A MATE'S BETRAYAL

Matters of the heart

“I need a Luna; you are a Luna... what more reason could I need?”

Those words echoed in Bradley’s head as he all but abandoned his new mate to be. He didn't have to be so rude but what choice did he have? His pack, the one he would be inheriting soon, was on the brink, thanks to his daddy dearest.

Of course that was going to be fixed with his new pairing to a Luna he barely knew. This was nothing like he had planned out. He had to be the cold and uncaring Alpha if he ever planned on taking over his father’s pack and hopefully repair the damages his father had caused, hopefully. Of all the things he hated about his façade, May was at the top of that list. Everything about her grated his wolf but he knew better than to end things with her.

May’s presence in his life was not but his will but rather another of the things that his father had forced upon him.

‘You can’t be seen as too soft Brad, and forget that whole mate thing, it’s just a ruse to keep True Alphas under control. Anyone should be lucky we are even looking their direction’, his father had not so gently told him on the night of his coming to age ceremony. Shortly after that, he was expected to have a rotation of ‘willing’ and ‘lucky’ women by his side. May for one, had been suspiciously recommended by father dearest.

So now here he was, breaking a poor woman’s heart by having May throw herself all over him and call him babe- he hated that word the most. He just had to play along a little longer, long enough to make sure his father handed him the pack reigns and then he would do things his way.

Bradley dared a look back at the nearly sobbing woman- Hilda- and heard May’s irritating voice smugly letting her know of their relationship. If not for how exhausting it was keeping appearances were, He would have replaced May a long time ago, but then again, his father wouldn’t have a spy and he wouldn’t be able to control what his father thought of him.

“I hope we get along…” May’s words got closer as he sat on his study table. He for one hoped they wouldn’t get along and a part of him wanted Hilda to grow a backbone and do something about it, that way he wouldn’t have to be the one to do it. Soon enough, May’s scent wafted into the room before her presence did and Bradley used the chance to steel himself for the conversation he knew he didn’t want to have.

“Well, at least she is pretty. It would have been worse if she didn’t have a pretty face. So what do you plan on doing with her.” May asked, plopping herself on his bed, another habit he so much abhorred.

“She will be my Luna and have my kids, what else is there to do with her?” Bradley answered the words he knew his father would be waiting to hear. This whole mating arrangement was a step towards making sure the war between his pack and Hilda’s ended in a truce and heirs, the Chance family name carried on.

“I don’t know why she gets to do that; she doesn’t even want you.” Marlin protested, pouting like the spoiled brat she was.

“You know why, your time will come. After we have our mating ceremony, it would be best if we keep our interactions minimal. I need to make a bond with her if I plan on having heirs, the truce depends on it.” Bradley said ,hoping to be as non-chalant about the whole situation as possible.

“Eager to get rid of me that much? Marlin asked and Brad cursed internally.

“You know our arrangement is just physical May. Don’t tell me you are getting jealous.” Brad countered. He couldn’t care less if she was getting jealous.

“No Babe. I just… never mind.” She dismissed the conversation by straddling him, her lips immediately seeking his in a hot kiss, at least that he could do for now, his wolf retreating to the background as far as he could.

***

Back in her room, Hilda sat and stared at the well decorated room. To anyone else, the room was comfortably cool and spacious enough to make her feel boxed in, but in her current state of mind, I seemed like a prison of some sort. The call with her mother had done nothing to soothe her, only made her more agitated.

How could she be a means to an end? But the biggest question now was what her presence in Brad’s life meant if he already had someone in his heart, and bed.

‘What do I do now?’ she asked herself.

Deep down she knew she had to make it work. Even if she was just a means to an end then she would at least make it work.

‘First step, know my place. Step two, own my place.’ she resolved. having a purpose or goal meant she won't have time to dwell over useless things. With a half made mind, Hilda freshened up and headed out to find Bradley so things could be ironed out, everything else would fall in line.

She took the stairs, each step a resolve to harden her heart. Bradley was going to be her mate, her Alpha and she, destined mate or not, was going to be the Luna he would forever need. Step by step, she shed the weak Luna persona and tried her best to summon the version that would leave Bradley no choice, key word being ‘tried’.

Hilda hoped the moaning sounds coming from her soon to be mate would have died down by the time she reached the door leading to Bradley's study. She shook off the nerves that wanted her to turn back and abandon this mission. With one final breath,Hilda opened the door to the study,not bothering to knock or anything.

The abrupt opening of the door made the couple currently sucking face to startle, Marlin nearly falling off Brad's lap. Hilda refused to call her May, they were not friends.

“I hate to interrupt but could we have a conversation, a proper one.” Hilda said as she approached the table and pulled up the only other available seat in the room. She made sure to put it just opposite the now staring couple.

“Rude much? Do they not teach manners back_” Marlin started but Hilda wouldn't be hearing any of her words. She had to state dominance.

“Just give us the room, Meredith. I would like to speak to my future mate without a tongue down his throat. Oh, and I must thank you. My room is quite comfortable. ” Hilda said in a dismissive tone, never once paying Marlin the attention, in fact she deliberately got her name wrong.

“You can't order me out-” Marlin started to argue but Bradley stepped in before more unsavory words were shared.

“Just leave, for now.”

Marlin made a sound before shuffling out of the study, all this while Hilda never made eye contact. Bradley waited until the door closed shut before he finally addressed Hilda.

“Now it's just you and me, Mate.” Bradley said, head slightly c****d to the side, a smirk plastered on his handsome face.

“Why did you agree to this… whatever this is?” Hilda asked, choosing to ignore how her heart fluttered at the mention of the word mate, she needed answers first, matters of the heart would be dealt with later.