Page 2 of A Mate Betrayed

“Yes, Father.”

“Perhaps you should get away.Go on a vacation.Spoil yourself.”

She pondered that for a moment.The idea was appealing to her.“Maybe I’ll go visit Payton.I haven’t seen her in a long while.”

“I think that’s a great idea,” he said, patting her shoulder.“Love you, jellybean.”

“Love you too, Dad.”

****

Kinleigh sat next toher father and watched as the pack filtered into the lodge.Her mother died when she was fifteen, and since her father never re-mated, she had stepped into most of the duties that the pack Luna performed.She helped where she was needed, whether working in kitchens or reading to the pups in the library.

Her wolf had made her appearance slightly late in life at age twenty.That’s when she discovered her moon-fated mate was Vaughn.She’d been so happy because he was a gorgeous man.Big, muscular, with baby blue eyes and dark hair.She thought he was as infatuated with her as she was to him, but apparently it had all been a lie.

When Annette entered the room, hatred rushed through Kinleigh’s body.It became even more potent when the woman smiled at her and gave a little wave.A moment later, Vaughn also walked through the doors and shot her a smile.His eyes quickly slid to Annette before meeting hers once again.Before she knew what she knew, Kinleigh wouldn’t have thought anything of the brief moment.Now, however, bitterness surged through her heart.An icy emptiness filled her soul where Vaughn used to be.

Her father walked in and came to stand behind the podium.It only took a few minutes for everyone to settle.Vaughn came to sit front and center, a beaming smile lit up his face as he waited to be called up and crowned the next Alpha before mating with her.Kinleigh would rather slit her own throat than ever be with him again.

“Good evening,” James said, his deep voice not needing a microphone.“Tonight was supposed to be a joyful celebration.However, some important information has come to light, and I thought it best to share it so rumors are dispelled.Please direct your attention to the screen behind me.”

He stepped aside so he didn’t block the video and nodded to someone, who had his laptop open.Immediately, the cell phone recording played for all to see.Kinleigh kept her gaze on her ex-mate and ex-friend.The horror on both their faces was priceless.

Vaugn shot to his feet.“Stop!”

“No,” James refused, his alpha voice heavy with anger.“They all must bear witness to your treachery.”

And so it played out.The knife twisting in Kinleigh’s back digging deeper and deeper with each treasonous word uttered.When the video finally ended, Vaughn turned to the pack.“It’s not what you think—”

“It’s exactly what they think,” Kinleigh said.She came to stand next to her father.“I watched this whole drama play out, and I wanted to scrub my eyeballs with bleach.”

A murmur swept through the crowd.Kinleigh watched with satisfaction as accusing gazes turned to him and Annette.In just a moment, even the rug they stood upon would be pulled from under their feet.James lifted his hand, quieting the room.

“Vaughn, I welcomed you with open arms because you were my daughter’s moon-fated mate.I offered to train you as alpha heir so you may understand how a pack runs.Ithoughtyou were a good, trustworthy male, but I was fooled.”

“Sir, I—”

“Do not even try to talk your way out of this.The proof speaks for itself.”Fury thickened his tone.“When you betrayed my daughter, you betrayed everyone.I hereby banish you, Vaughn Wishard, from the Lightfang Pack.”

“What?No!”

Her father ignored his cry as he pinned Annette with his cold, hard gaze.“Annette Smith, you are also banished.”

A loud sob punctuated the room as Annette broke down.Kinleigh had no sympathy for either of them.

“Please, Alpha,” Vaughn begged.“This has been a mistake...”

“The only mistake was your unfaithfulness.As I said before, if you can cheat on your moon-fated mate, then you can cheat on the pack.”

A united consensus swept through the room, all agreeing with their alpha.Her father nodded to her, and Kinleigh took a deep breath.

“I, Kinleigh Shire, reject you, Vaughn Wishard, as my mate.”Pain burned in her chest at her words, but it didn’t compare to the agony in her heart.“Accept it.”

She stared at Vaughn, waiting.Outrage.Hatred.Indignation.It all swirled together, taking root and festering in every cell of her body.Vaughn put a hand over his chest, wincing.

“Accept it!”her father roared.

The alpha command in his voice forced the acceptance and Vaughn was unable to ignore it.“I ...Vaughn Wishard, a-accept your rejection.”

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