CHAPTER THREE

ODESSA

"This is amazing!" I said to myself as I stared at my reflection in front of the mirror.

Three days had passed after Cala and Ama caught me sneaking into her room.

"I know exactly what you are up to, Odessa!" Cala had accused.

"Wait until we tell the alpha how much of a liar and deceiver you are!"

"And guess how much we are going to spice up the story."

How could I forget those words? I had lived in fear my whole life, but when my sisters threatened to tell alpha Arlo that I lied about being a Sage. I felt real fear. I trembled!

I had gone on my knees to plead with them, but they walked away from me. I didn't get the punishment I expected from them, but of course, I knew what awaited me.

"So what if you are not a real Sage?" The alpha had asked me the next day when I was panicking.

My eyes were wide open.

"Come to the party on Saturday night," he said as he handed me the card. "Everyone needs to know who you are."

He smiled at me and walked away.

We met in school and had sex again in a private room, which only the alpha and his friends were allowed to access.

He was so calm and nice. He didn't care about what Cala and Ama had said to him. I was so lucky to have met someone like him.

My phone vibrated, bringing me back to reality. I turned to look at the phone. It lay on the dressing mirror in front of me.

"Are you ready yet?" I read Arlo's text aloud.

I could hear his voice in my head.

I intentionally wanted to be late. This was the meeting that would change my life entirely!

I wanted to walk in and watch everyone admire me!

I had one last look at the mirror. I looked extraordinary. The dress Mr. Orion gave me suit me perfectly. It displayed my curves flawlessly.

I inhaled satisfactorily before walking away from the house. I could hear Mr Orion barking my name in the background.

My sisters had left for the same party earlier. Why didn't he ask them to do what he wanted me to do?

I hissed.

Everything would change after today, so I wasn't scared of him anymore.

I took a cab to the Alpha’s house. Of course, that was where the party was happening. I felt like a queen. The alpha had promised to protect me.

I could already hear the loud music from outside the house. As I stepped into the house, I was immediately immersed in a whirlwind of vibrant energy.

The infectious rhythm of music seemed to reverberate through every cell of my body. The room was a mosaic of colours and flashing lights, casting a mesmerizing glow.

The air was alive with laughter, chatter, and hums, mixed with the music from the speaker and the sounds of their feet clashing with the marbled floor.

The party room was already as full as expected. Some were dancing, some were chatting, while others sat across tables, sipping from their glasses.

"Where is Arlo?" I asked myself as I searched the room for any sign of him.

Oh! My heart melted when I saw my man. He was shirtless. I was jealous because he displayed his huge, fine chest for these ladies to see. But then, they would soon find out that it belonged to me.

"Arlo," I called as I happily rushed toward him.

He let out a dark smile when he saw me. He hugged me tightly before pulling away. Arlo held my hand and led me to the stage.

Once we were settled on the stage, the music toned down to a soothing background noise.

A huge teenager of our age walked up to us and handed a mic to Arlo.

The cross began to stir, their voices rising in a gentle murmur. The murmuring died down immediately after Alpha Arlo began to speak.

"I called us all here to witness this day, where I would introduce my chosen mate!" He began.

His eyes searched through the crowd as he spoke. Although he turned to me sometimes. My hands were still locked in his, and he gave me a gentle squeeze, which helped me stay relaxed.

All eyes were on me. I was almost panicking.

"But before I introduce my mate, I am going to reject this cheap whore!"

He pushed me away immediately and faced me with a disgusted look.

I frowned. An unexpected scoff followed.

"You're kidding, right?" I asked, and let out a nervous laugh. "Right?"

"I, Alpha Arlo Maelor, the greatest Alpha among all four regions from the East down to the North, reject you, Odessa, whatever your surname is for being an impostor, a liar, a whore and a manipulator!"

My heart sank.

This was the last thing I expected. I looked around. The background stirred with giggles from the kids who had attended the party.

"No, Arlo, that's not me," I begged.

I tried to touch him, but he pushed my hands away.

"Take this thing out of this place!" Alpha Arlo ordered.

His guards walked towards the stage and dragged me like a criminal.

"Calantha Sage, my real mate. Can you walk up the stage?"

My heart sank even deeper. I was too broken to cry. I felt real pain for the first time, and my tears refused to fall. As I turned around to have one last look at them.

I saw Cala now standing before the alpha with her hands in his. They were both smiling.

I was dragged out of the house like I meant nothing. I was shattered. I could feel my heart throbbing.

"No, I can't let it end this way. He took my virginity!" I cried as I fell to the floor. "Me, Orion!"

I suddenly remembered that I had walked away even after I had heard him call me. There was no way I would return to that house.

I rushed back into the room. Arlo and Cala were dancing, their hands running around each other's bodies. Cala clung to him, leaving no space between them.

My heart bled.

"Arlo, please," I begged him. "Even if you won't accept me as your mate. Take me in as a slave in your mansion."

"So you can seduce him again?" Cala scoffed.

Arlo called the guards to drag me out.

"If she comes in here once again, I will deal with you!"

They dragged me like a piece of trash and dumped me in a dumping place outside the house. Hot tears finally streamed down my cheeks.

"I can't take this anymore!"

I got up from the refuge dump and quickly took a cab home. Luckily, there was no one in the sitting room when I got in. I sneaked into my room and locked the door.

I climbed into my bath, turned on the water, and slashed my wrist with a sharp blade.

I shut my eyes tightly and held my breath as I felt the water covering my nose. I was suffocating, and it was painful, but I stayed still.

"Finally!" I cried out as I breathed my last.