Chapter 3 A Trap

"Ugh!"

Sasha's eyes fluttered open, her vision blurry as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. The first thing she saw was the ceiling of an unfamiliar room.

'Wait... what's going on? Why am I here?'

She pushed herself up, her head throbbing with confusion. The last thing she remembered was attending a party at Mr. Anderson's house. Darius had come to her, apologized, and then... nothing. Her memory was blank after that.

"Where am I?" she whispered, glancing around the room, which looked foreign and unsettlingly unfamiliar.

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the window blinds, casting soft, fractured shadows across the floor.

'How long have I been out?'

As she turned her head, her heart stopped. There, lying beside her, was a man-unclothed and fast asleep. Panic surged through her veins, and she leapt out of the bed, her pulse racing.

"Ah! You! Who are you?!" she screamed, her voice startling the man awake.

He groaned, rubbing his eyes, and then glanced at her with a sleepy, confused expression. "Huh? Did you forget what happened last night?"

Sasha's mind whirled, trying to process his words. "Last night? What are you talking about?"

The man smirked, his voice dripping with insinuation. "Oh, come on. Did you forget our hot night, baby?"

Hot night?

Sasha's stomach twisted, the words making her skin crawl. She glanced down at herself, realizing with horror that her clothes were gone, her hair disheveled.

'No... did I really...?'

She couldn't believe it. This could't be real. She didn't even know who this man was.

"No, there's been some mistake. I-I don't even know you!" she stammered, frantically gathering her clothes from the floor. "You must have the wrong person!"

As she fumbled to get dressed, her heart pounded with a mix of fear and confusion.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

A sudden knock echoed through the room, jolting Sasha out of her daze. Without thinking, she rushed to open the door, her heart pounding. She froze when she saw Darius and Mr. Anderson standing there, their faces etched with confusion and concern.

"Darius? Mr. Anderson?" she stammered, her voice barely steady.

"Sasha, where have you been?" Darius' voice was tight with frustration. "I've been looking for you all night. And... why are you in this room?" His eyes narrowed suspiciously.

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"I-I'm sorry, Darius," Sasha began, her words faltering. "I don't know what happened. One moment I was talking to you at the party, and then... I just blacked out."

"Wait, there's someone inside," Mr. Anderson said sharply, stepping past her into the room.

Sasha's stomach twisted with panic as she followed him, her gaze darting to the stranger still lounging on the bed. "Mr. Anderson, please, it's not what it looks like. I didn't-"

"Sasha," Mr. Anderson's voice was stern, his Alpha authority suffocating the room. "Can you explain this?"

"Sasha, who is this?" Darius' face contorted with disbelief, his voice rising. "Did you... sleep with him last night?"

"N-No! I didn't... I swear I didn't," Sasha's voice was barely above a whisper, her eyes wide and pleading as she looked at Darius and Mr. Anderson. Tears welled up, blurring her vision.

Suddenly, Darius doubled over, clutching his chest, his face twisted in pain.

"It hurts... it hurts," he gasped, his breathing ragged. "Why are you doing this to me?"

The commotion quickly drew the attention of other werewolves, who gathered at the doorway, peering in with curious and judgmental eyes.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Anderson." The stranger's voice broke the tense silence, his head bowed in shame. "I won't run away. I take full responsibility. I... had the audacity to have relations with Sasha, Darius' mate. I'm prepared to accept whatever punishment you decide."

Mr. Anderson massaged the bridge of his nose, clearly frustrated. "Oh my..."

"Why, Sasha?! I loved you! What was I lacking that you had to betray me like this?" Darius screamed, clutching his aching chest as he struggled to breathe.

"I didn't do anything, Darius," Sasha cried, her voice shaking. "Please, you have to believe me."

"Believe you?!" Darius' voice was scornful, bitter. "You left me last night saying you'd be back early. And yet, here you are!"

"N-No, I don't know why I'm here, Darius," Sasha stuttered, tears spilling down her cheeks.

"Enough!" Darius snapped, his voice cold and final. "I'm tired of your excuses! From this moment on, I, Darius Anderson, Alpha Candidate of The Spectral Pack, reject Sasha Woods as my mate!" His declaration sent a shockwave through the room, leaving everyone stunned.

"No!"

Sasha's scream tore through the air as excruciating pain shot through her body, a pain so fierce it felt like her chest was being crushed under a boulder. She collapsed to the floor, clutching her chest, gasping for breath.

"Darius, wait!" Mr. Anderson's voice was faint, barely reaching Sasha's ears as she writhed in agony. "We need to talk to her first-find out what happened."

"No, Dad!" Darius barked, his eyes blazing with fury. "I've had enough. It tears at my chest to see this betrayal. And you know what the punishment is for an Alpha's mate who commits infidelity, don't you?"

Sasha crawled to his feet, her hands trembling as she reached out to him. "Please... please believe me."

Darius recoiled, roughly swatting her hand away. "Get out of my sight! I don't want to see your face in this Pack ever again."

In her twenty years, Sasha had never felt such raw, searing humiliation. She barely registered the hands grabbing her, dragging her away. She was thrown out, insults and curses hurled at her from all sides. Her tears fell freely, blurring everything around her as she staggered towards the forest.

Before she disappeared into the trees, she turned back one last time, catching sight of Mr. Anderson. His face was filled with disappointment, his eyes cold.

And then she saw it-a flash of Darius standing with Rachel, a sly grin twisting across his lips.

A chill ran through Sasha, freezing her in place. Wait a minute... was this all a trap?

The realization hit her like a punch to the gut.

'Did they plan this? Did they want me gone all along?'