Chapter 1 You fell for it...

Chapter 1

Josie.

My vision blurred. My mind was dazed as pleasure shot through me. I threw my legs wide open as Ashton settled deeper, taking control of my body.

I whimpered feeling every push, every whip Ashton gave me. He clutched my lips with his, giving me kisses . That made me happy about his name. This felt good.

So, this is what cementing a mate bond felt like? I love it a lot. My heart thundered heavily in my body.

I could hear Ashton’s growl as he kept the pace, pushing into me with his shaft.

I dig my fingers into his back, crying at the sweetness of the sensation. Loving the endorphins shooting through my body.

“Ashton, please…” I cried out his name. No. I spoke it happliy. As if it fueled something in him, Ashton powered his pace. pushing me deeper and harder.

I could feel our bond snapping into place. I held onto my mate. My biggest crush, my stepbrother, as he pleased every part of me.

Suddenly, he let out a sound of pleasure. and I felt ripples of liquid bathing my insides.

Ashton fell to his side of the mattress, gasping for breath.

I smile, looking at the ceiling while clutching the sheets at my body.

“That was amazing, Ash…” I say, complimenting him.

However, Ashton didn’t reply. He only grumbled.

I didn’t see it as anything and I turned and stared at him. “You know, I’ve always loved you.”

This is my first time saying this. Even though I always played hard to get at school whenever Ashton’s friends or any other guy tried to woo me. I didn’t want them at all.

I only wanted Ashton.

Even though he didn’t notice me. Jay, one of Ashton’s friends had asked me on a secret date but I had refused him. Jay later accused me of being secretly in love with Ashton but I had denied it.

I made it known to Jay, that I’d never love Ashton because he was a playboy. He could easily break my heart, which I avoided.

But this is me confessing everything now. At least, no one was around watching us as I spilled the truth I had kept since I got to know Ashton.

I took in his full dark brows as he wrinkled them at my words as if he was disgusted.

It couldn’t be…I was just thinking a bit too much.

“You know…” I reached up my hand and trailed it along his face but Ashton crawled away. I didn’t mind. I just continued spilling the truth. “I actually kept my virginity for you, Ash...”

“Don’t call me that.” He snapped to my surprise.

“Why?” I asked him.

From what I knew, mates always called each other terms of endearment and I’ve always imagined what it’d sound like calling him a short form of his name.

“Just call me my name, Josie.” He said, standing up.

“Okay, if that’s what you want.”

I stood up from the mattress, watching the messed sheets briefly and remembering how our little exercise had everything messed up.

Ashton began gathering his clothes and quickly fitting into his black trousers.

I tried to do the same, but I just remembered he had torn my dress while we were hurrying to snuggle into each other.

While I was gathering the remaining pieces of my clothes, my eyes ran to the mirror before me.

I take in my nude form and when my eyes dropped back on my neck, I remembered he hadn’t marked me yet.

“Hey,” I said, rushing to Ashton as he was about to leave to room. I stopped before him. Then. “We haven’t marked each other yet. Let me mark you.”

Yes, let’s mark, mate. My wolf, Lady, said in excitement as I leaned close to Ashton, my fangs coming forward.

Just as I wanted to sink them into Ashton’s neck, I felt his strong hand around my neck.

In a snap, Ashton pushed me roughly against the wall, pressing my back into it. I whimpered, feeling the slices of pain.

I got confused all of a sudden and my heart began to tremble. He tightened his fist around my neck.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, my voice was hardly above a whisper.

“I never intended on marking you,” Ashton growled. His gaze was intense. He looked rather disgusted.

This was a stark contrast to the way he looked lovingly at me when he came into the room. Back then, he only looked like he wanted to devour me yet give me pleasures I can’t get from elsewhere.

“But we’re mates. We should mark each other…”

“You’ll be the last person I’ll ever mark!” He spouted venom.

My knees began to shake at his words.

Why?

Did he not feel the mate bond?

Was it all a lie?

“So? What about your promise earlier? You just broke my virginity, Ashton.” I nearly cried but I held back the tears.

I couldn’t cry just yet.

Ashton smirked dangerously at my words.

He pulled back, his hands leaving my neck.

I took in a rush of breath as I fell to the floor.

Gasping, I looked up at him as he sneered at me.

“Well. Well. Josie, the righteous princess of this pack…” He said.

My heart was thundering as Ashton whirled around me.

“You played hard to get, you know. So we thought it was wise to…”

“So it was not real?” I snapped, hardly standing up. My gaze watered as I gazed into my mate's eyes.

“Yes, Josie. This…” He pointed between me and him. Then. “It was just a game.” He left, banging on the door as soon as he said that.

Hearing that, my head spun.

So, Ashton never really wanted to mate with me?

My heart broke and I crawled across the room, searching for my bag I found it by the sofa and I sank my hand inside, wanting to get my phone and call the only best friend I had.

“Hi, Lena,” I said through the tears dropping down my cheeks.

I only wanted my friend to console me, but instead, I heard her burst into laughter.

“Gotcha! You finally fell for it.” She snapped to my surprise.

Chapter 2

Josie.

I didn’t understand what was going on with Lena. What did she mean by ‘you fell for it? ’

I didn’t bother to ask her because my heart was still clenching painfully from what Ashton said before leaving.

I didn’t understand why he'd leave me immediately after bonding and refused to mark me.

It has been my biggest dream to mark my mate and bear his mark but Ashton refusing to mark me didn’t make sense.

“Listen, Lena. My mate…” I tried to pour out my confusion to Lena but before I could let the words out, she hung up the call.

The beeping of the phone signaling the end of the call made my mouth drop open.

Lena hadn’t done that before. I guess she was not disposed of by our chats now. Maybe I should dress up and go to her house.

I made an effort to fit into the remaining pieces of my dress and tied the loose ends, trying to cover up what part of my exposed body I could.

It didn’t do much, though, because my torso was nude as well as the upper parts of my bungos.

After that, I gathered my backpack and put my fallen books inside, then I strode over to the door.

As I stepped outside into the hallway, I found out it was unusually dark. I remember everywhere was lighted when Ashton and I made it here earlier.

‘Why is everywhere so quiet?’ My wolf whispered to me, feeling anxious.

I couldn’t help trembling as I walked down the stairs. Just before I reached the last staircase, the blinding lights suddenly came on.

I ducked a bit, covering my eyes with my arms and pausing. I waited for my eyes to adjust to the brightness, but sudden mock-laughter filled the room.

It was not from one person, or two. I got curious and wanted to find out. As I pulled my hand away from my face, my eyes landed on the throng of our schoolmates and pack members.

Everyone's eyes were pinned on me. And rounds of laughter escaped them.

I became ashamed so suddenly as I thought my dress was the reason for such.

I couldn’t bring myself to move as I let my eyes wander around the living room.

At that moment, ear-splitting music came on, as if they were celebrating a victory.

Everyone around started dancing, shouting, and laughing while watching me. The guys gathered around the beer pong table, swapping their beer cups, drinking, and also clinking their cups in victory.

I’m confused. My eyes started searching for Ashton and when I saw him, my heart crumbled.

Ashton was standing with his friends and in his arms was none other than Lena, my best friend.

Ashton’s group of friends were clapping his shoulders, praising him.

“You did it, Ashton!” Heath the only red-haired guy among Ashton’s friends said.

“Two big shots for Ashton!!” Jay shouted and everyone began pouring out shots and hailing Ashton.

My heart was breaking, but it even broke more when I saw Ashton holding Lena's waist. He twisted her around and…

He kissed her.

The air around me was charged . It could be cut with something sharp. My heart roared like a freight train.

My wolf whined, feeling a sense of betrayal.

I suddenly found my feet moving, wanting to take me away from here, but as I tried to pass by the door, Jay stopped me.

He clung his hand around the door handle as he smirked lazily.

“The fun ain’t over. So where do you think you’re going, princess?”

He dragged the ‘princess’ showing his disgust.

“Get away…” I tried to protest but I heard my voice coming from the speakers.

“You know, I’ve always loved you.”

My heart sank when I realized it was exactly what I told Ashton a few moments ago.

I was recorded.

As if that wasn’t worse, the DJ played a series of sounds I found out belonged to me.

It was my pleasure sounds.

Was it planned?

Why?

I turned my bleary eyes to Ashton who glared at me with something glistening in the depth of his eyes.

“How could you betray me? We’re mates!” I spat, my heart gaping.

I could practically taste the bile on my tongue.

“Ashton is mine. He chose to mate with me before you, strumpet!” came Lena’s words.

I could see her hatred for me sparking in her eyes.

She stepped almost close and spat. “Ashton can never mate with a pretender like you. A dream killer. A boyfriend snatcher. You thought I'd not find out?” She sneered.

Lena tilted her hips and crossed her arms over her body as she revealed the truth. “We all placed a bet on you to know if truly you’re a strumpet and you didn’t disappoint. You are the pack’s strumpet!” She spat at my feet.

I managed to look up and rested my gaze on Ashton. He was coming forward. I thought he might hold me but no.

Instead, Ashton circled his arm around Lena’s waist with his body pressing ovefr her back.

“I can’t mate with someone like you, Josie. You’re nothing like us Lycan wolves. You’re abnormal, weak. You can never qualify to be my Luna.”

My head fell between my shoulders as those words left his hips. It was all a prank. I was the only one loving him.

“Look at your body, Josie. It can never qualify as that of a Luna. Therefore, I choose Lena to be my true Luna.”

My eyes shot upwards at his words. I shook my head, wanting to plead but his next words shattered any last shred of hope I had.

“Today, before every member of the pack, I Ashton Creed, the future alpha of the Yellow River pack, reject you, Josie Ward, as my mate.”

I couldn’t breathe through the rivers of tears flowing down my eyes. I couldn’t see. All I could feel was a shred of pain.

I wanted to beg him to at least accept me. I’ve always had hope my mate would be the one to accept me for who I am since my father and the pack members had cast me aside as a slave.

But that dream of mine was crumbling at my feet.

A sob wracked from my lips as I let the words slip out.

“I…I Josie Ward accept your rejection.” I stuttered, crying.

If I felt pain before…what I’m feeling now was nothing to be compared.

My knees buckled but I managed to hold on.

As I was stumbling backward, wanting a way to escape, I saw Ashton crane Lena’s head aside.

With his eyes on me, he…sank his fangs into her neck, marking her as his mate.

Chapter 3

Rumors about how Ashton rejected me already spread throughout the whole pack and school.

When I was at school these three weeks, I didn’t feel comfortable as everyone watched me when I passed.

If it was when I had my best friend, I’d have found someone to console me but no. My friend leered at me as well.

Lena found a new group of friends and they seized every fleeting opportunity to mock me.

I just found out that Lena hated me like every other pack member. She was only pretending to be my friend.

“More two bottles, please.” Someone yelled through the crowded pub, pulling me away from my reverie.

The pub was where I made peanuts to help myself. At least, no one would openly bully me here because Madam Shaker would not allow it.

Although ninety percent of my profit went back to Madam Shaker, I didn’t mind it at all.

I nodded quickly and went over to the bar to gather two beer bottles.

I walked across the small dance floor in the pub and suddenly, a wave of dizziness washed over me. I almost fell but I held onto the wall for support.

This situation persisted for some time, and suddenly, a rather uneasy thought occurred to me, so I decided to go see a doctor.

“I want to run a test.”

The doctor hummed and took me to one of her rooms. I stayed on the cot as she examined my body.

Afterward, I sat painfully still on the couch and it was only then that I realized how I was shaking. I’m nervous. I don’t know what the results would be but something at the back of my mind was telling me it would not be the news I wanted.

The doctor confirmed my suspicions when she came bearing the test results.

“Just tell me what it is, doctor?” I snapped after putting the results in my bag.

“You’re two weeks pregnant.”

My blood ran cold immediately and my wolf shook her Fur.

I knew this wasn’t something I’d love. Goddess, what do I do?

I can’t have a child in this condition I’m living. At least, not the one that I’d bear after my carnal encounter with my stepbrother.

I looked up to the dark sky, speaking silently to the moon goddess for help.

By the time I returned to the pack house and was just on my way to sneak into my room, my stepmother caught up with me.

“You thought you hid it well, didn’t you?” Her cold voice stopped me from going inside my room.

She emerged from the dark hallway and now stood before my room door. At least, through the candlelight, I could see her face clearly.

She had no bit of a smile on her lips as she stared at me.

I tried to greet her but her words cut me short.

“You can never bear any child in this house. Not after sleeping with all the promiscuous men in the pack!” Her voice sent shivers down my spine.

I was already shaking my head, thinking of a way to defend myself when a man emerged from the darkness.

“Take her and get rid of that filthy thing in her womb.” She ordered him.

Quickly, the man came at me in full force. He took hold of my hand, forcing me back into the room. He pushed me over the mattress and I whimpered. Tears had already stung my eyes while I struggled to break free.

The man towered over me, forcefully wanting to tie my hands together, but I found strength and bit into his hand with my fangs.

I skipped the mattress, standing on my feet. Within a blink of an eye, I fell back on the stairs rushing to go down.

However, the moment I arrived downstairs, I saw seven council members and my father.

“Stop right there!”

I froze on the spot, my heart skipping several beats.

Two masculine hands clamped my biceps and dragged me out forcefully. I whimpered as they dragged me before the others.

I was shaking, the look of disgust on my father’s face killed me.

“What I heard before? You pregnant.” His voice came out hard and harsh.

“Please father…” I shake my head endlessly. My eyes were already dripping wet with tears. I couldn’t breathe, my lungs were drawn too tight with fear.

What would become of me now?

Looking over at my father, I saw his lycan wolf pushing forward. Half of my father’s face had turned into furs, his fangs elongating likewise his jaws.

The intent to kill was already taking over his features. Just as his eyes flashed red, he growled.

“You Stumpet!”

Everyone felt the impact of his growl, most especially me.

Unwillingly, my head tilted aside as a form of submission to his alpha vibe. I couldn’t see much again because of the blurriness of my surroundings.

"You have defiled yourself and tarnished the century-old reputation of our family! Our family has no child like you!"

“Today. I alpha Incas of the Yellow Rivers pack reject you as my daughter. You will be deported, and from now on, you will not set foot in this pack!"”