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CHERRY

Before I got married, I found my mate and I tried hard to make my parents see that I couldn’t be with Dylan but they insisted. I didn’t even get the chance to get to know him before he rejected me saying that I wasn’t good enough. His rejection hurt me more than anything. And seeing me hurt didn’t deter my parent’s decision about wedding me off in the slightest.

So I got married with a grudge and was furious with everyone. I was glad at the time that Dylan shared the same hatred for me because he didn’t want to be tied down to a woman who wasn’t his mate simply because his parents betrothed her to him when he was a child.

But it didn’t take me a lot of time to fall head over heels in love with him despite his distaste for me. He used to hate when I would stare at him, he still does and even now as I’m seated next to him in the car, I couldn’t help but admire him. 

Dylan was a handsome man, and I wanted to believe that he was a good man to others even if he wasn’t to me.

We were on our way to our anniversary party, the venue was to be at the pack house. I would have spent the day like any other but the Alpha insisted on throwing one.

When we arrived at the party, pack members came around to congratulate us and not once did Dylan smile or answer them. It was a reminder that no matter what I tried to do to win his heart, he was never going to love me.

“And know ladies and gentlemen, the couple will have their first dance of the night.” Dylan’s father announced.

My heart skipped a beat. I didn’t know that I could have to be close to Dylan in that way but I was thrilled by it.

My palms got sweaty pretty fast as I shuffled behind him to the dance floor.

When we faced each other, he begrudgingly pulled me in his arms and I swear I could feel myself falling in love with him all over again.

My heart soared at his warmth and I didn’t mind it if we were told to dance forever.

“This is nice isn’t it?” I said trying to make small talk because it started to get awkward especially with everyone staring at us. “You look nice by the way.”

“You look better with your mouth shut, and your body a million miles away from me, but here we are.” He said coldly as we continued to move.

His body was stiff; he was forcing it to move for the dance.

My heart clenched at his words, trying not to let them get to me. So I forced a smile and looked at him.

“If you could only give us a chance, you wouldn’t hate everything so much.” I said calmly, my expression soft. “Plus our parents think it’s about time we have children and I agree with them. We’ve been married three years but have nothing to show for it.”

“You simply don’t get it do you?” he started, his grip tightening, so much I knew it was going to leave a bruise. A whimper escaped my lips, “You think the world revolves around whatever fantasy you have. I don’t love you Cherry, I never have and I never fucking will. If I had my way, I would have divorced you a long time ago.”

Dylan pushed me off him making me stagger backwards. I looked at him in utter shock as he went to the stage and took the microphone from his father.

“I don’t want to waste anyone’s time but I’ll say this again for everyone to know. I don’t love Cherry, I never have and I never will. I have a mate that I intend to be with and she and I have been seeing each other for almost three years now.”

Tears pulled my eyes, and I tried my hardest not to let them fall, not in front of everyone. Each word held a sword in hand and pierced my heart. His eyes focused on me and like him, I could feel everyone’s eyes on me.

“You will never be good enough to be my Luna. And now that you know that I have a mate, I do hope that you won’t let this drag more than it already has.” He then shoved the microphone down and stormed off the stage.

I felt small and completely humiliated. The stares turned to murmurs and soon I knew I was going to be the main topic of gossip around the pack.

I knew he didn’t want me, but why couldn’t he just give us a chance?

My broken heart and hurt turned to resentment. 

I chuckled, realization finally hitting me. I was at the edge of the cliff he was trying to push me over. I was done trying to make things work between us. I snapped out of my thoughts and I pulled myself together. I heard movements beside me and I knew that it was the Alpha and Luna. But do I dare look up? 

With the courage I had left, I walked off to the bathroom. I had felt like I couldn’t breathe, I wanted to splash some water on my face and I didn’t care that the makeup took hours to finish.

I didn’t care about a lot of things anymore

After taking a few deep breaths, I walked back into the party and kept my distance from anyone, especially my parents and Dylan.

After an encounter like this, I should run away somewhere, anywhere no one would find me but I stayed, unsure why. Maybe it was because I didn’t want him to see just how broken he had made me. I wanted him to know that I could be fine without him.

I didn’t know how but I could feel him glaring at me. And by the time the evening came to a close and we were getting ready to head back home, Dylan walked tried to walk past me but I grabbed his arm. 

“Where are you going?” I asked. I didn’t even know why I stopped him. 

A disgusted expression plastered across his face as he looked at where my hand was on his arm. I instantly withdrew my hand and waited for an answer. 

“I’m going where I don’t have to see your disgusting face, even if it’s for a few hours.”

He said walking away. 

I watched with a broken heart as my husband drove away like he didn’t just throw my heart to the floor and stomped on it.