Cruel Twist Of Fate

Chapter Three

Madison Frost

I watched in horror as my mate kissed another woman, claiming her in front of everyone. He never even spared me a glance. Topaz whimpered in pain as we witnessed the unthinkable. My heart broke, and I gripped my chest, gasping as my lungs constricted.

The crowd ignored me as they celebrated their new Alpha and Luna. It was supposed to be the happiest day of my life, but he chose someone else. He didn’t even explain before humiliating me.

I fought back tears as I stumbled through the people, trying to escape. I had to get out of here. I refused to let anyone see me cry.

I ran into the forest that surrounded the pack house without looking back. I pushed myself until I couldn’t breathe, and every muscle burned. With tears streaming down my face, I braced myself against a thick tree, taking in harsh breaths.

“I hate him,” I cried, and Topaz whined. “I hate him so much! Why didn’t he just reject me instead of making empty promises? Making me fall in love with him.”

I sank to the forest floor with my back against the same tree. Wrapping my arms around my legs, I cried against my knees. The pain was more than anything I had felt before.

Scott lied and betrayed me. Was I not a good mate? I may not be an alpha’s daughter, but my father is a gamma. I may be a little rough around the edges, but I have a good heart. Why wasn’t I good enough to stand with him and lead the pack?

My nails dug into my calves until I felt liquid trickle down to my ankles, but I never felt any pain. My limbs were numb and my chest hollow, like I would never be whole again.

“Moon Goddess, why would my mate do this to me?” I sobbed into the empty wilderness.

I didn’t know how long I sat on the dirty woodland floor, but my tears never stopped. Even though my head pounded. I didn’t want to go home. I couldn’t face my father after what happened. It didn’t matter that Scott was my mate; I still meant nothing to him. And my father would still have to work with the Cypress family.

Topaz growled when I heard a twig snap.

I couldn’t find the energy to care. I sat there with my head resting on my knees and waited for the first blow. Nothing could hurt more than what my mate has done to me.

“Mads?”

My heart clenched. The voice wasn’t his, and I cursed myself for being so stupid in thinking he would come after me. The mighty alpha would never chase someone like me. He made his choice crystal clear, and I would never beg.

“Maddy, I know you’re out here. Why did you run away from the party?” he called out.

I sniffed, ignoring him. No one would believe me anyway. The future alpha was my mate, yeah, right? The pack would accuse me of being obsessed and crazy.

“Mads, what the hell?” Ryan exclaimed, kneeling before me. He had found me, even though I wasn’t hiding.

“I’m fine, Ryan. Go away,” I grumbled, my throat raw from crying.

“Really? It took me an hour to catch up with you,” he huffed.

I rested my chin on my knees and looked at him. “I didn’t ask you to do that.”

I snapped my eyes closed and groaned when he shone his phone light at me. The sun had long set, and with the dense tree coverage, it was pitch-black. Maybe not that dark for wolves like us. I could still see, even if it was blurry from my tears.

He hissed. “Mads, you’re bleeding. Did something attack you?”

“No. I’m fine,” I exhaled, hoping he would leave.

“At least let me walk you home,” he sighed.

“I said, I’m fine,” I snapped, opening my swollen eyes. I didn’t care if I looked like a mess. There was nothing left. My fated mate had chosen another, and I was nothing.

I tensed when he moved closer and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Please, Mads. For me. I won’t be able to sleep knowing you are out here, alone.” His voice told me he was worried, but I didn’t have the energy to care about how he felt. Maybe he was right to be worried.

I couldn’t tell anyone. I was alone. I wanted to leave this place, this pack, but my body wouldn’t move. All the dreams I had of my future had been ripped to shreds. I wouldn’t get a second chance. You are given one mate. One. And mine didn’t love me.

A roar echoed around us before pain shot through my arm. In a daze, I hit something hard, now standing. His scent filled my senses, but it was now mixed with something unfamiliar. It was the scent of the other woman, combined with that of my soul mate.

“Don’t touch her!” His possessive growl had goosebumps covering my body.

“Alpha Scott,” Ryan stammered, feeling the pressure of the alpha aura. “There’s been a misunderstanding. Madison and I are friends, and I was just walking her home,” he explained.

“She doesn’t need your help,” he spat, and Ryan held up his hands in surrender.

I fought to get away, but his grip around my waist tightened. “Let me go!” I demanded. Topaz growled inside me, wanting nothing to do with her lying mate. I punched his chest, trying to get free, but it was useless. He never flinched.

“Maddy, stop,” he sighed, hugging me.

“Get off me!” I screamed, pushing my palms against his chest. “I never want to see you again!”

When his grip loosened, I pushed away from him, stumbling back. He reached for my hand, but I slapped it away.

“Baby, I know you’re upset…” he exhaled, extending his hand to me.

“Upset? You think I’m just upset after you humiliated me in front of our entire pack. I’m your fuckin’ mate, Scott, and you rejected me. You kissed another woman, claiming her as your mate!” I yelled, my chest heaving. I hated him. I hated looking at him. I hated everything about him.

“Mate?” Ryan gasped behind me.

Ignoring him, Scott took a step, and I stepped back, maintaining distance. When my back hit Ryan’s chest, he sneered.

“You think you can make me jealous with this lowlife?”

“You have no right to say anything about who I see from now on. You claimed someone else,” I argued, pointing at him. “You claimed she is your fated mate, but we both know that was a lie.”

Tears fell, and I despised that he was seeing me cry.

“Baby,” he sighed. “What happened today was political bullshit. She doesn’t love me, and I don’t love her. I love you, Maddy. Please, I’m sorry I didn’t warn you. This was a last-minute decision.”

His voice sounded sincere, but I knew better. It was all a lie. Everything he had ever told me was a lie, and like a fool, I believed every word. But not now. Not ever again will I give someone my heart.

“I, Madison Grace Frost, of the Cypress Ridge Pack, reject you, Alpha Scott Cypress, as my mate,” I ground out the words, my chest ripping apart.

“Maddy,” Scott gasped, clenching his chest.

“Now, you can be with her, and we will go back to being nothing to each other,” I told him, my voice strained as I fought to keep myself from collapsing.

“Baby, don’t do this,” he pleaded with misty eyes, and I almost believed him. Almost. Until I remembered how he kissed her, claiming her in front of everyone.

“Our lives are no longer entwined, Alpha Scott.” I bit my bottom lip to stop it from trembling. With one last look, I turned on my heels and walked away.

He called after me, but I didn’t stop. My wolf howled in pain, and I felt it in my soul. She longed for her soul mate, and I had just rejected him. I didn’t know what Scott was thinking, but I would never be a part of it. I may not be good enough to be a Luna, but I know I’m worth more than what he gave me.