Chapter 2

I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the keychain still clutched in my hand.

It was supposed to be our anniversary gift. 

The thought that Matt had rejected me on the day of our anniversary sent another wave of pain through me. 

I could still feel my heart constricting painfully like someone had grabbed it and was squeezing it tightly. 

Breathing was hard for me, painfully hard. 

It felt as if my entire world had come crashing down, and I wasn't certain what I was going to do anymore. 

 My fingers tightened around the keychain until the edges dug into my skin. 

I stared at my hand as it turned white, but I didn't squeeze.

The pain helped me focus and kept me from completely falling apart. 

The keychain was like my life force. 

My eyes were swollen from crying, but the ache in my chest refused to go away.

How could Matt do this to me? How could Sophie?

I had trusted both of them and yet they threw this at my face, treating me like I was thrashing to them. 

I thought he was preparing an anniversary surprise for me, but instead, I met that.

Well, I guess it was some sort of a surprise.

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps outside my door.

And I raised my head to see who was just about to walk in. 

Maybe it was Matt, he probably came to apologize to me. 

I clung to that little delusion tightly, praying to whoever listened to me.

A moment later, it creaked open, and my mother stepped inside, her face set in that familiar disapproving frown.

My heart fell in disappointment, but I didn't take my gaze away from her. 

“What is this nonsense I’ve been hearing, Tiana?” she asked, crossing her arms

 “You made a scene at the library? Cried like a child? Have you no shame?” her eyes held venom as they whipped around my heart, causing another wave of pain. 

I blinked up at her, stunned by her words. 

“What?” I croaked, my voice hoarse from all the crying.

She was making it seem as if this was all my fault. As if I wasn't the one who got cheated and rejected. 

Was she not told?

 “Matt cheated on me… with Sophie. They—he rejected me as his mate.”

My words came out as a stutter, and I found it hard to form a straight sentence. 

It still hurts. 

It had been hours, but I was still hurting like it just happened.

My mother sighed, shaking her head as if I was the one in the wrong.

 “Matt made the right choice. You know Sophie is better suited to be his mate. She’s stronger and more capable of standing beside an alpha. What could you possibly offer him?”

What?

Was it my mother saying that to my face?

I just told her I got rejected and she…

Was it so bad to expect her to take my side and just console me?

“Come on, Tiana," 

Her words cut deeper than I thought was possible. 

“But he’s my mate,” I whispered, tears welling up in my eyes again.

He wasn't supposed to be kissing Sophie. They weren't supposed to be together. 

“That doesn’t matter anymore,” she snapped at me; it was quite obvious that she was irritated.

“You’re wolfless, Tiana. You’ve always been a burden.

Matt needs someone who can help him lead, not someone who will hold him back.”

Not someone who would…

Was I that weak to be seen as such by my mother?

I stared at her, my heart breaking all over again. “How can you say that?”

It was no secret that she always preferred Sophie, but she didn't have to make it so obvious to me.

I had feelings too.

“It’s the truth,” she said coldly. “We’ve always known Sophie was destined for greatness. You should be happy for her.”

Happy? How could she even suggest that?

Before I could respond, my father entered the room, his presence as overbearing as ever. 

He glanced at me, his expression just as dismissive as my mother’s.

My eyes begged him to take my side, to wrap his arms around me and tell me I was going to be all right.

At least let me have one person in this family who had my back, but that was too much to ask for.

 “Enough of this crying,” he said gruffly.

 “We’ve already made arrangements for you,” he added.

“Arrangements?” I asked, dreading whatever he was about to say.

I had just gotten rejected; couldn't they, for once, think about me before doing all that they were doing? 

Was that too much for a girl to ask for? 

Father nodded his head.

 “You’ll be married off to Zayden. He’s the alpha of a neighboring pack, and he’s agreed to take you as his mate.”

My heart stopped. Zayden.

 Everyone knew him—the ruthless alpha who had killed all his previous mates. He was feared by everyone.

Red blazing eyes, a long scar running along his face, and an urge to kill all who crossed his path.

Zayden was the definition of a madman.

And that was who they wanted me to get married to?

“No,” I whispered, shaking my head. “You can’t do this. Please, don’t.”

“You don’t have a choice,” my father said firmly. “This is what’s best for the family. You’ll do as you’re told.”

I felt the world crumbling around me, my tears falling freely. My parents were throwing me away like I was nothing.

But I couldn’t fight them. I had no strength left to argue.

So, I sat there, silent and broken, as my parents left the room. The door clicked shut behind them, and I was left alone with my feelings. 

For the first time in my life, I felt truly abandoned.