Betrayed by Her Beta Mate

Chapter 1- Solara POV My stomach churned, flipping like a gymnast. “I don’t think I can do this, Ria,” I said, placing a palm over my racing heart. “Sure, you can. You’ve done harder, this is just walking a stage,” Zaria said. Four years of classes, speeches, and late nights studying alone, swirled in my head. With a deep breath, I calmed myself before turning to face my friend. “You’re right. I mean we’re already here, so I guess it’s too late to run now,” I said. “That’s the spirit,” Zaria said, pushing her back off the bathroom stall. “Now let’s get in there before ‘Big Bro Beta’ comes looking for you.” “You just want to see if Dylan is here,” I said, gently shoving Zaria’s shoulder. “Guilty as charged,” Zaria said with a laugh, throwing her hands up in surrender. “But who wouldn’t be excited to see their hunky boyfriend who has been gone for a month, hmm?” “Ouch. I thought you were here for me.” “Duh, I’m here for you…and Dylan. He texted that he was almost here, and I was hoping to steal a few kisses before your graduation starts.” “Well, what are you doing here then? Go get your kisses and I’ll catch up.” “You’re the best,” Zaria said, giving me a tight hug, and rushing out the door. Before the door could stop moving, she poked her head back inside for a moment. “Happy birthday, Hun.” With that she was gone again. Turning back to the grimy bathroom mirror, I soaked my hands in cold water and took them up to pat my face. Turning twenty meant that I could find my mate. I never even dated. Was I ready to find my mate? Taking one more deep breath, I stepped out into the hall and started towards the auditorium. A few steps in, I was frozen in place. Oranges and ginger filled the hall, making me inhale, hoping to fill my body with the aroma. The source was a tall man with black hair and tan skin standing just a few yards down the hall staring back at me. His light brown eyes were instantly recognizable. “Mate,” Dylan said, still holding my gaze. The mate pull consumed my senses and I could feel my wolf purring inside me urging me forward. My feet betrayed me, stepping forward before I caught myself and rushed back into the restroom. I shut the door behind me and pressed my back against the door. There is no way this was happening. Before I could gather my thoughts, I was pushed forward by the door opening behind me. I stumbled forward expecting to meet the floor. Instead, a strong grip around my wrist pulled me back, slamming me face-first into a muscular wall. “Mate,” Dylan said, wrapping one arm around my waist. His other hand went under my chin and lifted my face. The light brown of his eyes glowed, hinting that his wolf was pushing forward at that moment. “Mate,” I whispered. Just as the word left my mouth, Dylan’s lips captured mine. The grip around my waist shifted down as his hand slid onto my hip, pulling my hips into his. I moaned into the kiss as the mate bond radiated from his touch. In one swift motion, Dylan’s hands gripped under my bottom and lifted me onto the bathroom counter. He stood between my legs, never breaking our kiss. One hand moved, tracing a warm path from my hip, under my shirt and to my bra, leaving electricity humming along my skin. His free hand found its way between my legs, pushing up my skirt. “Dylan…,” I moaned as he slid his thumb back and forth against my soaked panties. As he continued to caress between my legs, his lips kissed from my chest to the crook of my neck. “Mine,” Dylan growled, his breath heating my marking spot. I was his, and he was mine. Only he’s not mine yet. This thought pulled me from my lustful haze. “No, we can’t… I can’t. You are with Zaria,” I said, pushing him back. “But you are my mate, Solara. I want you; she has to understand that. The moon goddess made you just for me,” Dylan said, touching his forehead to mine as his hand stroked my waist. “We can’t blindside her like that. She’s out there waiting for us, and she loves you. She deserves better than that.” “What are you saying?” Dylan said, taking a step back. “Are you rejecting me?” His face dropped, making him look like he might cry. “Of course not, I am saying let’s get through today as normal and as planned. Tomorrow, we can all sit down, and we will tell her everything. She deserves at least that much.” “Okay,” Dylan said, placing one last kiss against my forehead. “I guess we had better get out there soon then. I’m sure she will come find us any minute.” “I’ll go first. Wait a bit before you follow me,” I said, before adjusting my clothes and checking my appearance. Making my way to the auditorium, my heart began to race in nervousness. “Everyone find your seats, the ceremony is about to begin,” the announcer said from the stage as I entered the room. I stopped where my brother was sitting with Zaria and grabbed my cap and gown. Slipping them on quickly, I glanced at Dylan who had just joined us. My arms wrapped around Zaria in a tight hug as her arms hung down at her side. “Good luck,” Zaria said quietly. “Don’t you mean 'break a leg'?” Carson said. “Oh, be nice, Beta Carson,” I said, slapping him on the arm. “That’s, Beta Brother, to you, Missy,” Carson said, shaking his finger at me. I chuckled at him before leaving to take my seat. Once everyone is seated, the lights in the room are dim, leaving only the stage lit brightly. One by one, person by person, the graduating students are called up to receive their degrees. Each person stops in the center of the stage to shake hands with the dean and have their picture taken before walking back into the audience. As they made their way through the graduating class, I could feel a familiar twist in my gut. “Solara Fairborn,” the announcer said, calling me to the stage. I stood tall and focused on placing one foot ahead of the other as I walked towards the stage. As I got closer, the twist in my gut clenched tighter and spread up to my chest. The room started to blur as a pain pierced from inside my skull. ‘Just a few more steps,’ I thought to myself as I reached the top of the stage. With each handshake, the pain grows more intense. Stopping for the photo, I glanced into the audience where my brother was sitting. However, next to him were two empty seats where Dylan and Zaria were supposed to be. The pain in my body was making me dizzy. As I turned to leave the stage, I collapsed onto the floor, causing the room to gasp. “I need air,” I said as Carson helped me up. “Okay, let’s go outside,” Carson said. “It’s fine, I can just walk to the hallway and sit out there.” “You just fell, are you sure you can get out there on your own?” “Yeah, don’t worry. I’ll be just outside the door,” I said, patting Carson’s shoulder. “Fine, go ahead. I’ll get everything together here and meet you in the hall in a few minutes.” I nodded before walking out of the auditorium. Once in the hall, I make my way to a water fountain and take a sip, bracing myself on the wall. Just then I caught a whiff of oranges and ginger. My feet led me down the hall following the alluring scent of my mate. If I get to my mate, the mate bond will help ease this pain in me. I stopped outside the door of an unlocked classroom and opened the door slowly. What I saw stopped me in my tracks. Across the room was a large oak desk. Dylan stood shirtless with his back to me. His jeans and boxers sagged down to his knees as a pair of women’s legs wrapped around his waist. Grunts filled the room as he pumped his hips into Zaria. His movements continued without interruption despite me walking in. Zaria was positioned on the desk with her head on Dylan’s shoulder. She licked and sucked on his marking spot as he groaned in pleasure. She looked up at me, locking eyes as she moaned louder and nibbled on my mate’s neck. My vision darkened, and I placed my hand on the wall. Too weak from the pain to say anything, I started inching forward to get his attention. I didn’t make it far before Zaria flicked her tongue against his neck, opening her mouth wide before sinking her fangs into Dylan’s marking spot as he spilled into her. Just then, darkness closed in on me as I fell to the floor.