Chapter 2 - Regrets

SCARLETT

The worst moments of my life always hit unexpectedly. 

One second, everything was fine, the next moment, like an unforeseen storm, it all came crashing down.

Like the time I lost dad on my ninth birthday. One moment I was blowing candles off my cake, the next moment I was staring at his lifeless body, the warmth already draining from his face.

It was then I concluded that fate had a way of ripping away every good thing that ever came my way.

Archer was the one good thing I had left. 

He was my only safe place.

But tonight as I stood under the weight of his furious gaze, that safety crumbled.

The usual warmth in his eyes was gone, in its place, disbelief, jealousy and rage burned through, sending chills down my spine.

I was unable to tear my gaze away from him, my heart pounded relentlessly in my chest, and my stomach sank in fear. Fear that once again I might lose the one person who mattered the most to me in the world.

His glare never wavered as he took a step back, his jaw flexed, hands curling into fists by his sides, like he was physically restraining himself.

Then without a word, he turned and stormed away.

My heart dropped in panic.

No.

Not him too. I couldn't lose him as well.

I didn't think, I just moved, desperately weaving through the crowd of partying bodies, to get to him.

“Archer please wait…it's not what you think…” my heels clicked on the ground as I struggled to meet up with him.

But he didn't stop. 

He kept moving, anger fueling his steps.

The night air slapped against my skin once I stepped outside, the distant thump of bass vibrating the ground.

“Archer, wait!” The words left me breathless as I caught up with him.

He turned so fast, shoving me away, I nearly stumbled, his blue eyes burned with jealousy and rage as they pierced mine.

“What. the. fuck. was. that?” his sharp voice cut through the air.

“It wasn't what it looked like, let me explain…”

He let out a dark humourless laugh, “Explain what? I fucking saw it all…” he took a predatory step closer, tilting his head with scorn,

“You kissed him. He had his tongue deep in your throat, and you let him in.”

 I violently shook my head, tears blurring my vision,

“I didn't mean to. I didn't even know… ”

He scoffed, “Of course you didn't know.

“I didn't kiss him willingly.” I choked out, my voice trembling, “I know what it looked like, I just need you to trust…”

I reached out, desperately needing to bridge the gap between us. But the moment my fingers brushed against his arms, he yanked them away like my touch burned.

“Don’t you fucking touch me…”

I flinched at the sharpness in his voice. The way he looked at me like I was a stranger, like we were nothing, completely shattered me.

I choked back a sob, wiping my tears,

“I'm… I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. It..It just happened and I…”

He didn't let me finish. He growled, slamming his fist on the car's hood, making me jump.

He faced me again, this time more furious, 

“You know what you're so good at?” His voice was dangerously low and taunting.

I swallowed hard.

“Making people believe in something that isn't real…”

His words hit me like a punch. My breath hitched.

I opened my mouth, but no words came out…

Instead my chin trembled, I ended up clutching myself at my elbows.

“Archer, please don't say…”

But he didn't stop there. His expression hardened,

“I should have known. Should have seen this coming. I was never enough right?”

I shut my eyes through the pain, “Stop…”

Archer barked out a bitter laugh, he towered over me as his harsh voice hit me again.

“Me or him?” 

For a moment I just froze in shock. Unable to do anything but stare. Tears stung at the back of my eyes but I blinked them away.

“Are you serious?” my voice cracked.

“Fucking give me an answer Scarlett…” he barked.

I searched his eyes for any clue of the man I fell in love with. 

But he wasn't there, he was unrecognizable.

 “How could you even ask that?” I whispered.

His voice dropped dangerously low, “Because he's your fucking mate. I saw my own girlfriend find her mate, and on top of that, you let him kiss you. So you tell me, are you with me or do you want to run off to be with your new fucking mate?”

I frantically shook my head, reaching forward, I caressed his cheek, 

“You know it's you,” I whispered, voice breaking, “it's always been you…”

His jaw clenched.

“Then prove it.”

I swallowed.

“Prove you want me, not him, but until then,” he took a step back, “stay the fuck away from me.”

And with that he turned, got into his car and slammed it shut.

“Archer…” but the sound of his engine coming to life cut me short. He didn't even spare me one last glance.

He sped off, leaving me standing there, shocked to the bone.

I watched his taillights disappear with a tear streaked face, until a shaky breath cracked through and I nearly wobbled, unable to contain my inner turmoil. 

I was left standing here in the cold parking lot with nothing but a broken heart and a relationship in near shambles.

It was all perfect a moment ago. 

And now, a single mistake has shattered my world entirely.

I wanted to yell. To shout. To be angry at someone for everything.

I passed a shaky hand through my hair because I didn't even know who to be angry at…

Archer, myself, the moon goddess or the jerk, Adrian…

A low chuckle cut through my thoughts, taunting.

“If you're gonna cry all night, I have a shoulder to lend sweetheart…”

A slow chill crawled down my spine. 

I already knew who it was, before I turned.

Adrain Blackwood.

He stood casually against the wall, a burning cigarette lazily dangling from his lips. Smoke curled out of him, adding to his dark presence.

His forest green orbs held dark amusement as he regarded me, with a smirk. The light cut through his sharp jawline while a rebellious strand of hair slipped over his forehead, making him look effortlessly dangerous.

Suddenly, everything I'd heard about him came rushing to mind- Adrian wasn't just the alpha, he was destruction itself, coated in effortless charm.

The type of guy women craved like a drug, knowing fully well that he would ruin them.

And now, I was mated to him.

A chill ran down my spine at the thought.

“Rough night, sweetheart? ” he dragged on effortlessly.

My hands slowly curled into fists by the sight of him.

“Let me guess…” he started off, flicking his cigar to the ground before crushing it with his feet, his eyes flickered to me once more.

“lover boy wasn't too happy about the little incident inside?”

I said nothing. Only a breathy exhale.

“Tsk” he clicked his tongue, “ I mean, I can't really blame him. I'd be mad too if my girlfriend got swept away by another man's kiss..”

My jaw clenched, “That was an accident…”

He hummed, pretending to think , “right, right.”

His gaze dropped to my lips, dark with something unreadable, “Hell of an accident though. You kiss everyone like that?”

Anger blurred my vision. 

Without thinking, I walked up to him and slapped him hard, across the cheek.

He barely turned from the impact of my slap.

He didn't even flinch, just worked his jaw before refocusing on me again.

“I've never been hit by a woman before,” his voice was low and teasing,“especially not by a woman I kissed…” 

Rage burned through my veins at his cockiness,

 “Don’t you dare stop to think for a moment that the kiss meant anything to me. Who do you think you were, to just come in and kiss me?”

His smirk never wavered, if anything, it deepened.

And then he moved.

Leaning in, until the air between us felt too thick, too hot.

Adrian lifted a hand and delicately tucked a loose hair strand behind my ear.

My breath hitched.

“I thought I made that clear with the kiss…” he breathed over my lips.

The way he said it. Low and sensual, caused an involuntary shiver down my spine.

I suddenly drew back against the pounding of my heart, “Look, I don't want this….”

He let out a slow and wicked grin, “What makes you think you have a choice?”

I scoffed, “Because I do. And I chose not to entertain myself with one who thinks the world and everyone in it revolves around him..”

He arched his brow, “you sure about that?”

“Trust me, I am very sure.” I snapped,

 “You should stay away from me.”

Saying that, I stormed off.

“Liar..”

The single word halted my steps.

My shoulders tensed.

“You say you don't want it, but your kiss from earlier told a different story…”

I turned, frowning at his audacity. 

“The kiss was a mistake, so is this bond.”

“In Fact,” I took a daring step forward, 

 “I reject this mate bond.”

“I'm in love with Archer and I absolutely have no interest in being your mate.”

Finally, I breathed out, 

“I. chose. him.”

Silence hung between us.

For a fleeting moment, something flickered in his eyes- surprise, amusement but it vanished quickly.

Then I waited for it to come.

For him to say it back.

To accept the rejection.

But then he did the most unexpected thing.

He smirked. The arrogant jerk smirked!

Leaning in, his fresh woodsy scent filled my nostrils.

“A rejection takes two

to happen sweetheart,”his voice dropped with a murmur.

“Goodluck with that.”

And then, he walked away.

Leaving me standing there, shocked to the bone.

What?!

I blinked, absolutely stunned.

He was supposed to say it back.

Why didn't he say it back?