Chapter 21: Chapter 21

By that evening, everything was done. Cahir and Kade had signed a blood agreement and before nightfall, my mate was gone. I could not describe Asena’s state. Her whimpers stung my heart and her mournful howls added salt to my bleeding insides. Knowing she was hurting more than I was and that I could do nothing to make her feel better made me feel worse.

“It’s okay. We’ll be fine,” I told my wolf as I walked to the kitchen for a glass of water.

How would we be fine?

After Kade, mating became the last thing on my mind but Cahir came along and despite my better judgement, I found myself drawn to him.

Second chance mates were rare but there was nothing like a third chance. Who would be so undesirable to be rejected twice and need a third mate? The goddess really made me the most wretched.

In the kitchen, I met Felicity and Viviane having a midnight snack and a secret conversation. My heart fell when they raised their heads and caught sight of me.

“You!” Felicity went red in the face, her ferocious expression making me take a step back. “How dare you?” She growled, her eyes turning a deep violet colour. As an Alpha’s daughter, she was stronger than most beta wolves which gave her the ability to change eye colours but hers could never be the red of an Alpha.

I pretended the girls weren’t growling and snarling at me as I opened one of the four refrigerators in the kitchen to take water. When I felt their presence behind me, I turned, weary to my bones.

“Haven’t you hurt me enough?” I asked the girls before they got a chance to bombard me. “Why can’t you leave me alone?”

“Why would we leave you alone? Not only are you taking up valuable space in this pack, but you are also a trouble-causing bitch!” Felicity slapped me across the face but I barely felt the sting. I could not feel a thing.

“How could you do that to Avalon?” Viviane shouted, her voice cracking. I looked up at her face to see tear stains on her cheeks.

“How could Avalon do that to me?” I countered. “She poured a boiling pot of water on me.” I almost screamed at the girls but I didn’t have any energy left in me.

“You’re fine. If she poured boiling water on you, you wouldn’t still look like this!” She snapped, taking a threatening step forward.

“No, you don’t matter,” Felicity added. “Like I said –“

“Yes, like you always say, I am a nobody, a waste of space who doesn’t deserve to live,” I cut her off. “I am useless in this pack and there is no point in me being here but your family paid a whooping sum just to keep me here,” I turned to look her in the eye.

I noticed for the first time that she had red splotches across her face. Looking up at people was something strictly prohibited but I did it then. I’d run out of danger alerts and would now do as I pleased. What new method could they find to hurt and torture me?

“Don’t delude yourself into thinking you are special. Kade already told me what happened,” Felicity sneered. “Alpha Cahir did not want you, did he? And because my father is so fucking generous, he agreed to keep you, didn’t he?” She moved closer to me, an ugly expression on her face.

“Is that what they told you?” I asked in a voice quieter than Cahir’s.

My wolf howled at the memory of his voice. The way his words used to wash over me and caress me – I may never get to hear his voice again. We may never cross paths again in this lifetime.

“Is there anything else?” For a split second, Felicity looked unsure but quickly masked her expression with one of arrogance.

Night had fallen and I should be asleep, but how could I sleep with this pain in my heart? How would I find rest when the thought of a man who wanted nothing to do with me consumed my whole being? He did not even consider me important enough to break off the mate bond with. Or did he not feel it? That connection with him, the bond, was it weak on his part? So weak that he saw no reason to bother breaking it off as it was inconsequential?

“Ask your brother and leave me alone.” I side-stepped her but she pulled me back by my hair. It was a wonder I still had hair, considering how often these bitches pulled on it.

“This whore, you think because you spread your smelly legs for Alpha Cahir, you are now in a position to talk back at me?” She shoved me to the ground, her feet connecting with my ribs as I fell.

“Do you have a crush on me?” I asked as I curved into a ball.

“What?” I heard the rage in her tone even if I could not see her face. “What the fuck are you talking about?” She screamed, kicking me harder.

“You always obsess over my body, Felicity. Calling me whore and slut all the time? It gives the impression that you’re interested in me,” I mumbled, not caring that my words could earn me a worse beating than I was about to get.

Cahir was gone. He left this evening without a backwards glance or even a farewell and like that, I went back to my life. Except, I could not. He never promised me anything which made me feel foolish for expecting anything but who would fault me for expecting things from my mate? We were predestined, made for each other. I expected to be in his arms by now – I wanted to be in his arms now.

I choked on a sob, tears spilling out from the corner of my eyes. It had nothing to do with Felicity and Viviane’s continuous kicks to my sides but I heard Felicity sneer at me.

“Yeah, bitch, cry. You’re a worthless piece of shit that can do nothing but fuck and cry!” She snarled.

Then someone else snarled.

“Felicity!” The chill of the Alpha’s anger made me blanch for a moment. The feet kicking into my side stopped and for the first time since my mate left, I registered an emotion – pain. It exploded all around my body making me wince. “What the fuck are you doing?” He demanded of his sister who stepped away from me.

“Kade, she cost us Avalon.” She put on a pitiful show as her brother squatted beside me. “How can I leave her be after what she did to my best friend?” She sniffed. “I am so hurt –“ She burst into tears, loud wails startling me.

“Shut the fuck up!” The Alpha boomed “Avalon and her family will work in Alpha Blood pack for their crimes against Sia and you – you stupid bitch!” He roared at her. “Do you want to go down the same path as the girl you call your best friend?” He demanded.

“Kade–“ Felicity sounded scandalised and Viviane stepped back. “Ava was your girlfriend. How could you –“

“Make sure to never mention that girl in the same sentence as me!” He barked at her. “Sia is important to this pack and I won’t have you sabotaging all I worked for with your bullying.” He warned her.

“What are you saying? Is she more important than me? Your sister?” She asked, indignation replacing her sorrowful tone.

“Felicity, all you do is cause me trouble!” He snapped at her. “Touch Sia one more time and I may have to banish you from this pack!”

“Kade!” Horror resonated in her high-pitched voice.

“It’s Alpha Kade to you!” He roared then he scooped me off the ground, not caring about my injury.

“Are you alright?” He murmured to me but I said nothing. “You can heal yourself, right? Do I need to take you to the hospital?” I continued to ignore him as he took me to the elevator.

“Where are you taking me?” I spoke at last. My room was on the bottom floor and I did not need an elevator to get there.

“Just stay still.” He averted his gaze from me. I didn’t have the strength or the zeal to argue with him. My healing ability had kicked in and it warmed me from inside while draining what little energy I had.

The elevator dinged to a stop and we came out on the floor before the reserved floor in the pack house. Before we even entered the room, I knew where he was taking me. This was the floor for the Alpha’s room, office and recreational spot.

He opened the door to his room when panic slammed into me. Why –

“Why did you bring me here!” I asked in alarm as he gently laid me down on his gigantic bed. “What is –“

“Shh .” He placed a finger on my lips. “I want you to sleep here tonight. No one will disturb you here so you can rest better.” He caressed my forehead.

“Why –“ He cut me off again.

“Things will be different around here from now on. You will be my Luna so we have to get along.”

Bile rose in my throat and I almost threw up.