Chapter 4
Chapter Four
WREN ASHWOOD
NEXT MORNING
"You ready?"
I looked up from my phone, my gaze landing on Soren who had just finished wolfing down his sandwich.
"Yes." I answered, my stomach twisting unpleasantly. "I hope we haven't kept them waiting for too long."
By them, I meant the Thorne family, Soren's family.
You would think that the fact today was our mate-bonding ceremony would make them shift their shitty family tradition.
But no, the Thorne family was a full house of werewolf assholes, who priced themselves on their washed up alpha bloodlines.
I had never liked them and I was certain they didn't particularly like me either, but because Soren was my mate, I put up with them and dutifully attended every dinner.
Just like today.
...
An hour later, Soren and I arrived at the Thorne estate.
The mansion was massive and the moment we stepped inside, my nose was assaulted by dozens of scents.
"There's our future Alpha." Nicholas's voice boomed across the room.
Soren released my hand and immediately walked towards him, the two of them hugged, clapping each other's backs.
"Wren."
An elderly woman approached me.
It was Elder Yvonne, one of the pack council elders who had been close friends with my mother.
She hugged me, a smile on her face "Your ceremony is this evening, are you nervous?"
I smiled back at her as we both disentangled from the hug. "Not particularly."
Her brows rose in surprise. "That's surprising, most women are nervous before their mating ceremony."
I glanced toward Soren, he was laughing with Nicholas and somehow, Becky, was standing beside him, her hands wrapped around his arms.
She looked like his mate, more than I ever did.
Elder Miriam followed my gaze, her expression shifting slightly. "Wren."
I turned toward her, brows raised.
"You should understand something." She began with a sigh. "Soren is going to have a lot of responsibilities once he becomes Alpha... Responsibilities that involve women and bearing more heirs for the pack."
My smile slowly disappeared as she placed a hand on my shoulder.
"But no matter what happens, you're his mate and his Luna."
She thought she was comforting me, but her words were almost driving me crazy.
She was literally telling me to shut up and endure Soren cheating on me because at the end of the day...
He will always be my mate.
I smiled. "Of course, you are right."
Her shoulders relaxed as her smile widened. "Good girl."
My wolf stirred angrily at the words but I held her down.
Calm down, Leila, let's bid our time.
...
Brunch began shortly afterwards.
The entire Thorne family and close friends sat around the enormous dining table, helping themselves to portions of food.
Soren sat beside me, while Becky sat directly across from us, her gaze repeatedly drifting towards Soren.
Everyone noticed, but none of them said anything about her shameless behaviour.
"This evening will be an important day for the Ashwood Pack." Elder Marcel Thorne, Soren's uncle, suddenly began.
Everyone grew quiet, nodding in approval towards him.
"Soren Thorne will finally take his rightful place."
My fingers curled into fists beneath the table as all of them erupted into applause.
I looked around, every single one of them was smiling.
People who had watched me grow up, people who had promised my parents that they would protect me.
Something bitter welled up in my throat, the irony of it all was chilling because Soren wasn't born into the Alpha bloodline.
He was becoming Alpha because he was mated to me.
Because I had chosen him.
And without me, he was simply Soren Thorne.
But why were they all acting like he was the rightful one and I was just an accessory to him.
Soren's hands wrapped around my palms, a smile on his lips. "I can't wait to be bound to you forever... Wren."
Across the table, Becky watched us, her face twisted in anger, then she smirked, her legs stretching forward to gently press against Soren's leg.
Soren's body froze, then relaxed.
The Thorne family members seated close to us saw it all but none of them said anything.
...
We haven't even finished eating when Becky and Soren somehow managed to sneak away.
My stomach churned in disgust when I envisioned what they were doing.
Probably tucked away somewhere secret, sucking the saliva off each other's faces.
"Cheers." I gulped down my last glass of vodka, pulling myself to my feet.
"Where are you headed to?" Elder Miriam asked vigilantly.
She probably thought I was off to catch my cheating mate.
"I need some fresh air, I'm beginning to feel drunk." I replied.
She nodded. "Oh, we don't want you drunk on the morning of your mate-bonding ceremony."
I nodded too, then with a slight bow, I walked out of the large dining hall.
The instant I was outside the door, a pungent scent slammed into me.
It was Becky's scent of jasmine mixed with Soren's... And sex.
I froze outside, my fingers tightening around my phone.
Then a smirk made its way to my lips.
Following the scent, I climbed down a flight of stairs, towards the darkest corner in the estate.
The underground garage.
I hadn't even stepped in fully when Soren's voice flitted into my ears.
"You shouldn't have done that at the dining table."
Accompanying it was Becky's soft moan, then the sound of flesh slapping against flesh.
"Please...more." Becky groaned and threw her arms around his neck.
I stood at the entrance and watched them, bile rising in my throat.
Stop, Mate.
My wolf whimpered but I ignored her.
Slowly, I raised my phone up, a smirk on my face as I opened the camera app.
Just when I was bemoaning that I didn't have enough embarrassing evidence, this two decided to offer themselves up on a platter.
What a thoughtful adulterous pair.
Becky's lustful moans echoed in the garage, occasionally accompanied by Soren's groan.
Every minute was torture to my wolf and I because this man was our mate but I had to do it.
Especially if I wanted everyone to see how hypocritical this man was.
Once I was satisfied with everything I had recorded so far, I pressed the save button.
A smile still plastered on my lips as I whispered.
"Oh, Soren and Becky, I am going to hit you two like a freight train.”