Chapter Fourteen

Valerie's POV

The heavy beat of the music from inside the hall echoed in my ears as I stepped out into the cool night air. I was shaking, not from the cold, but from the storm of emotions raging within me. My chest ached as if someone had ripped my heart out, and tears blurred my vision, but I refused to be overwhelmed. I needed to create space to think clearly.

Devon stood there, seemingly indifferent, while I waited for him to announce to everyone that I was his mate, that we were bonded. But he didn’t do that. Instead, he had the audacity to declare he had no mate, as if I didn’t even exist.

His words struck me like a tidal wave, cutting deep, and the bond I believed was unbreakable felt like it was slipping away, as if it had never been real at all.

I wiped my eyes, breath coming in ragged gasps as I found my phone in my pocket. My fingers shook as I dialed the number I knew by heart—the only person who might understand me right now.

Ring… Ring…

Barely two rings passed before my father’s concerned voice came through. “Valerie? What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

The words stuck in my throat, thick and poisonous, but I managed to push them out. “Dad… Devon… he didn’t introduce me as his mate. He said he has no mate. He’s rejecting me.”

My voice cracked, and as sobs threatened to escape, I heard my father’s sharp intake of breath, his concern palpable.

“Sweetheart, listen to me. He’s a fool if he can't see what’s right in front of him. You’re his mate, Valerie. He can’t deny that.” His voice was steady, a solid foundation amidst my emotional turmoil. “Don’t let his foolishness tear you apart. You’re worth so much more than this.”

I wanted to believe him, I needed to, but the pain in my chest was suffocating. This was more than just his words; it was how he looked at me tonight—like I was invisible. I was his mate, his chosen one, and yet he treated me like I didn’t matter.

“I thought I meant something to him, Dad…” My words trembled between gasps. “I thought he loved me. But now… I feel like I’m nothing to him.”

My father sighed deeply, a sound filled with wisdom. “You’re not nothing, Valerie. You’re everything. I know that, and deep down, I believe Devon knows it too. Don’t let his confusion dictate your worth.”

I truly wanted to accept his words, but how could I just move on from this?

“Dad… what if he really doesn’t want me?” The question hung heavy between us.

He paused for a moment, then spoke firmly. “You need to trust yourself, Valerie. Trust what you feel, what you know. That’s what matters. Not his words. Not his actions. Trust your heart.”

Before I could respond, I heard footsteps approaching. My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly wiped my tears as I turned to look over my shoulder. There he was—Devon. His expression was difficult to read, but I stood my ground, remembering my father’s advice. I wouldn't let him see me crumble.

“Valerie,” he said softly, an unfamiliar tenderness lacing his voice. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just—”

“You didn’t mean to hurt me?” I cut him off, my voice steady with a mix of anger and heartbreak. “You stood there in front of everyone, in front of our people, and you said you had no mate. How could you say that? How could you not even acknowledge me?”

He stepped forward, reaching out, but I instinctively pulled back, refusing to let the pain overwhelm me.

“Valerie, please,” he pleaded. “You know I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just… it's complicated. I didn’t want to make a scene.”

“Complicated?” I regarded him with unwavering resolve. “You made a scene when you rejected me in front of everyone. If you truly cared, you would have handled this differently.”

“A scene?” I repeated, my voice rising with intensity. “Is that all I am to you? You didn’t want to acknowledge me because you were too worried about other people’s opinions?”

He fell silent for a moment, and that lack of response spoke volumes. I could sense his frustration and uncertainty, but none of it mattered. The truth remained: in front of everyone, he had denied me. Denied us.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he said, his voice low and laced with shame. “I just… I’m not sure if I’m ready to introduce you as my mate.”

I blinked, stunned. “What?”

He sighed, raking a hand through his dark hair. “You’re not the type to be introduced, Valerie. I know what we are, but there’s more at stake than just stating it. The pressure is immense, and I’m not sure I can bear it right now.”

I locked eyes with him, disbelief crashing over me. “What are you actually saying?” My voice was steady, cutting through the shock of his words.

He met my gaze with dark eyes that flickered with something profound—guilt? Regret? “You’re not something to be displayed for everyone to judge. You deserve more than that. I didn’t want to place you in the spotlight for public scrutiny.”