The Mate Bond

Aurora’s POV

As I stepped out of the council room, the whispers started immediately. The crowd that had gathered to witness my humiliation didn’t even try to hide their gossip. I could hear their words, every judgmental and cruel remark cutting through me like a blade.

“She’s been stripped of everything…”

“What did she expect, marrying the Alpha like that?”

“Serves her right… a poor girl like her doesn’t belong with him.”

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I walked past them. My mother hurried beside me, her eyes filled with worry and pain, but I was too numb to care. She leaned in close, her voice gentle as she tried to comfort me.

“Aurora, don’t listen to them. They don’t know anything. Let’s just leave—”

“No,” I said, stopping in my tracks. My voice came out sharper than I intended, but I didn’t care. My mother looked at me in surprise as I turned around, facing the council room once again. “I’m not leaving like this.”

“Aurora, please,” my mother whispered, panic creeping into her voice. “It’s over. Don’t make it worse.”

But I was done being quiet. I was done being humiliated. Without thinking, I stormed back into the council room, my heart racing in my chest. The doors slammed open, and every head turned toward me. Zayn, standing at the head of the room, looked startled as he saw me, his eyes narrowing in confusion.

“What are you doing here?” he asked coldly. “You should have left by now.”

I ignored the icy tone in his voice. “I’m not leaving,” I said, my voice shaking with anger. “Not until I correct a few things.”

His mother’s eyes narrowed in disdain. “Guards,” she barked. “Get her out of here!”

The guards started moving toward me, but before they could reach me, Zayn’s sister, who had been standing off to the side, quickly stepped forward.

“Leave her alone,” she said firmly, her voice carrying weight. The guards hesitated, and Zayn’s sister turned to her parents. “Let her speak.”

The room fell silent as everyone waited for me to say something. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, but I took a deep breath and stood tall.

“I’m not going to stand here and let Zayn throw me out like nothing happened,” I said, my voice loud and clear. “I’m not going to let you all believe that I was just some unwanted bride with no place in his life.”

Zayn rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed. “Aurora, shut up and leave,” he snapped. “This isn’t the time for your—”

“No!” I cut him off, my voice rising. “I won’t stay quiet anymore. You sneak into my room every night, Zayn! You’ve been sleeping with me for months after we had the mate bond, You knew I was your mate and you used that to your advantage…”

The room went deathly silent. I could see the shock and confusion on everyone’s faces, especially Zayn’s father, who stared at his son as if waiting for an explanation. Zayn’s eyes widened for a moment, but then his face hardened, and he scoffed.

“What nonsense are you talking about?” he said, crossing his arms. “You’re delusional, Aurora. Stop making things up.”

“ A mate bond ? Are you saying Zayn is your mate ?” Zayn’s father asked and I turned to Zayn

I clenched my teeth, feeling the anger surge inside me. “Don’t you dare deny it!” I shouted, stepping closer to him. “Don’t you dare act like you never touched me, like we never shared anything!”

Zayn’s mother gasped in shock, her hand flying to her mouth. “Is this true, Zayn?” she demanded, her eyes wide with fury.

Zayn’s father stepped forward, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Answer her,” he said sternly. “Did you touch her? Is what she’s saying true? The Mate allegations?

Zayn glanced at his father, then back at me. For a split second, I saw something in his eyes—hesitation, maybe even guilt—but it disappeared just as quickly as it came. He smirked, his expression turning cruel as he stared me down.

“Of course not,” he said, his voice dripping with disdain. “She’s lying. Why would I touch someone like her? Look at her.” He waved a hand in my direction, as if I were nothing more than trash. “I would never be with someone so beneath me, Mate ? Father ! You know if she was my mate , I would have mentioned it “

He was lying.

His words felt like a slap across my face. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes, but I forced them back. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me break down.

Zayn’s mother let out a relieved sigh and turned to the guards. “You heard him,” she said, her voice cold and sharp. “Throw her out.”

I was frozen in place, my mind reeling from Zayn’s cruel denial. How could he? After everything we had shared—even if it wasn’t much—how could he stand there and act like I was nothing?

As the guards moved toward me, Zayn’s sister stepped in once again, placing herself between them and me. She glared at Zayn, her eyes filled with disgust.

“You’re a coward,” she said softly, but the venom in her words was unmistakable. “You couldn’t even tell the truth if your life depended on it.”

Zayn didn’t respond, his gaze fixed firmly ahead, refusing to meet mine.

“Come on,” Zayn’s sister whispered to me, gently pulling me toward the door. “You don’t need to fight this anymore. He’s not worth it.”

Tears finally began to spill down my cheeks, but I nodded, allowing her to lead me away. As we walked out of the council room for the last time, I couldn’t help but look back at Zayn. He stood there, emotionless, his eyes cold as ever.

And in that moment, I knew. Whatever love I had left for him was gone. All that remained was a hollow, aching emptiness that I didn’t know how to fill.

But I would survive this. I would survive him.

Even if it killed me.