There were a few harsh truths I had to face before I could agree to be Cole’s fake fiancée.
The first was that I wasn’t surprised enough by the betrayal. I had already known that Darcy and Sadie had some sort of plan to take them away from me. She might have acted like it was no big deal and that we were friends, but the truth that my pack refused to see was that Sadie wanted her best friend to be with them.
If they were scent-compatible, they’d be together already. Yet, I had to commend the omegas for not giving up, I guess.
It went beyond knowing that she wanted them and into the fact that they couldn’t seem to remove her from their lives. I was never enough for them to leave her behind, to cut ties and give us the space we deserved as a pack.
The constant drop-ins from Sadie and Darcy seemed to coincide with every date night we ever planned. It was constant and frustrating that no matter what we did, they werealwaysthere.
All I wanted was to get closer to my pack, to spend time with them, and yet someone was always disrupting our plans.
They were always “busy” when I needed them to do something with me, an excuse falling from their lips the moment I would ask. My own work events were ignored. If I was sick they all but left me there alone. There was very little that showed they were my chosen mates.
The more I considered everything, the more I realized what an idiot I’d been, how silly it was of me to simply let them walk all over me.
Omegas were supposed to be a priority in their pack, yet mine had treated me like everything I did was an annoyance. They were never outright rude, but they would make comments about my style when we went out on dates. All because I liked bright colors and I loved thrift shopping at vintage stores. Me finding joy in giving new life to old things was, apparently, not something to be proud of.
The red flags were piling up by the second. How had I let the idea of the pack blind me?
If it wasn’t for the fact that we had all been swamped at work the last two weeks, and I’d just had my health screening, I’d be going to get tested.
If they cheated on me once, what was to say they hadn’t before?
Thank God I made them wear protection.
This is what I got for not waiting for scent-matches. I convinced myself that since we were compatible, that was enough.
During our courting phase, they were incredible. Things had settled down a bit once we’d agreed to become a pack, but I just wrote it off as everyday life getting in the way.
My chest ached sharply with the betrayal. They’d led me on for years, betrayed me, and still had no intention of telling me.
It wasn’t just my heart at risk here, but my health and future.
I’d thrown myself into my studies, then work, then this pack, to the point that I never cultivated friendships properly.
I was used to relying on myself, and I’d effectively kept it that way.
They had to fill my bridal party. And now, I had no one to call and talk to, no one to ask for advice on a situation like this.
I ended up alone yet again, betrayed in a way I didn’t see coming.
With a sigh, I forced myself to get up, stripping out of the Santa suit and heading for the shower so I could wash the product off my face and out of my hair.
When I finally stepped out of my long, hot shower, and slid on my pajamas, I looked like myself again.
Curiosity had me grabbing my phone from the table where I left it. There were only three missed calls, one from each of my pack members. I didn’t call them back or look at the text messages. I just clicked on the voicemails.
My alpha’s voice echoed through, far too calm for the situation. Especially for a man who should be concerned for his omega.
“I’m disappointed that this is how you chose to handle our wedding, omega. We gave you everything, and this is how you repay us? Youhumiliatedus. You have two days to get your things out of our place before we throw them out. We’re done.”
Short and sweet. I rolled my eyes and clicked on the next, ignoring the hurt echoing through me.
“Sadie mentioned that you were acting weird. Is this about Darcy again? I don’t know why you’re so obsessed with her, but you need to let it go. Wechoseto marry you and you ruined it. Now all bets are off, omega. Enjoy your fucked-up, lonely life. You were never good enough for us anyway.”
A tear leaked free as his last words hit me. He knew that I didn’t like being alone and had used it against me. The way he brought up Darcy felt a bit like a guilty conscience. It was far too quick.
The final message was simply a one-sentence warning to come get my things and return my ring.
