Grace had me all but cornered. Sat there like a naughty schoolgirl and made to look like a fool to the one man who mattered the most. A man, who, given the way he was looking toward Grace, may well have forgotten I existed.
Grace was doing what Grace did best. Putting on the charm. She may well be as cold and ruthless as her father behind closed doors, but when it came down to it, the girl could act. Able to sweet-talk and charm her way into any circle. Able to get exactly what she wanted.
The excitedness and anticipation from my wolf has waned the moment the look of disappointment had been cast in our direction from Alpha Kael. This man was meant to want us. Crave us. Be willing to fight for us. In this moment he looked like he had given up the fight and was ready to walk away. He did not even seem to want to look in my direction.
Watching his eyes light up as Grace passed him the flowers from her private gardens made my heart drop. Her personable touch. One that I had suggested. Flowers I had planted and tended, just as Althea had taught me as a child...
I watched as the young Alpha caressed one of the petals tenderly, before smiling up at Grace. "They are beautiful."
"Why thank you." She appeared to be flirting with him now, her lashes fluttering rapidly as she glanced up at the handsome man by her side. My stomach churned at the sight. Had she forgotten of her fated mate in such a short space of time? Or was she doing what she needed to do? It was hard to tell with her. But the smirk as she gave me a sideways glance told me she was enjoying every moment.
"I believe you owe the Alpha an apology, Wren." Grace said icily. "Honestly, Kael, we offered the girl a home after nobody wanted her. Providing her with safety. Security, and then work too. Everything somebody with nothing could pray for. And how do they repay you? With persistent betrayals. Truly shameful, I tell you."
My brows furrowed at the she-wolf's words. None of which held much truth, other than the fact her father's pack had offered me refuge after I had been abandoned. Betrayals? I had never done a thing wrong since I had been here. And the implication that I had, well, it hurt. Heat rushed to my cheek from the humiliation Grace was causing me. While tears stung at my eyes. The stinging only worsening as I caught the eye of a disgusted look from Alpha Kael. He appeared to be believing what Grace was saying to him. What hope did I stand now?
I looked down to the floor, biting my lip in a bid to stop myself from giving Grace the satisfaction of me crying in front of her and the man she was seemingly now going to marry. The man that was meant to be mine. Grief rushed through my body at the thought. I could not lash out at her in temper like most would when somebody treated them in such a way. There was a hierarchy within a pack, and it was expected to be respected, and sadly I was right at the bottom. Alpha Kael already thought bad of me, I did not want to make him think any worse...
Grace released a heavy sigh, giving me another shake of her head, a near sneer teasing at her perfectly lined lips. "Well, if you are as shameful as not being willing to give the good man his apology, I think you should leave. Give me and the Alpha some privacy. Allow us to get to know one another better. I mean, if we may be married, it would only be right?" She raised her brow suggestively toward the Alpha, and once more my stomach twisted at what that may imply.
I stood from my seat with no further word. I gave the ruggedly handsome man one last glance, unsure if I would be seeing him again. Wondering if once Grace married him, I would be finally free of her. Maybe there could be some positives to losing my fated mate to her... but the emptiness the thought of being without a fated mate left within my heart told me nothing was worth that.
My feet felt heavy as I began to make my way down the hallway, away from the lounge, trying desperately not to wonder about what Grace and my fated mate may be doing now they were alone. I wiped away a lone tear that had snuck its way down my cheek, when there was the sound of footsteps beside me. With a sharp push, I was shoved into one of the short side corridors.
Stumbling, before using the wall to steady myself, I found myself lifting my head to find the darkened gaze of the man I had just left watching me. Angry. Confused. And that was just a few of the emotions I could see within his eyes...
"Alpha..." I whispered, the scent of him already overwhelming my sense. I desperately wanted to reach for him. Show him how good it felt to hold me. Allow myself to feel his touch. Tell him all I could to let him know that everything Grace said was not true. I wanted him to know I was a good person. I could be a good mate.
But the upcoming Alpha gave a simple shake of his head. "I am not here to chat, Wren." His voice was deep. Had the most delicious of lilts to it.
"But, please, let me explain." I begged, my voice barely audible, but once more my words were met with a shake of the man's head. His dark curls upon his head moving slightly as he did.
"Wren, I, Kael Johannson of Crimson Claw Creek reject you..." He began, and my legs trembled a stabbing pain forming within my chest. He was rejecting me. Grace had done this. My fated was going to let me go...
"No!" I shrieked, hoping I could stop him, but Kael simply placed his hand up to stop me, before he continued.
"I reject you. May the moon forgive me, for I have chosen another path." And with that, every hope I had, shattered into tiny pieces around me. The pain within my chest spread throughout my body as Kael's figure faded into the distance, blurred by my tears.
What had I done to deserve this?