Chapter One - Betrayal

Sarina Hazel Moon

Amid the bustling symphony of echoing footsteps and excited chatter in the crowded hallways, I could feel the vibrant energy enveloping me like a warm, familiar embrace as I walked towards my dormitory.

The contagious excitement that radiated from my fellow students was like a fizzy soda, bubbling with enthusiasm, and I couldn't help but catch that contagious giddiness.

The promise of new beginnings, the tantalizing scent of knowledge in the air, and the hope of eventually graduating to explore the multitude of places that had been only dreams until now will soon turn into a reality.

Just like them, I am excited about the start of the school year, especially for us seniors who will graduate this year.

After I got back to my dorm, I heard loud, aggressive knocks and gasped in excitement after seeing my friends who looked extremely happy to see me.

“Alison! Oliver!” I ran like a child missing her mother and father to jump and hug them tight, making them laugh.

“Gosh, we know you missed us but please take it easy.” Oliver rolled his eyes. This gay friend of ours did not change one bit.

Alison Brooke is my number one supporter and protector of everything while Oliver is responsible for all of our dashing outfits every time we three go out. He is extremely strict about it.

“What are your plans today, Sarina? It looks like you finished settling in.” They glanced back to my clean and organized dorm, which made me nod.

“You know I have been here for days now because my classes start early just like Paul so obviously I would be finished settling in by now.” I informed them while looking at the time, “It was my lunch break, and I realized that most students will settle in today.”

“And I think Paul and I will see each other later,” I muttered happily while blushing, which made them smile.

“Ugh, just get married already but this year will be critical to both of you, you’re both coming of age. You will find your mates.” Alison reminded me, which made me grunt.

Paul and I have been together for more than two years now, he was a varsity player and we met when I was organizing an event.

We just clicked even if we both knew that we were not mates. We have so much in common that it was easy for us to be around one another.

But it does not scare me as we made a promise before, we love each other so much to the point we are willing to reject our mates for each other, it was our plan after coming of age. A promise between one another.

“It’s Paul’s birthday tomorrow. Be there for him, rejecting a mate is quite painful, you know?” Alison reminded me again, which made me nod.

I am sure they’re both just worried about me because the bonds are powerful and different, “I know, thank you both! He is in class now with his friend whom he always mentioned like a week ago. It’s Samantha? I think?” 

Come to think of it, he has been distant lately and his reason was his studies. I feel like he is planning a surprise because my birthday is also coming up soon, he always surprises me with extravagant things.

“We don’t care about the name of that dreaded woman, you said you would give yourself to him at midnight right? Here, we brought you something for the celebration.” Oliver dangerously winked and handed over a small paper bag.

I snorted before checking the inside, “It’s not my birthday, it’s Paul’s, why would you give me something—Ah!”

Alison and Oliver laughed out loud because of my reaction. Who wouldn’t be surprised after seeing sexy black lingerie? The seductive ribbons in the center will reveal my whole breast part!

I could feel myself blushing at the thought of him cuddling with me in that outfit. It was too hot for me to handle. Gah!

“Ha! I knew her reaction would be priceless, this virgin is so innocent!” Alison tapped my back, “You will be fine. I am sure.”

“S-Stop! You both are crazy! Get out!” I pushed them out of my dorm and smiled to myself after closing the door behind my back.

“Those two will never change, they are always looking after me,” I mumbled happily and decided to make use of that lingerie for him.

I am so excited, I am sure he will be so surprised when I visit him at his dorm later. I can’t wait to see his reaction.

After attending the rest of my classes that day, I started getting ready because it was almost midnight. I will sneak into his dorm and I am sure he would be happy about it because he has been requesting that way back but we just don’t have enough time.

Tonight is an exception, I am willing to give my whole self to him as he has been a good, loving boyfriend. I can’t ask for more aside from having him in my life.

Once I was certain the coast was clear, I couldn't contain my excitement. With a graceful leap out of my window, I landed silently and set off towards the men's dormitory, sprinting like the wind.

My anticipation bubbled up within me, threatening to burst out like a joyful burp, but I held it in as I reached the entrance to the men's dormitory.

I knew my presence might not go unnoticed, and the scent of my adventure might linger in the air, but I didn't mind. I was here solely for my beloved, and anyone who dared stand in my way would feel the sharp edge of my claws.

My breathing hitched when I stared at the door of his room, he did not lock it because his friends sometimes came to wake him up for class. He is a deep sleeper and doesn’t go up even alarm is set off.

I stood in front of the door, my hand resting on the cool doorknob. I closed my eyes for a moment to take a deep breath, just as my fingers tightened around the handle, a strange noise broke the silence – it was as if the bed inside was playing a frantic drumbeat against the walls.

What was that? With a quick, hesitant breath, I twisted the knob and opened the door. The dim room unfolded before me.

As the door creaked, the room seemed to exhale its hidden tension. But then, a chilling sensation washed over me as I heard a distant moan from his bedroom, the sound of the bed hitting the walls was to be heard there as well.

“P-Paul you’re too big.” I heard, and my heart instantly crumbled into a thousand pieces. I should have bolted, but my feet seemed to have a mind of their own, leading me inexorably toward his bedroom.

As I entered, a cascade of emotions washed over me, like a tempestuous blend of icy and scalding water, when I witnessed Paul making love with Samantha. I knew her, he introduced me to her last year. We were almost friends because she is part of Paul’s field of friends that I get along with.

They were completely lost in their world, utterly oblivious to my presence. I sneaked a glance at the clock – midnight. It was Paul's birthday.

Why did he do this? I didn’t see him doing this kind of thing to me. My entire body trembled with a mixture of anger and heartbreak, yet all I could do was clench my fists, silently questioning his love for me.

Paul eventually stopped and sniffed the air. When he realized I was there, his eyes contained horror after seeing me standing in his bedroom.

“S-Sarina, i-it’s not what you think.” He stood up, revealing his still-hardened thing when I decided to run away from there.

I sprinted, desperately trying to escape that nightmarish scene. My heart raced, matching the rhythm of my hurried footsteps. Just when I thought I had left it all behind, a sudden, firm grip latched onto my wrists, pulling me to a halt.

“Babe! Please, let me explain!” Paul's voice pierced through the turmoil, his eyes a tumultuous blend of worry and anger. I couldn't fathom how he had the audacity to wear that expression.

He was impeccably dressed, but his disheveled hair broke my entire being. Just thinking someone was yanking it a while ago made my blood boil.

In a blaze of fury, I yanked my wrists away from his grasp. “What else is there to explain? You cheated on me!”

I breathed heavily, trying to fight so hard to maintain my composure, “How could you do this to me, Paul? I have been good to you! We were good!”

“I tried to avoid her! Please believe me! But I can’t push her away because she is my mate! I can’t reject her! My wolf can’t bear with it!” He screamed in frustration which shocked me.

“Y-You found your mate and you didn’t even tell me?” I asked, my voice broke, betraying my entire being, “How long have you known?!”

Paul stopped, cursing before yanking his hair, “I-I smelled her just before my birthday, I stayed with her for almost a week, trying to find ways to reject her, but I can't.”

“The more time I spend with her, the more my wolf adores her. I couldn’t let her go, I had to be with her tonight and she knew it too, badly. We badly wanted each other.” He said. His words were like a sharp knife that stabbed me deep.

The promise we made, it was all for nothing? I shook my head and painfully laughed, “So much for the promises that we made, huh?”

I looked into his eyes again as I knew this would be the last time I would be standing this close to him. I do love him but I am not dumb enough to stay with him.

Paul wanted to say something but all he could do was clench his fists. He knew that it was over the moment he saw me there in his bedroom.

“We’re through Paul,” I muttered deeply before turning my back. This time, I didn’t run, I took my pace to go back to my dorm.

After closing the door behind my back, my whole body trembled. I sank to the ground, folding into a tight little ball, my tears flowing like a river in a storm.

My heart was broken and my mind wandered. I wept all night not realizing that I had fallen asleep on the cold floor.

***

The next day came by. I heard my phone ringing above me, my sore eyes opened and I gently reached out to check who it was.

I was still lying on the cold floor when I answered the call while covering my eyes, “W-Who is it?”

[Uh, duh?! Who is it my ass, it’s Oliver! We want to know the details of last night!] He screamed on the other line.

The flashback of last night came flooding as tears filled my eyes again, “W-We broke up, he cheated on me.”

After I said those words, there was silence on the other line. It was like they were listening to my sobs until I heard aggressive knocks on my door.

I tried to pull myself up to check who it was. The moment I turned the doorknob open, I was suddenly in a tight embrace by my two best friends.

“Fuck! What did he do?!” Oliver suddenly had his manly tone. Alison, on the other hand, continuously patted my back as I cried even more.

When I finally calmed down, they accompanied me to my bed as I started narrating to them what happened the previous night.

They both had this expression on their faces where they were trying so hard to control themselves not to get furious.

“Argh! That cheating bastard! I knew that it was fishy when you two hadn’t seen each other for days! You two are like peas in a pod before!” Alison furiously stood up and started pacing back and forth. She does that when she is furious.

Oliver, on the other hand, was silent while shaking his head, “Just when you were ready to give yourself to him, the universe was giving you a sign.”

I sniffed and wiped my tears before biting my lower lip, “It’s fine, it already happened, I just have to move on and go to class.”

“You’re going to class?!” They both exclaimed when I stood up, walking towards my towel hanging on the racks.

“Yes, I am.” I firmly told them.

“You don’t have to force yourself to go to class, rest here if you need to.” Alison worriedly said, which forced me to furrow my eyebrows.

“I don’t want to skip classes, plus, I would not let that man think for a second how obsessed I am with him by not going to classes, that’s the last thing I need right now.” I clenched my fists.

He is not going to get that kind of satisfaction after hurting me. I was even expecting him to run to me again but he didn’t, that was the last draw.

I shook my head. It’s all in the past now, there is no reason for me to think about it anymore. I have to be tough.

They both looked at one another before smirking, “This is part of the reason why we love you, we will be with you no matter what.”

“And I will help you make that man regret what he left.” Oliver gave me this sinister smile as he took out his huge pouch.

“Oh no, you better brace yourself because this is going to be an hour long,” Alison warned me while shaking her head.

I only smiled and decided to take a shower. I closed my eyes and let the warmth of the water embrace my cold, numb body.

To be continued…