Chapter 46 46
Scarlett's POV
I sat beside my bed, tears flowing down my face before I could even stop them. I didn’t understand why I was crying. What was happening to me? My heart ached, and my chest felt burdened, like something inside me was breaking apart.
Why do I care? Why am I hurt? Why does it really hurt so much? I have no reason to be. I had told myself that I only wanted revenge that I had agreed to say here for a single purpose, the deal, to break the curse and return back to my pack to have my revenge, but. yet seeing Zane with Rhylie, seeing him about to make love to her after the kiss we shared last night it was too much, too painful to bear, I didn't understand why I felt betrayed
I wiped my cheeks with the back of my hand, angry at myself for feeling this way. It shouldn’t matter. It was just a kiss, I reminded myself. It wasn’t supposed to mean anything.
But the pain said otherwise. The betrayal I had once felt with Rand and my cousin now seemed like a distant memory compared to what had just happened. And that made me feel even more weaker than I had been. I shouldn’t be feeling this.
I sniffled, burying my face in my hands. Luisa whispered in my mind, her voice soft and comforting. “Dalton doesn’t like Rhylie,” she said, a hint of amusement in her voice. “He loves us.”
I scoffed, my voice muffled by my hands. “Dalton, Zane’s wolf?”
“Yes”, Luisa replied. He can see things weirdly. He knows or feels like we’re his true mate.
I shook my head, wiping away another tear.” No, Luisa, that’s not how this works. Rhylie is Zane’s first mate. We’re We’re the extra. My heart ached at the thought. And even if Dalton loves us, it doesn’t matter. Zane will either reject us, or we’ll reject him”
“You don’t mean that” Luisa growled, her voice filled with pain. “You can’t just walk away from this bond”
Watch me, I shot back, my mind made up. This bond is a curse. And I’m not going to let it trap me. We finish the curse, I get my revenge, and then I leave. We reject each other and move on. We have been betrayed before Lui, and we even lost a pup.
The words felt weird in my mouth, but I forced them out. I had to stay focused. I couldn’t afford to let my emotions cloud my judgment. I’ll go back to my pack. I’ll take my place back as Alpha, get my revenge on Rand, and rule my people
But even as I said the words, a part of me wondered why it felt like I was lying to myself.
Kent's POV
I sat across from Zane in his study, listening to him as he recounted everything that had happened. From the kiss with Scarlett last night to the strange pull he had felt toward Rhylie just now. His voice was strained and tired, his eyes distant.
“So that’s why Scarlett stormed off earlier,” I said to myself; the mate bond must have pulled her. “But why would the mate bond pull Scarlett to you when you have Rhylie?” I asked Zane.
Zane nodded, running his hand through his hair. “I don’t know what’s happening, Kent. One minute, all I can think about is Scarlett. Next, it’s like Rhylie’s the only one who matters.”
I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest. “Look, Zane, I don’t claim to understand the mate bond, hell, no one does. But from what you’ve told me, it sounds like the bond with Rhylie is pulling you stronger because she’s your first mate. That bond doesn’t just disappear.”
Zane sighed, frustration obvious in his every movement and in his voice, “It’s not just that, Kent. It’s different. It feels wrong like something’s messing with my head. I’ve questioned my bond with Rhylie before, but this time I don’t know. It feels forced.”
“Maybe it’s the curse,” I suggested, trying to help him make sense of it. “Or maybe it’s something Rhylie’s doing.”
Zane’s head looked up, his eyes staring at me. “What do you mean?”
I shrugged, trying to sound casual. “Look, Rhylie’s is your first mate right, right? And then you have Scarlett who is suddenly also your mate and not to mention they both have the goddess mark but the witches say that, Scarlett can break the curse, look I don't understand anymore but you should give your bond with Rhylie a chance, mate her, mark her”
Zane was silent for a moment, his jaw clenching as he considered my words. “You really think I should do something like that?”
I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “Zane, you’ve been dealing with this curse for years. You’re under a lot of pressure, and Rhylie’s been with you through all of it. But now Scarlett’s here, and she’s well, she’s different. Rhylie is your mate and moreover, Scarlett might reject you, she's only after her revenge, and what keeps pulling her to you, Is the mate bond, which I'm sure she's fighting off”
Zane rubbed his chin, deep in thought. “I don’t know, Kent, I fucking don't know; Dalton is messing with my head.”
“He is?” I said laughing but trying to choose my words carefully. “Well, Scarlett has a wolf; for some reason, the goddess mark, or maybe the curse, has caged Rhylie's wolf; Dalton is attracted to Scarlett because she has an active wolf”.
Zane didn’t respond right away. “I'm not sure he agrees with you,” Zane said with a sarcastic laugh
“Well, I have offered what I could as your beta and Best friend,” I said to Zane.
And honestly? I wasn’t entirely sure how I felt about Scarlett myself. There was something about her that made me feel interested in her, something I couldn’t quite explain but I find joy in spending time with her. Maybe it was the way she carried herself, so strong yet weak, especially when she remembers her cousin and ex.
The idea of Zane having two mates didn’t sit well with me. Not because I was jealous, at least, I didn’t think that was the reason, but because it didn’t make sense. The moon goddess didn’t pair wolves with more than one mate. If Scarlett was meant to reject Zane maybe I could be the one to take his place.
“Look, man,” I said, leaning back in my chair again. “Rhylie’s your first mate. The bond is there. But you need to figure out what’s really going on. Maybe talk to the witches, see if they know anything about why you’re feeling like this.”
Zane ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. “I don’t know what to do, Kent. Scarlett's different. And I feel something real with her. But Rhylie’s been with me through everything. I can’t just walk away from that.”
I nodded, keeping my expression neutral. “You don’t have to make any decisions right now. Just figure things out. But if Scarlett really plans on rejecting you, maybe it’s best to focus on Rhylie. You can’t hold onto both.”
Zane sighed again, leaning back in his chair. “Yeah, you’re right.”
I watched him closely, trying to see his reaction. Part of me hoped that he’d let go of Scarlett, that he’d focus on Rhylie and leave Scarlett free to make her own choice
“Just be careful, Zane,” I said finally, standing up to leave. “Whatever you decide, I hope you choose Rhylie because I feel very sure that Scarlett isn't going to stay, she has been betrayed once, I don't think she will want to deal with Rhylie, they both hate each other”
Zane nodded, though he still looked confused. “Thanks, Kent. I’ll talk to the witches.”
I gave him a pat on the shoulder before heading toward the door. But as I left his study, my mind was already in thought. I didn't know what I felt for Scarlett yet, but I knew one thing, I wasn’t going to stand by and watch Zane have two mates. Not if I had anything to say about it.