Chapter 1

***Leila POV*** 

“shhhh,” a familiar voice hissed from my bedroom. And outside, my hands froze over the doorknob. “Stop, someone might  hear us,”

I knew that voice anywhere, It sounded like my best friend Alessia. I felt a sickening knot tie in my belly. As soon as I heard my fiance, Damian replied to her. 

“And who cares if they do?”

I froze for a moment. What the hell could be going on there? I thought, my brows furrowed. Through the keyhole on my door, I could see them lying on my bed, with Damian caressing her, urging her to consent to his erotic desires.

“What will the pack say when they find out?” Alessia purred, darting her eyes at him. Her tone, was seductive as she trailed her finger across Damian’s lips which irked me at that moment. “Alpha Xander hates a fuss in the pack and Leila would be heartbroken when she finds out what we are about to do.”

“I’ll protect you from all of them, remember I am your knight in shining armor,” Damian said, lowering himself to kiss her forehead. He sounded confident. 

I had seen enough and in a burst of emotions, I flung my door open and threw my bag at the back of his head.

The sound of the bag making contact with his face caused him to groan  in pain. 

“Ahhhh Leila calm down,” he said, in a shaky tone. I felt my heart break into pieces and my breath pace increased. The discomfort made its way to my head, causing me to grab my hair in agony.

Damian left the bed, coming towards me, but I moved backward, creating some distance between us. 

“I’ll chop your head off if you come any closer” I sneered at him. choking up a sob. 

“This is not what it looks like, Leila,” he said quickly. 

Yeah right, enlighten me, Damian." I gritted my teeth.

“I came here looking for you” he stammered. “I um,  saw Alessia crying and I came in to console her when you walked in.”

“Right, you were consoling her with your hands all over her,” I scoffed. “Let me guess,  she passed out from all the crying and you had to give her CPR by kissing her right? ”

 I glared at the betrayer, Alessia Filanii, who everyone knew as my supposed best friend, we were almost mistaken as sisters most times.

She had a triumphant smirk on her face as she didn't fail to display the hickeys that Damian had left on her neck and cheek. Like a trophy. At that point, I knew she had done this to spite me, to prove to me that she could take what belonged to me. 

“Leila,” she started softly. “ Damian and I didn't mean to hurt you. It just…  happened.” shrugging her shoulders. 

“shut up you bitch,” I yelled, racing towards her, but Damian yanked my arm from behind pulling me into his arms. 

“Leila, you know I love you,” he said. 

I clenched my teeth, rubbing my chest to soothe the increasing pain I was feeling within.  

“What happened was a mistake, nothing ever happened, to be honest, please stop acting like a child will you, and let's settle this. ”

How long have these two been sleeping together? A wave of nausea washed over me as I thought about this.

For years, I had imagined what a happy ever after with Damian would be like. A nice house on the island, far from the pack, with a garden where we can grow old together as we raise our kids. Where we can all roam free and hunt. 

Tears of humiliation sat heavy in my eyes, but I battled it off. And in that moment, I decided I was done with Damian and the mating ceremony. 

“He's all yours,  Alessia”. I said, shaking my head in disbelief. “ You two deserve each other. You've won.”

“What!,” Damian’s face cracked at the thought of what I just said. “You can't be serious, Leila. I am your mate, your best shot at a happy marriage life. No one would settle for you” 

His words stung because he was right. But I wasn't prepared to break in front of him. Not today. 

“Guess I'll have to take my chances then,” I replied behind gritted teeth. 

As I sauntered to leave, opening the door to my room I met the shocked face of three of my family members.

I froze not knowing how long they'd been there or what they must have heard. 

From their joint expression, I could tell, they had a hint of what was going on.  

“What's happening here, Leila? ” Father ordered. 

The room was silent as I told them everything that had happened. My father looked up in shock.

“Was that what happened Damian?” Father asked, his gaze furrowed at my fiance.

“I..um... I walked in here searching for Leila when I saw her friend Alessia crying… so... I umm.  I…  I…” he stammered. 

“The mating ceremony is off” I blurted out. “This is who Damian truly is and I don't want to spend the rest of my life with a man like him.” with teary eyes. 

Damian tried to speak in his defense but a stern gaze from my father was enough to shut him up. 

“I understand Leila, but I don't think that will be possible. Everyone already knows about your relationship and there are promises to keep. Our family name will be soiled in the dirt if you back out now.” Father said. 

“No,” I said begging.  “no, no, no, please Dad, don't make me do this. I fell to my knees before him. 

“This will ruin my life, Dad, don't you understand? I caught him cheating on me with my best friend.” I retorted. My voice strained from crying. 

“I wish it was that simple child,” Father said in a stern voice. 

“No Dad, this is one sick joke.  I can't marry someone who would cheat on me with my best friend.” I snapped in defiance. 

“I have spoken and my word is final Leila!.” Father growled as he stormed away.