Betrayed By My Mate

Grand Elysium Hotel

"Mummy, when are we going to meet Daddy today?" Arabella inquired, her radiant smile illuminating her cheeks.

Raven sighed deeply, collecting herself before responding. "Arabella, I've explained before, you don’t have a father."

Arabella's expression soured. "But all my friends have fathers."

"Arabella, not now, please. We've had a long trip, and I'm utterly exhausted," Raven murmured, stifling a yawn.

Observing her daughter's mood shift, Raven softened, gently patting her head. "I don’t like seeing you upset, darling. Just trust me when I say you don’t have a father; he left us a long time ago."

Arabella nodded silently, mustering a strained smile as she trailed her mother out of the airport.

It had been six years since Raven departed California, and now she returned, accompanied by Arabella, her precious miracle baby.

As they entered a cab bound for their destination, memories of California flooded Raven's mind. The state hadn't changed much. Shaking off the nostalgia, Raven refocused as the cab halted before the Grand Elysium Hotel. Renowned for its opulence, a single night in the presidential suite commanded a price tag exceeding a hundred thousand dollars.

Exiting the cab with their scant luggage—just two boxes—Raven and Arabella proceeded to the hotel reception. Raven, having made reservations weeks prior, swiftly confirmed their details and procured the key card to the presidential suite. In mere moments, they were en route to the elevator when Arabella suddenly darted off.

Raven smacked her lips, rolling her eyes in annoyance. “Arabella, not now. We need to head to our room, please,” she said, hurrying towards her.

“Come on, Mum, I just want to take a look around. This place is beautiful,” Arabella exclaimed.

Raven, exhausted and in no mood for a hotel tour, replied firmly, "Not today, Arabella." She turned around to check on their luggage, which was already in the hands of the hotel porters, then quickly tucked the key card into her handbag without looking, and inadvertently bumped into someone.

Her gaze fixed momentarily on his expensive shoes before she slowly raised her eyes, taking in his elegant suit, both expensive and immaculate. The man was tall, with a perfectly muscular build. But it was his face that stunned her; she hadn't seen a man as handsome as he was. Dark hair with hints of gray at the edges, hazel eyes that made his golden skin glow, a pointed nose, and lips as red as roses. She gulped, unsure of what to say, especially because the man had his gaze fixed on her. “I’m sorry, I didn’t see you,” she finally managed, forcing a smile.

“You should be more than sorry, woman. Do you know how much these shoes cost? Even if I sold you, I wouldn’t be able to replace them. You’re not even worth a thousand bucks,” he spat out.

Running his hand through his hair, blinking his eyes as his long lashes fluttered, he exuded even more charm. He was Sebastian Sterling, one of the wealthiest Alpha kings in California, feared and desired by every woman who laid eyes on him. He was so handsome that one could mistake him for a god; he looked utterly perfect. Behind him stood a fleet of bodyguards in black suits and dark sunglasses, with one standing very close to him who didn’t wear any shades.

Raven was taken aback by his harsh reaction. "Why is he being so mean to me?" she wondered, perplexed. She stole a quick glance at his shoes, and his gaze followed hers intently.

He scoffed, rolling his eyes in disgust. "What? You're not sure if it's the real Versace? Well, I don't wear cheap things, unlike some people. I can tell just by looking at your cheap-looking clothes that you belong to the worst side of the streets. So, there's no way you can differentiate expensive from cheap."

"I'm sorry, sir, but I don't see any reason why you should insult me. I only bumped into you; it was a mistake, and I apologize for it," she retorted, her irritation evident.

Arabella, who had observed her mother from afar arguing with the handsome man, though she couldn’t hear their conversation, hurried towards them, clinging to her mother. "Who is he, Mummy? Is he my daddy?" Arabella asked innocently.

Raven shot her daughter a shocked look, her heart racing at the unexpected question.

Sebastian chuckled softly, nodding his head as he exchanged a knowing look with his personal assistant, Jeff Nicholas, who stood beside him. "She's one of them," he remarked cryptically.

Raven arched a brow, puzzled by his comment. "One of what?"

Sebastian turned to her, his expression serious. "One of those loose, disrespectful women who don't have respect for their husbands. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be standing here exchanging words with me."

Raven's confusion deepened, her brow furrowing. "I am not exchanging words with you, mister, and besides, I am not even married."

Sebastian raised an eyebrow, his expression incredulous. "Now I see what’s actually going on here. You instructed your little bastard kid to call me daddy because you couldn’t find someone to pin her on. Are you that desperate to snag yourself a rich man that you had to orchestrate this charade in a hotel like this? You really crave my attention that much, don’t you?”

Raven was utterly perplexed at this accusation. “Sorry, sir, but I think you’re making a big mistake.” She grasped Arabella’s hand and attempted to walk past, but his bodyguards blocked their path. Raven turned to him, her confusion giving way to frustration. “Can you tell your robots to get out of my way?” she demanded, her tone sharp with anger.

“Your little brat just called me daddy in front of everyone. I am a very important man in this city, as I'm sure you're aware, and I won’t tolerate any form of scandal. I know you’re one of those poor, wretched little harlots who would do anything to catch my eye. Now, tell me exactly what you want. Name your price and leave as soon as possible. In return, you’ll publicly admit your foolishness in orchestrating this deception with your child.”

"Sorry, mister, but I’m not a brat,” Arabella interjected innocently.

Sebastian cast a glance at her and sighed. “Didn’t your mother teach you not to interrupt your elders?”

“She’s right. My daughter is not a brat,” Raven affirmed confidently.

Sebastian took a few steps closer to her, sniffing. “Interesting. She’s equally a rogue. This is worse than I expected. Even a rogue wants an Alpha king? How disgusting.” Being an Alpha gave him the ability to easily sniff out a werewolf, discern their ranks, and determine their status in whatever pack they belonged to.

Raven bit her lip softly, looking away. Living without a pack as a werewolf was one of the most difficult decisions she'd ever made, but she chose to go rogue rather than endure Zane’s betrayal, and she didn’t regret it. Having this arrogant stranger remind her of her status only dredged up buried, ugly memories of her past.

“That’s none of your business, mister,” she said firmly.

“Of course. Your choice to be without a pack is absolutely none of my business. But you telling your daughter to call me daddy in front of all these people simply explains why you’re a rogue in the first place—classless and disgusting,” he spat out in disdain.

Raven opened her mouth to respond, but Jeff interjected immediately. “The Alpha isn’t done talking yet. Shut up and listen.”

Raven's shock turned to indignation as she listened to Sebastian's accusations. "You're not the first, nor will you be the last woman to pull off such a silly act," he continued. "So, tell me exactly what you want. Is it money? Just name your price, and I'll give it to you. Just tell everyone how foolish you are for orchestrating this deception, now!” He ordered.