Betrayed By My Fated Mate

He kept repeating to me, "Just wait a little longer."

He shoved a bottle of healing ointment into my hand, then turned and left.

My fingers didn’t close around it. The bottle slipped from my palm and fell to the floor.

The cap came loose, and the powder inside scattered.

A gust of wind blew it away.

As I watched, tears began to fall.

Not long after, several strong women dragged me, struggling, to Nicole’s room.

The moment I entered, the heat from the fireplace made my scars itch.

They threw me to the ground, and I felt my wounds begin to split open.

Malakai grabbed my wrist and yanked me up.

"Madelyn," he said, his voice firm, "Nicole needs your blood to survive."

He pushed up my sleeve, revealing the crisscrossing scars on my wrist.

One old scar caught his attention.

His fingers brushed over it, and for a moment, his eyes softened with something like nostalgia.

It made me hesitate, as if we were still the couple we used to be.

Our pack has strict rules—no one leaves, and no outsiders are allowed.

But I often sneaked out to see the world beyond.

Three years ago, on the day I met Malakai, he was gravely injured.

His eyes were unfocused as he murmured, "Are you an angel?"

Then he passed out.

I endured torture and made a blood oath, leaving this scar behind, just to bring him and Aliyah back to our pack to heal.

During his recovery, he often followed me around, using the excuse of owing me his life.

Later, he saved my father, Alpha Michael, and used that as leverage to propose to me.

He told everyone, "This is my future mate, Madelyn Lynch."

But why?

Why did Nicole accuse me of plotting against her during the succession ceremony?

Why did my fiancé turn around and propose to her, crowning her as the new Luna of the Silver Moon Pack?

My confusion and resentment grew with every passing moment.

Aliyah, standing nearby, glared at me with venom as Malakai hesitated.

"Alpha," she said coldly, "Luna Nicole is waiting. We don’t have time to waste."

Malakai’s hesitation vanished. He took a sharp blade and sliced into my wrist.

Blood sprayed out, splattering his face.

His voice was colder and more cutting than the blade.

"Keep draining her until Nicole wakes up."

The blood dripped steadily into a ceramic bowl.

My heart grew numb.

Just as I was about to faint, Nicole stirred.

Malakai rushed to her side, helping her sit up.

She leaned into him, her voice soft and affectionate.

I slowly began to crawl toward the door when Nicole’s voice rang out.

"Malakai," she said weakly, "I’ve been too frail to try on my wedding dress."

Her eyes flicked to me. "Madelyn’s about my size. Why don’t we have her try it on for me?"

Her words sounded like a suggestion, but her tone left no room for refusal.

The women roughly stripped off my clothes, exposing the ugly scars that marred my body.

As I struggled, the wounds reopened, oozing blood and emitting a foul smell.

I endured the humiliation of their disgusted stares.

Nicole pretended to look horrified. "Madelyn, what happened to you?"

Malakai covered her eyes, murmuring soothing words.

Then he turned to me, his expression full of disdain.

"Put some clothes on," he snapped.

They shoved a red wedding dress over me.

But with my tangled hair and defeated expression, I looked like a mockery of a bride.

Nicole called me over like I was a dog.

"Madelyn, come closer. I can’t see you properly."

She picked up a candlestick and brought it near me.

Then she let go.

The candlestick tipped over, and flames instantly engulfed me.

Malakai’s voice rang out in panic. "Madelyn!"

But Nicole clung to him, sobbing, "Malakai, get me out of here! I’m scared!"

In the flickering light of the fire, I watched them rush out the door.

I thought to myself,

Maybe it’s better if I just die here.

Maybe it’s better this way.