Chapter three

~ANGELINA~

“What's going on here?” I stepped in. The soft music that had been playing died down as all attention turned to me.

Luca frowned as soon as he saw me. His flair pinewood scent rose to my nostrils, bringing with it memories that were filled with bitterness. He was dressed in a white fitting robe that made him appear dangerously handsome.

None of that intimidated me. I was more concerned about what was happening here than his hateful gaze.

I stared at the priest, hoping he'd give me answers.

“Can someone tell me what's happening?” I asked again, my eyes falling on Lucas hand which was still joined to Glenda's.

“Glenda?” I turned to her, eager for answers. She looked radiant in a sleek ivory gown. Her hands rested on Luca's arm, her eyes gleaming with triumph.

How did they even get to change in those clothes when they’d been at the office only some time ago? This question chimed in my head as beads of tears began to form behind my eyes.

For a moment, I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. The room seemed to tilt beneath my feet as realisation dawned on me. Luca and Glenda were getting married. Yet, I refused to believe what my eyes told me.

“Luca, why are you standing close to her and holding hands?” I heard myself say.

He made a sound in his throat, as though offended by my audacity to ask such a question. “How dare you question me?”

It was my turn to get pissed. I frowned. “What do you mean by that?”

“Oh, Angelina. I didn’t think you’d make it back in time for the ceremony. Isn’t this a nice surprise?” Glenda’s face twisted into a smile, coyingly sweet but laced with venom.

“Ceremony…” I echoed the word, shaking my head in disbelief. “You can’t be serious.”

My voice broke as I turned to Luca, searching his face for any sign of remorse, any trace of the man had huet me but I never thought woulf betray me this way. “Luca, tell me this isn’t real.”

“It’s real,” he said simply, his voice as cold and unyielding as stone.

My knees threatened to buckle. “We’re bonded, Luca. You’re mine. You swore—”

“I swore to lead this pack,” he interrupted, his tone devoid of emotion. “And I’m doing what’s best for it. You’re no longer what’s best, Angelina. In fact, you never were.”

The words tore through me like claws. The whispers around me grew louder, a cruel symphony of pity and judgment.

Glenda took a step forward towards me, her expression softening into mock sympathy. “Oh, Angelina. Don’t take it personal. It’s just… Luca and I have something you never could give him. Vision. Strength. Compatibility. A baby.”

“A baby?” I swung my gaze to Luca. His expression didn't change.

He looked at me evenly.

“What baby?” I screeched, my hands curling into fists.

Glenda tried to speak but Luca beat her to it by saying, “The one you couldn't give me.”

“Are you ..are you saying…” My horrified gaze drifted between Luca and Glenda. You slept with her?”

His silence and her smirk confirmed my worst nightmare.

“But you are my friend, Glenda? Why in the world would you do this to me? I trusted you.” Tears streamed down my face.

“Too bad you did. That's what makes you weak,”Glenda replied coldly.

I fell to the ground, the weight of everything fell on me like a pack of cards. I couldn't help but wail. Murmurs arose amidst the crowd that gathered, but that didn't faze me.

“Why would you do that to me, Glenda? I took you like my best friend.”

She stepped closer to stand in front of me. “And I said you were a fool for trusting me.”

I looked up at her, shocked by the harsh words. Glenda had always been sweet and soft-spoken. Never in a million years had I imagined her hurting me this way.

Glenda’s fake sweetness evaporated in an instant, replaced by a smirk that dripped with malice. “Face it, Angelina. You were always out of touch with reality. Did you really think an alpha like Luca would stay tethered to someone so… ordinary?”

Rage and heartbreak warred within me, threatening to consume me whole. I sprang to my feet.

“You're ordinary too,” I retorted.

“At least I have a womb,” she said, smirking.

I gasped. Swallowing up the hurt, I turned back to Luca, desperation clawing at my throat. “You’re making a mistake. I’m your mate, Kade. The bond—”

“The bond means nothing,” he said flatly, cutting me off again.

The room seemed to spin as his words echoed in her head. The bond meant everything. It was sacred. Unbreakable. Or so, I thought.

Tears burned in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “You’ll regret this, Lucas.”

“I doubt it,” he replied, his gaze colder than I'd ever seen it.

My wolf stirred within me, its hackles rising. With tears in my eyes, I said the words of never dreamt of saying.

“I, Angelina Rossetti, reject you, Alpha Luca as my mate. You can go ahead to enjoy your new fangled home.”

Lucas stepped closer to me, his eyes furious and dangerous. Then, a felt a sharp sensation at my cheek, my head swinging to the side.

It took me a second to realise what had happened. He'd slapped me.

Glenda's mocking laughter filled my ears, causing my urge to cry to grow. But I wouldn't let that happened. I wouldn't give her or Luca another opportunity to see me vulnerable.

“You reject me?” Luca growled, his voice laced with malice. “Aren't you nothing but a pauper I picked from the streets? I would like to see how you cope without me.”

Anger erupted within me in a manner I couldn't explain. My wolf stirred, wanting to unleash havoc upon Glenda and Luca. I tamed her down. There was no use for that.

I swallowed up my fear and stepped closer towards Luca. Staring at him squarely in his eyes, I declared, “I reject you as my mate. I hate you and will never forgive nor forget all the pain you've caused me.”

I had a brief eye contact with Glenda who stood by herself, snoring at me. Turning on my heels, I bolted out of the hall, tears clouding my vision. Finally, I let my wolf out.

She howled out in betrayal.

***

I sat by the mini altar in my room, holding a picture and sobbing. The picture frame was filled with droplets of my tears. I couldn't stop. I didn't understand why life had to be so cruel with me.

First, I had been denied the privilege of having parents. Then, I grew up to realise my wolf wasn't as strong as that of other people. Then, my mate had turned out to Alpha Luca, who didn't want to have anything to do with me I couldn't think of anything I had turn to deserve all this.

It'd been hours since I dashed out of the hall. My fair guess was they'd begun wining and dining. It still baffled me how Glenda was able to fool me. All this was my fault.

Another fresh set of tears formed in my eyes, but they hardly streamed down my face before a frantic knock hit my door.

“Who—”

The person barged in before I could complete my sentence. It was one of the maids.

“I'm sorry, my Luna. I'm sorry,” she hurriedly said, out of breath. “But you should run away from the pack as soon as possible.”

“What?” I stood. “Why?”

She held her chest, panting. It looked like she'd run a mile to deliver this message I couldn't understand. “They…they…”

“Take a deep breath.” I held her shoulder. “Breathe in. Breathe out.”

When she'd calmed down, she spoke, “They are out for your life, Luna. You should leave this instant.”

“Who?” I frowned. Who would want my life? And why?

She swallowed, visibly uncomfortable with the question. I wondered why she was being hesitant.

“Speak,” I commanded.

“It’s Glenda. I overheard her discussing with one of the guards to take you out tonight.”

My heart squeezed painfully as soon as I heard that. My legs became weak, almost causing me to collapse to the ground.

“You must leave now, Luna,” the maid frantically said.

“I ..I have to pack.”

“No!” She shook me, then cleared her throat in embarrassment. “I'm sorry, Luna, but there's no time for that. You have to get out of here now.”

Sensing the urgency in her voice, dread filled me up. I hurried behind her, out of my chambers to the chilly night. The frigid air together with the frightening revelation made me shiver.

We escaped through the back gardens to a place close to the outskirts.

I couldn't leave without thanking the maid. Giving her a tight hug, I whispered, “Thank you very much.”

“It's no problem, Luna,” she replied, her eyes filled with pity.

Nodding in understanding, I turned around, drifting away from where I'd known all my life as home. Just then, a terrifying scream tore through the night.

Looking back, I saw a masked guard slitting the maid's throat with a silver knife. Then, he glanced at me.

Gasping, I took to my heels. My legs ran as fast as it could go. I didn't dare look back, even though he sounded dangerously close.

Left with no option, I morphed to my wolf and increased my speed. My attacker didn't see this coming; so, when he eventually morphed too, I’d already put several miles between us.

I stopped at a heavily wooded area. A lake of mud sat at the center. Without thinking twice, I dipped myself in to mask my scent. Pulling out, I walked a few distance before collapsing out of exhaustion.

I shut my eyes and waited. Waited for my attacker to come and finish me off.