Page 5 of Betrayed Mate

Falling apart would make this entire situation worse. I took a ragged breath and stared at the ground, not wanting to see the stares no doubt being cast my way. If only I could become invisible or evaporate.

When we reached them, Mom charged ahead while my sister took the spot on my other side. My family circled me, trying to protect me.

The night that was supposed to be a celebration of my special bond with my fated had instead become the worst situation any wolf shifter could face—I’d been made a fool of and disgraced. Everyone knew something was wrong with me.

The musky scents of wolf shifters assaulted my nose. Each whiff that hit my face made my stomach knot even more.

As we were about to break free of the attendees, a group burst out laughing. “Don’t get too close to her; you might get loser vibes on you!” a woman who sounded like a teenager jeered.

Great, now people younger than me were calling me names.

Ignore them, Em,Briar linked with a growl.They’re idiots.

If I’d witnessed what they just had, I’d probably be thinking similar thoughts, though I wouldn’t have been as callous. I refused to kick others when they were down, but most shifters didn’t think like my pack.

“It’s easy to judge someone when you haven’t been in their fur,” a deep voice interjected, and the laughter stopped.

I recognized the voice, and a tear trailed down my cheek. This evening was growing worse by the second, and I was mortified thathe,of all people, was standing up for me. Instead of making it better, Ryker Grimstone had put a larger target on my back.

The bastard.

“Of course the wolf who ran away while the royals and his own pack were slaughtered would side withher,” a man hissed.

I walked quicker, and the scents of my own pack filled my nose. I blinked, clearing my eyes enough to see at least twenty of my pack members forming a barricade on either side of us, blocking the other packs from seeing me as easily.

Removing my arms from Dad’s and Briar’s, I wiped the moisture from my cheeks and lifted my chin. We’d passed nearly everyone, and I couldn’t wait until I could run home without looking even weaker.

For now, I kept my pace steady, pretending I had some sort of dignity.

Dad and Briar must have sensed what I needed. They didn’t attempt to hold me again. Instead, the three of us moved faster, and I exhaled as numbness overtook the shock.

At least I wasn’t falling apart.

I focused on my breathing, trying to retain my internal calm. I needed to be strong for everyone.

The forty of us who’d come to the ceremony moved in unison, each person making a point to not look in my direction. I had no doubt that order had come from Dad.

In silence, we made it back to our neighborhood. I’d never been so relieved to see the clusters of two-story brick houses nestled on one hundred and fifty acres of the Shadowbrook Woods, which the nearest city was named for. Twenty-two of the twenty-five houses were occupied by our pack.

Our house was closest to the trail exit, and as soon as it came into view, the sting of pain and heat of anger began to pierce the numbness I wanted to cling to.

I picked up my pace, passing my family and beelining for the back door. As I rushed past the firepit, I shut down my pack link, wanting to be alone to process the hell of a night I’d just had. With my emotions surging back, I didn’t want to risk talking to anyone.

“Ember!” Garret, one of my closest friends, called out to me.

Another tear slid down my cheek. I refused to turn around and let the pack members see me like this.

“Let her go,” Dad rasped. “She needs some time alone.”

Inside, I ran through the kitchen, my feet slipping on the cold tile floor and then down the hallway into my bedroom. I shut and locked the door.

Leaning my back against the painted white wood, I slid to the floor and let my heart crack open.

I wasn’t sure how long I cried. All I knew was that my eyes were swollen, I couldn’t breathe through my nose, and I had a pounding headache. I was quite certain that it stopped only because I’d run out of liquid to make more tears.

A hint of musky lavender hit my nose, so when a faint knock sounded on the door, I wasn’t surprised at all.

“I know you’re keeping your link inaccessible, but I wanted to let you know that I love you and I’m here for you when you need someone,” Briar said softly from the other side of the wall.

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