A MATE'S BETRAYAL

Hilda

Hilda

This was Hilda’s new life. There was no time for her to process anything, not the emotions that coursed through her , not her conflicted matters of her heart, the ones her father called childish. She had a duty to her pack and that was all that mattered .

The future of their Pack, her Pack, was all upon her. She tried to look at her options, if she ran away and rejected the outrageous union her parents imposed on her, then this war would never end and there was a high chance she would be blamed for it. Then again, if she accepted the arrangement, then her true mate would never find her. She would never have her happy ever after.

It is what is.

There was a knock at her door that brought her back to the distasteful present. Her mother’s head popped in.

“You haven't started packing. '' Iris said as she walked towards Hilda’s closet.

“Why are you making this seem like it's nothing?” Hilda asked.

“Is there no other way? … must I really be the sacrificial wolf?.” She went on and with each passing minute , Hilda's resolve hardened somewhat. Perhaps if she stood her ground then…

“There is. We could all give in, I surrender to Chance, he kills me, your father, our elders, the council and then our Pack members join his Pack as slaves.” Iris replied, her voice getting cold with each word she said.The intensity of the ‘other options’ weighing heavily.Tears welled in her eyes, unshed and heavy with the weight of unspoken grief. The crushing weight of expectation bore down upon her, stripping away the last strands of hope she had held on to.

“Do I not have any say? What about my true mate, my desti-” she interrupted.

“Hilda, enough, please.You are no longer some bashful teen with hopes of a charming prince coming for you. This, all this is bigger than your stupid childish ideologies. Our Pack needs to survive.True mate? Please, leave that for the pups.” Iris spoke, each word piercing her fragile heart. Childish ideologies? Was that all her happiness was? Tears flowed freely as her mother’s words painted a picture she did not want to see.

“Fine. I will do it.” Hilda wiped her tears and got to packing her clothes, even when her feet were heavier than lead and her eyes blurry from unshed tears. She hoped her mother would console her. Tell her that she will be fine and that they will find out another way to solve the Pack problem.

“He may not be your destined mate or what not , but he will be your mate, he will be linked to you and over time, if you allow it, he will be your prince charming.” Iris said, this time the tone of her voice was less stern, a little sympathetic even. She felt her mother's hand hover on her shoulders but it never landed.

“Just pack necessities, we will send over the rest of the stuff once you settle in. Chance doesn't like to wait, and neither does his son.” That was all her mother said before she left her room. With grim resolve, Hilda wiped away the tears that yet again threatened to betray her weakness, steeling herself for the reality that lay ahead. She would not go down without a fight, she vowed silently, her mind already racing with plans and strategies to reclaim control over her destiny.

A few hours later, Hilda's hands trembled slightly as she zipped up her suitcase, her belongings neatly Packed within the confines of the worn leather suitcase she loved. With a deep breath to steady her nerves and miraculous strength, she hoisted the suitcase off the bed and made her way downstairs despite her quivering legs. She had to be strong.

In the dimly lit foyer, her parents stood waiting, their expressions a mixture of concern and resignation. Her father's eyes held a silent plea, a wordless entreaty for her to find strength and not embarrass them, she knew the look. Without a word, Hilda joined them in the car and off they went. Hilda tried her best not to let her tears fall despite wanting to cry a damn river. Oh, poor River, she would miss him so much.

The drive to Chance’s territory stretched on, with nothing but the hum of the engine filling the silence in the car, that and Hilda’s racing heart.. Hilda stared out the window, counting the trees and anything that caught her attention fast enough to pass the time.She did note the familiar landscapes giving way to unfamiliar terrain, each passing mile marking her journey further into the unknown.

“ All this is chance’s territory, Hunting will be exciting for you, and us as well. ”

Her father's attempts at consolation were met with a stoic silence, the words of reassurance falling on Hilda’s deaf ears. Did they not understand how she felt? Hunting was the last thing on her mind.

She could tell they were nearing their destination from the tension that hung in the air. Hilda's heart pounded in her chest, the thud of each beat a reminder of the uncertainty that awaited her once the car came to a stop.

‘Get a grip Hilda. ’ she told herself, she had to be strong.

Finally, they arrived, the imposing silhouette of the Moon Shadow Pack's stronghold looming in the distance. With a final glance at her parents, Hilda stepped out of the car, her resolve firm despite the tremors that shook her frame.

As she crossed the threshold into the new territory, she braced herself for the inevitable discomfort that awaited her. Seconds later, the rumbling engines of the motorcycle broke through the horizon as Hilda and her parents stood waiting. If it wasn't for the sour situation, Hilda would have appreciated the cinematic view of the revving engines and the rising sun behind the riders. The more they drew near, the louder her heart pounded in her chest.

And then, amidst the group of unfamiliar faces, the rumbling engines and Hilda’s thudding heart, her gaze locked onto a pair of piercing eyes, their intensity burning through her defenses. In that moment, time seemed to stand still as Hilda met the gaze of her future mate.

For a minute, she forgot that they were enemies because damn.

Her future mate was hot as f**k .