Rejected by My Mate, Chosen by the Wolf Prince

FAITH POV:

I stood in the shadows of the upstairs landing, looking down at the gathering below. The room glittered with jewels and silks. Benson Haynes's tall frame was easy to spot among the crowd.

He was talking to another lord, a confident, arrogant smile on his handsome face. His cold gray eyes swept the room with an air of ownership.

My stomach churned. It was a physical reaction, a memory of sickness from a lifetime of his abuse. My body remembered the pain even if this younger version of me had not lived through it yet. I forced myself to look away.

"Don't stand there cowering like a village girl," Matron Price hissed behind me. "You're an embarrassment to the Haynes name."

I ignored her. My eyes scanned the servants moving through the hall, searching for one familiar face.

There.

Martha White, my loyal attendant, was holding a tray of wine glasses. Her face was etched with worry for me.

In my last life, Benson had her beaten to death for trying to protect me. This life, I would not only keep her alive, I would make sure her loyalty became part of my plan for revenge.

I had to get to her. Now.

I let my ankle twist, a deliberate, sharp movement. I stumbled forward with a small, choked gasp.

Matron Price yelped, grabbing my arm to steady me. "Clumsy girl!" she cursed under her breath.

This was my chance. I leaned against her, my voice weak. "Matron Price, I think I've twisted my ankle. It hurts. And... my chest feels so tight. The dress..."

Her face hardened instantly. A problem at the Mating Ceremony was a scandal of the highest order.

She hesitated, her jaw tight with annoyance. Finally, she steered me into a small, nearby sitting room. "Wait here. I'll fetch the physician."

I nodded meekly. As soon as she bustled out of the room, a cold smile touched my lips. The delay was secured.

I turned to the other servant standing guard at the door. "Please, could you find my personal attendant, Martha White? I need her help."

A moment later, Martha rushed in, closing the door behind her. "My lady, what is it? You look so pale."

I grabbed her hands, my voice low and urgent. "Martha, listen to me. I'm fine. This is part of a plan. I need you to do something for me, right now."

Martha stared, confused, but the unwavering intensity in my eyes made her nod. "Anything, my lady."

From the inner lining of my gown, I pulled out a small, simple earring, one engraved with the Parrish family crest. It was a cheap thing my foster mother had given me years ago.

"Take this. Leave the Haynes estate immediately and go to the Parrish manor. Give this to my stepsister, Alondra."

I leaned closer, my voice a whisper only she could hear. "Tell her this: 'Lady Faith collapsed just before the ceremony. She keeps calling your name, saying she has something of the utmost importance she must give you in person, or she cannot die in peace.'"

Martha's eyes widened in shock. She couldn't understand why I would summon Alondra, of all people, especially on the day of my Mating Ceremony.

"My lady, Lady Alondra... she..." Martha trailed off, knowing full well the animosity Alondra held for me.

I squeezed her hand tighter. "Martha, trust me. This is the only way to save me. Once you've delivered the message, return here through the servant's passage and stay close. I'll need you before the ceremony is over. "

My gaze was unbreakable. She finally gave a firm nod, tucking the earring safely away. "I understand, my lady. Please, be careful."

She slipped out through a servant's passage. I knew Alondra. Her jealousy and possessiveness were a gaping wound. She would never miss a chance to witness my "downfall" and present herself as a caring savior to Benson.

Just moments after Martha left, the sitting room door was thrown open with violent force.

Benson Haynes stood there, radiating a cold fury. His large body blocked the light from the hallway.

His gray eyes, sharp and piercing, locked onto me.