Page 3 of Betrayed Mate

Suddenly, Dad was on my other side, scowling at the man. “Ryker. What are you doing here?”

My head spun.Ryker Grimstone. The son of the alpha whose pack had been in charge of protecting the royals. One of the four who’d been mysteriously absent when the attack happened. I couldn’t believe he had the nerve to show up here.

“I’m part of a local pack, and from what I heard, we were all invited.” He rocked back on his feet, the wind ruffling the tips of his spiked hair. He smiled, but there was no warmth behind it.In fact, it sounded more like a dare, like he wanted to be asked to leave.

Dad, he wants you to make a scene. Let’s just ignore him.I wanted to get very far away as quickly as I could. He might be the most handsome man I’d ever seen, but rumors swirled about him and everything he’d done. From what I gathered, he enjoyed pushing boundaries and challenging authority with his antics.

Taking my arm, Dad said, “Just stay away from my daughter. She’s getting mated.”

“Believe me. I don’t want anything to do with her,” Ryker shot back.

My throat tightened around a smart-ass retort. “The feeling is mutual,” I spat before following Dad toward Reid.

Mom and Briar followed close behind us, but they didn’t say anything, most likely because they were plastering smiles on their faces like me.

When we reached the front, Reid didn’t acknowledge us. He just kept talking to the woman I’d never seen before.

I cleared my throat.

He scanned me with sparkling blue eyes, and his forehead creased.

“Everyone, it’s time for the ceremony to start!” Cassi called, her long dark hair lifting in the breeze. “Reid, please escort Ember to me so you can begin the vows.”

My fated mate adjusted the top button of his navy shirt and ran a hand through his shaggy, blond hair. Then he took my hand.

As soon as our skin touched, the tug indicative of the fated-mate bond yanked at me, but an equally strong but repulsive sensation had me wanting to pull away from him.

He sucked in a breath like he’d felt the same thing.

His eyes glowed, and he looked to my left. I followed his gaze to his parents, who stood a few feet away in front of the crowd. They had to be pack-linking to him.

Still holding my hand, he glanced at the strange woman one last time before guiding me toward the witch. With each step we took, Cassi’s gray eyes grew warmer, and a smile spread across her red lips.

Behind Cassi, the forest of the Blue Ridge Mountains flowed away from the cliff. Sunset was upon us, casting golden light over both our territories. The timing of the ceremony was intended to emphasize hope and that we would survive.

“As you know, a mating ceremony isn’t pack precedent, but any event that gives us something to celebrate and brings these two packs together in this trying time deserves to be special.” Cassi clasped her hands in front of her chest. She stood so close to the cliff that the back hem of the black dress she wore drifted over the edge. “We’re here to celebrate with the happy new couple before they merge their souls. What we will witness is their claiming of each other.”

At least she wasn’t pushing us to have sex in front of everyone. That should count for something.

“Please, Reid and Ember, turn toward each other.”

The two of us obliged, and I looked up the five-inch height difference to stare into Reid’s eyes. My gut twisted, and I wasn’t sure if it was indigestion or butterflies.

“Reid, by biting Ember, you’re claiming her as your mate for life and promising that you’ll care for her as you would yourself. Will you make this vow and seal it with your bite?” Cassi gestured for Reid to bite my neck.

“I…” He coughed, his face flushing. He swallowed and sputtered, “Will.”

My heart hammered as I moved my hair to one side, allowing him easy access to my neck and shoulder. He lowered his head,and his breath warmed my skin. I closed my eyes, waiting for the sting of piercing teeth, but nothing happened.

I opened my eyes.

Reid straightened. He shook his head. “I can’t.”

CHAPTER TWO

Iblinked, trying to comprehend what I’d just heard. It couldn’t be what I thought because this was our mating ceremony, and at least two hundred pack members were watching us.

Either I was having a nightmare, or I had completely misunderstood.

---