A MATE'S BETRAYAL

Hilda's Future

Hilda could tell those eyes from a mile away. How could she forget the icy stare of her future mate? She forced her gaze away from those eyes and forward to where her parents sat, comfortably as if they hadn't just handed their daughter over to their enemy's territory. Movement caught her eye again when she saw members of Moonshadow approach their car. She sensed when her mother's growl started to bubble within her chest. Finally, a reaction.

"Calm down honey, it's just formalities, I should have known they wouldn't let us in." her dad said, placing a gentle hand on her mother's arm.

"Sorry, habit." Her mother replied, unfastening her seat belt and opening the passenger door so she could get out.

"Come out Hilda, its time." Her dad said as he too cut the engine and stepped out of the vehicle. Hilda sat there for a hot minute, contemplating whether she should jump in the front seat and drive away or something before her window was knocked a few times, reminding her of her impending fate.

'Right. Can't run. How bad could it be, the worth they can do is kill me I guess.' She cheered herself up the only way she knew because truly the worst thing that could happen to her and the enemies was death. Taking a deep breath, she stepped out of the car and immediately her eyes caught Bradley's again. This time, a scent followed him, something earthly and something like hearth. The scent was odd yet...

"Glad you made it. I hope you understand, this is the far you can go today. " Alpha Chance spoke and that was when Hilda noticed that the older Alpha was also among the welcoming entourage.

"Duty calls anyway, we must head back and prepare for the crimson ceremony after all. Hilda, we will send over your stuff after you bonding ceremony. " Her father spoke, clearly no one was in the mood for chit- chats, or in any mood whatsoever. Hilda felt her mother come close to her and give her a hug. It was one of those hugs she had wanted since the beginning of this fiasco.

"Stay alert." Her mother whispered to her before pulling back and heading back to the car. In that few seconds they hugged what seemed to be goodbye. Her luggage had already been taken out and passed to someone from Moonshadow, all this while, Bradley hadn't even said a word to her or anyone in particular.

"Nice to mee- " She was cut off.

"I have things to oversee, let's get on with it. " Brad finally spoke up and his voice was just as cold and dismissing as he had been over the video call.

' What a rude sunnova-' Hilda said much to herself as she stared laser beams to the back of Bradley's perfectly cut hair.

"I will see you guys at the ceremony. " Hilda said as she turned back to her parents, who had already gotten back into their car. They did not say much other than give her reassuring smiles that failed in reassuring her.

She followed- Frank as he hauled her bags to the main gate that lead to her future, leaving behind her past and what could have been. The group of 6 split into three massive trucks once the gates were closed. Frank stopped in front of one of the trucks and threw the bags in the trucks bed. She wanted to protest but again, Bradley interrupted her with his icy voice, perfect face and earthly scent.

'Uhgg, I need to stop noticing himmm!!' she chastised herself, mentally of course.

"Get in, I am already late as it is." Bradley spoke after he opened the passenger door for her and leaned back to the driver's seat. She struggled for a second before he managed to hop in the monster truck thank heavens because the motorcycle wouldn't have cut it for her. Once the door was closed, Bradley started the beast and off they were, down a tarmacked road and further into the woods than they already were.

She tried her best to ignore the earthly scent that overpowered the vehicle, and energy that wafted off of Bradley as he drove, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. She rolled down a window in the hopes of letting some air into the car, anything to dilute the scent that was starting to mess with her thinking capabilities. Not only that, but she also needed to let her own scent be carried as far as it could, getting mistaken for a rogue wasn't at the top of her list.

"When did you turn 19?" Brad asked and Hilda nearly jumped out of her seat.

"Seven months ago." she replied.

"And your wolf?"

"Presented a month later."

"Then why aren't you bonded?" Brad continued his one-line questions, this time sparing her a look before you added, "You are pretty enough, so why?"

"I could ask you the same... why are we here, agreeing to a mating bond we both clearly don't want?" Hilda snapped, tired of his attitude, and handsome face.

"I need a Luna; you are a Luna... what more reason could I need? Don't tell me, were you waiting for a heaven sent mate? Soulmate perhaps?" Bradley scoffed his reply. "I don't know what world you have been living in but, better get used to reality, the sooner you do the easier things become for you"

Hilda did not bother replying. Bradley was right, she would soon be bonded to him as his future Luna and when she turned 20, he would mark her as his mate, keeping the peace that her pack had disrupted all those years ago.

Who gave f***s about true mates, bonds and f*****g soulmates?

Well she did, but Bradley didn't need to know that. Most importantly, she needed some air, anything other than his suffocating scent and bad attitude in the car.