Humiliation
1483 Words
Alissa
Tonight was the mating ceremony.
Of all the days to betray me like this, it had to be on the day that I had hoped to turn a new chapter.
I had turned eighteen exactly six months ago, and it didn't take two days for Nate to come running after me.
Tears sprung to my eyes at the memories but I wiped it, unwilling to let them fall.
I wasn't going to shed more tears for a man who didn't deserve it.
"Maybe I can wait till the next ceremony?" I said nervously to my mother who immediately looked at me like I had grown a horn.
"What are you saying? You are about to be mated to the Alpha of this pack. You better concentrate on brushing those strands of stray hair and stop talking nonsense." And then she was out, dismissing the topic like I never spoke a word.
I hadn't told anyone about Nate and Gloria.
The only one who knew about it was Lizzy.
Speaking of Lizzy, if I didn't go out now, I was going to be late.
It was at the tip of my tongue to say what had happened, but I chose not to. It's not like telling my parents was going to stop me from the hurt I was going to face.
Besides, they didn't need to know I had seen Nate with my own eyes.
I took one last look at myself in the mirror and headed out.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Lizzy asked, concern etched on her lightly made up face. "We could run away?"
I laughed at that. "And ruin your chances of having a mate? Hell no." I took a deep breath. "I can handle this, trust me."
A hush fell into the hall as Nate came in, and my breath quickened again.
How was he still the most good-looking man in my eyes despite being a traitor.
And that shirt he was wearing, we had picked it out together on his birthday just a few days ago.
I had told him to wear it for the ceremony.
My eye burned.
What a traitor.
He had worn it, but I wasn't the one he wanted.
"I'm worried for you, Alissa." Lizzy closed a hand around my arm, guiding me towards our seat.
Anything I wanted to say next was cut short by Gloria who blocked our path.
"Look who's about to be shocked out of her whits today." Her lips looked more like she had stuck them on a blood bag, than run a lipstick over them.
Gloria was easily one of the most beautiful girls in the pack, and that had gone straight to her head.
I was more surprised about Nate being with her, than her clinging to him.
"I think anything else that happens today will not be so shocking after the performance from earlier." I spat back, taking a stance.
My wolf Lisa was ready to take over and tear that pretty face of hers to shreds.
A move that would have been satisfying if it wasn't going to have me beheaded.
"Trust me, you just saw the tip of the iceberg. After we left, we went to his bedroom and finished what we started, without having a worthless bimbo like you walk in and interrupt us again."
A hand wrapped itself around my heart and squeezed tightly.
I had known they had gone back to the pack house.
The thing was, in the six months of dating Nate, he had never ever allowed me into his bedroom.
His excuse had been that he wouldn't be able to keep his hands to himself, and wanted to wait till we were mated.
I had been willing then, to give myself to him, but he had flat out refused.
If only I had known.
I looked up, feeling a heavy gaze on me, only to lock gazes with Nate.
He immediately looked away, his expression hard.
"I do not care what you have going on with Nate, Gloria. So if you would just get out of our way." I said, setting my gaze back on her.
Gloria stepped forward, coming close to me. "I can't wait to see how tonight plays out. I can't wait to see you break more than you have, Alissa." Her tone had turned menacing. "I can't wait till you see me take Nate away from you."
"Step the f**k back or I will have my claws in your eyes, you bitch." Lizzy, drew me back as Gloria closed in on me.
I expected her to continue, but she stepped back. "Pathetic losers." Her laughter was like glass shards as she walked away.
I honestly couldn't balme her.
Up until that morning, no matter how much of a b***h she was, she wouldn't have been able to talk to me that way.
"Let's just go find our seats." I said to Lizzy. Then began to move without waiting for her.
I needed to sit down. I didn't trust my knees or my heart that was continuing to squeeze so painfully it was difficult to breathe.
~
The ceremony started with Nate giving a speech, one which I did everything I could to tune out, and then the Elder began.
Elder Arnold's intro was so long and boring.
Exactly what I needed to help me tune out more, so that when the names started to be called, I was pretty much numb
All through the ceremony I felt Nate's heavy gaze on me, but I was too numb to care.
Why even was he looking at me?
Did he want to see me break?
"Elizabeth Davidson." Arnold called, smiling when Lizzy stood up, then turned to me with a worried look on her face.
"Move, already!" I whisper-yelled, and gave her a slight push.
Nervously, inhaled and moved to the stage.
"You are to be mated to Beta Isaac." Arnold announced.
I closed my hand over my mouth in surprise and happiness when I heard who she was given to as a mate.
Lizzy had pretty much manifested her mate!
I couldn't be more happy for her as her bestfriend. At least one of us was going to have a happy ending.
My smile faded instantly when the next name was called.
"Gloria Thompson." Arnold called, and from the corner of my eyes I saw her jump up all giggly and excited.
I knew exactly what was coming, but it didn't stop the hurt that threatened to drown me.
"You will be mated to Alpha Nate."
Surprised gasps flew across the hall at the announcement.
Comments of shock and surprise filtered to my ears and I felt stares on me.
"I thought the alpha was going to choose Alissa?"
"So after all that flaunting, he chose Gloria?"
"What a slut! Now her mate has to suffer being mated to a woman used and dumped by the Alpha."
"Who would even dare look at her now, knowing she one belonged to him?"
"I pity her though. As at this morning they were still flaunting their relationship?"
"I'm not surprised, anyone would choose a woman who carries herself like a queen over one who keeps to herself."
I blinked and tuned them out, then turned just in time to see Gloria launch herself into Nate's arms.
Some how, I managed to keep my gaze on them as they kissed.
Fuck, it hurt so much.
I didn't dare look in my parent's direction, but I felt their gazes on me.
I didn't want pity.
It was fine.
I wasn't made of wax. I was going to survive.
"Alissa Meyers." The elder called, looking straight at me.
I stilled, then inhaled deeply and got to my feet.
All eyes were on me.
Including Nate's.
One look at the arm he had wrapped around his new mate, and I strengthened my resolve.
I walked to the stage, then stopped near Arnold.
He looked at the book in his hand, then frowned before looking up at me.
He turned in Nate's direction briefly, and when his eyes settled on me again, it was filled with pity.
"Unfortunately you will not be mated this year, Miss Meyers. Instead you have been assigned to the pack house as a personal attendee till the next ceremony."
I could literally hear my heart beat in my ears as the whole hall went death silent. Blood rushed to my ears, and I saw white.
This had never happened before.
No one, had come to the ceremony and left without a mate.
Why me?
Suddenly Gloria's words from earlier made sense to me.
I stood there, stunned as humiliation wrapped it's icy fingers around me.
Not only had I lost Nate, I was now going to wait after him and his new mate.
Why?
What had I done to deserve this humiliation ritual?
- Writer
