Angelise's POV
"Fated mate, my foot! She seduced our Alpha-to-be and fooled him."
"What do you expect from a slut, huh? Shamelessness is her second skin."
The murmurs grew louder as I walked up the stairs. The workers whispered among themselves before reluctantly bowing when I passed them. After all, I was their Luna-to-be.
"Haven't you heard? Her mother was a witch," another maid whispered, scowling in my direction. "I bet she bewitched Azrael using some potion."
"Why hasn't Azrael rejected her?" someone said bitterly. "A mere human like her can never fulfill Luna's duties."
Fools. I shook my head. I could hear every word clearly, even if they were gossiping meters away. Did mere humans have such an ability?
The maids continued bitching as I headed toward Azrael's study. My grip tightened around the teacup, forcing myself not to turn around and throw it at one of them. They didn't deserve attention, nor this special tea I brewed for hours.
Ever since I turned out to be Azrael's fated mate, the pack had been in an uproar. The elders were delighted, especially his father, Alpha Kendrick Ranvor. He was pleased that their future Luna would be none other than his beta's daughter, even if I were illegitimate. However, many envied, particularly women who had secretly prayed to be Azrael's wife.
My heart leaped at the thought. Three more days. Just three more days, and I would be his wife.
I'd been friends with Azrael for as long as I could remember, but it still felt weird. Luckily, he had promised we would take things slow, even after the marriage.
'I've always loved you, Angelise. And we don't have to rush things just because we are mates now.' Holding my hands, he added, 'I will wait until you are ready.'
Heat crept up my cheeks as I recalled his confession. His mother had also reassured me that she'd continue the Luna duties until I was ready. So, everything was perfect! Sometimes, it all seemed too perfect to be true.
My thoughts paused when I saw Samuel, Azrael's right hand, standing outside the study like a watchdog.
"Hi, Sam." I greeted him with a smile. "I heard he missed another meeting because of a headache." Lifting the cup slightly, I added, "I brought him herbal tea."
Samuel nodded with a tight smile. "Master ordered me not to let anyone in." He stammered, sweat trickling down his temple.
"Why?" I frowned.
"He wants to rest," Samuel replied quickly, avoiding my gaze. "He… he's very tired… You know, with all the training and wedding preparations."
Indeed, Azrael had been unusually busy these past few days. His father had been training him relentlessly since he would be crowned Alpha right after our wedding.
I sighed and stared at the cup. Maybe I should see him tomorrow.
"Ah-!"
My eyes widened when I heard a sound from inside. Samuel gulped, his brows furrowing in distress.
"Is he sick?" I asked worriedly. "Did he get hurt again during the training?"
Azrael never showed his weakness to others, especially his father, who despised frailty.
"No-" Samuel shook his head. But the way he struggled to form words worsened my worries.
"Move." I pushed him aside and entered the room.
Crack.
The teacup slipped from my hand, shattering against the floor.
There he was…. My alpha… My husband-to-be… His head thrown back in pleasure, his hand tangled in the woman's hair. And kneeling between his legs was my sweet sister, sucking his…
"Who the-" Azrael groaned, pausing mid-sentence. His anger quickly turned to shock when our eyes met. He shoved Amber away so hard that she nearly hit the floor before frantically pulling up his pants.
Amber stood up and turned around, equally annoyed by the interruption. "Oh my god," she gasped, seeing me.
"Angelise…" Azrael called out, trying to come up with an explanation. "When did you get here?" he murmured, his eyes moving to Samuel behind me.
"I tried to stop-" Samuel cried, shutting up at Azrael's glare.
"Let me explain, sis." Amber cooed, blinking innocently. But the way she licked her lips before they crooked into a smirk, I knew exactly why she'd pulled this stunt.
"Alpha Azrael had a lot on his mind. So, I was trying to ease…" Amber trailed off, her eyes glistening powder blue. But I knew what she really meant. Your mother ruined my mom's marriage, so I am ruining yours.
'All men are the same. Once he is bored with you, he will look for someone else.' Camilla, her mother, had told me on my birthday, bitter after Azrael had set a beautiful party for me.
'No, Azrael is different.' I had defended him.
'Really? Let's see.' Amber challenged me. And now, she won.
The scent in the air—heat, sweat, something rotten clung to my throat like poison. My chest tightened. My vision blurred, tears gathering stubbornly, but I blinked them back. No, this must be a dream. Wedding jitters, maybe, I must be imagining things. My mind foolishly tried to make sense of it.
Azrael said something—my name, I think—but it sounded as though he were underwater. Or I was. But the flush on his skin and the way he was still breathing hard, not fully shaken off his pleasure, hit me like a slap.
"Sis.."
"Sis!"
"Huh?" I got out of my shock. My eyes locked with Amber's before glancing down at her hand that held mine.
I shrugged her off, and she almost stumbled back. Disgust pricked my skin, my eyes burning in fury.
I turned to Azrael, my nails digging into my palms. "How long has it been?" I wanted to punch him in the face, but first, I needed to hear it.
"This is the first time, sis…" Amber butted. "Trust me-"
"Shut up! I am not talking to you." I cut her off.
"Oh, come on!" Amber sneered, her innocent mask slipping. "Stop making a big deal of it."
"He had a lot on his mind, and I was trying to help." She continued, her eyes moving to Azrael. "It's not like he was sleeping with me, sis."
This bitch!
"So, unless he's balls-deep in you, it's not cheating? Is that the logic, Amber?" I spat, bile rising to my throat.
Amber was taken aback, and even Samuel looked shocked by my outburst.
"Tell me, lil sis." I continued, stepping close to Amber. "Until and unless you get pregnant with his child, show up with a big belly, it's not cheating. Is it?"
Amber stepped back, fear flashing across her face as if I'd seen through her plan. "You are taking it too far," she murmured.
"Am I?" I raised an eyebrow. "Alright. How about I come after you finish helping him?" Turning to Azrael, I added, "He seemed to be quite enjoying it."
"What did you expect me to do?" Azrael glowered, his frustration finally breaking free. "You were playing saint and insisted we'd do it only after our marriage. I needed to blow off some steam!"
This piece of shit! My chest ached as if I'd have a cardiac arrest any moment. It was the stupid mate bond.
I breathed out in disbelief. Suddenly, the maids, my stepmother, and everyone who envied me flashed through my mind. It felt as though they were all standing in this very room now, circling me, laughing loudly. Their voices grew louder and louder, ringing in my ears.
Moving closer, Azrael spoke softly, "I love you, Angelise. But, it's not easy for me to wait until you are ready." Looking at me, he grumbled, "And I don't understand why I need to when you are bound to become my wife. My Luna."
They say people reveal their true faces when they are finally caught. Azrael just did it. And I'd be a fool if I forgave him.
"Then let me make it easy for you." When he faced me, I continued, "I, Angelise Morin, reject you, Azrael Ranvor, aka spineless scum."
My chest ripped apart. It felt as though molten lead was being poured into my heart, burning me from the inside out. It was the bond screaming in protest, begging me to forgive him, to submit, to crawl back into his arms. But I refused to flinch. Dying felt better than being this bastard's bride.
Little did I know that by rejecting him, I had already signed my death note.