection. I was not aware that he was to blame for the disaster.

I clenched my fists. I wasn't going to let that happen this time. I would do everything in my power to save my pack. Michael and Georgette can go to hell. 

"Oh, you found your mate!" 

It was my mother who broke the heavy silence with her statement of excitement. 

I looked at her sparkling eyes. She was, without a doubt, pleased about me being mated to Michael. My father stood beside her. He couldn't have appeared to be more proud. I bit my inner cheeks. 

Oh, how naive were they? They were oblivious to the impending danger. 

"Mate!" Michael growled again, making me snap my head at him. Behind him, I saw my so-called best friend scowling, but she quickly masked her displeasure with a plastic smile. 

Right… they were in some sort of a relationship when this started. I wondered what kind of a relationship they were in. Could it be that all of it was a part of a well organised plan? What if Georgette ending up at our perimeters a couple of years ago wasn't just a coincidence? 

My mouth went dry. Speechless, I started between the two as I tried to piece it together. What if my speculation was right? I wanted to speak, yet all I could do was gulp down forcefully, trying to dampen my parched throat. 

"Honey? Say something," my mother whispered, chuckling softly. 

"She is rendered speechless," chuckled my father. "That's okay, honey. Your mother also was speechless for a while when we first met."

I forced a smile as I watched my mom try to fake a frown at him. Despite their playfulness, I just couldn't find internal harmony. The man I was so desperately trying to avoid ever since I woke up, was standing right in front of me. 

Michael took a step forward. My heart skipped a beat and not in a good way. The horrible memories of the day he ruthlessly ordered his assassins to kill me flooded back. I knew that it was an alternate time frame, yet those memories were as clear as the full moon on a cloudless night. 

I started to hyperventilate. I didn't want him as my mate. I didn't want anything to do with him. I wished I never met him in this life. I took a step away from him despite feeling light headed. 

"Scarlett?" 

I thought I heard my mother, but before I could decipher what was happening, everything went black. 

*** 

"Honey?" 

My mother's voice sounded far away, yet I knew that it was her. 

I opened my eyes. My parents were peering at me in concern. I noticed that Michael was standing behind them, but I didn't look directly into his face. I had once fallen for his facade and I no longer wanted any of it. Not anymore.

My mother offered a small smile as she caressed my arm. "How are you feeling?" 

"I'm okay," I told her, curling my lips into a forced smile.

"What happened?" my father asked me. 

I gulped. "I… I don't know… I just felt dizzy." 

They exchanged glances. "Maybe it's because of all that running." My mother suggested. 

"Yeah. Maybe it was the exhaustion," my father agreed. "Perhaps some rest could help." 

I was glad that they said that. It saved me a lot of trouble. My mom tenderly kissed my forehead. 

"Sleep, sweetheart. I think it'll be the best for you." 

She turned to look at Michael. Glancing at me, "your mate can stay here…" 

"No!" I knew I sounded aggressive, but I couldn't help but blurt it out. 

"I… I would like to be left alone. You're right. I need sleep. I think I'll sleep the best when I'm left alone," I quickly added in a lower tone. 

Pursing their lips, my parents exchanged glances and then looked at my foe. I begrudgingly cast a glance at him. There he was, smiling like the perfect gentleman. 

"Alpha Michael…"

"Please, just Michael. We are family now. Right?" He cut my father off, offering a polite smile.

I couldn't believe my eyes. He was such a good actor. Not a hint of distaste was on his face, in vast contrast to the day he commanded his assassins to kill me. No wonder he managed to fool all of us. He was the perfect opponent in disguise.

I found myself clutching the sheets when he started to stroll towards me. After flashing the smile that I had foolishly fallen for in the past, he patted my hand. The sparks that erupted were noticeably indistinct than they used to be. 

He frowned. Perhaps because of the faint sparks. Anyway, I was glad that the sparks were endurable. 

"Hey, I'll come back for you, okay? Rest well. I don't want to disturb you," he said.

I held back my urge to roll my eyes. When I didn't respond, he walked away, much to my relief. I didn't realise that I was tense until he closed the door behind him. The air instantly cleared up and I felt myself loosen up a bit. 

"Such a gentleman." 

"Yeah, I'm so glad that he is Scarlett's mate," my father agreed with my mom. 

It saddened me to hear them speak of Michael as though he was a faultless angel. If only they knew… 

Without uttering a word, I pulled the sheet over my body and turned to the side. 

"She must be really tired," my dad whispered. 

"Yeah. But wouldn't it help if her mate stayed with her? He might help her heal." 

I winced when I heard my mother's comment. "I would like to be alone, mom." 

They left, yet I couldn't sleep for a long time. I wasn't tired and sleep was the last thing I could do. I missed Iris. It was at moments like these that I used to have long conversations with her. It would have helped if I could share my real feelings with someone.

Sighing, "I know you're in there, Iris. But what's wrong? Why aren't you speaking?" I spoke out loud. 

Disappointed at the silence in my head, I walked towards the window and slid the curtains to one side. The night had deepened and there wasn't anyone around in the open ground. I unlocked the window and peered outside. The cool breeze of the night fluttered my hair, making me smile. The night was serene. Not a soul stirred in the woods, disturbing the tranquillity. It was just the music of the rustling leaves and the shining stars that entertained me. 

"What am I going to do?" I whispered to myself. I was determined to save my pack from his clutches, but the problem was, I didn't know where to start. 

Just as I was about to close the window and go to sleep for real, I saw someone running into the trees. 

I squinted at that person, but as soon as I recognised her, my eyes went wide. Georgette. I wondered what she was doing out there at this hour. I was still staring at her, dumbfounded when another person walked briskly after her. He was tall and well-built... like Michael? 

From the way he moved I was certain that it could only have been him.The question was, why was he going after her into the woods at such an hour?