Eight Years Of A Fake Mate Bond Chapter 03

Eight Years Of A Fake Mate Bond Chapter 03

“What, something I’m not supposed to see?”

Maeve shook her head frantically.

“Of course not. Riona, just let me explain!”

She lunged for me, trying to grab my arm.

I stepped aside. She missed, stumbling forward from the momentum.

“Maeve!”

Alaric pulled her straight into his chest in an instant. When he looked back at me, his eyes were blazing with fury.

“Riona, what the hell are you doing? You know Maeve’s carrying a pup—can’t you cut her some slack?”

I met his glare head-on.

“Whose pup is it?”

The anger on Alaric’s face froze.

He darted his gaze away.

“Her boyfriend’s, obviously. I was just here for a therapy session for my mark phobia. Ran into Maeve by pure chance.”

Maeve caught on fast, forcing a stiff smile as she grabbed my hand.

“Yeah, total coincidence. Riona, don’t get the wrong idea.”

“I didn’t mean to keep the pregnancy from you. Please don’t be mad, okay?”

I glanced down at my watch, ignoring their anxious stares.

“I’m not misunderstanding anything. I just have a checkup to get to.”

They both froze, then let out a simultaneous breath of relief.

Alaric belatedly hurried after me.

“Riona, I’ll go with you.”

“No need.”

At my refusal, he glanced back at Maeve over his shoulder, nodding absently.

“Fine. Be careful.”

I watched him spin around immediately, yanking the car door open for Maeve.

My eyes burned so bad it ached.

I got back to the lakeside manor after my checkup.

The empty house felt dead, lifeless.

There was barely anything of Alaric’s inside.

He’d bought the place as our mating home, put it all under my name.

But he’d always claimed he was scared of marking, hated being tied down by a committed bond. Said he’d never stay over every night.

He’d said, aside from the official mating mark on my neck, he’d give me everything anyone else had.

The manor, the gowns, the rings…

He’d introduce me as his Luna to every new person he met.

When I was sick, he’d sit by my bed with hot soup, whispering, “I’m here.”

After work, he’d park his car outside the dance academy, telling everyone, “I’m here to pick up my Luna.”

I used to think that was love.

I never realized love could be this good of a performance.

The next day, I got my acceptance letter from the Frost Harbor Moonlight Ballet Company.

I was about to click accept when a message from Alaric popped up.

Alaric: [Riona, I’m sorry about my attitude at the hospital yesterday. I’ve thought about it, and I’m ready to properly mark you.]

I froze up completely, caught off guard.

The line I’d waited eight years to hear. But only after I’d resolved to walk out for good.

Too little, too late.

Rapid knocks banged on the front door. I pulled it open, and came face to face with Alaric’s stormy expression.

“Riona Vinter. Did you leak those photos of Maeve and me outside the hospital online?”

Maeve stood behind him, her face deathly pale.

“Riona, I just need the truth. Did you send those photos? Everyone’s tearing me apart online.”

She pressed a hand to her belly, her voice weak.

“I got so worked up, the pup and I….”

“Who else would it be?!”

Alaric snapped, completely losing control. He didn’t even bother hiding it anymore.

“Maeve thinks of you for everything. She even had me forge mating registration papers just to make you happy!”

“And you? Just because I took her to the hospital, you made us lose our pup!”

His claws sharpened before he even realized it, dragging deep red streaks down my arm.

I didn’t struggle. I just stared at him, calm as ever.

“Alaric. So that mark you just offered me? It was a lie too.”

He froze, slowly letting go of my arm.

When he saw the streaks on my skin, a flash of panic crossed his eyes—quickly replaced by rage.

“Since we’re already this far, no point in hiding it anymore.”

“Yeah. Maeve and I marked each other ages ago. We registered as official mates with the Pack Council a long time ago. We’ve been lying to you this whole time.”

He jabbed a finger at me, his gaze burning with hatred.

“But even that doesn’t give you an excuse to kill our pup!”

Maeve grabbed his arm, begging.

“Alaric, stop. Please, just stop!”

Her eyes were pleading.

“The pup… we can have more. But Riona’s the most important friend I’ve ever had.”

Alaric’s eyes were red, jaw tight as he forced down his raging fury.

The next second, my parents burst through the door.

“Riona, we already explained Alaric and Maeve’s situation at the last ceremony! How could you do something like this?!”

I stared at them, their gazes heavy with blame, momentarily dazed.

Years ago, Maeve’s father died in a rogue attack, protecting my parents. My parents adopted her after that.

Ever since, they’d ask about Maeve first before checking on me. Pick out clothes for her before buying mine.

I never thought even when it came to choosing a mate, I’d be the one pushed to the back.

“You… you knew this already?”

Alaric finally caught on, glaring daggers at me, his voice a rough, guttural rumble forced out from his throat.