CHAPTER 2

MONIQUE

A piercing scream jolted me awake. Kaid’s face was the first thing I saw, and before I could breathe or even reminisce on how beautiful our night was, he shoved me off the bed.

I hit the floor hard.

"What the hell is going on here? " Someone shouted. I swung my gaze to see Greta's eyes darting from me to Kaid. Oh no!

"Get out of here!" Kaid thundered.

I blinked, wondering if he was talking to me or Greta but the glare and disgust on his face was clear. I didn't need anyone to tell me he hated being seen with me. It was a complete turnover from last night. All night, we'd talked and talked and I'd been convinced he wasn't as terrible as others claimed, he'd treated me like he was happy to find out we were mates and I'd started imagining our future together. But this...

"Are you deaf?" Greta yelled, grabbing my arm. I took a glance at Kaid again but he still had that irritated expression on his face.

I picked up my gown and threw it over my head before rushing out of the room. I wasn't going to cry or feel bad. Maybe he wasn't a morning person. But as I headed to my room, my heart wouldn't stop tightening. The look on his face was enough truth but I struggled to make the Kaid from last night different from what he was that morning.

"Monique, where have you been?" Daphne asked with furrowed brows as I walked into the house we shared.

"Are you okay? I was so worried. You weren't picking your calls," she continued as she closed the door and I drew in a long breath.

"I almost thought you eloped with your mate," she teased, her head popping out of nowhere but I only scowled at her. Then I hurried to the bathroom ignoring her incessant calls behind me.

I should have just used the bathroom at home last night. I should have tried to control myself. I shouldn't have thought much of the beautiful night we shared. I'd been so stupid to believe Kaid's words about being happy he had found his mate. And as I stayed under the shower that morning, I felt used. I felt stupid and...

A bang on the door startled me out of my thoughts and I let out a sigh before picking up the towel.

"Monique, are you okay? You've been in there for almost an hour. " Her tone was laced with concern as I stepped out of the bathroom.

Forcing a small smile, I went to my room. But knowing Daphne, she definitely wouldn't give up.

"What happened last night? Why do you look so sad?" She pestered as I settled on the edge of the bed and pulled my suitcase close to me.

"We'll be late to the kitchen," I told her.

She flipped her hair. "Don't change the topic, I know something serious happened."

But I wasn't ready to share. At least not yet.

I forced a thin smile. "We'll talk about it later, Daphne. For now, let's get ready for work."

Thankfully, she didn't probe further, just watched me get dressed and soon we were out of the door.

We started with our delegated tasks for the day and I tried to focus but as time went by, I became slower as I couldn't stop seeing Kaid's look from that morning.

"Monique!" I heard someone shout. Turning, Daphne rushed to me with a big smile that piqued my curiosity.

"What's wrong? Did you win a lottery or what?"

She let out a low chuckle.

"Did you hear the news?" She asked, her smile widening.

My brows creased. "What news?"

"Kaid and Greta are getting married."

I didn't know when the plate in my hand slipped to the ground, breaking into pieces just like my heart. My stomach sank. Married? Why? How come? Just hours ago, Kaid had...

"What do you think you're doing?" I heard the kitchen head's scream behind me, and I quickly bent down to pick up the shards, but it was already too late. She was already standing in front of me, giving me a death glare while Daphne immediately disappeared to her station.

"Take the food to Greta's room," she ordered and I jumped on my feet. I'd thought she was going to let all hell loose for breaking a plate but it seemed like I had to deal with another hell on my own.

"Why? I've been assigned to cleaning the plates," I reminded her. It wasn't in my job description to serve foods, we'd only done that the previous day because of the party. I was a kitchen assistant and not a server.

She shrugged nonchalantly. "I have no idea what you've done to her but she wants you to bring her brunch now!"

She disappeared before I could utter a word and someone else offered the tray to me. Looking down at the food, my chest clenched. Greta definitely wasn't one to mess with and I knew she had asked for me for a reason, obviously because of that morning.

She'd always seen herself as the future Luna, punishing anyone that tries to get close to the Alpha heir. She'd even followed him to the academy. There was no way I was escaping her wrath.

And immediately I stepped into her room, she picked up the cup and splashed the coffee on my face. Thankfully, it hadn't been hot if not I might have gotten a burn.

"You think you can seduce Kaid, right?" She asked through tight lips as she sent the cup crashing on the other side.

"I...I..." A slap landed on my face before I could even produce any other words. I raised my head slowly.

"How dare you glare at me?" Another slap landed on my face. My fists tightened. Greta was the daughter of one of the council members and as I heard, she had finally achieved her aim of becoming the future Luna so I couldn't slap her back or anything.

Next thing I knew, she was grabbing my hair and throwing the food on my face.

"Don't you ever get close to my husband again. I don't know what you're thinking but everything that happened between you last night should be buried and..."

The door swung open at that moment and she pushed me off her before rushing to Kaid. I was a mess and I didn't want anyone seeing me that way.

"What's happening here?" Kaid questioned as he looked down at me.

"Teaching her a lesson for trying to seduce you."

Kaid and I shared a look. I expected him to correct her and tell her the truth, but instead, his face hardened as he turned to me.

"Did you hear about our engagement?" he asked as Greta clung onto him like he was her lifeline, grinning from ear to ear. But was Kaid really announcing his engagement to me, his mate?

I stared at him, trying to read the answers from his eyes but instead all I saw was disgust. Was he really disgusted by me?

"And that means you should forgo any hope you have in my mind. You might be my mate but I'm not going to accept a weak omega like you who has nothing to offer me," he spat.

I offered him my virginity last night. I offered him my words and comfort. I...

"Therefore, I Alpha Kaid of..."

My brows shot up. "Are...are you rejecting me?" I cut him off, my voice shaking. It still felt like a dream. Like I'd imagined last night.

Another slap landed on my face. "How dare you talk when he's talking?"

I placed my palm on my cheek and stared at Kaid in disbelief. He didn't seem bothered at all, instead he continued.

"I, Alpha Kaid of the bloodcrest pack reject you, Monique, a weak and wolfless omega unworthy of my pack and my bond. Henceforth, you cease to be here, you're banished!"

My mouth hung open as a sharp pain hit my chest. It felt like I was being stabbed in the heart and my legs wobbled. In a blink of an eye, they gave way and I fell to the ground. Banished? Did he have to go that far? What have I done to deserve this?

"Accept it!" He shouted.

I clutched my chest tightly, fighting back the tears. "I, Monique Gray..." I swallowed. "Accept your rejection."

"Good for you." Kaid said and with one last death look, he headed to the door. I stared at his retreating figure while Greta swayed her hips beside him.

Then I heard Kaid's voice. "Guards, throw her out of the gates!"