Chapter 5

WREN ASHWOOD

"Oh, Soren and Becky, I am going to hit you two like a freight train."

With my phone safely tucked into my pocket, I turned around and walked away from the underground garage.

I didn't bother waiting for them to notice me as I had already gotten enough evidence.

Enough evidence to prove that the future Alpha of Ashwood Pack had been fucking another woman hours before his mate-bonding ceremony.

Enough to make the council question whether he was truly worthy of leading them.

The thought alone brought a small smile to my face.

I climbed back up the stairs and headed toward the main estate.

By the time I returned to the dining hall, Soren and Becky were back in their seats, acting like they hadn't just been choking on each other's tongues a few minutes ago.

Honestly, the amount of audacity between those two needed to be studied.

Soren looked up when I approached.

"Where did you go?"

I pulled out my chair, lowering myself onto the seat. " I went for fresh air."

"I hope you enjoyed your fresh air, just like I enjoyed mine," she said, her cheeks turning a slight shade of pink.

I raised my glass to my face. "Oh yes, I did."

...

The gathering eventually came to an end shortly after noon.

"Head to the car, I am on my way," Soren said, planting a kiss on my hair.

I had barely stepped outside when someone called my name.

"Wren."

I stopped and turned around.

It was Becky.

She walked toward me with a smug smile on her lips.

I raised a brow. " How can I help you?"

"Nothing much, I just wanted to congratulate you on your ceremony with Soren." She raised her hands to tuck her blonde hair behind her ears.

My eyes fell on the shiny green bracelet around her wrists and my entire body froze.

Is that what I think it is?

Becky noticed my line of sight, her smug smile widening. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

I stared at her. "Where did you get that?"

She pretended to think. "Soren got it for me."

Rage welled up in me at her words.

That was the Dream tear bracelet, a family heirloom my parents had handed over to Soren before they died.

They had strictly told him that he should give it to me on our mate-bonding ceremony day but he has gone ahead to...

My fists clenched in anger, my chest heaving.

Becky seemed to relish the sight of my anger as she caressed the bracelet. "It's so beautiful. I clearly told him he shouldn't give it to me, yet he insisted on doing so."

I took a deep breath, a wry smile on my lips. "It suits you. Soren has always had an eye for good things."

I turned and walked towards the waiting car, Becky rushing after me.

"You don't seem to care?" She gritted out. "He gave me your family's heirloom."

I shrugged. "If he thinks you deserve it better than me, then I don't have a say." Then I opened the driver's door.

She stepped toward me, blocking me.

"Don't act like you're better than me because you're not."

I sighed. "Becky, move away from my car."

Her face twisted. "You've always looked down on me, just because you were lucky enough to be born to Alpha parents."

I shook my head in pity. "You are sick in the head."

Then I shoved her out of my way and got into the car, revving the engine back to life.

"Watch out Wren, I will make you regret this!" Becky scowled at me

But I ignored her and drove off.

...

I had just driven out of the estate gate when my phone began ringing.

It was Soren and the instant I answered the call, his worried voice reached me.

"Where are you?"

"Driving home of course," I answered.

"Why did you leave without telling me, I thought I asked you to wait?" He asked.

"I know but I had to leave, I still have some things to prepare for the ceremony."

My answers seemed to pacify him because he exhaled in relief, then hung up after saying a brief goodbye.

I tossed my phone to the back seat and glanced back at the road, my entire body going rigid immediately.

A car was speeding directly toward me.

"What the fuck?"

I jerked the steering wheel but the other car swerved.

Then it crashed directly into the side of mine.

My head slammed against the steering, pain exploding through my skull as the world spun violently.

I vaguely heard metal crushing and glass shattering.

People screaming loudly.

And then... It all faded into black.

...

Pain.

That was the first thing I felt when I woke up.

My entire body felt like it had been ripped apart and stitched back together incorrectly.

"Wren." Someone rushed toward me.

The scent of antiseptic filled my nose, confirming where I was.

The pack hospital.

"Where's Soren?" I asked instinctively.

"He is here." The pack healer beside me answered.

Just then, the door slammed open.

Another healer and some pack members rushed in.

When they saw that I was always, relief flickered through their faces.

"Have you prepared the moon berry infusion?" The pack healer by my bedside asked the other one.

She nodded her head hesitantly. "Yes, but..."

"But what? Get it quickly, Lady Wren's life is in danger and today is her ceremony." She snapped at her.

The door to my ward opened again and this time, it was Soren that rushed in.

His face was pale, his shirt was covered in blood.

The pack healer that had just entered blocked him immediately.

"Alpha Thorne, we need you to be the one to make this decision."

I stared at them all with wide eyes.

What was going on?

Soren's eyes moved toward mine, then he cleared his throat. "Wren, the car that suddenly lost control belongs to Becky. She is hurt too." He swallowed, tears brewing in his eyes.

My body trembled, pain spasming through me.

So it was Becky that hit me.

The pack healer continued, "There's only one moon berry infusion. Alpha Thorne, you have to make a decision before it is too late."

The room felt impossibly quiet as my lips parted.

My wolf began to panic inside me, I could feel her pressing against me from inside.

He would choose me right?

Even though he had been lying to me all these while, it couldn't actually change the fact that I was his mate

Maybe despite the affairs and the betrayal, maybe some part of him still loved me.

The healer looked directly at him. "Alpha Thorne, you still haven't said anything."

My fingers curled weakly around the sheets. "Soren."

His gaze shifted away from me, before he finally spoke.

"Save Becky first."