His Betrayed Mate Is A Famous Healer

Annete.

I couldn't believe my eyes. Standing beside me was my sister, Isobela, wearing the same dress as me. Shocks drained the blood from my face, and I took a good look at my body. "Isobela?!" I mentioned, sparing her a glance, but she only knitted her brows, standing with her head high.

A lump formed in my throat. I fumbled with the fabric of the dress, my heart palpitating.

The hall had broken out in a murmur. Watching two sisters stand before the priestess while waiting for the alpha king to show up was the worst view ever. I couldn't even comprehend what was going on with my sister.

I turned and looked around in search of my parents, and when I found them sitting comfortably, their facial expressions said it all. They weren't shocked. They knew about what was happening and seemed to have prepared for it.

With my hope draining gradually, I grabbed Isobela's hand, my lips quivering, "What are you doing right now? It's my coronation and mating ritual....so why are you dressed in the same clothes as mine?" My voice trembled, and I knew she could see through my fear.

I was the forbidden daughter of the Lowells. My father was the pack general, and we were all betas, but I was the only wolfless werewolf in the family. As the eldest, I was expected to do a lot, but when I couldn't even find my wolf to transform on my eighteenth birthday, the molestation from my family heightened.

My sister would bully me with her friends. I wasn't sent to college and was more inferior than the servants in our house. I would take the blame for Isobela's mistake, get punished for her accusations, and was threatened to be disowned if I ever mentioned that I was part of the family.

In the whole Infinite Pride Pack, no one knew I was the eldest daughter of General Lowell. They thought I was one of the servants, and no matter how much I tried to please them, all was to no avail. Several times, I asked why I was treated as inferior when I was part of the family, only to be whipped and starved for days.

Henceforth, I embraced my fate and assumed it was what the moon goddess wanted.

My sister had her wolf, performed so well in high school, and was sent to college. Whereas I, who had wanted to be a pack healer, was ignored and told that I was useless.

Isobela took away everything from me. She made sure I wasn't happy and had peace; she hates it when I rest too. I barely slept up to four hours the whole day, and I would work my ass out just so I do not look proper. In her words, she hated that I was her sister and was a disgrace to her, so she made sure every one of her friends bullied me so much until I wished for death.

And now, she was wearing my coronation dress, standing with me on the only special day of my life.

I had found my mate when I was nineteen years old, the alpha king of our pack, Samsom Brooks. He was a cold alpha, mean, but played his role so well. When he insisted on not meeting up with me until we are bonded, I agreed. Just a few weeks ago, I turned twenty-one and still didn't find my wolf, but he never rejected me. No one knew we were mates until seven days ago when he announced it to my family, and the fact that our mating ritual and my coronation were going to take place.

Within me, leaving my family was going to be the best thing to ever happen to me. Even though I hadn't had a moment with my mate, each time we met coincidentally, the way he looked at me awakened the butterflies in my belly. He didn't want anyone to know of the matebond, or maybe because he was scared of being distracted from his role, but just his eyes on me showed how he cherished me, even though I was a wolfless beta.

He hired the best fashion designer in the human land to weave my dress, but seeing the one Isobel was putting on, it looked like the same person weaved it too. My shoes, the jewelry, were all the same. That alone, my heart tightened in bitterness.

Must she steal my happiness today, too? This was the day I would hold my mate's hand, look him in the eyes, and make my mating vows...and she wanted to ruin my mood?

Seeing that no one, not even the councils of the pack, was saying something about the two of us, I thought it was better to be calm and watch how the drama unfolded. Only she and our parents knew what the plan was, but in the end, I would be Luna, and she would be ashamed for the first time.

In the next few minutes, the gong rang thrice, and then the alpha's beta announced to everyone, "Hail thee, the alpha king!!!"

Everyone stood to their feet, heads bowed, and they all chorused, "Hail thee, the alpha king!!!"

I couldn't contain my smile, staring at my mate's figure as he walked closer to where I stood. As usual, he looked attractive enough for any woman to fall for him. I saw the grin on his lips and how he gazed at me like the other days.

We stayed hidden for two years, and I thought it was worth it. Now, we would be bound before everyone, and I would be crowned his luna.

I nearly forgot that my sister was standing beside me, not until one of the pack ministers stepped out before the alpha king and bowed, then pointed at us, "Is the alpha king claiming two females at once? We can't wait to see who will be your luna..."

He adjusted his tie and walked closer, standing before the two of us. He glanced at our faces, his smile being so visible at that moment. "Both of them are sisters!!" he stated, and the man standing before him shuddered.

I rolled my eyes and then glanced at Isobel. I wondered what he was up to, because my parents didn't need such an announcement.

"But one of them is wolfless..." he added again and moved his eyes from me to Isobel. My fingers dug into my palm, and I lost control of my heartbeat that moment. He hadn't ever mentioned my condition until now, and that made my heartbeat spike.

He closed the distance between us and first took my hand. My eyes suddenly became watery watching as he kissed the back of my palm, then dropped it back. "She is the first child of General Lowell, but wolfless and useless to the pack."

The last four words sank into my ears like a bomb. I looked at him, and he only had a cold expression and a glint of danger in his eyes.

What did he mean? If he could call me useless, then does it mean...

"Her name is Annette, and she is my mate." I paused my thought the moment he said that, and watching as the crowd gathered broke into a loud murmur made my teeth quiver. I didn't want to guess what he was up to, but my chest rose and fell with force as though it would burst. "Unfortunately, I can't have a wolfless beta as my luna...."

A scorching heat enveloped me. My belly dropped in force.

My knees buckled, but I tried to hold out there.

Did I just hear him well? Was it why he didn't want anyone to know of our matebond?

When the crowd went calm a bit, he let go of my hand, and without glancing at me, walked towards my sister Isobel. He took her two hands; the smiles he wore were more sincere than the ones he gave me. I was too stupid to think those little smiles from the first person to show me were genuine.

I was carried away by my ignorance. I should have known that hiding me was proof that I wasn't worthy to be his.

"Isobel will be my chosen mate, and Luna, while my wolfless mate will be my mistress," he declared, and the crowd let out an applause, all hailing him for his wisdom. My heart trembled.

I felt so stupid standing there. Again, my sister and parents succeeded in taking my happiness away from me. I wanted the ground to just open and have me in, because the shame was too much for me to contain.

Two years of fake hope, waiting for someone who thought I only deserved to be his mistress.

My fingers fidgeted beside me. I barely breathed with how heavy my chest became.

Never! I wasn't going to be a mistress. I won't!!

Several times, I pinched my skin just to convince myself that it was all a dream. But each time, I couldn't deceive myself anymore. It was all reality playing out before me. My mate chose my sister over me as his luna in the presence of everyone, after two years of waiting.

The pack priestess did not flinch. She blessed their union, crowned my sister Luna, and the mating ritual took place while I stood like I was invisible, watching them while struggling not to spill my hot tears before them all.

Even the mate I thought was my savior also called me useless; then, of what use would I be again? How long would I be a servant without a life in this pack? I was already twenty-one, but the moon goddess, instead of giving me a mate of my level, had me shamed in the presence of everyone this way.

The pack members all clapped aloud as Alpha Samson climbed the throne with Isobel. I couldn't stand the trembling ground beneath me and turned around, taking off the hall from the side door. My heart was too tight to keep standing there. I couldn't afford to tear down before them all.

How was I the only wolfless person in this pack? Why was I treated like I didn't exist?

I just lost my mate to someone whom I would call my closest rival, someone who never wanted to see me smile. Why then was I conceived if they wouldn't love me? Wasn't it better to query the moon goddess than the innocent me who didn't create herself?

I raced into my father's house and into the hut-like room where I had stayed since I turned six years old. There, I broke into uncontrollable tears. The more I tried to console myself, the more I saw reason to spill those hot torments running down my cheeks.

My mate betrayed me. He hurt me so much.

I had never cried when my family mistreated me. But it hurt like a dagger in my chest that he also did the same to me.

If he had rejected me instantly, it would have been better. But having me wait for him for two years, claiming the pack members would know about it when I would be crowned, and then dumping me like a piece of trash was the worst pain ever.

Maybe...just maybe, if he had told me from the onset, I would have moved on and wouldn't even have shown up in that hall. If he didn't look at me with those affectionate eyes that signified that I was his, I wouldn't have high hopes.

He was brutal, but his gaze always softened when he caught up with me. How then did everything change?

I shook my head again, crouching my legs to my chest. "Better to keep being a servant here than being his mistress. Isobel will see every reason to make me hate myself the most, and I would curse myself for being wolfless that another female stole my position. I won't be his mistress!!" I broke into tears again.

For the goddess knew how long I stayed indoors, unsure how long the ceremony took before it ended, and when my parents returned to the house. But I was leaning on the wall, heaving in bitterness when the door of the room was kicked open, causing my heart to skip a beat.

I hastened to my feet the moment my father came into the view, his expression darkened, and his palms tightened into a fist. "What are you still doing here? Didn't you hear the alpha king mention you as his mistress?"

At that moment, my mother came in too, glanced at my father, then at me, "The maids are here to take you to the palace. You have to...

"I can't!" I cut her short, squeezing the fabric I was still wearing. I hadn't realised how heavy the dress was until now, and I longed to take it off already. "I will...I will continue staying here as a servant. Alpha can choose another worthy female to be his mistress."

"And what makes you think that you have the right to choose what you will be? Didn't he see other females before choosing you?" my father retorted, his eyes glinting like a furnace. "You should be glad that he at least regarded the matebond and made you his mistress. No one, not even the moon goddess, would want you to be the luna of this pack, so get yourself together and leave this place."

My mother nodded in agreement, while I grimaced, holding myself from enraging in anger. "Get ready to leave!" she said and turned to leave.

I couldn't stand the pain; their words pierced my chest like an arrow. "I refuse! There's no way I'm going to be his mistress when I'm his mate and should be his luna. Aren't you two ashamed and tired of all these? How long will Isobel steal what belongs to me?" I lashed out, my face burned like I was placed in an oven.

They turned around, wearing a twisted expression in shock at hearing me blurt out for the first time.

"You should have stopped him from choosing my sister as Luna because that position was mine. How do you expect me to share a man who is mine with my sister? Would Isobel do the same for me?" My voice rose at each word, and I didn't try to fight back my anger this time.

I wanted to unleash the venom that had grown in me all these years. I needed them to feel pained by my words just like I had always endured them.

Having them as my parents was a nightmare to begin with. For twenty years, the pack had just known that I was their real daughter, and they had no atom of remorse in them.

I looked my father dead in the eyes and slowly brushed away the tears on his cheek. With my shoulder held high, I said to their hearing, "This time, I won't be the obedient child that you all want. I won't be the alpha's mistress when he solely belongs to me. If he regarded me as his mate, he had no reason to claim another woman when I should be enough."

My father scoffed. He glanced at my mother and shook his head, but his expression revealed that he was fed up with my sluggish words. "Is that so? You aren't going to be a mistress to your mate?"

I nodded firmly, "I'll continue being a servant here."

"Do you know what it means to go against the alpha's order? Staying behind will shake this family and my position as well," my father stated and then folded his arms across his chest. After staring at me for some time, he added, "Since you refuse such a beautiful offer from your mate despite your condition, then marrying you off to the prime minister as his seventh wife would be better. You want to be the wife, right? Let's do this...." Then he smirked, but didn't let me say a thing and dashed out of the room.

My mother's glare was so cold that I couldn't find myself speaking, but I only flinched at the loud sound of the door slamming behind them.

The prime minister? So my father would hand over his daughter to a man older than him, a man old enough to be my great-grandfather? A man whose first to fourth wives were dead, and rumors have it that he was behind their deaths and had nothing to do with women.

I looked down at my body and quickly began undressing. My father always stood on his word, so I presumed that before the next sunrise, the prime minister would be here to take me away.

There was not much time left for me, but one thing was sure. I wasn't being my mate's mistress, nor was I going to be a seventh wife. Since I was not regarded and my family's reputation was the most important, I had to fight for myself for the first time. One thing I wouldn't forget was the betrayal of the man I hoped for as my mate, the shame he caused me before the crowd today, when there were so many days to tell me his intentions.

He caused all these because if he didn't reject me as his luna, I wouldn't be sitting right here in this dark room. He was the first person to ever smile at me and gaze at me affectionately, and at the same time, shattered my heart and all the hope I had in him.

I would survive this, and I wouldn't please any of them any longer. I was a beta and would live my life as one, with or without a wolf.

While the words roamed in my mind, I put on the tattered trousers I had always worn at home and tied my hair into a knot.

I had just a few hours to end all these, or I would count myself as dead.

That night, I noticed the kinda preparation that was taking place in my father's house like an event was going to take place sometime later. All the servants were so busy, and when I approached the head servant to assign me a task, she smiled for the first time and said to me, "The general had ordered that you not work tonight and only get set for tomorrow's event."

Tomorrow's event? I couldn't even come to believe it immediately, that my father meant it when he said that he would marry me off to that man of a great age as a seventh wife, since I refused to be my mate's mistress.

And to sum it all up, no one from the palace had even come for me to bring me over to the palace as per my mate's order.

My chest tightened in disgust. Why didn't I see this coming? How did I think my mate would cherish me, unlike every other person? I was still useless to him, like the others think, that was why he couldn't even come for me, to persuade me into being his mistress. If I meant at least a drop of meaning to him, he would plead that I take the position.

Well, even if he pleaded, I wouldn't accept it. I had never seen myself as a mistress even before I met him, and wouldn't become one for him.

I turned around from the head servant immediately and went back to my room. The servants were all roaming from one end to another, and that could tell that I wouldn't stay past the next day's sunrise.

What would I do? I promised myself to bring an end to all these. If I stayed here any longer, I was going to be thrown into hell as a seventh wife, and no one would come to my rescue. I wouldn't love to serve a man far older than me and cruel too, until he kills me as he does to the other women.

I was restless in my room, biting my finger and trying to come up with a plan that wouldn't put me in more trouble.

By midnight, the only idea I had was to run away from the pack, but I checked all my belongings, and the only worthy thing to sell was my mating ritual dress. I didn't have a penny, and I was sure that life outside there would be hard.

If I leave, my parents would have no one to sell off again, and I would see no reason to return to this pack or be part of this family again.

I decided to go ahead with the plan at the end, so I picked up a few of my dresses that would cover my nudity, and then the finest dress, which I would sell off and get some quick cash. I would go into a faraway pack where they would find it difficult to think of me going.

Due to how busy the night was, no one ever suspected my move. I went through the back gate and left the compound, and of course, they wouldn't find me easily since I didn't have a wolf.

I was done being the neglected child of the family, being a bulletproof to those that don't regard me, taking on messes from people who wish I wasn't part of them. I felt no single pity that I was leaving, not until I sighted the palace house and Alpha Samson's face flashed through my mind.

I choked on my sob and covered my mouth, taking deep swallows and exhaling heavily to not reveal myself.

We spent no memories together as lovers, I never for once visited him or stepped my feet in that palace, because I was patiently waiting for when he would feel great to do so. He hid me under the shadows, only locking eyes with me, and sending those warm smiles that brighten my day, no matter how hectic it was.

The times he came to my father's house, he asked to see all the servants, just so he would see my face before leaving. Those glints of love and affection in his eyes always, those soft smiles at the corner of his lips that I alone saw all the time, gave me a hope that I hadn't gotten all through my life.

He never said a word to me, and I understood. There was no way to mindlink me because I didn't have a wolf. He gave me those expressions until yesterday, when I became useless to him. His betrayal was the worst. It would have been better if it were another person he chose and not my family.

Right now, my sister would be lying in his arms, happy that she had stolen my mate from me, too.

I didn't realise that I'd been sobbing until I heard the snarling of a wolf behind me. I shuddered, glancing around, only to notice that there were more than one, but not facing me. They seemed to be quarrelling in their wolf form, so I took to my heels, running as much as I could until I got out of the pack house.

I had covered my head with a veil, so no one would find out who I was so easily. I trekked until I reached an abandoned house away from the packhouse, then I sneaked in.

As expected, the house was empty and chilly. I just needed to stay there until daybreak, when I would board a taxi that would drive me out of the pack quickly. I held the dress so tightly to my body, not wanting to sleep, so I would not get caught.

That night was the worst for me ever. Every one of my thoughts was about my mate and my family's betrayal.

'They crossed the line. Since they hated me that much, leaving me to my mate was the last thing they could have done for me.' I thought, sniffed and rested my head on the wall. 'But they thought I wasn't worthy enough to be Luna, rather Isobel.'

I let out a heavy breath and shook my head. Henceforth, I have no family or mates. The moment Alpha Samsom chose my sister, our bond was partially severed. I hope to never meet any of them in the future.

I stayed awake until the sky began brightening up, then I left the building. For not being harmed in that building, even when I didn't know what was in it, I thanked the goddess and ran off. It didn't take long for me to find a taxi, and I asked him for the farthest pack after ours.

"Young lady, I am a human. But I think the lycan clan is far away from here. Are you traveling?" he asked and turned to watch me, but I nodded, wearing a fake smile. "The summit clan is very far."

I sniffed and nodded, "Then, how much would it cost? Will this dress be worth the price?" I brought out the dress I was holding, and he grabbed it from me.

After taking a good look, he shoved it back and nodded. "I would resell it when I get back to my land. But if I may ask, is there any problem that you are leaving your pack?"

I shook my head. The humans and werewolves interfere a lot. We also live in each other's land, which was why going to the human land would be my last option. "Well, I am an orphan, and things aren't working out here. I just need to change my location to see if I can make a living for myself."

He nodded and started the car. "That's a nice point. If that's the case, then I have someone in the lycan clan who could help you. She's a human too and resides in the lycan clan. So I wonder if you would accept being a bartender."

Bartender? I hadn't heard of such a thing, but I thought it would be a great privilege.

"You will get paid very well and can make a living off the salary. With my influence, she could pay you more," the man added while the car was riding at a high speed.

I stayed quiet while contemplating the job role. Maybe I shouldn't reject it until I reach the lycan clan, nor should I bring up any more discussions with him. We were strangers to each other, and it was best if I didn't lose my composure and say things to him too much.

When we drove to the pack border, he whispered to me, "They are searching for a certain female who should have been their alpha's mistress. According to them, she went missing from the pack house last night, and both her parents and the alpha king had ordered that no werewolf should leave the pack without being properly searched."

My heart dropped instantly, and I tapped him, "Please, drop me off. I have issues with the gamma at the borders, and they could punish me with this opportunity." My voice was shaky, and sweat formed on my forehead.

It hadn't been so long since daybreak, and they already noticed that I had left. There was no way I would return there after all these...I can't let them catch me.