Chapter 10 HIS BETRAYAL

~JADE~

"What the fuck is this about?" Hunter all but growled as he shoved me into what I presume must be a small office in the council hall. The sound of the door slamming shut behind us enhanced the threat in his growl in this tiny space.

I couldn't even bear to harbour shame with the way he had dragged me from where I stood before the elders and across the hall into this tiny room. It remains unfathomable to me how easy it was for him to change from a loving and doting mate to this man who cannot even stand the sight of me. Not one iota of respect did he think to grant me, almost as if I was never worth a thing to him.

"I have a few questions."

"If this is another plot of yours to gaslight me with your words or to beg, save your breath." Hunter snapped.

"It is neither of the two; I want you to answer my questions honestly. All I need to know is the truth, and once I hear the truth from your mouth, I'll accept your rejection like you wanted before we step back out there, as long as you are honest." I replied, meeting his questioning gaze, and from the look in his eyes, I knew he barely trusted any word that came from my mouth.

This was a man who once treated me like I was made from the finest of gold, a man who told me that my past shouldn't determine who I am or who I ought to be. Yet I look into the eyes of my first love, the eyes of the first person I ever allowed myself to love, and all I see is doubt and his extreme repugnance towards me.

"Ask your questions, and be quick with them." He sneered down at me in such a condescending voice that made me coil into myself.

"A few days ago, you said, 'I should have known better than to trust or love another Dimaano daughter.' What did you mean by that statement?" I asked him, swallowing through the lump that had begun to form in my throat.

"What do you think it means? It is exactly as I said; why do you need an explanation? Whatever it means won't prove your innocence or free your guilty conscience."

"You are right; it may not do anything of the sort, but I need to know because Arya said some words and I..." I paused, an aching slowly building in my chest, crawling up my throat.

'Ask him; we need this. We deserve this closure, at the very least. Don't choke up now.' Levana mumbled in a trembling voice, and I could tell even she felt my pain, just as raw and cold as it felt for me.

"She told me she had been preparing for the role of Luna all her life; she said she worked so hard for it, only for me to come and steal what was hers. At first, I thought to pass it off as just a hurt sister who would say anything to hurt me, but then I remembered the words you said." I took in a few deep breaths as my eyes clenched closed for a moment, and my breathing quickened.

I threw my head back as I fought against the tears welling in my eyes and the pain in my chest that crawled up my throat, wrapping around my lungs in a vice. "Were you in a relationship with Arya before I returned to the pack?" I reeled my head forward as I asked.

Silence stretched between us as Hunter refused to answer my question. "I need the truth, Hunter. It doesn't matter if it will hurt me; I am already in pain. I've been in pain for the past week. Nothing else can hurt me more than I already am." I lied because everything still hurt, and I knew the truth that was about to leave his lips would only hurt me more.

"Yes, we were, but what does it matter now anyway." He finally answered, his voice rigid like a stone wall and his face void of emotion.

I nodded. "Were you in love with her? Did you love her?" I asked. I have no idea why that is important now, but for some reason, I needed to know, maybe to console myself with a lie that Hunter loved me more than her. Perhaps I just craved the pain that came from his truth.

"What does it matter? It was a long time ago." Hunter snapped. He put a little distance between us as he walked away from me.

"Please answer me, Hunter; were you in love with my sister?" I asked in a trembling voice, and Hunter turned to face me. Seconds stretched into minutes as he remained silent, his eyes never leaving mine.

He stared at me, his gaze unflinching, like he was searching for something in my eyes. Whatever it was, I refused to give him the satisfaction of finding it so hardened my expression, yet I couldn't push back the stinging tears in the back of my eyes that threatened to spill.

"At the time, I was." He let out a sigh, breathing heavily.

"She was your first love?" I muttered, and he nodded.

"How long were you two together?"

"From when we were fifteen."

"Did you break up with her because of me? Was it because of my return to the pack and you found out I was your mate? Is that why you left her?"

"No. I broke up with her because she cheated; it wasn't her first time, and I was tired of putting up with all her lies and gaslighting." I closed my eyes briefly to suck in a shaky breath. I wasn't sure if my exhale was out of relief or just the fact that I had already accepted defeat.

"How long were you separated before I came back?" I asked, and despite how much it pained me to know the answers to these questions, I asked them nonetheless.

"A month. Arya and I had been separated for a month."

"And everyone knew of your relationship? My parents, your parents, the entire pack?"

"Yes," Hunter replied, avoiding my gaze.

A laugh erupted out of me at his confession. "Yet no one thought to inform me. No one told me that my sister held the heart of the man I thought was the love of my life." I cackled bitterly at the thought.

How foolish was I to think Hunter was ever mine? How had I been so naive to think I was his one true love?

Foolish, foolish girl, Jade. Your foolishness should be a case study. I mumbled in mockery.

"I can't imagine how much fun it must've been to make a mockery of me for two years." My laughter continued. "I was parading myself as Luna to-be, without knowing I was a clown in a circus, thinking I was yours just as you were mine. Mine alone, but now I know that without the mate bond, you never would have loved me.

Acknowledging this bitter truth feels like the devil had his claws deep in my heart. Even though I laughed bitterly, I could feel myself drowning, and as much as I tried hard to swim to the surface, I couldn't. Every attempt I made to breathe in the air only ended up with a lungful of water that constricted my throat and suffocated me.

"Jade..." Hunter called weakly, stepping closer. He reached out for me with shaky hands, and I stepped back. He was never mine, and I was stupid to think we were meant to be. Now I know why it was so easy for him to discard me-not even one iota of trust that I might be telling the truth-that maybe Darren had drugged me.

"No, it's fine. I'm fine." I murmured with a chuckle as I wiped a tear from my cheeks-a lie even I wasn't convinced of.

"Jade, I loved you, but you cheated. How can I...

"I, JADE ALTHEA DIMAANO, daughter of Juan Dimaano," I began saying, cutting Hunter off because even now, he still believes I cheated, and there's nothing I can say that will change his mind. "Accept the rejection of ALPHA HUNTER HENDRIX, son of Orion Hendrix. May the moon uphold this rejection and the goddess ease my pain." I finished, wiping away droplets of tears as I turned, opened the door of the tiny room, and walked out.

Nothing will ever ease my pain, and nothing will ever lessen the anguish in my heart because of his betrayal.