Betrothed To The Alpha, Fated To The Beta

Chapter 9

JASMINE

I take a deep breath, feeling satisfied with the way everything is set up in the restaurant just outside of our pack for my date with Alec. When I told him that it was my wish for him to have dinner with me, my heart was literally in my mouth, thinking he would not agree but he just asked me to send him the date and time.

“What time will your guest be arriving ma’am?” Festus, the restaurant’s manager asks.

I glance at my watch. I know I came here a few hours early to make sure everything is in place but in about an hour from now, Alec should be here.

“He’ll be here soon,” I reply, walking towards the restroom, taking another look at the space.

The low-hanging chandeliers cast a warm, intimate glow, their crystals catching the light in subtle, sparkling patterns across the room. There’s only one table here tonight in the vast space of the room, a table for just the two of us with a bottle of Alec’s favorite champagne sitting on top of it with two glasses.

I did a little bit of research in my planning tonight to make sure it is at least close to what he likes. I have no way to know exactly what Alec likes when it comes to dates or dinners and I may be doing too much but if everything turns out how I hope it does, then I want it to be a special night and my efforts will not be wasted.

I step into the restroom and I stare at myself in the mirror, my makeup still glossy and pretty, bright red lips to match my red, hot knee-length gown. My long dark hair rolled up and pinned with a red bow, a silver necklace with a red emerald heart shaped pendant around my neck.

The mix of red is not random, it’s his favorite color.

My heart pounds at the thought of what I’m about to do, what I’m about to ask from him.

Will he even agree?

On any random day, he’s unable to stand me but that day at training, he smiled at me, gave me a thumbs up and even agreed to have dinner with me.

I might have a chance, but…..is this even the right thing to do? A wry expression contorts my face, a tinge of guilt wrapping around my heart, making me feel filthy.

I know Andre said our marriage is now open and I can have any man I want but this goes against everything it means to be a Luna, a devoted wife and a woman of honor and dignity.

I sigh, dropping my head before taking another look and myself in the mirror, taking a deep breath. I might just be giving myself all this trouble for nothing. Even if I am willing to sacrifice my virtue to have Alec in my life, there’s a very big chance he won’t even consider it.

I’ll just let tonight go as it will, I won’t force anything. Yes! That’s what I’ll do.

—

“Ma’am.”

I feel a hand tapping on my shoulders. Wait. Did I doze off? How long was I—

“What time is it?” I ask Festus, simultaneously looking at my wrist watch. It’s past 12 midnight. Alec was supposed to be here by 9pm.

Did he stand me up?

A gnawing feeling of hurt clenches my heart knowing it is a possibility but why would he do that?

If he wasn’t going to come or if he changed his mind, he could have just informed me.

“Ma’am, I know you booked out the place but we do have a closing time,” Festus says in a polite manner, a look of pity in his eyes that makes me feel utterly shameful. “However, I can have the staff wait a while if you think your guest is still going to come.”

I nod and try to mindlink Alec but he blocks me off. I try again and it’s the same thing. I pick up my phone and text him, it delivers and then the text tag changes from Delivered to Read but he doesn’t reply.

“You know what— it’s fine, your staff can go home. I think I’ll leave,” I say to Festus, pain searing my heart and I hide my eyes from his gaze, feeling them grow wet.

Why is Alec doing this? Why does he continue to hurt me like this? Do I just give up on him?

As I drive back into our pack grounds, the tears continue to fall from my eyes. I know he did this on purpose to ridicule me, to remind me that even though I am his mate, he still feels the same way about me as he did before and that is why it hurts the most because even without the matebond, he would still be the object of my desire.

The mate bond just seemed to have amplified everything but obviously not for him.

But what if I’m wrong? What if he didn’t stand me up on purpose? What if something else happened?

Am I really making excuses for him now?

I swerve my car, taking the dirt road that leads to his house where I think he’ll be. I deserve an explanation for this and goddess help me, if he did this on purpose, I’ll reject him and find a way to heal my heart.

The lights are on in the house and I can hear the sound of soft music playing. My heart clenches even harder. He didn’t come on purpose. I bite down my lips bitterly in regret and knock on the door nonetheless.

Whatever he has to say cannot be more painful than what he’s already done to me.

The door opens and my heart almost stops beating, a sharp pain jarring through it, my lips part but I can’t speak.

My wolf whimpers in pain and I just stare at the lady clad in a towel that came to open the door with her hair wet, completely reeking of Alec’s smell.