Hated by her Alpha mate

Betrayal

"I know."

"You know what?" asked Alfred, puzzled.

"About Abigail."

As soon as the name was uttered, Alfred lost all the color on his face. He took back his arm from Rachel's hold and turned away.

"I am sorry." Rachel just wanted Alfred to open up to her.

"I prefer not to talk about it."

"We have to, someday."

"And why is that?"

"Because we are mates. We are meant to be with each other." Alfred felt irritated by her peremptory tone.

"So what?"

"We need to be on the same page so that we can make a fresh start." Alfred scoffed at Rachel's comment. He folded his arms and looked at Rachel dead straight in her eyes.

"A fresh start? To what? Do you expect me to play a prince in your fairytale?"

"No. I just want us not to hate each other. We should get over the past and focus on our present. We should try to make our present and future happier." Alfred felt infuriated because he thought her attitude was shrewd and self-centered.

"What makes you think that I'll be happy with you?"

She wanted to tell him that deep in her heart she loved him and that she would do anything to make him happy. But she knew it would not make any sense to him right now. She knew he wouldn't believe her.

"You never know unless you try..." was the only thing that came out of her mouth.

"It's not worth the try." Rachel felt arrows pricking into her heart with every word of Alfred's.

"Am I undeserving? Or am I undesirable?" Rachel asked with a lump in her throat and a heavy stone in her heart. She was terrified of the answer. But she wanted to know it. She wanted to know the damn reason! She waited for it, but nothing came from Alfred. He wasn't even looking at her.

Alfred himself didn't know the answer to her question.

(Ray) Why don't you answer her, brother?

I don't f*****g know. It's not that I despise her. I just can't accept her yet. My heart can't accept her.

"Please tell me. What is it about me that you hate so much? I promise I'll try to improve myself."

"I never said that I hate you." He wondered why he even corrected her. How does it matter?

"Why don't you give me a chance then?" Rachel's question was again met with silence.

"Please Alfred, please, tell me the truth. Is it... Is it because of Abigail?"

"I told you not to bring her up!"

"I don't have a choice. Can you at least tell me if you are still in love with her?"

"Stop it! You have no idea what I went through!"

"Then tell me!"

"I can't do this right now in the middle of a f*****g party!" he raised his voice and almost let out a growl. A few heads turned towards them. Alfred noticed it and left amidst their conversation.

Was I wrong in bringing it up? Was it not the right time? How am I supposed to know his feelings if he won't talk to me about it?! Rachel excused herself and started walking away from the crowd. She felt dejected and disoriented.

"Rachel, we have been looking for you!" It was Jenny followed by Davis.

"Come on, the after-party has already begun. Let's go!"

"I am not in the mood Jen."

"Bullshit! You can't escape me today." Jenny was determined to get every detail of gossip from Rachel. She was literally dragging Rachel with her. They reached the elevator. Another party was booming in the open gallery on the twentieth floor. Stacy stepped into the elevator before the door closed. Rachel noticed the infinitesimal smirk on her face as soon as she saw Rachel. Davis and Jenny gave each other an amused look. Davis was busy checking Stacy out when Jenny poked him with her elbow. Rachel felt relieved when Stacy got out on the 15th floor.

The ambiance on the twentieth floor was nothing less than a pub. People were high, some were dancing, some were getting high on smoke and alcohol, some were making out. They went to the seat where Nancy and Marcus were waiting for them. Within the next few minutes, they started gulping shot after shot. Rachel was forced to narrate her story of when she met Alfred for the first time at her parent's anniversary party.

"Love at first sight, huh?" teased Marcus with a few whistles every now and then. Rachel pretended to blush and went ahead with her concocted story because, obviously, she couldn't reveal the true one. Their interrogation of Rachel was interrupted by Avery's sudden advent. "Excuse us for a moment, ladies and gentlemen." She took Rachel aside.

"I cannot find your mate. Any idea where he is?" She whispered.

"I am the last person to have an idea," sighed Rachel, and she became worried about him.

"Help me." Avery dragged Rachel with her. She took her to the elevator and pressed the button for the 15th floor.

"Where are we going?"

"Just checking a few possibilities." Rachel wondered why Avery sounded so bitter. They got out of the elevator.

"This is the wrong floor. Alfred and I are booked on the 18th floor", said Rachel confused.

"I know. I am looking for someone else." They reached in front of room 1513 and Avery gave a few quick knocks. They waited for almost a minute before the door was opened. Rachel lost all the blood on her face.

"Avery, what a surprise...", came the high-pitched voice of Stacy. Her hair looked a bit messy and her lipstick was smudged. Rachel hoped from the very bottom of her heart for it not to be what she was thinking.

"Avery? What are you..." came Alfred from behind Stacy. He trailed away when he saw Rachel. He wasn't wearing his coat and his lips had faint lipstick on them. Rachel felt the floor slip away from her feet. She felt like throwing up. She instantly ran towards the elevator, away from the heartbreaking sight.

"What is wrong with you, Alf? What do you think you are doing?", shouted Avery, raging. How dare this w***e?

"It is not what it looks like." Alfred tried to explain as calmly as possible.

"Avery, it is my fault. I came onto Alfred."

"Explain that to his mate, Stacy. Now get out of this hotel!"

I want to kill this b***h for touching him! But the more important thing is that Plan A succeeded!