Chapter 28

I am shocked. My heart thunders in my chest to see the one who called me his everything, who stole my first kiss, kissing someone else. Britta, my worst enemy.

I shouldn't be hurt this way because it was meant to happen all along. It was too good to be true. I was stupid to try to put my walls down.

He looks up, noticing my presence. His face is empty of all emotions, while Britta has a satisfied smirk on her face.

I should walk away from this, but my body is stiff and confused.

"If you don't mind, could you close the door when you leave? We are busy here," she snickered.

I walk out with my remaining pride. I trudge slowly towards my room, feeling my heartbreak with every step I take away from my mate.

"Why did you leave the room just like that?" Tiara yells angrily at me.

"What were you expecting me to do ?" I ask, laying down on my bed.

"You can't just let that whore take what's ours," she growled.

I snorted at her words. "He's not ours. He made that clear by kissing her."

Before I can understand what is happening, Tiara pulls me into the back of my mind.

"Tiara, you can't do this. Let me have control," I yell, trying to get control of my body.

"Ma, I need your help! Tiara is about to do something stupid," I mind link, getting frustrated by Tiara. I have never had difficulty getting control back, but right now, I am losing my strength. The more I try, the stronger she gets.

Ma comes rushing into my room, looking worried.

"Kate, are you—" she stops, looking at me in shock, eyes wide and mouth open.

I know the reason she's like that. It's not a good sight, seeing my eyes blood red with long fangs, long claws, and a white hairy body.

"What's going on, Kate?" she asks warily, carefully walking towards me, earning a growl from Tiara.

"Tiara is tr-trying to g-gain con-control?" I say, my voice coming out raspy.

"What going on?" she asks with confusion evident in her eyes.

"Can you ask this question later?" I yell, frustrated with what is happening.

"Okay, I will lock the door while you try to hold her in," she says, leaving the room quickly.

I hear the click of the door, signaling that it is locked.

I sigh tiredly, forcing myself into the bathroom. 

"I need a cold bath," I mumble.

I strip out of my clothes and get into cold water.

~~~~~~~

I wake up in the bathtub, feeling the water warm on my skin.

I let the water drain before walking out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around myself, stopping in front of the closet's full-length mirror.

"Kate, you can't let him get to you," I mutter to myself, looking at myself closely in the mirror. "You are a powerful woman, so hang in there."

"Stop giving yourself a pep talk and do something to show him he missed out," Tiara suggests.

"What do you mean by that?" I ask, confused.

"Let's dress up sexy to make him feel jealous," she says proudly.

"Yeah, let's do this. I never knew you were this smart," I say, taunting her.

"Say what you want," she scoffs.

I check my closet to find something sexy that says I am not a bitch, but I can be one.

I pick out out the perfect dress, and I leave my hair straight, falling down my back.

I leave my room satisfied with my look. I walk into the living room to find Thomas, Elisa, Lillian giving a disgusted look to Britta, who is clinging to Lawrence and laughing loudly.

"I just feel like killing this slut so badly," Tiara says with hatred.

I cough loudly to gain their attention.

"Lillian, can we go shopping?" I ask as calmly as possible.

Lillian looks at me with wide eyes while Lawrence bores holes into my back, which I choose to ignore.

"You what to go shopping?" she asks in shock.

I can't blame her. The first time she asked me to go shopping, I told her I didn't like shopping, but many things have changed in the past few months.

"Yes, I just need some clothes," I reply smugly.

"Okay, let's go," she says, standing up from the couch.

We walk out of the mansion and go towards her car.

"How are you doing, Kate?" Jason asks, running towards me.

His eyes got darker while looking me over. I feel self-conscious with the way he's looking at me.

"Okay?" I reply, sounding awkward.

"You stood me up on our date," he says with a frown.

Oh, I forgot about my date with him.

"Sorry, it slipped my mind. I am so sorry," I reply guiltily.

"No problem. Are you doing anything tonight?" he asks.

"No, I guess," I say, unsure.

"Would you mind going on a date with me tonight?" he asks, looking nervous.

"Yes, I would love to go on a date with you."

I know I sound like a girl who just got asked out on a date by her crush, but my expression is nothing like that.

"I'll pick you up at 8:00." He grins widely before leaving.

"Wow, going on a date," Lillian says.

I forgot she was even standing here. I roll my eyes at her.

"It's just a friend date."

"Nonsense, you have to look good, but we have to tell this to Becca," she says triumphantly.

We get into the car to go to Becca's place. We arrive in 30 minutes since her place isn't far from the mansion.

We don't bother knocking since the door is open. We make our way inside to see Becca watching a TV show.

"Becca, guess what?" Lillian says with a smirk plastered on her face while Becca raises her eyebrow in question.

"Kate has just been asked on a date."

"Seriously, Lawrence asked you on a date?" she blurted out.

Lillian gave her a look. "No, silly, she was asked by a guy named Jason."

"But she has a mate," she says, confused.

"Yes, she has, but her mate is a jerk," she says.

Are they trying to ignore me?

"I am right here, girls."

"Okay, we are going shopping for a sexy dress to spite him," Lillian announces.

"Let me get dressed," Becca says, going up the stairs.

She comes back wearing black pants and a red shirt with her hair put into a ponytail.

The drive to the mall is the longest drive of my life, with Lillian and Becca chatting about what I should and shouldn't do.

Right when we get to the mall, they drag me into the spa, saying, "Your skin should be sparkling."

For crying out loud, it's just a friend date and not my marriage ceremony.

After that, we enter a store. In the dressing room, I try on different dresses with them giving me a look of disapproval with every one.

We finally decide on a black dress and black heels. They even get me new makeup.

We reached the mansion at 5:00.

"My legs are killing me," I grumble, falling on my bed tiredly.

"I will do your makeup while Becca fixes your hair," Lillian announces.

After three hours of hair-pulling, applying so many different things on my face that I lost count, and putting on these killer heels, I stood in front of the mirror. The tips of my hair are curled and put in a messy bun, my makeup is smoky, and my black dress shows my curves. It's a V-neck paired with black heels.

I am looking different, and it is a good different.

"You look beautiful," Lillian says, grinning widely with pride.

"We got it, girl," Tiara yells happily.

"Are you okay with this date?" I ask, feeling uneasy.

"Yes, but don't do something we both will regret," she says, grinning mischievously.

"Let's go now. Don't keep your date waiting," Becca says with a smile.

I enter the living room to find Jason waiting patiently. He is wearing a blue suit with blue pants, and his hair is swept backward, looking neat.

His eyes turn darker with lust. He gives me his hand to help me down the stairs.

"You look gorgeous," he whispers into my ear.

"You don't look so bad yourself."

"What's going on here?"

I twirl around to see Lawrence shooting daggers at Jason.

"Your highness," Jason says, showing submission.

"As you can see, we are going on a date."

I drag Jason out of the room, not waiting for his reply.

"You alright?" he asks, looking worried.

"Yes, I am perfectly fine."

"Come this way," he says, directing me towards a car.

"Wow, you don't need to impress me. You know that, right?" I say, looking at the beautiful black Jaguar C-x75.

I don't know much about cars, but this car is...wow.

"Get in," he says, opening the door for me before getting into the driver's seat.

The inside is even better. The drive is not awkward, but it seems Jason is not much of a talker.

He drives us to an expensive-looking restaurant. Thank the Moon Goddess I am dressed for this.

We are directed to our table.

"Would you like anything?" a lady in her twenties, blonde hair put in a bun, and sea-blue eyes says with a welcoming smile.

I look up to Jason, giving him a sign to give our orders.

He gives the lady our orders.

"So, tell me a little about yourself," he says, sipping a little water from his glass.

"Nothing much. You know my name and that I live with the Royals," I say.

"Come on. Nothing else?" he says with a smile.

"No. What about you? You got a mate?" I ask curiously.

"No. If I had a mate, I wouldn't be here with you."

Unfortunately, I have a mate, but I am here with him.

Soon, our orders come. We talk more, and I learn he lives with his parents and two siblings and loves singing. For a fighter like him, that's a weird detail.

I have fun. He takes me to his favorite place. It is beautiful, and he even sings a song for me. He is a great guy, but I can't seem to stop thinking about Lawrence no matter how hard I try.

"Wake up, Kate."

I feel Jason trying to wake me up. I open my eyes but shut them again as the sun is bright in the sky. We must have fallen asleep talking.

I get up before picking up my heels from the ground.

"What time is it?"

"8:00 AM," he replies.

"What?" I was shocked. "I had so much fun with you. Could you please drive me back to the mansion now?"

He nods. We walk back to where his car is parked.

He opens the door for me like a gentleman before going over to the driver's seat.

"Can we do this another time?" he asks, pulling out of the park.

"Seriously, I had fun with you, but we can't do this some other time," I reply sincerely. I can't keep his hopes up when I know it will only hurt him.

"Is it because we are not mated?" he asks with hurt and confusion in his eyes.

"It's not that. You are a great guy, and any woman would be lucky to be your mate, but I am not ready for this," I say, looking into his eyes.

"I understand," he replies, looking back at the road.

The rest of the drive is full of tension between us.

"Okay, thanks, once again," I say as he pulls in front of the mansion. Before I can get out of his car, he pulls me back, kissing me forcefully.

I push him away.

"What was that?" I ask, out of breath.

"I am so sorry,"  he says, pleading.

I ignore him before walking into the mansion.

"Everyone, looks like the whore is back."

I twirl around to see everyone staring at me with something in their eyes unknown to me.

"How was your date? I hope you enjoyed your first time," Britta continues with a smirk.

"The last time I remember, I don't owe you any explanation, and in case you forgot, the slut here is you," I say harshly.

She takes slow steps towards me.

"You have to show me respect, you whore" she yells, slapping me.

I am pushed to the back of my mind as Tiara takes control before I can blink.

This is not good.