Page 1 of A Mate Betrayed

Chapter One

Kinleigh stood in theshadows staring at her moon-fated mate as he embraced another woman.Kissing her in a way that brought tears to her eyes.A searing pain ripped through her heart, almost bringing her to her knees as the bond she shared with Vaughn Wishard fractured.The poisoned shards sliced her soul to ribbons.

No, she thought.This couldn't be happening.They were supposed to have their mating ceremony later that night!

Her wolf's anguished howl mourned as the betrayal seared through them both.She thought about the countless promises of love, vowed under starlit heavens, all reduced to nothing in a single, devastating moment.

Vaughn was studying under her father, James, to be his successor since he had none.Pack law forbade a female from being alpha, so when Vaughn turned out to be her moon-fated mate, her father started tutoring him.

Kinleigh bit her lip hard, forcing herself to watch.When her fingers curled into fists, digging her nails deep into her palms, a moment of clarity struck.She pulled out her phone and started to record the two secretive lovers rendezvousing for a tryst.Just that morning, he pulled her close and nuzzled her neck as he murmured words of undying love.The kiss he’d placed on her lips, full of passion and promise, echoed mockingly in her memory.Nothing but a cruel illusion.

“I’m getting tired of watching that bitch run her hands all over you,” the woman huffed.Shocked, Kinleigh recognized her friend, Annette.She had weekend plans with the bitch to go shopping.“Like she has a claim to you.”

“Just dumb good luck Kinleigh turned out to be my fated mate,” Vaughn said with a smirk.“At least the High Luna did one damn thing right.”

“I hate the thought you have to fuck her.”

“That doesn’t happen all that often, sweetheart.She thinks I give a damn about all that romantic bullshit.”He gave her another kiss.“I knew long ago I was made different.I was made to be alpha.Fuck the High Luna, I’m choosingyouto be my mate.”

He was defective.That’s all Kinleigh could think of to explain the words coming out of his mouth.Nothing but a broken awful man.

“I truly hate her,” Annette growled.“All she talks about is cooking for you.Massaging your shoulders.What a perfect couple you two are.It makes me want to vomit every day, after all, we’ve been in love since childhood.”

Childhood?The admission pierced through her soul, stealing her breath.How could she not know about them?What about the bond?Tears blurred her vision as she watched them kiss.

“Patience, my love,” Vaughn said.“Kinleigh and I have our mating ceremony tonight, then I’ll officially be named Alpha Heir.I can regulate her to duties far away from the pack so you and I can move out of the shadows.”

“You’ll have to give her the mate bite.”

“It’s all for show,” he declared.“She’s a lackluster fuck.I have to think of you just to get hard.”

The callousness in his voice finished shattering her.Nausea rose, threatening to choke her.Tears streamed down her face as her wolf clawed desperately to escape, wanting to attack the woman running her hands over her mate.Kinleigh refused to give up her skin because it was obvious Vaughn didn’t love her ...didn’t even want her.How could the High Luna give her such a horrible man?He fooled them all.

There were no signs, no warning, that she’d been blind.Questions filtered through her mind.How did she not see the writing on the wall?How did he deceive her so well?Truth was, he was a master manipulator.All the little touches he gave her.All the kisses they had shared.All the tender moments.Everything mutated into a dagger that twisted deeper with every harsh word, and the person sinking it into her back was her own fated mate.

Her wolf gave one more howl of pain.She didn’t want to hear anymore, and neither did Kinleigh.Vaughn had clearly expressed his true colors.It was time to end this farce of a bond and all his expectations to be the next alpha of the Lightfang Pack.She stopped recording and immediately sent the video to her father.Then she turned her back on the two lovers and made her way back to her house.By the time she arrived, her father was already there.

“I will banish him,” he said angrily.“He won’t be able to set foot on our pack lands ever again.”

“He’s my moon-fated mate,” she whispered brokenly.“I won’t have another.He’s destroyed everything, including my chance to have pups and give an heir to our pack.”

“That doesn’t matter,” her father soothed.“You’re more important than anything.”

“I loved him,” she cried.Her father’s arms came around her and she collapsed into his embrace, sobbing.“I thought he loved me.”

“He’s not worth your tears.”

“I know,” she mumbled.It was hard to talk when she kept having to swallow down her sorrow.“I never want to see their faces or hear their voices ever again.”

“It will be done.”He rubbed circles on her back.“You’ll need to reject him, and I’ll make sure he accepts the rejection.”

She leaned back.“How was I so stupid, Dad?”

“You’re not stupid.He planned this after he found out you two were mates.At least you found out before the ceremony tonight.”

Kinleigh shuddered at the thought.She rubbed her forehead absently, hoping a migraine wasn’t coming on.That’s the last thing she needed.

“You are a strong woman,” he declared.“I’ll gather the pack for a meeting tonight so we can end this.Hold your head up.Don’t let him see you cry.Focus on the anger and betrayal.”

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