Forbidden Pursuit

Cards Stacked Against Me

I can’t do this, Sheila, I complained to my wolf as I approached Josh’s room.

I support you, Victoria, my wolf replied with a sad voice. We’re better off without him.

Yeah, but that doesn’t make it any easier. I knocked on Josh’s door and nervously waited. Strange. I could smell that he was there. Why wasn’t he answering? I knocked again. Maybe he was in the shower?

I tried the door and found it to be unlocked. I stepped in and surveyed his room for the first time. It was messy. Clothes thrown around, trash on the floor, a guitar laying across his couch, and old food sitting on his desk. I glanced toward the bathroom. The light was on, and I could hear the water running. I definitely didn’t want to be in here if he came out naked. I quickly turned and hurried out of the room. 

Maybe later, Sheila agreed with me. She was a bit agitated as well.

I heard someone coming and quickly scooted to the nearby alcove to hide. 

Why am I hiding? I thought in exasperation. I’m not doing anything wrong by visiting my mate.

Better safe than sorry, Sheila quipped. We were both on edge feeling like enemies were everywhere lately.

Two female voices rang out from the hallway.

“And he, like, totally told me his mate is this useless, ugly, stupid girl who doesn’t even care for his needs. So I’m gonna show him why the future Beta deserves bettah.” The girl laughed at her play on words, but they stung me. Josh and I had not made public that we were mates. I don’t know why, but I felt ashamed to tell anyone except my family and Emily. My dad and mom only knew because like an i***t I went running to Josh on that first day, but I had asked them not to announce anything since I was ‘struggling with the mate thing’, as I told them.

“So you gonna surprise him, or what?” Asked the other girl.

“Pfft. No way! He knows I’m coming. He even invited me to show him what I meant when I told him he deserved better.”

“Well, good luck. Maybe he’ll dump his mate and pick you. You’d make a good mate for the beta.”

“I know, right?” The girls giggled, and then their voices muffled as they entered Josh’s room.

My hands were shaking. I don’t know if I was sad or shocked or angry. All I knew is that I was going to reject him. And I was going to do it with an audience.

One of the girls left giggling to herself as she closed the door. I waited. I needed to time this just right. I needed to catch them in the act. I needed to be strong.

I support your decision, my wolf reassured me.

Thanks, Sheila.

She was then silent in my head, both of us nervous with the anticipation of what was about to happen.

Then I heard it, and like a rocket, I launched myself at Josh’s door without another thought.

“Yes, baby!” His voice rang out. I shoved the door open and bolted in. Sure enough, I caught Josh and the omega in a scandalous situation. They were fully entangled, actually going all the way, with her on top of him. At first they didn’t notice me, but then my scent hit Josh, and his eyes found mine. At first I saw a flash of shame, but that quickly disappeared.

“Oh, Tori. Come on over and watch how it’s done, honey.” He cooed. The omega turned and looked at me, and I saw the shock register across her face.

“Your mate is Alpha Cole’s daughter?!” Good. At least she knew this was no joking matter. I glared at Josh and felt the relief wash through me as I squared my shoulders and uttered the words I should have uttered the first day he harassed me.

“Joshua Hamilton, son of Beta James Hamilton, I, Victoria Thomas, daughter of Alpha Cole Thomas, reject you as my mate.”

I felt a tingling in my heart. I felt a little pain, but my relief was stronger. Josh, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes and glared at me with a raging hatred in them. Fury flooded his eyes, and he growled at me, clenching the bedsheets in his shaking fists.

The omega jumped off of him and ran over and fell at my feet.

“Please don’t exile me! I don’t want to be a rogue! I didn’t know it was you!” She cried in fear. I looked down at her and felt pity. She was a victim, too. True, she made the choice to come here, but Josh’s manipulative behavior led to this.

“I’m not telling anyone who you are,” I told her softly, “now get out of here, and don’t fall for anyone else’s lines. Wait for your mate. I’m sure he’ll be a better person than mine.”

The girl grabbed her clothes off the floor and ran out of the room naked. Josh just glared at me. His eyes were darkening from his anger. His wolf was threatening to emerge. My wolf was ready. She was also betrayed and also angry. Neither of us deserved this.

Josh slowly rose from the bed and strode toward me. He was still naked and still aroused, but this actually lessened the intimidation he was trying to portray. Plus, the door was already open. I could flee in an instant.

I held my ground as he stopped right in front of me. His eyes were seething with fury.

“I’ll. Make. You. Pay.” He ground out before shoving me aside and running out of his room in wolf form.

I watched him run off and sighed with relief. The relief, however, was short-lived.

VICTORIA!!! My office! Now! My father mind-linked me. He even used his Alpha voice. This wouldn’t be pretty. Josh was liked by my family. His parents and my parents were very close. He was Michael’s best friend since childhood. They had all been thrilled that Josh and I were mates. I needed to tell my dad the truth and make him understand what I was suffering. He would protect me.

I trudged to his office and slowly opened the door. Sure enough, the Luna and Alpha and Beta and his mate all stood inside waiting for me. Even Alexander was standing expectantly behind his desk. Josh’s mom was crying. My parents and the Beta looked furious. I sighed and entered the room. I didn’t want to have to admit everything that had happened between us to our parents. Every grab, every squeeze, every forced kiss. I needed to keep this to the point.

“Dad, let me expl—“

“Oh, you WILL explain, and you WILL explain right NOW!” He exploded on me. He had never used that tone with me. I was his little princess. He loved me more than anyone, except my mother, of course. His fury hit me hard and fueled my own fury toward Josh.

“Okay. I just caught Josh in an intimate situation with an omega.” I said simply.

Everyone just looked at me. Why were they not shocked and horrified?

“And?” My mother prompted.

“And my mate cheated on me. I’m not staying with a cheater.” I finished simply. Josh’s mom just looked at me with angry, self-righteous eyes.

“Josh has told us how resistant you are to even his gentle kisses!” She accused. “What do you expect?! You’re withholding your mate’s right to mate with you! Mates mark and mate each other within days of meeting. You’ve known you were mates for a month now! My poor Joshie is in turmoil because of you!” She burst into tears then.

“You’re torturing our son, young lady,” Josh’s dad now spoke to me. “You should have been bedding him a month ago and also received his mark then. Why are you surprised that he needs to let off some steam when his mate is still hanging onto her precious virginity?” My mouth fell open. The audacity!

My father cleared his throat uncomfortably. My mother frowned at me. “You will apologize to Josh and then be the mate we thought we raised you to be. Stop acting like a selfish little girl. The Beta deserves a strong mate. The Moon Goddess chose you. You will go make it right.” My father spoke his words firmly and deliberately. They weren’t even going to hear me out. My mind began to work again. Sheila wasn’t as shocked as me by this turn of events.

He’s been grooming them this whole time ! He’s been sharing things with them that aren’t true! Manipulating them! I hate him! Sheila was infuriated. The pieces fell into place for her before they did for me. Hearing her confirm that hit a boiling point for me. I looked at my parents with fury and betrayal. I saw the surprise in their eyes, but I turned and walked away wordlessly.

“Tori...” I heard Alexander say, his voice thick with concern, but I wasn’t going back to speak to him. I had nothing to say to any of them. They wouldn’t believe me if I did tell them the truth. My chest clenched with the realization that my life here was over.

My mind was reeling with the accusations. I was furious that Josh had foreseen this possibility and already prepared the adults to be on his side. Why didn’t I say anything early on? Part of this was my fault for taking the abuse in the first place. I did have a way out, though. Something nobody would expect of me. My dad had not used his alpha voice to command me to accept Josh again. He just assumed I would obey. Oh, boy was he wrong!

I stormed up to my room and reached for the handle. Something wasn’t right. Josh’s smell was fresh and strong here. Was he waiting to ambush me? I wouldn’t put it past him to just rape me. He had already pretty much done everything else to lead up to it. I paused, my wolf on high alert, and pushed the door open.

I wasn’t prepared for what I saw.