He Left Me at the Altar to Save His Childhood Sweetheart

“And, you, stop dribbling my head,” I snarled, my hand still shaking from the impact.

“I’m not stupid, Axel. I know what went on between you two.”

Jena ran to him, worriedly checking his face. “You’re so mean, Diana. We didn’t—”

“Shut it.” I cut her off. “Alpha Lycus gave me the green light to deal with you however I like. Beat it if you don’t want to get hit too.”

Jena looked at Axel with teary eyes and whined, guilt-tripping him.

“I guess I should leave.” She walked to the door sobbing.

Axel pulled her back. “Where are you going dressed like that? It’s late and unsafe outside,” he said with tender concern, making me laugh.

What a ridiculous joke they were. Although the territory’s security was tight, it was still dangerous at night with crafty rogues occasionally sneaking in to harass people. Axel never cared about that when I usually went home this late. A bloody rogue almost defiled me once. I could have spared myself a lot of heartache if I wasn’t quick and failed to save my ass from that mutt.

Being around these dorks was exhausting. I just want to shut my eyes and forget about them. I pushed past the two and entered my room, locking the door behind me.

Axel called me out, banging a few times, but I ignored him. He only left when Jena cried about how awful I was to him, so he took her back to his room.

I threw my bag in frustration. This house only had two rooms. Despite being mates, he and I slept separately. Things were a little at the beginning though.

That night, I crashed into bed and had another insane dream.

When morning came, I found Axel sitting on the sofa with dark circles under his eyes. With a pillow and unfolded blankets to his side, I figured he slept there all night.

What were they putting an act for? They should’ve just slept peacefully like the unbothered jerks they were.

I went to the kitchen, pretending he didn’t exist but he walked up to the counter and placed two opera tickets on the table.

“I remember you liked the novel, so I got the tickets for the play. Why don’t you take the day off and come with me?” He smiled as if everything was okay.

“No thanks. I’m up to my neck with work,” I brushed him off.

Axel came around and tenderly hugged me from behind. My skin crawled from disgust, especially when he whispered in my ear.

“Are you still mad? You’re my mate, and Jena was just a sister to me. So, quit it with the childish jealousy, okay?”

The glass almost shattered in my palm. It was first thing in the morning and he was already getting on my nerves.

He made it sound like I was at fault and believed he could call it quits with tickets to a play I didn’t even know.

Oh, Goddess, why did you pair me with this mule?

I peeled his arms around me and flatly said, “I’m not angry,” leaving him without a glance, but this daft wouldn’t get the clue and still followed me.

“So, we have a date then. I’ll pick you up later at three,” he said, convinced I had forgiven him.

At that moment, Jena came out of his room, dazed and wearing his shirt.

“Well, good luck on your date.” I snorted loudly, not meaning to, and then walked out.

“Diana, wait! I can explain.” Axel chased me.

“Save it, Axel. I don’t want to hear your bullcrap.”

He grabbed my hand, looking like a beaten pup. “Diana, please. I know I shouldn’t have left you that night, but it was a matter of life and death.”

“You mean, out of all those people in the temple, only you could bring Jena to the hospital?” I slapped his paws off in utter disbelief. “Have you thought about what I’d feel before you abandoned me, alone in that temple?” I roared.

Axel went silent for a while but all he could say was, “I did.” which was the lamest lie I had ever heard. If he had ever put my feelings first, he wouldn’t have put me through that pain and torn a hole in my soul.

“Enough. I don’t have time for this bloody conversation,” I said, soulless, and left.

Axel shouted that we would talk about this late, but I refused. What was there to talk about? Everything was crystal from the start.

For the next couple of days, work suddenly flooded in. The rogues had gotten more aggressive with their invasions. With new challenges arising, preparations for the aid mission were expedited but the departure was delayed. It was hectic and I couldn’t even catch a break between the menial tasks and meetings with Gamma Brandon.

The invasions were horrible but they couldn’t have come at a better time. With this, I could avoid seeing Axel, but it came with a downside. He was bombing my phone with clingy texts, asking me how I was doing, or if I already ate, and it was a pain to look at.

Was he high on mushrooms? Why was he doing things he had never done?

Gosh! I felt sorry for myself when I sent him the same messages that never got answered.

I put my phone away and kept ignoring Axel. My phone buzzed again a second later, but this time it was a voice chat from my best friends.

“Hey, D! Training’s done at the Royal field. We feel so bad missing your wedding, so free your weekend. We’re gonna have a blast!”

I felt a pinch in my heart. They were training closed doors so they probably hadn’t heard the news. Cris and Dawn would go berserk once they found out.