Taming the Ruthless Alpha

We've got this. We can do this. Just keep it together, Belle. I repeated the words in my head, all the while taking deep breaths and trying not to lose focus. All I needed was to leave the curling iron in my hair too long and burn off a chunk. That would just make my day- and it still wouldn't be the worst thing to happen this week. My deep blue eyes scanned over my outfit in the mirror again. The black dress I'd chosen looked good on me, but tonight it felt like an outfit picked for a funeral. Bleak, like my mood. And my life. "I still say we should opt-out." I rolled my eyes. My wolf, Kida, was even less happy about tonight's plans. Every year, the White Moon pack held a lavish event near Christmas. Usually, I was as excited as well. . . a kid on Christmas. But not this year. This year, I wanted nothing more than to curl up under the comforter on my bed and hide. Actually, I'd prefer never to show my face again. Anger and pain radiated through my chest at the same time - the same reaction every time I thought of the reason why this year was different. Jack. My ex-mate. For the millionth time, I replayed that awful night. It wasn't difficult - it had only been a month. I'd come home early from patrols, planning to surprise him. I could still feel the weight of the grocery bags in my arms, filled with his favorite dinner. We could make a date out of it- I'd do the roast while he cut the vegetables. Maybe I'd bring out a bottle of wine, set the mood. . . At first, I hadn't been surprised that Justine's scent was in my house. She was my best friend after all and visited often. The rest played out like a bad cliché. I knew as soon as I found Justine's bra on the stairs. I knew as I followed their trail of discarded clothes to the bedroom door. I knew as I listened to her moans through the door. Still, seeing my best friend and my mate f*****g in our bed was a shock. For what seemed like a lifetime, I simply stood there, too shocked to cry, too shocked to scream at them. Too shocked to do anything. I'd only come back to life when Justine turned her head, her gaze meeting mine. One would think she would have pushed my mate off her or start apologizing with lame excuses. She did neither. Instead, the girl I'd known my whole life, who had been there for me through everything and then some, smiled a wicked, smug smile, grabbed my mate's face, and stuck her tongue down his throat. The way my heart shattered was something I'd never be able to describe. I must have made my presence known because Jack finally looked at me. His face betrayed the shock of seeing me standing there. Instantly, he started with the excuses I'd expected from Justine. 'It's not what it looks like', and 'It didn't mean anything'. "I, Belle Samuels, reject you, Jack Miller, as my mate." And then I'd run. Down the hall, past the pictures of the two of us over the last two years hung on the wall. Past the kitchen I'd been excited to make dinner with him in that night. Out the door he'd carried me through after our mating ceremony, his eyes full of love. I'd run from my home, our home, ignoring his agonized cries behind me. I hadn't needed him to accept the rejection. Being the daughter of the Beta, I outranked him. I'd severed our bond, and I couldn't go back. Nobody blamed me. Who would? On the contrary, if I hadn't begged for Jack's life, my two older brothers and Dad might have already killed him. As it was, they did have a 'talk' with him - promising not to get violent. As for me, I haven't seen Jack since that night. My parents and brothers went last week to get my things. I'd officially moved back into the packhouse for now. Alpha Ryder and Luna Kate understood, so here I was, back in my old room. The room I'd grown up in until I'd met Jack and moved out two years ago. Two years of happiness. . . or naivety. . . "You have to stop dwelling on it," Kida said. "Easy for you to say," I mumbled back. "You and Jace never really got along." "We mated because it was what the Goddess wanted. That doesn't mean I had to like him," she huffed. A knock on the door interrupted my snide response. "Come in." In walked my mother, her blue eyes sweeping over me. Mom was beautiful with her long brown hair and tan, flawless complexion. She was strong, intelligent and sure of herself- a lot of she-wolves were intimidated by her, and it was easy to see why. Tonight she wore her hair loose with big curls, silver hoop earrings that matched a silver diamond necklace, and a low cut sparkly silver dress that fit her like a glove. "You look beautiful, Belle! But you missed a piece at the back- oh here, let me do it." Without waiting, she took the curling iron and spun me around. Her hands were gentle as she began to work. "Mom?" "Hmm?" I gnawed on my bottom lip. "I don't think I can do this," I whispered. Her hand squeezed my shoulder gently. "You think that, but I know you, sweetheart. You can do this. I know it hasn't been that long, but you are the strongest person I know- and the most stubborn." She moved so she could meet my eyes in the mirror. "The daughter I raised wouldn't be scared off by some slutty she-wolf and a cheating prick. No, she would go downstairs and show them both how much they screwed up." I laughed once without humor. "You give me far too much credit." "You don't give yourself enough." I sighed. "How am I supposed to handle everyone looking at me with pity? And seeing them together?" "I'm not going to tell you to act like it doesn't hurt Belle. I know it does, though I can only imagine how much. I will tell you that hiding from the pain won't do you any good. You need to begin to process it so you can move on." She was right- I couldn't hide in my room forever. Kida purred in my head. Mom set down the iron, wrapping me in a hug. I hugged her back, knowing that as long as she had my back, I would be okay. "Thanks, Mom." "Anytime, sweetheart. Now, let's get this show on the road." I took one last look in the mirror. Then I nodded, following her out the door and feeling ready to face anything.