Three Lies He Told Me

6 I Will Leave

Kael POV

Anger courses through me as I stare at the woman that is meant to be the other half of my soul. How did I miss how self-absorbed and money-hungry she was? Was I blinded by the bond?

"Kael, what exactly do you mean rejection? I just said I won't marry you. What else is there to say?"

I fight the growl that threatens to escape my throat at her dismissive tone. "You are breaking our engagement. It was a verbal contract that you were provided a very expensive ring to solidify. The fact that you are breaking that contract needs to be formally rejected. I will gladly go first. I, Kael Draven, reject you, Lydia Ashford, as my mate and Luna."

Her eyes go wide, and her hand flies to her chest. She whimpers from the pain before her eyes meet mine. A mix of confusion, longing, and fear swirling in her eyes. I refuse to show her how much my own words are tearing me apart.

"What's wrong Lydia? Are you alright," Clarice asks, panic clear in her voice. She wraps her arm around Lydia to steady her.

"My chest hurts. Why does my chest hurt so much," she asks no one in particular.

"I would like to think its karma for you being a shallow b**tch, but what do I know? Now I suggest you say the same thing I just did, but instead of Luna replace the word with alpha or the pain will just get worse."

"What the hell is this Kael? What did you do," Dominick demands. I ignore him, keeping my focus on Lydia.

"Tick tock Lydia."

"I, Lydia Ashford, reject you, Kael Draven, as my mate and Alpha," she says.

When the last word leaves her lips, she cries out and drops to her knees. Atlas whimpers and I fight my own groan as the bond that had started to form completely snaps. My father places his hand on my shoulder to steady me. My eyes meet his and a silent conversation passes between us.

"You can leave now, but before you do, let's be very clear. If you truly think what you pathetic a**holes did to my son today hasn't irrevocably changed our business relationship, you are sadly mistaken. He will follow through with the wedding, but as far as the Draven family is concerned, we are done with the Ashfords," my father says.

"Now wait a minute. We are still going to be family. He is marrying my daughter," Dominick says.

"You mean the adoptive daughter that you don't give a sh*t about. You didn't think I would have a file on the woman and her family who intended to become part of mine. I know all about what you think of Seraphina Ashford," my father says.

Dominick goes to open his mouth but I cut him. "Get the f**k out of my house. I will be there at the altar, but as my father said our business dealings are done."

Whatever Dominick sees in my eyes has him ushering Lydia and Clarice toward the door. As soon as they step out and close the door behind them, a growl loud enough to shake the walls rips from my throat.

Seraphina POV

This is not what I envisioned when I imagined my wedding as a little girl. Not that I really ever imagined a happily ever after. I stare at myself in the floor-length mirror feeling like an impostor. I'm in one of the most expensive hotels in the city. I probably couldn't afford the water in this place. In a dress that probably costs more than I make in a year. I look beautiful, but none of this is real. I don't love this man and he doesn't love me. Hell, I don't even know this man. I've only ever seen a picture to know he isn't a complete toad physically. I'm hoping he doesn't have the personality of one.

The door to the room opens, and I smile when I see Eli in his perfectly tailored suit, followed by my friend Asya. She volunteered to keep him occupied since I had no choice but to explain what the hell was really happening today. I've never wanted to bludgeon my sister to death more. It wasn't the easiest conversation, but when I told him we were just pretending to get married, he seemed to accept my explanation.

It was when he asked me if Kael would be his dad with visible excitement in his eyes that I felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest. Thank god for popcorn and icecream because it was the only way to distract him after I told him that he would be more like a friend than a dad. I just pray he isn't as much of an a**hole as the man that proclaims to be my father.

"Mommy, you look so beautiful," he says, wrapping his arms around my legs.

"Thank you, sweet boy. You look very handsome. Are you being good for Auntie Asya?"

"Are you kidding? He is the best date I have ever had to a wedding," she says, and Eli giggles. "I'm not your date, Aunt Asya," he says.

This time when the door opens, my smile fades. Lydia, Clarice, Dominick, and Thomas all step into the room. Lydia and Clarice both have glasses of wine while Thomas and Dominick have tumblers in their hands. Isn't it classy they are already drinking, and the wedding hasn't even started?

"Sister, you look so pretty in my dress," she says, crossing the room to stand in front of me. "She's right, Sera. You look beautiful," Thomas says.

Before I can say a word about keeping his compliment to himself, red wine covers the bottom of my dress. My eyes meet Lydia's and hatred flashes in them. "Oh my God Sera. I'm so sorry. The wine slipped out of my hand," she says.

"Bullsh*t. You did that on purpose, you b**ch. Can't stand that Sera looks better than you ever will," Asya says.

"You ruined my mommy's pretty dress, aunt meanie," Eli says, trying to rush at her, but Asya holds him in place.

"Who the f**k are you? I said it was an accident. Besides, why the hell are you in here? You aren't part of this family. Based on your dress, you don't belong at such a high-class event anyway," Lydia says.

"You know what, forget this. I didn't want to be here to begin with and I sure as hell am not walking out there looking like this because you are a jealous b**ch."

Clarice moves to stand between us as I reach for the zipper of the dress. She grabs my hand to stop me. "Sera, it was an accident. We can figure something out. You can't back out of this now. Remember what is at stake," she says, her eyes moving from me to Eli and back.

"Get out all of you now."

"But we need," Clarice starts to say, but I cut her off.

"No, we don't need to do anything. You better get your b**ch on a leash or, so help me god I will forget everything and leave with my son. I don't just mean to leave this hotel. I mean leave, and you will never find me."

"That's enough Sera. Your sister apologized. It was an accident. Don't act," he starts to say, and I scream for them to get the f**k out.

Without another word, they rush from the room. I turn and look at myself in the mirror. I should have known that even when I'm sacrificing myself for those a**holes, they would find a way to make it worse. A way to humiliate even further.

"Sera, I swear to god I will get you out of here. We can go out of the service entrance and none of these pretentious a**holes will be any the wiser until we are long gone," she says. Based on the determination in her eyes, I believe every word.

"No, I have a better idea. I need you to stay here with Eli. I need to leave."

She looks at me with curiosity before she finally speaks. "I'm here no matter what you need. Even if you decide you're not coming back, just call me and Eli and I will slip out the back. I'll take you anywhere you want to go," she says.

I hug her quickly and make my way through the hallway out into the sunshine. I refuse to continue to be my sister's punchline.

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