Scarlet’s POV

“But father–”

“No buts!” he growled, snapping when his canines elongated, his eyes suddenly bloodshot. “You will unlink yourself from him and break the mate bond and you have just three days to do that. Do not test me, child!”

A wince left my lips and tears I hadn't even realized that I held back fell freely down my face in rivulets. I nodded, dragging my feet that had suddenly grown too heavy for me out of the room, noticing the look of triumph on Freya’s face.

It was too much for me to handle, I couldn't think straight. I didn't know what to do, but–

“Scarlet!”

Brie’s voice suddenly cut me out from my inner turmoil and my gaze snapped towards her direction. Mirroring my hate and pent-up anger towards her.

“What do you want?! What else do you want me to give up for you?”

“I swear it, I wish it didn't have to come to this. I wish I do not have to take him away from you.”

My voice rose several decibels and screams erupted from my mouth when I found her pretense riveting, “But you already did! You're trying to take Xander from me! Why do you have to? Why?!”

“Because he's already mine!” she raked her fingers through her hair, gritting her teeth when a smirk formed on her face. “Xander already belongs to me. You think he loves you? He doesn't. I'm the one he wants! Those times he's lied to you about going on pack business with his father, do you think he really did go with him?”

Blinking the tears away, I sniffled. My breath coming out in short pants. “What do you.....what do mean? Xander would never lie to me.”

She chuckled, dragging her lip between her teeth, “Come on, Scarlet. You're not that dumb to actually believe that? do you?” she shrugged nonchalantly, “Well, if you don't believe me, you could come see for yourself. Tonight, at eight, I'll even leave the door open.”

She glanced at me one last time, strutting off and leaving me in a flurry of emotions. Dropping to the ground, I found myself wailing and screaming no matter how hard I tried to believe none of this was real and it had to be a joke of some sort.

†††

I joined the rest of the maids at the kitchen where we tried to shuffle through the meals that was being prepared for the pack. I went through my chores a ghost of myself.

I couldn't get Brie’s words out of my mind no matter how hard I tried. I trusted my mate, or did I not? He wouldn't do that to me.

I tried several times to reach out to him through our mate bond, testing our link that tethered us together, the golden twigs wrapping around us like thick vines but I got nothing back from him. My chest tightened when that familiar sensation that I had been feeling hit me again.

I was already losing my mind from the wild thoughts that kept on taunting me, I decided that I had to see for myself to be sure. Dropping whatever it was that I was doing, I sauntered out of the kitchen, my feet having a mind of its own as it led me over to Brie’s room.

I know stood right in front of the large mahogany doors, I attempted a knock but remembering her words, I gently pushed it open, walking in the room.

My eyes widened when moans filled the air and Brie continued to ride a male who held unto her like his life depended on it. They had been too caught up in what they were doing to notice my presence.

“Oh, god! Xander!” she screamed out.

“Yes, baby.”

I gasped. Clasping a hand over my mouth to muffle the sounds that followed behind and that seemed to catch their attention when their heads turned towards my direction.

Xander’s expression was beyond appalled while Brie’s held excitement, even as she tried to feign surprise.“Oh my god! Scarlet.” she exclaimed.

“Xander." I panted. "What is.....going on here?”

“Baby...baby I can explain,"

He rasped out, his eyes hooded from the lust he felt for another woman. His golden-brown locks stuck to his forehead from all the sweating.

White-hot pain seared through me and all I wanted to do in that moment was to burrow into the ground. Xander tried to get her off him in an attempt to come to him but she snarled at him, holding him still.

"There's no need to pretend now, Xander.” she turned back to face me, “You want to know what's happening? We've been fucking and this isn't even the first time it's happened. We've been doing it behind your back.“

“Come on, Brie. Don't do this. Let me go.” he grunted when his eyes shifted to his wolf's.

She exclaimed, raising her hands in surrender while I watched the whole thing unravel right in front of me like it was some bad dream. Her breasts jiggled with each movement and she almost shoved it in his face.

"What?" She tutted. "You don't love her anyway. You've only been with her because you felt pity for her, right? I'm the one you've always loved me, right? No one would choose a loser like her over me unless you're a loser yourself. So tell me, who do you really want to be with?”

“Scarlet,” my name was a soft plea on his lips.

His gaze couldn't leave mine, I was too stunned to move from where I stood transfixed. “Go on, tell us. Tell me what excuse you have to make!“

Opening his mouth to speak, he struggled for words, a pained expression flashing through his irises. He groaned, raking his fingers through his hair.

“I'm sorry, Scarlet. But I do not love you.... it's Brie. It's always been Brie.”

Then and there, I watched my world shatter right in front of me. Nothing could ever prepare me for the pain and heartache I felt nothing could ever stop the hurt. I felt used, I felt betrayed!