Fated To My Ex-Boyfriend’s Father

2: The Annual Ball

“What?” I whispered, unable to believe my ears and he barked out a laugh as he closed the distance between us. Once upon a time, his scent used to soothe me, now it just made my stomach turn.

“It’s the truth. You think someone like me would ever go for someone like me? For the pack’s slave? For someone from a family that betrayed my father’s throne? Cmon, act a little smarter at least,”

My mouth opened and closed multiple times as I struggled for something to say, but words seemed to have failed me.

“You’re making no sense, Vlad. You approached me, and told me you liked me. You told me you’d like to marry me and take me as your mate. You told me you loved me. What are you saying?”

He rolled his eyes and pocketed his hands. “You’re still not getting it. All of that was just a lie. It was a bet between my friends and I. I wanted to know how the p***y of a slave tasted… but you never let me touch you anyway so it was all pointless. I didn’t want to go through the hassle of dumping you with a supposedly tangible reason because I know you’d crawl and beg, so Cara suggested that route and we went with it.” He explained with a shrug, not looking apologetic at all.

I’ve never felt this stupid and betrayed before. All that I’ve been building my future on this whole time was a lie and I never realized it.

Tears slowly welled in my eyes. Apparently, all of Vlad’s friend group who all smiled in my face and call me their future luna, knew that Vlad was only with me for a stupid bet.

Before the tears could fall, I shoved it back and reminded myself to hold myself together because I was already pathetic enough without crying in their presence right now.

“You never had to promise me so many things though. If it was only a bet, why raise my hopes up? Why tell me so many lies of things you never intended to do?” I demanded and he snorted with another careless shrug.

“I guess I just liked how you looked up to me and saw me as a mini god that came to your rescue. Honestly, it gave me a satisfying thrill, and that’s why I didn’t break this relationship up till this very moment.” He was grinning this time and I was so hurt and pained, I wished I could physically hurt him right now.

“f**k you, you lying bastard!” I flung at him but he only crackled hard, and that irritated me further.

“For a slave, you’ve always been mouthy. It’s a shame I never got to f**k that snarky mouth with my cock.” He drawled and I bristled, hurling out more curses at him.

“You should have just known from the onset that I could never take you as my chosen mate anyway. The daughter of a thief and a backstabber can’t ever sit on the throne no matter what.”

~~~

I woke up to my cheeks wet and my heart aching from the amount of betrayal I experienced yesterday.

When I managed to slide out of bed and made my way to the small sitting room, my siblings presented a cake before me while grinning excitedly.

“Happy eighteenth birthday, Ariana!” They all echoed and I didn’t realize I was crying till we all began to laugh. I thanked them profusely, feeling swamped with love. My siblings were the best thing I could ever ask for and I’d never trade them for anything, which was why I looked forward to being mated to Vlad, so that I could give my family the good life they deserved.

We barely had anything, but we’re always positive that our story would one day change.

“Are you excited for the party tonight?” Evan asked with a nudge, he was referring to the annual party hosted by the royal family for the pack, where young maidens come to find their fated or chosen mate. I shrugged, I was once looking forward to it but not anymore.

“I don’t think so, but you should totally go. It’s your birthday today as well, remember?”

He rolled his eyes. “I know, but I also know you’re already planning to stay in after what that asshole Vlad and Cara did to you.” He pointed out, since he could read me like a book.

After I returned home last night, I had met my twin who had somehow managed to get the entire truth from me, then I had cried in his arms till I fell asleep.

“You need to attend the party today, to show them you’re undefeated. If you fail to show up, it means they’ve won,” my brother adviced and I huffed.

“But they did win, and I left with nothing.” I pointed out.

Evan took my hand and squeezed gently. “They didn’t, sister. You’ll still emerge as the winner at the end of the day. I know that scheming b***h Cara is undoubtedly behind all the rumors going around about you, and I’ll try to shut down most of them before tonight, so don’t worry, okay? All is gonna be fine.”

I squeezed my brother’s hand as I nodded, feeling extremely grateful for his presence. If it wasn’t for him, I’d have fallen apart a long time ago.

After bathing and dressing, I went off to pay my mother a visit in her cell. She has aged so much in the time she’d been locked up here, and tears instantly filled my eyes as i griped her hands through the bars, silently cursing out the alpha king because he was the reason my happy family fell apart.

Someone framed my parents and he believed the lies, which is why I detest him with every fiber of my being.

“I miss you so much, my angel.” My mother whispered and I desperately wished I could hug her this once. I gripped her fingers tightly as we spoke, while I filled her in on all that was going on with our lives, purposely leaving out the fact that Vlad betrayed me, because she’d be so hurt for me and I didn’t want to burden her more than she already is. Being imprisoned was torture enough.

She believed I’d be accepted as Vlad’s mate tonight and asked me to dress in one of her special dresses tonight for the ball.

After the time was up, I reluctantly left my mother, while fighting back tears.

~~~

Rue wasn’t pleased that I was late, and she began by giving me a firm slap. I couldn’t dare react, so I still bowed and apologized for being late.

“I’ll be getting chosen by the crowned prince tonight, I need to look my very best! Pick out a very beautiful dress for me.” Rue ordered and my eyes widened in shock. She was referring to Vlad, the same person who was f*****g Cara last night.

“Why do you look so shocked?” She taunted me with a crackle. “You were just a temporary distraction to him, didn’t you know? I’m the person his heart belongs to.” She affirmed, hands folded.

“I think you’re wrong though. He was just f*****g Cara last night.” I pointed out but she rolled her eyes.

“You’re just desperate for me to believe you, but enough. You’ll see for yourself tonight.” She snapped firmly, her voice leaning no room for any arguments.

At the annual ball tonight, everywhere was bursting with excited people all walking around. Some people were picking their chosen mates, while some were coming across their fated mates. I was dressed in a stunning, pink dress that belonged to my mother, and a lot of people stared at me when I walked in. I didn’t know if Evan succeeded in shutting down most of the rumors that I cheated on Vlad, and I couldn’t see him anywhere.

I noticed Cara in her glistening purple dress almost immediately, but our dresses were nothing in comparison to Rue’s long train of exquisite silver waterfall dress. Everyone gasped as she strutted in, as a heartthrob of the pack, everyone loved her since I could remember.

As the party progressed, Vlad approached me with a sly grin, Cara in his arms. He had accepted her as his mate at a point during the party, while my ex-best friend had cried and demanded an explanation from Vlad, because Apparently he had promised to accept her as his mate in exchange for her helping him.

He had laughed in her face and asked her to get lost. Of course, I’d have felt bad for her as I watched her get disgraced.

But I felt nothing within me.

“Still haven’t found a mate yet?” He drawled while Cara laughed beside him.

I glared at him in irritation, although I still felt hurt on the inside.

“Get lost, Vlad.” I bit it and he laughed again.

“Is that any way to address the Prince of your pack?” He crooned and Cara glared at me.

“Why don’t you punish her? Order your guards to lock her up.” Cara said to Vlad who shook his head, his eyes locked with mine.

“Nah. I have a better idea. She’s definitely not gonna find her fated mate tonight. After all, that happens one out of hundred times. And no one would definitely pick her as their choosen mate after I recently dumped her. That’s enough punishment for her.” He stated then he and Cara laughed as they turned and walked away.

I glared after them, wishing I could punch them but I knew that was only wishful thinking.

I turned away and let my eyes wander around before slowly getting lost in my thoughts.

I was still lost in my thoughts when I heard a faint voice in my mind.

‘Mate.’

I stiffened, my eyes widening as the same word echoed through my mind again and again, right before a strong, heady detectable scent filled up my nose.

‘Our mate is here!’ That was my wolf, Star. Star was very quiet, and barely spoke except for very important moments. My heart instantly thumped hard, and I excitedly followed the heady, strong scent, weaving through the crowd till I came before…

The Alpha King?!

I stumbled to a stop from shock, but it was too late and I crashed right into none other than the alpha king, the man whose heady scent I followed all the way here.

Oh gods.

The pack’s alpha king is my fated mate?!

My wolf was screaming for joy within me, but I felt utterly doomed and dread slowly settled over me as my eyes slowly locked with the alpha king’s. It felt like we got suspended in time, me laying atop him on the ground while my heart pounded away, but as an intense rage slowly brewed in his eyes, I gasped and scrambled to my feet on wobbly legs.

The hall was completely silent and everyone gaped at us from utter shock, clearly unable to believe their eyes.

The alpha king was furious as he got to his feet, and the exquisitely dressed woman— popularly known as the alpha king’s mistress, who was previously standing beside him, glared daggers at me as she pointed at me.

“You dare touch the king with your wretchedness? That’s a death sentence! Guards!” She screeched loudly and a murmur instantly went through the crowd just as a handful of guards rushed forward, grabbing me roughly before I could attempt to say a word.

“Leave her.” The alpha king suddenly said in a sharp voice that made my knees wobble. The guards let go of me at once and I remained before the alpha king, staring up at him while my stomach was clenched tightly from fear. His mistress shoved me away the next moment and I stumbled backwards, almost tripling on my dress.

“My king, that slave touched you without permission, she made you fall, she should be imprisoned.” The king’s mistress said to him as she held his arm, her beautiful face countered with rage.

“She is my fated mate.” The alpha king spat out and at once, an uproar went through the crowd while I struggled to keep standing as all eyes settled on me like I was a circus clown.

I wished I could disappear from here right now.

Why the alpha king of all people? Why? What did I possibly do to deserve this?

The alpha king is a very scary man. We’ve never had an encounter or interaction before despite him being the pack’s alpha king. He doesn't attend social gatherings, his betas and deltas go in his place, so I’ve only seen him a few times for brief moments, which is why him being present tonight felt so daunting to begin with. He is very terrifying and powerful, his reputation was as dangerous and frightening as anything could get. Even his son, Vlad, was afraid of him.

And this man, who is responsible for my father’s banishment and my mother’s imprisonment, and also the reason why my siblings and I are now slaves of the pack… is my fated mate?

“What? How is she your fated mate?!” The king’s mistress who was now tightly clutching the king’s arm demanded almost frantically.

The alpha king’s eyes locked with mine and I felt a terrifying shudder roll down my spine. The Alpha king’s jaw was clenched and his grey eyes were so enraged, I hastily averted my gaze from fear, while my heart pounded away.

Fron the side of my eyes, I noticed Vlad emerge from the ground, eyes wide with shock as he looked between myself and his father, his lips in a thin line as he went to stand beside the alpha king.

“Father, you’re going to reject her, right? Reject her right now!” Vlad sounded almost furious.

The Alpha king’s eyes were on me when he bit out a response that had me almost crumbling to the ground.

“You know I cannot do that.”