LEILA’S POV

I could hear the sound of my heart pounding; all eyes were on me, and my legs were trembling.

My throat burned, my chest caved in and every breath felt like swallowing glass. I couldn't blink because I knew that if I did, all the tears that I had been fighting would betray me.

But I didn't want to give my sister that satisfaction she desired.

Her lips were curled up in a smirk as she wrapped her arms around Ryder. She had it all, the beauty, the family. She went to the best school, and since I was just an orphan picked up from the slums, I didn't get much education.

Ryder was all that I had. Why did she have to take him away from me in the most heartbroken manner? In front of everyone on a day like this that was supposed to be the best day of my life.

“Ryder” my voice trembled as I called out to him.

“You don't have to do this. I don't know what she told you, but we can make this work”

Even as the words left my lips, I hated myself for begging. For clinging to a man who had already betrayed me.

“There is nothing to work out here. I am sorry, Leila, but you are not good enough for me.” he lowered his head; this time, it felt like there was a flicker of remorse in his eyes.

Ryder pulled away from Iris as he walked closer to me and grabbed my left arm.

“I, Alpha Ryder Noah. Alpha of the nightshade pack rejects you, Leila Ashfold as my mate and cuts all ties that bind us together”

He let those words fly out of his mouth loud enough for everyone to hear.

I clutched my chest as it felt like invincible claws ripped me up from inside. Every piece of the mate bond burned to ash, leaving me trembling and gasping for breath.

And all of those tears that I had been holding back welled up as streams of tears flowed down my face.

“I, Leila Ashfold, accept your rejection and cut all ties that bind us.” At that moment, we felt that connection; it grew intense for a brief moment before he forcefully let go of me.

I could feel it, the longing, the hunger for him, the desperation to always want to be with this man all faded away and was quickly replaced with immense pain that surged through my veins.

I could no longer hold the tears and dashed out of there, fighting through the crowd.

Everyone had their eyes fixed on me, and while some of them stared at me with sympathy, most of them had mockery in their eyes, and all I wanted was for the grounds to open up and swallow me as they whispered words to each other.

As I lowered my head, I blended through the crowd, rushing away from there as quickly as possible. Tears kept rolling down my cheek so that my eyes became blurry, and I did not notice the man coming towards me.

Just as I bumped into him, I did not realize that when I knocked down the glass of wine he was holding, it came splashing right on my dress.

“What the fuck!” I snapped, knowing that this was a new dress, one that I had just bought, just for today.

“Sorry about that, I wasn't looking where I was going." his deep and husky tone came through; his voice carried a powerful aura, one that I was capable of sending shivers down my spine.

I finally lifted my gaze to meet him. He was wearing a mask, and even though it was all my fault, he still went ahead to apologise.

“No. It's fine, I was the one who was not looking at where I was headed”

I muttered and was just about to walk away but he held my hand. His touch was so cold, forcing me to yelp as it sent shivers down my spine.

“I am sorry. But you don't look so good, this dress looks new and I wouldn't want it to get ruined. How about you come with me to my suite which is just over there and I can help you get cleaned up”

He gestured to the towering hotel nearby, and my eyes suspiciously glanced at him, knowing that it was a luxury hotel and not everyone could access it. And as if he could read my mind, he spoke up.

“You don't have to worry, I am going to be the perfect gentleman”

He assured me, and even though I knew it was dangerous, following a stranger whose face I couldn't see, yet I knew I would go anywhere at this moment, as long as it kept me away from Ryder and Iris.

I followed him to the elevator until we arrived at a very luxurious suite. He carefully handed me a towel and then pointed in the other direction.

“The bathroom is this way” I nodded my head and went right inside.

Once I had slipped into the towel, I slowly came out and handed the dress to him. He did not hesitate as he tossed it into the washer.

“What happened to you, you look pale.” his eyes trailed down at me from head to toe before he handed one of the glasses of wine he had just poured.

“I am fine,” I glanced the other direction, gulped the glass of wine down my throat before requesting another.

He went ahead to pour in another glass, and just like the first, I did not hesitate to gulp it down my throat, and that silently went on until the bottle had been emptied.

“You need to take it slowly, I have no idea what happened to you, but getting yourself drunk won't fix the situation”

“Is that so…. Then go ahead and tell me what would fix the situation?” I walked over to him and even though I was tipsy, I knew that I badly wanted to see the face of the man I was having this conversation with.

My hands slid through his shirt, I was staring right at him, engulfed in his minty scent, mixed with tobacco and cologne that seemed to take away my breath.

“Miss, you are drunk, I think that it's time for you to leave”

“Leave, you haven't told me your name or let me see your face. Besides, am I supposed to leave in this towel”

As I stretched out my hands, trying to give him a better view of myself, the towel that was wrapped around my body let loose and slipped away.

Even though I expected him to act like every other man and get his way with me, instead he carefully picked up the towel from the ground and covered my body with it.

“You shouldn't be this careless, especially with a stranger,” he advised, but none of his words were getting to my head.

I couldn't tell if it was the alcohol that was getting to me or the heartbreak, but I went ahead to wrap my arms around his neck. Still eager to see his face.

“That is enough, I think your dress will be ready now”

“Don't you find me attractive? Why doesn't any man find me attractive?" Tears welled up in my eyes again, but I was stupid to have reached for his mask and pulled it off.

Before me was the most handsome man that I had ever seen, scarred with a giant scar on his face. Yet he remained cold, his gaze dark like he would rip me apart this instant.

“What did you just do!” he growled, the walls of the room trembled at the sound of his voice, as he pulled away from me, he went straight to the mask that was lying on the floor but even as he was about to put it on, i had no idea where i had ordered my boldness, but i grabbed his head and locked my lips with his.

He growled, the sound of his voice trembled, and his dark eyes reached out to me.

“You have no idea what you have done!” His deep and cold voice came through and there was something dark beneath his gaze, it was beyond just a warning.