Taming the Ruthless Alpha

Chapter 4

I was lucky not to completely pass out. Even so, Alex had her arms around my shoulders, supporting me. I shook my head, inhaling deeply and trying to dispel Jack's words. A strong unfamiliar scent invaded the room. It was musky and earthy, with a hint of pine. My eyes scanned the room for the source, but it was an automatic reaction. The majority of my brain power was still in shock.

His mate. His mate. He'd taken her as his mate. . .

Even Kida, who claimed she didn't care at all, was shocked into silence in my head. I could feel her hurt alongside my own. The wine in my stomach threatened to come up. How could he? When did he? I heard the words in my head and aloud. Greg was facing Jack with his hands balled into fists at his side. Dad and James were mirror images at his sides.

"Two weeks ago," Jack announced. "With Alpha Ryders blessing." He looked at me. "You can't be surprised. You rejected me, after all."

"Focus on your skank, and don't bother talking to Belle," Alex hissed.

Justine opened her mouth, but Jack was faster. "You dare insult my mate?!"

His voice was harsh and loud. People who hadn't been paying attention before turned to stare. Some moved closer, anticipating a drama. I shrank back, nudging Alex and praying she would let it go.

"I don't think this is the right venue to discuss this. . . development," Mom said carefully. "Why don't you go and enjoy your evening Jack? Perhaps from across the room, if you don't mind."

I was beginning to feel lightheaded. That damn smell was distracting as hell. I couldn't focus.

"-divorce papers."

My head snapped up. Jack held an envelope out toward me. I stared at it unblinkingly for what seemed like a lifetime. Someone was talking to me; Jack or Mom or Dad, I didn't know who, and I didn't care. I had to leave right now. Muttering an excuse I wasn't sure any of them understood, I pushed through my brother and my dad, past Jack and Justine, and fled as quickly as I could. The closer I got to the exit, the stronger that unfamiliar scent became. A man stepped into my path. Only a faint smell of lilac emanated from him, but that musky smell was overpowering. I didn't want to deal with it, didn't want to know. I was already dealing with too much. I just wanted to escape.

"Hey, are you okay?"

"Excuse me, please."

I stepped around him and left. As soon as I was outside, I picked up my dress, kicked off my shoes, and ran. The odd smell disappeared behind me, but the hurt and betrayal were strong. Tears blinded my vision, but it was my stomach that forced me to finally stop. Bending at the waist, I heaved, the tears mixing with the contents rushing from my mouth. When the onslaught subsided, I stumbled forward with my arms wrapped around myself. I'd ended up at the park, abandoned tonight, thankfully, due to the party. I found a bench and sank onto it heavily.

"Are you okay?" Kida asked.

"No. . . how could he?"

She was silent for a while. Then in a quiet voice she said, "I wasn't expecting that. That he would take her as his mate. It hurts me, too."

"I know. I'm sorry."

"I didn't think. . . we were that easily replaceable."

I cried harder. "I was so stupid. I thought, somewhere deep down, that one day we would be able to fix it. That we would be able to work through it. I didn't want to admit that, though. I thought he would realize he had made a mistake and-"

"And want us back," she finished.

I brought my legs up and wrapped my arms around my knees. I was too pathetic. At least nobody was around to witness me breaking down, though. Or maybe I didn't notice him because my nose was running from the crying. I jumped when the blonde man from before appeared in front of me. He was silent when he handed me a little package of tissues. I took them gratefully, turning away to open them and blow my nose.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"No problem."

He sat beside me, focusing on nothing in particular. I took a breath through my nose. There was no hint of the smell from the party. Just his lilac scent. He held up his hand when I offered him the package back.

"Keep them. You look like you need them." We sat in silence for a few minutes. Then he turned to me. "So, it kind of seems like you're not okay."

I grimaced. As if I was going to explain everything to a complete stranger.

"I get it. You don't know me and I don't know you. I shouldn't have even followed you out here, but my Alpha gave me orders."

I peeked at him. "Whose your Alpha? Why would he care?"

"Don't ask me. I'm just his Beta. He doesn't tell me anything, just orders me around." He grinned at me. I didn't miss that he didn't answer the first part of my question. "You don't have to tell me what's wrong," he continued, "But the offer is on the table, if you change your mind. Sometimes talking to a stranger is better than talking to someone close to you."

I pursed my lips. He wasn't wrong. I was never going to see him again. That fact alone made it tempting to unload the misery that was life. Who cared if he judged me? After tonight, he would go back to his pack, wherever it was, and I would just be a random girl he'd helped once upon a time.

"My mate- sorry, my ex-mate- took a chosen mate and I just found out tonight," I said in a rush.

His face swung toward me, his expression surprised. Clearly, he hadn't expected that. "That. . . wow. That really sucks. How long were you together for?"

"Two years," I sighed. "We found out we were mates at my eighteenth birthday party. We got married four months later."

"He rejected you after two years?"

I shook my head. "I rejected him. I caught him cheating with. . . my best friend. It's only been a month!" The words started to flow faster, the stress and anger and hurt pouring out. "I've been miserable, hiding in my room, barely eating, and he's been off with her, taking her as his mate as if I meant nothing to him. But what she did was probably worse. I mean, who does that?! What kind of friend sleeps with someone's mate? I can't decide which of them I hate more! And then tonight he drops that bomb on me and then just whips out divorce papers. In front of everyone, too. I just needed to get out of there, or good Goddess I might have snapped."

He blew out a long breath when I was done. "s**t. That's a lot. Wait, are you talking about that girl in the slutty dress?"

I nodded. "The gold one, yeah."

He snickered. "There are a lot of really pretty girls here tonight. But I looked at her and the only thing I could think about was how hell she was keeping that dress up. I mean, no offense, but she doesn't have a lot of support." He mimicked having big breasts and I laughed. "And I'll tell you what kind of people do stuff like that- bad people. It's obvious that she was never a true friend. And he's an i***t who gave up the best thing in the world just to get laid. I've got to give you respect; a lot of people who catch their mates cheating don't reject them. I'm glad you had the good sense to get rid of the asshole."

I blinked at him. "You really mean that?"

"One hundred percent. Your mate is supposed to love and respect you above anyone else. Nobody deserves to be with someone who makes them unhappy, mate or not."

"Your mate is lucky to have someone who thinks like you do."

He smiled down at me. "I don't have a mate. Yet, anyway. But I was raised by two people who love each other more than anything else in the world. I know that when I do meet her, whoever she is, I'm going to treat her like gold."

"I believe you. And thanks. I feel better."

"Good. So, what do you say we head back inside? If ex-asshole tries anything, I'll join that little group you were in earlier and help them kick some ass."

I smiled. "That's my family." I stood up, smoothing my dress. "I need to find my shoes."

He held out his hand. Dangling from his fingertips were my heels. "Ready when you are."