Chapter 4: The Heartbreaking Truth

SELENE

 

The soft rays of dawn painted the surroundings with a gentle warmth, coaxing me awake from the depths of a dream-laden slumber. For a fleeting moment, the memory of Nathan's touch and his kisses marked my skin, and a shy smile tugged at my lips.

 

I stretched, reaching out for the presence beside me, yearning for the continuation of the night. But my fingers encountered only cool sheets. Sitting up, I blinked against the morning light filtering through the canopy of the oak tree, my gaze sweeping the expanse of the surroundings. I looked at my side, and it was empty.

 

"Nathan left..." I whispered to myself, a mix of disappointment and confusion clouding my thoughts.

 

As I tried to piece together the fragments of the previous night, a pang of longing tugged at my heart, leaving me wondering where he had gone and if our connection was as intangible as the dream itself.

 

Did I do something wrong last night? Was it something I said or didn't say?

 

The uncertainty gnawed at me, making me question every action and word. I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease, asking if our time together had been nothing more than a fleeting moment of happiness. The emptiness beside me reminded me of the uncertainty that now hung in the air, leaving me yearning for answers and hoping that Nathan's departure was not a sign of something deeper.

 

I replayed our conversations, searching for any signs or hints I may have missed. The weight of the unanswered questions lingered, leaving me restless and longing for clarity. Finding Nathan's reasons and explanations was the only way to ease my troubled mind.

 

With that, I left the tree where we had spent the night, my heart still pounding from the intensity of our connection.

 

The morning light was soft, casting a golden hue over the forest. I looked around for Nathaniel, expecting to see him gathering wood for a fire or perhaps taking in the beauty of the dawn. But he was nowhere to be found.

 

Confused and anxious, I decided to head to our private place, the cabin. If anyone knew where he was, it would be there. As I climbed up the ladder to the tree house, my mind raced with thoughts of what could have happened to Nathaniel. Had something gone wrong during the night? Did he leave without saying goodbye?

 

The possibilities swirled in my troubled mind, intensifying my anxiety with each step.

 

As I approached the front porch, my heart sank at what I saw. My best friend, Veronica, left the cabin looking flushed and disheveled. Her eyes widened in surprise as she spotted me, and guilt washed over her face.

 

My mind went blank as I tried to process the sight before me. Confusion and hurt washed over me, leaving me feeling betrayed and alone. How could Nathaniel, my closest friend, be with Veronica, someone I trusted implicitly?

 

"Ronnie? What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice tinged with disbelief.

 

She hesitated, her eyes finally meeting mine. "Selene..."

 

Before I could respond, the door behind her opened, and Nathaniel stepped out. His eyes widened in surprise as he saw me, then quickly shifted to Veronica, a complex mix of emotions flashing across his face.

 

"Selene, you're here," he began, but I raised my hand to stop him.

 

"Why are you with her?" I asked, my voice breaking. "After what happened last night, you came sneaking with Veronica, my best friend, into our secret meeting spot? How could you betray me like this?"

 

Nathaniel looked pained, his eyes searching mine as if trying to find a way to mend the unfixable. "Selene, please listen—"

 

"No, Nathan. You listen. All these years, I thought we had something special. And then I find you here, with her?" I pointed at Veronica, standing awkwardly to the side, her eyes filled with guilt and something else—pity.

 

Veronica quickly butted in, "Nathan and I, we never meant this to happen, Selene..." My heart sank at her words, realizing what she meant. The betrayal felt even more profound now, knowing Nathan was just beside me last night.

 

My mind raced with questions, desperate for answers to make sense of the situation. How long had they been seeing each other behind my back? Was there ever any genuine connection between us?

 

As the weight of the situation settled in, I couldn't help but wonder if our entire relationship had been a lie. The realization left me vulnerable and questioning everything I knew about Nathaniel and Veronica.

 

"You never meant this to happen? After everything I told you, Veronica, do you think I'll still believe you?" I shouted, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and betrayal.

 

Tears welled in my eyes as I struggled to comprehend everything happening. The pain in my heart grew unbearable as I demanded an explanation for their actions, desperate to understand why they had chosen to hurt me in such a profound way.

 

Nathaniel sighed deeply, running his fingers through his hair. "Selene, I'm sorry, but you have to understand... Veronica is my mate."

 

"What, mate? You were with me last night! I'm your mate! Or did you even forget that after you fucked my best friend?" I retorted, my eyes stinging with tears I refused to shed.

 

Nathaniel looked at Veronica, then back at me. "Selene, Veronica is my mate. What are you talking about? After the mating ritual, I... didn't see you."

 

I felt a sharp pang in my chest as his words sank in. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks, leaving me feeling betrayed and utterly heartbroken.

 

"Then who..." The words tasted bitter in my mouth.

 

Nathan came to me and held my hand. "You've always been important to me, Selene. I never wanted to hurt you, but my wolf chose her as my mate. I hope you can understand and forgive me."

 

As he spoke, a mix of emotions swirled inside me: anger, sadness, and a glimmer of understanding. Deep down, I knew that love couldn't be controlled or forced, but it didn't make the pain any less unbearable.

 

Right then, Veronica walked close to me and said, "I know this must be difficult for you, Selene. But I want you to know that I never intended this to happen. I never wanted to come between you and Nathan." Her voice trembled with sincerity as she reached out to touch my arm. But the Goddess chose him to be my mate."

 

I wanted to understand her, but the pain and betrayal were still fresh, clouding my ability to fully grasp her words. I couldn't help but wonder why fate had played such a cruel trick on me and why it had chosen Nathan to be with Veronica instead of me.

 

The weight of the situation felt overwhelming, leaving me torn between wanting to forgive and seeking revenge. It was a battle between my heart and wounded pride as I struggled to understand the Goddess Lupa's decision.

 

"I can't do this! I need to go," I responded as I turned away, unable to bear the sight of them any longer.

 

My feet carried me away from the cabin and the unbearable reality of Veronica being Nathan's mate. Tears blurred my vision as I walked, each step taking me further from the life I thought I knew and the love I thought I had.

 

As I walked, my mind raced. I recalled every interaction I had with that mysterious man, every word spoken, searching for any signs I could form of his persona.

 

But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't find any answers. It was as if that man—my mate—had been a ghost all along, leaving only fragments of a puzzle that refused to fit together. Doubt and confusion clouded my thoughts, making it difficult to trust my judgment. Even the weight of the situation felt suffocating, leaving me desperate for clarity and answers that seemed just out of reach.

 

Who was the man I had been with? Why did his scent seem so familiar to Nathan?

 

But more importantly, how could he look so much like him?