Chapter one: First encounter

Ember

I stepped into the High Moon Pack house, that night, the full moon was hanging low in the sky.

My face was exceptionally filled with a bright smile because my mate, Rowan Gray, would finally claim me as his tonight, unlike most wolves, I didn't met my mate when I turned eighteen, it was after I turned twenty that I knew that Rowan Gray, the son of Alpha Hudson Gray, my packs Alpha was my mate.

And our love, ever since has been proceeding greatly, even though he hasn't marked me, but tonight is going to be the night, I will finally wear his mark.

For this reason, my face was brimming with a bright smile.

I opened the door to his room, searching for him, just like I always did, but instead of finding him sitting on his desk working on the paperwork, or resting on his bed like he mostly does, my eyes landed on a scene that made my heart shatter into a million pieces.

Before me was Rowan Gray, on the bed naked, and was passionately indulging another woman, they were so engrossed in it that it was only after I let out a soft gasp, that Rowan jumped back with fright.

The woman on the bed quickly reached for the blanket and pulled it over her head.

I felt a bile rise in my throat, my chest felt as if heavy stones were layered on it, I couldn't think of anything, my mind just wouldn't process anything as I stumbled backward clutching my chest.

"Ember, I can explain, It's not what it looks like... I didn't mean to, listen to me I can explain... I..." He stood up in a hurry, even before he could put on his clothes. In a panic he stepped forward to my side hurriedly, but as a result he stumbled and fell.

My eyes were red rimmed as I looked at the man i was in love with, the mate who had promised to mark me on the full moon, and now it's here, not only would that be impossible now, he was right here fucking another woman.

I couldn't bear the pain as I turned to run out of the room, but before I could even do that, Rowan hurriedly pulled himself up and grabbed at my hand pulling me into his chest. But then, a familiar scent hit my nose.

"I'm sorry Ember, forgive me, I didn't mean t–"

The words remained unfinished as I pushed him back, this scent, pinewood scent, I immediately marched to the bed and meant to pull the blanket off that woman's face when Rowan's hand pulled me back.

"Ember please don't.." he pleaded as he pulled me back, he was trying hard to protect her.

But all I wanted right then was to see the face of whomever was under the blanket.

So with an effort, I tugged at the blanket and pulled it off.

Please let it be a stranger, anyone but someone I love. But fate was cruel.

The face that was staring back at me was none other than my stepmom's, the woman I took as my mother in every way except blood, Astrid eyes widened in horror, as she scrambled to cover herself.

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut, as my breath felt at If it was knocked out of me.

Rowan's infidelity was bad enough, but Astrid's betrayal cut even deeper.

"Astrid, how could you?" I whispered, my voice was trembling slightly.

My father has done nothing but love this woman unconditionally, but seeing this I realized that my father's love and trust meant nothing to her. She was cheating on him, and with my mate, no less. What have I done to deserve this?

She opened her mouth to speak, but I couldn't bear to hear her excuses. I turned back to Rowan, my eyes blazing with anger and hurt.

Just how long has this been going on between them, but even I know I couldn't answer that.

Suddenly, she started to cry as I turned to look at the figure on the bed who was trying to cover herself with the blanket that was still tightened in my fist, tears were streaming down her face, reluctantly I released it.

But it was just then, that Rowan who was a while ago remorseful now tightened his grip on my arm forcing me to look back, "I told you to stop. But you didn't and now that you've seen what you wanted, can you get out of here?" He growled at me.

"How could you do this to me Rowan..." How could he still be the one to talk even after this?

Astrid sprawls on the bed with the blanket now wrapped around her body as she keeps sobbing while muttering, "I'm sorry Ember, I'm really sorry but we love each other, I love him... I'm sorry... Forgive me."

I laughed almost hysterically crazy as tears spilled out of my eyes, "You love each other? But he's my mate! And you knew that, yet here you are here in his bed, taking his dick!"

"I would not watch you talk to her like that, don't you see she was still apologizing, and now you're stripping her of her dignity, she's your stepmother for goodness sake!" Rowan half yelled at me.

I turned my face to him as I said, "So you remember that she's my stepmother when you decided to have sex with her?"

"So what if I have sex with her? Tell me so what? I got tired of waiting for you, therefore I chose her, and she was willing because she got tired of your paralyzed father!" Rowan thundered.

Slap!

My other hand struck his face as I screamed, "You both deserve each other," I spat, ripping my hand from Rowan's grasp. "Don't ever come near me again."

I turned and let my legs take the lead, the sound of her apologies and pleas fading into the distance. I don't want to hear it, I don't want to see their faces, I don't want to remember how they were both entangled together, and how Rowan was protective of her.

I don't want to remember that my mate just disrespected my father, calling him a paralyzed man.

My heart felt like it was shattering into a million pieces. The betrayal stung, and I needed to escape.

I fled the Highmoon Pack house,

It hurts, it hurts so much... is this what's like to be betrayed by someone you love so dearly.

The full moon however was still hanging low in the sky, but right then, it was nothing but a cruel reminder of the night that was supposed to be mine and Rowan's. But it turned out to be a night of betrayal.

My Wolf, Freya whimpered inside of me, but I'm just too heartbroken to comfort her after the betrayal we were slapped with by our mate.

I kept running until my legs ached and my lungs burned. I finally stopped in front of a huge building, my teary eyes staring at the neon lights of the building sign, the name was written in bold letters.

Without any hesitation I entered the clubhouse, the music and laughter booming loudly, I made my way to the bar, the bartender was shaking some wine in glass as I sat on the stool in front of him.

"Whiskey," I said, trying to control the vibration in my voice. "Lots of it."

The bartender raised an eyebrow but poured me a shot without asking questions. I downed it in one gulp, feeling it burn all the way to my stomach.

"Another," I said and sat the cup on the counter.

He hesitated but poured me another shot.

"Another." I repeated the process until my mind started to go numb and my senses dulled.

After what felt like an eternity, I slapped some money on the counter and stumbled out of my seat, my head was spinning. So I grabbed the counter to steady myself, feeling like a total mess.

After a minute, I tried standing again, but my legs felt like Jello. I let out a loud burp and stumbled forward. I had no idea where I was going as I could barely see anything ahead.

The music was a jumbled mess of beats and melodies, making my head hurt even more. Then, I walked right into someone. I couldn't see straight, but these piercing golden eyes locked onto mine, and I felt a pang in my chest.

The face was a little blurry, but I could indistinctly make out a rough outline of his face.

I burped again, clinging onto him as if he was some salvation, he threw me a condescending look, I saw a blurry cigarette butt dangling from the corner of his mouth, his facial feature was unclear.

He half squinted his deep golden eyes, then his body leaned forward like a mountain covering my entire body, he suddenly grabbed my waist and pulled me closer, "Little bunny... Umm... What are you doing in this type of place?"