When we reached the hotel, everyone was smiling and interacting. They were in their best outfits and jewelry. They all noticed us and bowed.

Ellis gave a short speech about how long more was to come and thanked me for always being by his side.

" Hey,"

" Interact, I'll find Lila," I told him. He nodded and kissed my lips before going to his guests. Lila, short for Lilac, was my best friend and roommate at the university campus. Lila and I weren't close when I met her. She despised me because she thought her boyfriend, the pack beta, Jace, was secretly in love with me, but she was wrong. Jace only cared for me in a sisterly way because we originated from the same pack, The Golden Stone Pack. It is one of the largest and strongest packs in the world, and my father is alpha. We sat her down and told her our history, and now we are best friends. Like me, she left her pack to be with Jace.

" Love!" I heard the excited voice of my best friend. I turned around with a smile on my lips and hugged her.

" Baby girl, you look amazing!" she exclaimed.

" You too," I smiled.

" By the way, David Kofflin is looking for you," I sighed at that name; David Kofflin was one of the wealthiest, handsome bachelors in the city. Every year, top companies hand-pick five students in a field to do interns at their companies, and this year, David's company, K- Corp, picked me because I'm the best data analyst at my university.

" I don't want to see him. He only wants to use me to piss off Ellis," I said. David and Ellis were alphas to large and wealthy packs. However, they were rivals.

"Yeah, but you can't deny this is a great opportunity," she says. It was an excellent opportunity indeed, though I didn't want to agitate Ellis by accepting the K-Corp offer.

"I'll work at the company Ellis recommended for now," I told her.

We discussed more about work, and she told me she had an exhibit and I had to attend. Lilac was a great painter, and her work has been valued at the university since she switched her major to the arts.

" Hello, ladies," We turned around and smiled at Charlotte.

Charlotte was a timid redhead omega wolf who attended our university. Students didn't like her because she was a lone wolf. A wolf with no pack was considered wild and treated no better than rogues. We recently took the lone wolf under our wing; she has gained some favor.

" I didn't know you were coming here," I told her and kissed her cheek. We invited her to social gatherings, but she never attended because she felt out of place.

" Lila invited me. I didn't want to, but I was bored on campus," she said, and I nodded.

" Oh! Charlotte, you look pretty, and that cleavage, damn girl," Lilac teased, and she blushed—such a little cutie.

" I didn't have anything else to wear. This is the dress you gifted me last month, Love," she told me shyly.

" You look stunning in the dress," I complimented her.

" So where is the host? We should pay our respects, right?" Charlotte asked, her eyes wandering in search.

" The host is my boyfriend, Ellis Carter. I think you've met once, no,"

I think they had, but they didn't interact as Charlotte hurried to leave, and Ellis ignored her.

" Um, I- I s-saw him in a business magazine and on TV, but never in person,"

" Oh. I'll introduce you-" I didn't finish my sentence when I saw Ellis and Jace approach us,

" There he is!"

I smiled at him. My boyfriend stopped in his tracks.

" Ellis," I called gently, about to go to him, but Lila held my wrist. She was worried. I followed Ellis' gaze. He was staring at the woman behind me.

" Mate,"

My knees weakened as Ellis whispered the words. I took a step back.

" Ellis, baby,"

I regained composure and went to him in an attempt to get his attention from her. I kissed his lips in desperation, wanting him to pay me attention.

"I'm glad to see you," I stammered, trying to keep my tears from falling.

" Mate," he whispered again, ignoring me and looking at Charlotte. I could barely breathe, and all I did was step aside. Ellis took steps forward to her and slowly cupped Charlotte's crying face with trembling hands.

" Hello, mate,"

No, no, no. I silently begged the moon goddess to wake me from this nightmare, but Lila's touch told me it wasn't a dream.

The two mates were lost in each other's gazes, and I couldn't watch any longer as I turned to leave. I was walking through the empty streets, not caring it was drizzling.

" Love, Love, wait!" I had no strength or zeal to turn around and talk to Lila. I sat on the street bench and buried my head in my hands, crying.

" Oh, my sweetheart," Lila hugged me, and I bawled louder.

Ellis succumbed to the bond. When I turned eighteen four years ago and discovered he wasn't my fated mate, I was heartbroken, but he assured me it would be well. We don't need the bond to stay together, and even if we met our mates, we would reject them to be together forever. I was content with the forever promise he made me.

I spent the whole night crying in my campus apartment. I couldn't face Ellis after what happened tonight. I was still hurting a lot. I finally managed to get some sleep, but the door soon opened, and I felt someone shaking me.

" What?" I groaned, opening my eyes. It was Lila, her expression solemn. She pulled me in her arms, and I held her tightly.

" Ellis chose her. He went right past me," I croaked, my chest tightening. My best friend pulled away from me and held my hand.

" He's an idiot," she said with venom.

We stayed there for a while, silently. My phone beeped, and I rushed to pick it up, hoping it was Ellis, but it wasn't.

The day went by slowly, and Ellis had not reached out to me yet. Each hour he didn't call, my heart bled.

Sleep eluded me, and Jace came to check on me the following day.

" Ellis is still confused," he said, and I shook my head, getting out of his embrace.

" There is nothing to be confused about," I went to the mini bar, got wine, and drank it.

" Is he with Charlotte?" I asked. He faced the floor, and I knew my suspicions were correct. Many questions ran through my mind. Did they sleep together? My inner Lycan was whimpering; she was hurt that Ellis didn't instantly reject his mate as we had planned.

" I can't believe he hasn't contacted me," I murmured.

The beta and Lila stared at me with sorry expressions on their faces, but I didn't want that. I ran a hand through my hair and gulped my wine.

" Play the piano for us, please. I love listening to you play," Jace said with a smile. He was trying to distract me from thoughts of Ellis, and I appreciated that. I touched the keyboard on my piano as I asked.

" What should I play?"

" My heart will go on," he said, sitting before me. I sat and played with them. I played for a long time, and it calmed me. My chest felt lighter, yet tears were building in my eyes, and I closed my eyes as I freely let them fall. I was crying for good now. My heart would never go on if he chose her over me. I needed Ellis; I needed him to keep his promise to me, HIS VOW. I stopped playing and stood up.

" I want to rest now," I breathed, wiping the tears off my face. Lilac was crying, too, and Jace held her closer. I couldn't stand the pain in my chest, so I rushed upstairs and threw myself on the bed. I curled on the bed, holding the plushie Ellis gave me tighter as my body shook.

I grabbed my phone, hoping to find a call or message from him, but there was nothing.

The next day, I woke up and took a long shower. I sat on my closet carpet, eyes on my phone. The door opened, and Lilac walked in.

" Darling, are you alright?" she asked.

"Fine, don't worry about me," I murmured, getting up and finding an outfit. I picked a short red dress. I eyed Lila. She was agitated.

" What is it?" I asked.

" Someone is here for you," she said quietly. I squinted my eyebrows. Who could it be? I followed her, and to my surprise, I found Ellis there. My heart is pounding against my chest, and I'm sure he could hear it. We held each other's gaze before I spoke, " I want coffee,"

I walked past him, and he audibly sighed and followed me out of my apartment building to his car. The car ride to the café was silent.

I didn't wait for him to open the door for me when we arrived at the Café.

The waiter smiled, already knowing what we were taking. We sat at our favorite table. After a long time, Ellis took my hand and asked, " How are you?"

" Do I look alright to you?" I retorted, annoyed. I took my hand back from him. He pressed his lips together.

" What happens now, Ellis?"

" I'll settle this. Give me some time, please," he said carefully. I didn't know what to say to him right now. The waiter served our beverages: black coffee for him and hot chocolate for me.

" You and I made a promise, Ellis. How can you easily forget that?"

" I know, babe. I love you so much. Nothing will ever change that," he said quickly, grasping my hands again.

" So you want us both?" I narrowed my gaze at him.

" No, my feelings are such a mess right now. My inner lycan wasn't expecting this at all and wanted to be close to her," his inner lycan, Lias, was strong and would survive the loss of their mate. Ellis needed to stop using Lias as an excuse.

" You want her. You were meant for each other," A tear rolled down my cheek when I spoke.

" I love you. You're my entire world," he said, sure of his words.

" Then reject her and keep your promise," I held his hand this time. " Ellis, I love you so much,"

" I tried to reject her, but her inner wolf is weak. She's not like us, baby. She might die from the rejection," he says desperately.

His phone rang, and I realized it was Charlotte calling him constantly.

" Did you fuck her?" I asked. He looked at me as if I had pierced his chest with a dagger.

" No!" he yelled. That relieved me, but my eyes turned fierce when I saw Charlotte enter our café.

" You're fucking kidding me, right?" I growled.

Charlotte spotted us instantly, with a smile plastered on her thin lips as she approached us.

' Relax, please,' Ellis's mind linked me. I glared at him, ' She's innocent and timid. Already she feels terrible this is happening,'

I rolled my eyes but kept my cold demeanor. Charlotte didn't look like someone who would feel terrible if this happened. I bet she loved it.

" Love! I'm sorry about what happened at the party," Charlotte said urgently, sitting next to Ellis, closely, I might add.

" It's not your fault, Charlotte," I grumbled tightly, unable to be nice to her.

" I feel so guilty that we had sex yesterday, knowing well he is your boyfriend," My heart started to race in my chest... Sex? My body shook at realizing they mated, and my Lycan was wincing at this betrayal. Ellis lied to me.

" Oh, love, I'm such a horrible person. It just happened over and over. It is the mate bond. I'm sorry, my friend," Charlotte cried. I was stunned, numb at what I heard. My broad stare snapped at Ellis. He looked incredibly guilty, and my lips suddenly quivered.

" Y—you told me nothing happened," my voice trembled. Ellis glared at his mate. She cowered in fear of him, yet I could swear I saw a faint smirk curl on her lips. She wanted me to find out that they slept together.

" It wasn't- Love, you're my everything. I didn't mean for it to happen," he was stuttering. This was the first time I heard him stutter. He tried to hold my hand, but I revolted against him.

" My lycan, he-"

" Enough," I growled, releasing my alpha aura. Charlotte jumped from her seat, scared and not looking at me.

" You betrayed me, both of you," I said, glaring at them. Vee was growling now. All the earlier sadness was replaced with anger towards these two.

Tears were building in my eyes, but I refused to cry. I wasn't going to cry in front of them. The tension in the café was palpable now, and the other customers were still watching us. My bloodline was powerful. My parents were both alphas. Hence, my aura was oppressive and commanding. It was usually light, calming people around me. Now, it was dark.

" Love, tame your lycan," Ellis said through his teeth. I glared at him for a long time. I could sense his inner lycan was trying to surface. We were alphas, but this was his territory; defianing him like that in front of people couldn't be tolerated, no matter how much he loved me. I looked away but refused to submit to him.

He looked over to Charlotte as if getting his silent message. She bowed to us,

" Forgive me, Love," she still couldn't look me in the eye. Charlotte turned to leave while I glared at her retreating. Bitch. I noticed everyone in the café had left. It was just the two of us now.

" I was confused and disoriented after having so much to drink. I thought it was you," he was restless, trying to justify his actions. I didn't stop the tears that were streaming down my face.

" Forgive me, please," he begged. I felt so much contempt for him. I've done nothing but love him, yet he betrayed me like this. I inhaled and stood to leave. Ellis grabbed my arm and spun me to him. He held me in a tight embrace. My body was shaking, and hot sobs escaped my lips before I felt darkness overtake my senses.

My eyes opened later. I found myself in my bedroom. Did I faint?

Arms were wrapped around me; it was Ellis. I carefully left, but he woke up, looking panicked.

" Love, babe, you passed out. How do you feel?" he asked, sitting up. I stepped away from him and rushed into the bathroom. I locked myself in. I sat on the floor and wrapped my arms around my knees as I breathed in and out, in and out, trying not to cry.

" Love, Love, please open the door. I'm sorry, I'm so fucking sorry for the hurt I caused you," he is banging on the door. The door opened a second later, and he walked in. Ellis got on his knees and tilted my head towards him. However, I refused to look at him. I pushed him away from me.

" Leave me alone," I implored, " I don't want to see you, Ellis," I buried my face in my legs.

" No, Love,"

" You lied to me!" I shouted angrily, hitting his chest severely, but he didn't budge, " You said you wouldn't hurt me, but here we are! You fucked her, shared with her intimate parts of you,"

He was silent after my sudden outburst, filled with shame.

" I hate you. I wish I didn't love you!" I screamed, tears rolling down my cheeks. Ellis gently grabbed my wrist and carried me to the bedroom despite my struggle. He laid me on the bed, stroking my hair, and sat next to me.

" Rest, I'll see you tomorrow evening," he said, but I didn't answer him, just closing my eyes.

The next day, I was ready to go to class. I wore sunglasses because I had bags under my eyes from not getting enough sleep.

I step out of the elevator only to find Charlotte in the lobby of my building. I frowned as she approached me with a grin on her face. She wore a short skirt and a white dress shirt that I recognized as Ellis'.

The omega reeked of my boyfriend, and my hands balled into a fist.

" Hi, Love," she waved, and I narrowed my gaze at her.

" May I help you?" I asked, looking at her icily, and she took a step back, intimidated by me.

" Well, I just wanted us to walk to class together," she said.

I didn't answer her and walked to the campus, "You hate me, don't you?" Charlotte suddenly said after a long silence.

I stared at her sharply, my gaze piercing, "You slept with my boyfriend; should I commend you?"