Chapter Three

Carden’s P.O.V

“Fucking hell.” I cursed under my breath.

I watched as Aria’s figure slowly disappeared past the gates. My chest continued to rise and fall as the irritation I was feeling increased. I wanted to break something. My hands slightly trembled by my side.

The members of the pack still had their gazes fixed on the gates that she had walked past. I watched as they continued to whisper, murmur and point at the path she’d taken out of the pack. Despite not being here, they were still talking about her.

I turned to the pack, a stern expression on my face. “Alright. The night has very well ended. I think it best if everyone went to their respective homes.”

Soon enough, they all began to disperse though the murmurs still persisted well until they left. I remained standing in my spot, unable to move just yet. As much as I tried to resist, my gaze would always find its way to the gate. Aria.

I didn’t think she had it in her to just leave like that. The day we met was still etched in my memory. I’d stumbled upon her in that council, a crippled woman who still fought to participate in the council meeting.

As soon as our eyes met, I couldn’t deny that I had felt it right then. Even when I tried to deny it, my inner wolf wouldn’t stop howling in my head that we’d found her. She was my mate. A damn cripple.

A laugh left my lips as I looked up at the sky. This must have been some cruel joke by the moon goddess. She was probably up there, laughing at all that was going on. My hands tightened into fists by my side.

I can’t love a cripple. Not only would it be a dent to my reputation but it also automatically reduced my standing among my fellow Alphas. It wasn’t my fault. Aria could hate me if she wanted. I would gladly be the villain in her story.

“Why are you still standing there?” I turned to see my mother walking up to me.

She had a small smile on her face as she stopped in front of me. I wondered what was going through her head at this moment. She’d watched the whole spectacle play out from the front row after all.

“Nothing mother.” I replied.

She didn’t look one bit convinced by my words. “You’re not thinking about her, are you?”

When I didn’t say anything in reply, she slowly came up to my side and wrapped her arm around my midsection. She put her head on my shoulder and slowly patted my back. She would always do this whenever she wanted to comfort me.

“You did the right thing. I don’t want you thinking otherwise. There was no way you could be with a cripple for a mate. You should know that.”

“I know that. That’s why I cut things off before it was too late.” I let out a breath.

“Which I’m glad you did.” She sent me a smile.

She pulled away from me as she spoke again. “Now that this is over with, we can find you a much better and suitable mate.”

I eyed her suspiciously. My mother was never one to waste anytime whatsoever. She had probably being thinking of someone long before I ended things with Aria.

“Do you have someone in mind?”

“You’ll see.” She had a small smile on her face.

I didn’t like that she wasn’t telling me everything I wanted to know but I decided not to push it. I looked up at the dark night sky. It was probably already past midnight. The stars looked so beautiful. I could stand out here all night and it wouldn’t even bother me.

My mother began to speak again. “When your father died, a lot of those greedy elders were ready to snatch up what rightfully belonged to you.”

My expression hardened as she talked about my father. It wasn’t exactly a topic I was fond of hearing. He’d died when I was just twelve, leaving me with a huge responsibility to shoulder at such a young age.

I was left with no option but to step up. For my mother and for my sister. I didn’t have any regrets about it. It had toughened me up and brought me to the point I was at now.

“I’m glad for the man you’ve become today. You have no idea how proud of you I am, son.” She had a wide smile on her face.

I tried to smile back in return. There was this uncomfortable feeling brewing in my chest and I couldn’t even pinpoint why. I looked back at the gate ever so subtle.

I wasn’t subtle enough as it seemed my mother had noticed. She had a sneer on her face as she turned to the gate. After a while, she eventually turned back to me.

“Good riddance. Wouldn’t you say?” She had a wide smile on her face. Her grip on my arm was getting tighter. Her nails seemed to be digging into them.

“Mother.”

She hummed in reply, an innocent look on her face. I removed my arm from her grip and turned to head back inside.

“I’m off to bed. Tomorrow’s going to be a long day.” I said to her.

“Alright. Have a wonderful night, son.” She replied, the smile never leaving her face.

I simply nodded my head and began walking to my room. My head swarmed with different thoughts. Good riddance, huh? I’d like to think of it as that.

When I opened the door to the room, I felt my chest tighten. The room was clean of some of her things. I frowned at all her belongings she’d left behind. I’d get them all burned the next day.

With a sigh, I made my way to the bed and let myself collapse on it. This was the best option I could make and I had zero regrets about it. The image of her shocked expression when I rejected her kept replaying in my head.

Sometime in the night, my eyes became heavy and I eventually succumbed to a dreamless sleep.