Claimed By My Cheating Mate’s Rival Alpha Chapter 09

Claimed By My Cheating Mate’s Rival Alpha Chapter 09

MASON

I could still remember the first night I slept with Celeste. It was the night she confessed her feelings to me.

I was drunk that night, and she’d helped me back to my room in the mansion. I was too drunk and mistook Celeste for Scarlett.

That night, I felt a strong urge to devour her. Fueled by alcohol, I stripped her in my drunken state and made love

to her.

Later, when I’d regained some awareness and realized something was off, I looked closer and discovered it wasn’t Scarlett I was holding. It was Celeste.

We were both naked. Immediately she realized I was awake, she leaned in, kissed me on my lips, and told me she had loved me from the day she saw me. I was too in deep to do anything about it. So I made love with her again, imagining it was Scarlett.

I kept it a secret because Scarlett wouldn’t take it lightly

It was all just an accident that led to something deeper and harder to control.

In my defense, I’d mistaken Celeste for Scarlett.

No matter how many times I slept with her, my heart still belonged to Scarlett. She needed to understand that.

“I understand how you feel, but jealousy should have limits. Last night you slapped Celeste so hard she ended up in the hospital with a concussion.”

Scarlett’s eyes widened.

“What? You want me to go to the hospital and apologize

to her?”

I shook my head, “That’s not what I meant… but can’t you tone down the drama a little?”

“So you think I’m being dramatic?” Scarlett cut him off. “I made myself crystal clear last night-we’re done! Don’t have your parents contact me, and I don’t want anything to do with you! This isn’t a fight-I’m really ending things with you! Do you get it?”

I frowned. There’s no way she meant those words.

My gaze traveled over Scarlett’s figure. She looked hot, like she’d dressed this good to make my head turn.

I reached out to touch her hand. “I’m sorry, Scarlett. Let’s stop fighting, okay? You know I’ve been waiting for this day for so long. We-”

Scarlett frowned and yanked her hand away from my reach.

“I feel bad for you that you think this is a joke.”

SCARLETT

I walked into the building, but Mason caught up to me in

the front hall.

“Look, It was a mistake.” His voice was raw. “I was drunk, Scarlett. She drove me home from a gathering and I could barely stand. I thought she was you.”

I stopped walking. Not because I believed him, but because I wanted to see his face when he said it.

I turned around.

“You were so drunk you mistook another woman for your mate? Your wolf couldn’t tell the difference between Celeste’s scent and mine?”

His mouth opened and closed immediately. He had no answer for that, because there wasn’t one. A wolf always knows its mate’s scent. Always.

I continued. “Sure, let’s say the first night was an accident. What about every other day you’ve been

sleeping with her? Let me guess, that was an accident

too.”

He flinched. I saw his hand reach for me, and I stepped back before he could touch me.

“I’m getting my things, and I’m leaving. Don’t follow me.”

I went back to the room I used to stay in when I was younger. I found my family’s heirloom safely tucked in a jewelry box just where I left. I held the pendant in my palm and felt the familiar heaviness settle in my chest.

I wrapped the pendant in a cloth and placed it with the 9ther jewelry.

When I stepped out of the room, Vivienne was waiting in the corridor. Her arms were folded, her silver hair pulled tight in its usual bun, and that thin smile she wore when she wanted you to feel you weren’t welcome in her home.

“Finished rummaging through drawers?” she said.

I walked past her. I wasn’t going to let this woman enrage me or I might just end up hitting her.

She followed behind me as expected.

“Mason has been far too lenient with you, Scarlett. This little rebellion of yours has gone on long enough.” She spoke to my back as I kept moving. “Every Luna before you had the grace to handle a husband’s indiscretion with dignity.”

I stopped but didn’t turn around.

“If your idea of dignity is pretending my husband isn’t sleeping with another woman, then I don’t want your version of grace.”

“You ungrateful-”

Gerald’s careful, measured voice cut in from behind.

“Scarlett, please. Stay for dinner. Vivienne made meatloaf. Your favorite.”

I’d been halfway to the door, but something about those words pulled me to a stop.

I turned around. Gerald was standing, an apologetic look on his face. Vivienne stood behind him with her chin raised and a deathly glare in her eyes. And further down the hall, Mason stood, watching to see what I’ll do.

“I actually hate meatloaf,” I said.

I saw the immediate shock register on their faces.

“On my first day in this house, Mason served me some. I forced myself to eat every bite because I was terrified. you’d think I was being difficult. That the orphan girl living under your roof was being picky about a meal.” I paused. “So I ate it. Every time. For six years. And none of you ever thought to ask if I actually liked it.”

The silence that followed was thick enough to feel against

my skin.

Vivienne frowned. “So you won’t stay for dinner because you don’t like my meatloaf?”

“Scarlett, whatever Mason did to upset you, I’ll set him/ straight. There’s no need to send the mansion,” Gerald said.

“Look how spoiled you’ve become!” Vivienne cut in. “Mason’s practically groveling to you, and you still have the nerve to give us attitude. What kind of behavior is this?”

Mason also walked towards me. “Scarlett, please, don’t embarrass Mom and Dad.”

Bitterness bled in my heart. It seemed they all knew the pain I was going through, but they were too concerned for their son and themselves, so they were playing pretend.

“Take care of yourselves,” I said finally to them, turned, and walked out without looking back.