Lycan Prey, chapter three

• Aubrey • I take in the sight of Rhett at his desk, not alone but with a woman on his lap. Her blonde hair cascades down her back, her red dress bunched up in a way that leaves nothing to the imagination. Her flushed face and intimate posture with Rhett shatters any illusions I still hold.

A faint blush tints Bianca’s cheeks, and I can see her hand resting on Rhett’s shoulder, her fingers playing with his hair as she bounces up and down on his lap with a look of euphoria on her face. I have sacrificed everything for this man, chose him over my family, and uprooted my entire life to be here with him. Is this how he repays me?

I stand frozen, unable to tear my eyes away from the scene. Those jagged shards splinter and pierce through the bond, mutilating it and destroying everything. I had been so enamored by the fairy tale of finding a mate.

Dazzled by the allure of shimmering promises and the warm, electric thrum of the mate’s bond, its warm and tingly feelings. The fairy tale was that he would love me in a way no one else could. What a harsh way to learn; not all that glitters is gold.

No one ever warned me about the dark side of a mate’s bond, the heartache, and the devastation that can come with it, too. Mates are painted as sacred, bound by love, and destined to be together for eternity. They never told me about the gut-wrenching pain of betrayal.

No one ever talks about how bad this can hurt. Everything starts to make sense. For the last few weeks, I’ve felt sick, the spontaneous cramps.

Rhett kept telling me I had a bug or something is wrong with me. Now, the pain makes sense. It isn’t that at all; it is the scorching betrayal of his infidelity and his brutalizing of our bond.

She moans, his hand moving to cover her mouth as he moves quickly, shoving her into his desk. Rhett’s gaze finds mine as the documents symbolizing our future slip from my fingers, scattering like the shattered pieces of my heart. I try to speak, to demand an explanation.

No words come out. My throat is tight, and hot tears fill my eyes. “Aubrey, what are you doing here?”

His tone is dismissive and laced with irritation. His eyes flicker with annoyance as if my presence is nothing more than an inconvenience to him. Bianca quickly pulls her dress down and sits on the edge of his desk.

“Wh-what, do you mean? You invited me,”

I stammer, the words tumbling from my lips as I struggle to make sense of the situation. I want to yell, to scream, to attack him, however all I can do is just stand here, the events before me still ing in my brain. I step back, shaking my head in disbelief.

How could he do this? The man who promised to love me forever and be faithful has betrayed me in the worst way possible. “Did I?” he smirks, raising an eyebrow in mock surprise.

“I don’t recall sending you any messages.”

My gaze darts between him and Bianca, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. It feels like they’re all in on some sick joke, and I’m the butt of it. “You sent me a message asking me to meet you here for lunch,”

I say, my voice cracking. Rhett’s gaze narrows, and his face hardens. “I didn’t send you any messages,” he states flatly.

Rhett’s denial hits me like a punch to the gut, and my world seems to spiral even further out of control. I turn to Bianca, searching for any kind of confirmation or explanation. She just shrugs, a smug smile on her face, and I know she’s behind it.

Tears well up in my eyes as I fumble to retrieve my phone, showing him the message. “But… I received this from your number,”

I stammer. Rhett takes a step closer, snatching my phone and smashing it on the floor, his voice dripping with condescension. “Aubrey, you’re so desperate to see me you’d make up lies just to come to my office?” he mocks in his efforts to humiliate me.

Anger surges within me as I struggle to hold back tears. “I thought… You wanted to talk; maybe you wanted to make things right after last night.”

My voice quivers in pain. Rhett’s eyes remain cold and unyielding. “I told you after the incident last week you’re not allowed at my office.”

“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.”

“Locking me up? I did nothing wrong!”

I scream at him before pointing a finger at Bianca; the conniving cow smirks, and I know she is behind it, too smug for her own good. “This is all her. Are you seriously that blind?”

I reply. Rhett folds his arms across his chest. “The only thing I was blinded by was the mate bond. Bianca made me see the truth when we found your name on all the checks you wrote yourself!”

I shake my head; this can’t be happening. This is a nightmare, an absolute nightmare. Any minute, I will wake up and learn it’s all just a dream.

My future is slipping away from me like sand in an hourglass. My vision blurs from the tears. I can still see Bianca’s triumph, though.

Rhett continues, his voice full of disdain, “The money you stole was owed to a very important business partner. But don’t worry. I’ve struck a deal. Tomorrow, you’ll be sold to the man you stole from for the next five years.”

“Excuse me?”

Rhett holds his hand up to silence me, his aura rushing out and crushing me. I hate that I was made a rogue. It has made my own aura non-existent until Rhett marks me; now I rather be a rogue.

“If you behave, I might consider not banishing you once your debt is paid, considering you have nowhere else to go after turning your back on your old pack.”

My heart shatters. “You sold me? I’m your mate! How could you sell me and believe that… that whore over me?”

I scream, my voice raw with pain and anguish. Rhett sneers, his eyes filled with contempt. “The only person who will be a whore around here is you when King Soren picks you up tomorrow.”

I gasp, remembering Soren and his son Max from earlier. I suddenly feel sick; the same man who bought me a coffee has bought me as his sex slave? Horror washes over me, but that explains the man’s aura, the control he has over it, and how everyone ran from him.

“Tomorrow?”

I gasp, trying to piece together my morning and how it has turned so horribly wrong. “Yes, tomorrow. You have no idea how humiliating it is knowing my mate stole from me and the King!”

My gaze darts back to him; a cold, cruel smile spreads across his face. “Don’t worry, he assured me you would be punished, that you earn back your debt. Lucky you, Aubrey, you get to lay on your back for the next five years for the King and his men,” he laughs.

“I bet you wish you fucked me now; maybe I might have kept you as my whore. Don’t worry, though, by the time the King is done with you, no one will want you.”

His words feel like a death sentence, a cold, harsh reminder of the betrayal and cruelty that now defines our relationship. Rhett’s face is stone-cold as he signals security to take me away. “Take her to the holding cells at the packhouse and keep her there until King Soren retrieves her tomorrow. I’ll deal with rejecting her tomorrow. I have a meeting in ten minutes with the King to discuss her punishment.”

It is as if I’m looking at someone who is a master of disguise but whose true colors are now visible. The illusion of Rhett Miles shatters, proving what I thought was love was just a mirage. To think I foolishly threw away my entire life for this man only for him to sell me like I’m property.

I glance to the door to see it blocked by two huge, burly men, one being Nathan, from the first floor. There is no escaping. Rhett then picks up his phone and dials a number while leaning against his desk.

There is no fixing this, not after what he’s done. The mate bond means nothing to me… why would he even try to protect me? “Phillips?”

Rhett speaks, and his eyes move to me, a cruel smile on his lips. “Tell him I have her. We’ll meet you at the drop-off site,”

Rhett tells him. I widen my eyes in horror. He truly sold me, sold his mate!

My breath comes in sharp gasps as panic overwhelms me. Rhett, however, hangs up and moves closer. “Let’s see how long you hang onto your precious V-card once your new owner gets his paws on you,” he mocks.

Tears burn my eyes, anger fueling my next move, and before I realize what I’m doing, I slap him… hard… across the face. The resounding clap of my hand hitting his cheek is loud in the quiet room as the guards behind me gasp. Rhett presses a hand to his cheek in utter shock, which lasts a second and then wears off.

He moves before I can react, grabbing my hair and making me cry out. Rhett’s grip on it tightens as he pins me down onto his desk, pressing my face into the smooth wood surface. I struggle against him, but his strength is too much for me to overpower.

Tears spill from my eyes as I realize the truth of how little he cares for me. “Or maybe I’ll take it, so you have something to remember me by,” he snarls.

Bianca shrieks and grabs his arm, trying to pull him off me. “Rhett, what are you doing?” she panics, her eyes wide with fear.

Rhett only pushes her away roughly. “Stay out of it, Bianca,” he growls, his eyes blazing with anger and possessiveness.

“Though I may take you as my Luna, you have no say in what I do with my mate.”

Tears continue to stream down my face as I lay helpless beneath him. Rhett’s hand moves down to my backside, squeezing it roughly as he leans closer to my ear. “I guess, I’ll see you bleed after all,”

The statement fills me with disgust and revulsion. How can someone who claims to love me be so cruel? “How could you do this?”

I sob out, the question more pleading than angry. Rhett pulls away from me, standing straight and smoothing out his suit jacket. He glares down at me with cold disdain in his eyes.

“It’s just business, sweetheart.”

Rhett’s grip tightens, and I struggle against him until Nathan speaks up. “Alpha, I think your guests have arrived.”

Rhett stops. I can hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears like a drum. He shoves me, and I hastily stand, rushing toward the doors.

I would rather take my chances with the guard. “Send them in,”

Rhett rumbles. Nathan nods, seizing my arm. “I’ll see you later, Aubrey. After all, I now have to punish you for thinking you can put your hands on me.”

I gulp as Nathan yanks me out the door, only to realize Nathan has lied about anyone waiting to see Rhett. I glance up at him. “What were you thinking?” he hisses at me, leading me to the elevator.

I wasn’t thinking clearly. Anxiety courses through me fiercely the closer we draw to the elevator, and I must act fast if I want to escape my guards. As security officers drag me into the elevator, I know this is my only chance.

I did not throw away my Alpha title to be pimped out by my mate and sold off like some rogue whore. I keep my eyes ahead as I slip my hand into my bag and grasp my deodorant can. I bide my time until the elevator doors open.

As soon as the elevator dings, signaling we’ve reached the foyer floor, my finger slips over the plunger. I spray Nathan in the face, temporarily blinding him. I hastily close my eyes to avoid getting any in them.

The smell of the artificial lavender assaults my nose. I ignore it, focusing on freeing myself from Nathan’s grip. He stumbles back, yelling in surprise and pain.

Using that to my advantage, I knee the other officer in the groin, causing him to crumble to the floor. Nathan lunges at me; however, my years of training as an Alpha’s daughter kick in, and I see it coming. I sidestep Nathan’s attack, giving me the opportunity to kick him in the stomach, causing him to double over.

I then knee him in the face. The other officer, still clutching his groin, tries to grab me. I quickly react by gripping his hair and slamming his head into the elevator wall.

With the two of them incapacitated, I step over their slumped bodies and scoop up my handbag. Taking a deep breath, I straighten my posture and calmly walk out of the elevator. I can feel the eyes of the people in the lobby on me as I saunter out as if nothing happened.

I lift my chin and keep my gaze ahead, not stopping until I reach the glass sliding doors. The moment I step outside, I run.