Natalia’s P. O. V

I ran as fast as I could- which wasn’t very fast, for obvious reasons- to the territory border. Just as I was about to cross it, a tidal wave of pain hit me and I fell to the ground, screaming in agony.

‘Candy, what’s happening?’

‘I’m sorry, Ember. I couldn’t take both yours and my pain’ Candy whined.

‘It’s okay. You have your own to deal with’

I struggled to my feet but the pain intensified. Candy howled.

‘Candy, what’s going on?’

‘He marked her.’ She whimpered

He did what!?

The pain went up a few notches and then some. I covered my ears, wanting the blood curdling shriek to stop then realised that it was coming from me.

‘It’ll… be… al… right.’ Candy tried to comfort me in between her heart wrenching howls of pain.

‘Why is it so bad?’

She hesitated before replying, ‘He- he’s mating with her.’

It hurt so, so much. I felt like my heart was ripped out and ground into powder then mixed with fire then buried then blown up. Evert vein, artery and capillary felt like they were full of lava instead of blood. My lungs struggled to take air in. But what hurt most of all was the mark on my neck.

It throbbed and pulsed with never ending pain.

He would pay for the pain he’d put me through.

I screamed till I passed out.

Callum’s P. O. V

Kylie said that she had to leave so that she wouldn’t get caught with me. It dawned on me that I’d not only cheated on my mate, I’d also cheated on Brittany- my girlfriend and the Alpha’s sister.

I waited for a few minutes after Kylie left before going to find my girlfriend. I found her in the corner of the living room talking to the 2nd battle general in command- Kevin Harold Duke.

I pulled him away from her.

“Leave us.” I used my Beta voice and he turned to leave. Before he did, I saw the pain in his eyes. It reminded me of Natalia and that renewed my regret.

I turned to Brittany. “Do you want him as your mate?”

“I want power and since I can’t mate with my brother, you’re my mate.” She replied.

Kylie had been wrong. Natalia wasn’t the power hungry bitch, Brittany was. I should’ve known, but I was no better. I had no doubt that she was willing to leave her mate for power and we both wanted the same thing.

‘No. I want to be Beta because it’s what’s best for the pack and my family.’

My wolf sneered at me, ‘You and I both know that you’re just as power hungry as she is.’

I couldn’t argue.

I scooped her up and carried her to my bedroom. I laid her on the bed and marked her before my conscience or my wolf got the better of me. With machine like movements and state of mind, I removed our clothes and completed the mating process. Since she wasn’t my mate, we would have to repeat the process every three months.

A large part of me was disgusted with that fact.

She pulled me into a kiss and I let her, trying to expel all thoughts of the omega from my mind.

Brittany’s P. O. V

Immediately after we cut our cakes, I decided to have some fun.

I couldn’t find Callum anywhere so I just moved to the music and let loose for some time until a wonderful smell was carried to me- rain and dusk.

My wolf, Tina, was ecstatic, ‘Brittany, let’s go find our mate.’

I didn’t share her enthusiasm and hoped that our mate was Callum so that I could carry my plan out without complications. I followed the scent to my mate and was disappointed when I saw him.

Kevin Harold Duke- the 2nd battle general in command.

My heart hardened at what I had to do.

I looked deep into his grey eyes. They held hope, kindness and… love- something I had no use for.

My wolf begged me not to do what she knew I had to, ‘Please, Brittany. Don’t do this to him- to us. Let him love us, let us love him, please.’

I shook my head, hating my wolf’s weakness. ‘Sorry, Tina. I have to and there’s nothing you can do about it.’

I stared at him, hoping to convey my determination through my eyes. “I, Brittany Penelope Lightwood, sister of the Alpha of the Lightwood, reject you, Kevin Harold Duke, 2nd battle general in command of the Lightwood pack, as my mate and emergency Alpha.”

He groaned and doubled over, gripping his chest in pain.

I wasn’t looking for happiness or love, I wanted more power and Callum was my ticket to it. “Don’t take it personally, Kevin. You just aren’t what I’m looking for.”

Callum chose that moment to intervene. “Leave us.” He used his Beta voice and Kevin turned to leave.

He turned to me. “Do you want him as your mate?”

“I want power and since I can’t mate with my brother, you’re my mate.” I replied with honesty. I saw regret flesh in his eyes but couldn’t care less. As long as he did what I needed him to do, his feelings were irrelevant. He scooped me up and took me to his bedroom. He laid me on his bed and hastily marked me.

It felt wrong.

His movements were robotic as he removed our clothes and completed the mating process. It confused me. I’d slept with every man from sixteen and above except those loyal to their mates, the high ranking males and- of course- my brother. One thing that was always consistent was the fact that they all fell over themselves with excitement when in bed with yours truly.

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I reached up and pulled him into a kiss.

Harry’s P. O. V

Once we cut our cakes, I walked to the food table and tried the food. No doubt, the omega had made it.

I didn’t really hate her, but I didn’t like her either. She frustrated me.

My Alpha voice didn’t work on her, she was faster than the fastest of our warriors- I’d seen her when she thought no one was looking- and I had no doubt that she was extremely strong.

No one really knew her mother so I chalked it up to her being my father’s rape product- the reason she was the omega. No one was happy with the fact that her mother had thought- if I’m being honest, correctly- the Alpha raped her so we treated her horribly.

I shook my head and walked onto the dance floor and enjoyed about an hour of grinds and friskiness before a wonderful scent filled the air- lilies and fresh air. I followed it, hoping to find my mate. There stood my mate, by the drinks table- Kirstin Lina Crest.

I remembered her hanging out with my sister. She had long blonde hair that was no doubt dyed. None of my sister’s friend were originally blonde so they’d dyed their hair. I had no idea what her real hair colour was but I didn’t care. She was beautiful in my eyes, no matter her hair colour.

She turned and her eyes met mine. Suddenly, it felt like it was just us in the room. Her beautiful brown eyes shone with joy and love. In that moment, she was the only thing that mattered.

Just as I was about to touch her, Kylie’s voice broke through the trance.

“Harry! There you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you, babe. Let’s go have your birthday present.”

The reality of my situation slapped me hard. I couldn’t mate with Kirstin. My father had specifically told me to mate with Kylie since her family had power and connections.

I could almost hear dear dad’s voice now; “You must mate with Kylie. If we are to become the most powerful pack in the state- and then the country- we’ll need her family’s connections, power and inside knowledge.”

In that moment, I despised the fact that I was Alpha-to-be but it quickly passed. It was my destiny. I had to do what benefitted the pack. Plus, it brought me power.

I kissed Kylie, “Hold on, babe. I’ve got something to take care of.”

I turned back to Kirstin. The anger and hurt in her eyes made me want to hold her and make everything alright. I shook my head. My wolf, Tay, nagged at me.

‘I hate you right now, you know that? You know that dad will let us be with Kirstin if you insist. Kylie’s family is already very loyal to us.’

‘We need them to be completely and certainly bound to us to ensure maximum loyalty.’ I repeated the words of reason that dad had repeated to me over and over.

“I, Harry Theodore Lightwood, Alpha of the Lightwood pack, reject you, Kirstin Lina Crest, member of the Lightwood pack, as my mate and Luna of this pack.”

I turned away with Kylie as she fell to the floor, screaming in pain. I doubted that anybody would hear her since the music was so loud and everyone was too busy dancing, talking and getting frisky to notice.

I did hear her whisper to me through the mind link- even her mental voice sounded in pain; ‘You will regret this… both of you.’

I thought little of it as I led Kylie to my bedroom and completed the mating process, all the while feeling more guilty than I thought possible.

My wolf snarled at me when it was over, ‘I hate you.’

I wasn’t my favourite person either. But it had to be done.

Kylie’s P. O. V

As soon as the birthday people cut their cakes, a wonderful smell wafted up to my nose- grass and lime. My wolf howled with joy, ‘Let’s go, Kylie. Our mate is here!’

I hoped he was Harry.

I followed the smell to the drinks table. My heart soared and dropped at the same time when I saw my mate- Andrea Daniel Bennett, the battle general.

‘I know what you’re thinking, Kylie. Don’t reject him- the power isn’t worth the sacrifice.’

I mentally shook my head, ‘No, Heather. I have to do this to keep the family connections strong.’

She whimpered.

I sauntered up to him, wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him fiercely and he kissed back, wrapping his arms around me. Then I pulled away and whispered into his ear; “I’m so sorry, I hope you can forgive me. I, Kylie Jane Adams, member of the Lightwood pack, reject you, Andrea Daniel Bennett, battle general of the Lightwood pack, as my mate.”

I turned before I could see him double over in pain and change my mind. I spotted Callum heading towards the other drinks table and, desperate for a distraction, went up to him. “Callum, I have a present for you.”

I dragged him away to a guest room without giving him a chance to protest.

I pushed him against the wall and kissed him. I poured all my turmoil into the kiss. Just as I felt him respond, I was ripped off him.

“Don’t ever touch my mate again!”

Before me was the omega. Her eyes were daggers of hate and in that moment, I was the most terrified of her than I’d ever been. I had no doubt that she would try to kill me if I so much as sneezed at her.

Callum shoved her to the floor and held me close to him but it wasn’t his arms that I wanted. I wanted my mate’s but I guessed it was too late for that. She got up and growled.

He sneered at her. “You? My mate? You have got to be kidding me. You are not my mate, you worthless mutt.”

I hoped that nobody noticed the nervous pitch of my laugh, “She’s just a power hungry bitch and since she can’t go for Harry for obvious reasons, she’s diving for the next best thing. Just looking at her disgusts me.”

Callum backhanded her, sending her to the floor.

He kicked her ribs and I hesitantly joined in. After a few minutes, we stopped. “Don’t ever tell anyone about any of this- not that they’d believe you- if you do, I’ll make you sorry.” He threatened her then came back to make out with me.

I noticed the omega crawl out of the room and pass out. Suddenly, I felt a whole lot safer.

Callum closed the door behind her.

After about 45 minutes of making out, he pulled away, “Kylie, babe, I’m going to the bathroom. I’ll be back soon for more fun.” We were both in our underwear now.

I flopped onto the bed as he walked out and thought about my saddened wolf and aching heart. I realised that I was also cheating on Harry but I couldn’t bring myself to care- he wasn’t my mate.

I played with the band of my panties until he came back into the room and sat at the foot of the bed. I crawled over to him and resumed our intimacy.

After some minutes, I got up to get dressed. I spoke as I tried my best to smoothen my clothes, “I have to go before Harry gets suspicious. Bye, Callum.” I kissed his cheek and walked out of the room.

I noticed that the omega was gone. She must have been stronger than I thought to have been able to move with the rejection pain- yes, I’d have to be stupid, deaf and blind not to believe that Callum was her mate- and that made me more scared of her.

I shook my head and walked back to the party.

I spotted Harry by the drinks table with Kirstin. She was probably his mate. I didn’t go through the loss of my mate just for Harry to get his. I walked up to them.

“Harry! There you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you, babe. Let’s go have your birthday present.”

He froze then shook his head and kissed me.

“Hold on, babe. I’ve got something to take care of.”

He turned back to Kirstin. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for them. Kirstin would feel immense pain and Harry wouldn’t get to be with his mate. I shook my head. If I could give my mate up, so could he.

“I, Harry Theodore Lightwood, Alpha of the Lightwood pack, reject you, Kirstin Lina Crest, member of the Lightwood pack, as my mate and Luna.”

Harry immediately turned away. She screamed in pain and through her agony, she shot daggers at me with her eyes. I felt the same way I’d felt with the omega, only less prominent.

With Kirstin, it was a brand new hatred that could be diffused with the right amount of convincing, with the omega; it had seemed like- no it was- an old hatred that consisted of all the things I’d done to her in the past. Throw in the fact that she’d been my best friend and I’d betrayed her, well, I didn’t believe for one second that I’d come out of another encounter with her, at least not unscathed.

I turned and followed Harry. On the way, I heard Kirstin’s voice through the mind link; ‘You will pay for this, Kylie. I will find a way to destroy you- that’s a promise, bitch.’

I shuddered.

I followed Harry to his bedroom and completed the mating process, all the while hearing Kirstin and her wolf’s pain filled screams and howls through the mind link.

When it was done, I walked to the bathroom and sat in the tub without removing my clothes. I turned the shower on the highest.

I’d managed to enrage one of my friends by mating with her mate, I’d alienated my own mate by rejecting him and I’d signed my death warrant by getting cosy with my old best friend’s mate.

‘What have I done?’