Broken by the Beta, Loved by the Alpha

I kept seeing the image of Ashton protectively embracing Arabella as he proposed to her, so different from the times he had looked at me like he was seeing past my image at someone else and calling me ‘Bella.’

The way he proposed to me now came striking in my mind.

A year ago, a rogue spy had infiltrated the pack and befriended Ashton. At night when assailants entered our home knowing that Ashton was unconscious and wounded by a fight, I hid him in the secret cell and refused to tell them his location.

In return, the angry rogues stabbed me multiple times and left me to die.

If only Alpha Xavier from Blood Moon Pack hadn’t arrived with our Alpha at that time and saved my life, I would have been dead. Later, Ashton came with flowers and fruits to visit me at the pack healer’s cave.

“Bella,” he for the first time had looked at me with a kind smile and kissed my forehead.

“You have saved my life. In return, please let me repay you. Please be my chosen mate and marry me.”

I remembered being so full of emotion at that moment that I could not speak at all and just nodded as he embraced me. We laughed happily as I imagined our future together.

As I thought back on our five years together, a wave of nausea hit me. The memories that once felt warm and like a true bond now seemed like a sick joke.

I drove, resisting the urge to stop the car and let my ‘mate’ in the backseat lie on the pavement. Being with Ashton for three long years now seemed like a thing I regretted and marrying him was not possible any longer.

I looked at the phone lying beside me and picked it up checking the inbox for any messages.

In all the years we’d been together, I had never checked his phone, always respecting his privacy. But now, curiosity and the need for answers drove me to see what was on the screen which was devoid of any password because I never was the suspicious type.

Guess I was a fool all along.

A long series of conversation was titled: My love

I couldn’t help but open the messages to see how long Ashton was seeing Arabella behind my back.

[Arabella: Our friends used to say we would surely end up together. Now look at you getting married to another woman.]

[Ashton: We could still be together, Bella.]

[Arabella: You sure know how to joke, your wedding is just a week from now on.]

[Ashton: Just say you are mine and I will handle everything else.]

[Arabella: What about that woman?]

[Ashton: She is not special; she once saved my life, so I had to repay her. She can at most be a mistress.]

My entire being felt as if dipped in tar, he was thinking of taking me as a mistress when he accepted me as his mate?

I stopped the car as I could no longer control the tears turning my eyes blurry.

As I read the messages a painful mix of hatred and anger bubbled up inside me. I realized that this empty relationship was one I was better off leaving.

[Arabella: Mistress, you want me to be your wife by keeping a mistress?]

[Ashton: I am kidding, I can’t make Isabella a mistress. After all, she once saved my life.

Furthermore, I don’t want to wrong you ever.]

Arabella’s smirk stayed in my mind as I drove away, her cruel words echoing clearly. It felt like my mind went blank, struggling to grasp the harsh reality of what had just happened.

No he wasn’t joking at all, he took me as a prostitute who would please him whenever he would like, a maid who would stupidly cook and clean for him and nothing but a replacement that he could discard when his wishes were fulfilled.

I couldn’t decide whether the pain or the anger was stronger.

Never ever had I imagined that I would discard the future I had so long dreamt of because everything was such a terrible lie.

While Ashton was still asleep, I booked a flight to Italy on the same day when our wedding was decided to take place. I called one of my closest friends and she agreed and supported my decision strongly and helped me arrange for everything in the foreign land.

The next morning when I woke up, everything seemed to have changed. Even when I heard Ashton frantically talking to someone, trying to soothe them down, I didn’t care at all.

“Bella, don’t cry, please. I know you don’t want to hurt Isabella even when she took me away from you. You are so kind to everyone, Bella. What would I do with you?”

“The person I love will always be you. If you say you love me, I’d do anything for you.”

“But... the Alpha considers Isabella a friend and has invited many important people from different packs. If I back out now, he would be furious.”

I felt like throwing up as I heard his elated laughter that followed next and he said excitedly, “Yes, even if I marry her, I would take vows with both our names. And during the oath taking ceremony, I will bribe the pack priest. No one can break us apart.”

Even though I had decided to end things, I was stunned with how cruel he was.

Werewolves chose their mates and took an oath sealing the bond, the children born only then were given the legitimate status.

As Beta’s mate only when I gave birth to his legitimate children would I be given the title of Beta female.

He never wished to let me hold on to that title.

It was as if I had been humiliated enough the words made me grit my teeth. What a fool I had been in such a blind love. After that, Ashton quickly disconnected the call and entered my room, thinking I was still fast asleep.

When he saw me sitting straight, staring right into his soul, he was stunned.