THE REBIRTH OF THE ALPHA'S MATE

Chapter 3: Betrayal

As I trailed behind Alpha Jael, his brief exchange with my father left an uneasy sensation lingering in the air. Their silence spoke volumes, evoking a sense of transaction, as though my fate was being bartered like goods in a marketplace. I couldn't shake the unsettling feeling of being reduced to a mere commodity, traded off without regard for my own desires or dreams.

With my gaze fixed on the ground, I mechanically shuffled the card in my hand, a feeble attempt to anchor myself amidst the whirlwind of emotions threatening to consume me. A heavy sigh shattered my reverie, drawing my attention to the impatient visage of my betrothed.

Could I truly call him my mate now, I pondered, or was the title merely a facade, masking the chains of obligation that bound us together? His irritated tone sliced through the tension, a sharp reminder of my duty to comply, regardless of my inner turmoil.

Apologies tumbled from my lips, a reflexive response to his impatience, yet his disdainful gaze remained fixed upon me, a silent reproach for my perceived incompetence. With a dismissive gesture, he informed me of our impending departure, his arrogance a palpable force that threatened to suffocate me.

As he reached out to claim my hand, a wave of apprehension surged through me, prompting an instinctive recoil. His puzzled expression mirrored my own internal conflict, his outstretched hand falling limply to his side as I struggled to voice my fear.

"Shouldn't I... prepare?" I managed to stammer, unable to meet his gaze for fear of the condemnation I might find lurking within.

"Why bother?" His response was curt, devoid of empathy, a stark reminder of the role I was expected to play in this orchestrated charade.

"Must I greet our pack in bridal attire?" The question hung in the air, a desperate plea for reassurance in the face of an uncertain future.

"I don't think it matters; they just want to see me married. Look, I've come and got what I needed here. Now I'm going home. If you're not in the car in the space of a minute, you can walk to Blood Moon." With that, he turned and walked away from me. He was indeed a heartless person.

I walked out of the packhouse to a waiting black Rolls-Royce Droptail. He was already seated in the driver's seat, tapping his fingers impatiently on the steering wheel.

I climbed in and shut my door. Glancing in the backseat, I saw just one suitcase. That would be my thing. As sad as that was, I was leaving my pack, my friend, and my family. Clicking my seatbelt into place, I stared out the window, waiting for us to leave, but we weren't moving. A minute passed, two minutes passed, then three, and even four and five minutes later, we were still parked in the driveway of the packhouse. I got tired and broke the silence.

"Aren't we leaving?" I asked him.

"Yes. As soon as your maids get the rest of your stuff, " After a while, he responded.

"What?" I looked at him quizzically.

He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder, indicating my suitcase, and I laughed.

"It's a ritual; they would bring the rest of it over to the pack."

Now it was his turn to look at me with a confused look.

“That's new.”

He continued to look at me with an indecipherable expression before his expression hardened again.

"Whatever." He grumbled.

Finally, he started the car and put it in the drive.

Leaning back in my seat, I started at the houses passing us by, giving way to more and more trees until we left my pack completely behind.

I felt like I'd left my life behind.

Should I speak to him; or try to start a conversation?

I floundered around in my head, searching for something to ask him that didn't involve his murder streak or how many people he had decapitated.

A few hours passed. It became dark outside, and the trees turned into a dark blur as we sped past them.

Suddenly, it popped into my head and out of my mouth before I could stop it.

“What is the pack like? How are people in it?” I blurted it out with a wide smile on my face.

Alpha Jael glanced at me and then went back to the road in silence. f**k! I didn't get any response.

"Alpha?" I tried again.

Nothing?

Wow!

I didn't speak a single word for the rest of the trip. My gaze kept traveling between the window and my shoes; I refused to look at him.

“We are now in the parklands.”

He said that, and I simply nodded. Was I being disrespectful? Probably. But he was also being disrespectful to me either way, so I didn't care.

"We're here."

He pulled up to a huge twelve-foot gate that looked to be made of iron.

Two huge guys were standing in front of the gate. After they opened the gate, I was impressed as we drove further towards the packhouse.

Most of the area was covered in trees, but I could spot houses in the dense forest. Here and there, houses were dotted around with cute balconies and porch swings, gardens, and stone walking paths. I even spotted a few garden gnomes. Not at all what I had been imagining when I learned who my husband was; the place was so beautiful.

A few minutes later, Alpha Jael pulled up to what could only be the packhouse.

The driveway was a big circle of stone bricks, with a water fountain stationed in the middle. Cars were parked in a line along the edge, including SUVs. Taking a minute to admire the house itself, I was honestly awestruck.

The packhouse was gigantic—at least 6 feet tall and just as wide. Lush flower beds lined the front, giving way to a beautifully green front lawn. Vines crawled up between the windows, sprouting little buds.

I couldn't pull myself out of sight.

"Are you going to sit there and stare all night? I'm tired." Alpha Jael said.

I shook my head, speedily opening my door and stepping out. I hadn't moved much throughout the long car ride, and my legs were super stiff. I took a second to stretch them while still admiring the house.

Now I see why my parents wanted me to get married to him, and I'm starting to feel like it's not a bad idea either.

We got into the pack house, and it was so beautiful that I was beginning to love the place.

As the days slipped away, I found myself adapting to the lifestyle and values set forth by Alpha Jael. Three months flew by, yet our connection still lacks the warmth and intimacy of true love.

Alpha Jael and I were in sync, our marriage feeling like a warm embrace. As I strolled outside, a sudden agony gripped me, sending me crashing to the earth. It was as though a thousand nails tore through my heart, the bond with my mate shattered.

Damn it all!

Returning home, I ascended the stairs, my vision blurred by tears. "Ah!" The scream tore from my throat uncontrollably. There they were—my mate entwined with another w

oman. Before I could comprehend, darkness enveloped me, my eyes sealing shut against the betrayal.