Page 5 of Lycan Prey
“Please, Rhett, tell me this is just some sick joke.”
“Joke?” His laughter cuts through me like a knife, sharp and chilling. “You really are pathetic, Aubrey.”
My chest constricts and I can’t help clinging to the last shred of hope that he might still care. “We’re meant to be together,” I whisper, my voice barely audible amidst the crumbling world around me. “We’re mates.”
“Is that what you think?” he sneers, his cold eyes boring into mine. “Did you believe our bond guarantees your happiness? You’ve always been so naive.”
The statement is like a punch to the gut, and the last shreds of hope slip away, replaced by a cold, numbing emptiness. The mate bond that once connected us frays, unraveling with each cruel word he utters.
My humiliation deepens, so I refuse to back down. “Well, clearly, my assumptions about you and Bianca were correct.”
Rhett does up his pants, and my gaze moves to Bianca to see the smug look on her face.
His lips twist into a cruel, mocking smile, and it takes every ounce of strength I have not to crumble beneath the weight of his disdain. “You were always a hopeless romantic, Aubrey. So desperate to believe in fairy tales and happy endings. The wedding is off,” he states flatly, adding another dagger to the heart.
“You think?” I state, finally able to reflect some anger in my tone.
No matter how much I want to be one of those who can lift her chin and walk away, it’s not that simple, not when mate bonds come into play. However, I can’t contain my pain any longer.
“How could you betray me like this? I’m your mate,” I growl, tears streaming down my face. I deserve answers. Rhett’s response is as cruel as it is heartless.
“What did you expect, Aubrey? You’re a prude. Did you think I’d remain faithful until our wedding day when you have given me nothing in the six months we’ve been together?”
Wow, he’s going to use my virginity against me, something I was saving for him? He is my mate; I had guarded it for him, stayed pure so that the first touches of pleasure I felt from anyone would come from my mate. The one who I would spend the rest of my life loving. Well, I’m glad I didn’t waste it on this fool.
“Don’t act so shocked, Aubrey; it’s your fault,” he tells me. “Do you understand anything about how the world works?”
Because that makes complete sense, yep, it’s definitely my fault. I shoved him, causing him to trip and fall into her cock holster!
Rhett laughs and shakes his head, buttoning his shirt, while Bianca doesn’t even bother to cover her state of undress,instead flaunting it proudly. Rhett turns toward his desk. He grabs a piece of paper and holds it in the air. “It now makes sense why you wanted me to terminate her employment. Though, I’m glad you came; it saves me having to send out people to retrieve you.”
I stare at him, confused.
“Someone has been stealing from the company account,” he states, and my gaze shifts to Bianca, who has her arms folded over her chest, a sly smile on her face.
“Did you really think you could get away with it?” Rhett demands, drawing my attention back to him.
“What?” I stammer, my confusion growing.
“Don’t play dumb, Aubrey. We have proof it was you,” Bianca sneers, her tone mocking.
I turn my attention back to Rhett. “Wait, you think it was me? Why would I steal from my mate? That makes no sense!”
Rhett scoffs, his expression cold and unyielding. He tosses a stack of papers onto the coffee table in front of me, revealing an online gambling account in my name.
“Explain this, then.”
My lips part and I instantly return to how everyone stared as I entered the building. Does the entire pack believe I’m some criminal? Tears continue to stream down my face as I stare at the damning evidence and shake my head.
“I didn’t do this, Rhett. It’s probably your whore. She’s framing me!” I yell at him, my voice cracking with desperation.
Rhett’s face contorts with anger, and a growl rips from him so loud it makes me jump and peer up from the papers in time to see his hand. It connects with the side of my face, the force of the slap making me stumble back, only for him to grip my hair.
“Don’t you dare speak about your future, Luna, like that!” he snarls, shoving me backward.
I hold my stinging cheek, unable to comprehend the betrayal and cruelty from the one man who’s supposed to be my mate.
“The wedding is off,” Rhett repeats, his tone icy. “You should be grateful I’m not locking you up.”
