Elena's POV:
I could see the realization dawning in Derick's eyes, a painful acknowledgment that I was not his mate. It was as if the air had been sucked from the space between us, leaving a suffocating silence. "No, this is not happening, Elena. You are my mate," he said, his voice trembling, more to himself than to me, as if denying reality would somehow make it untrue.
"No, apparently we are not fated mates," I replied, my heart aching as I felt the walls I had built around my emotions begin to crack. I wanted nothing more than to turn around, retreat to my room, and cry my heart out until there were no tears left to shed. But before I could move, Derick grasped my hands tightly, forcing me to face him.
"Elena, we can't leave it like this! We can still make this work. We can be chosen mates. Think about the pack and your father. They all want me as their alpha," he said, desperation lacing his tone, almost pleading.
What the actual fuck? The realization hit me harder than any blow could have. He wasn't upset because he loved me or because we shared a bond. No, his concern was that he wouldn't become the alpha he so desperately wanted to be. I couldn't believe it. All this time, I had thought he cared for me, and now I saw the truth: he was using me as a stepping stone to achieve his ambitions.
Disappointment surged through me like a tidal wave, and I snatched my hands away from his grip, bitterness rising in my throat. "I can't believe you just said that! Do you take me for a stepping stone to the alpha position?" My words came out harsher than I intended, but the hurt was too raw, too fresh.
Derick's eyes widened, shock registering on his face as the weight of my accusation settled in. "Elena, hey babe, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I just… I didn't want to lose you. That's what came to my mind!" he pleaded, a nervous laugh escaping his lips, but it sounded empty.
Oh, really? I thought sarcastically, my heart hardening at his attempt to brush off his words. "I love you" would have been the first thing I expected to come from his mouth, not that the pack wanted him as their alpha. My heart sank further as I realized the depth of his desperation. He didn't want to lose me—not because he loved me, but because losing me meant losing his chance at power.
"Come on, Elena, it's not a must that the pack finds out. We can just act as if we are fated mates since we already love each other," he argued, trying to reason with me as if it were all just a game we could play.
"And what will happen if I meet my actual mate?" I challenged, crossing my arms defensively, my heart racing with a mix of fear and anger.
"You'll reject him like I did mine," he replied quickly, his words spilling out before he realized their implications. I watched as he stumbled over his own thoughts, the panic rising in his eyes as he realized the depth of his mistake.
I felt my heart drop as the truth of his admission sank in. He had rejected his mate? How could he have lied to me, telling me I was his mate all along when he had cast aside the one he was destined for? I stared at him in disbelief, searching for any sign of remorse or understanding in his expression, but all I found was a desperation that made my stomach turn.
"Derick, you rejected your mate? How could you do that?" The hurt in my voice was undeniable, a reflection of the betrayal I felt. I had always believed that mates were sacred, a bond not to be trifled with. Yet here was the boy I had loved, the boy I had entrusted with my heart, revealing the depths of his selfishness.
He opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. Instead, he looked at me as if he were just now processing the weight of what he had said. The realization that he had irrevocably crossed a line hung heavy in the air, thickening the tension between us.
"I didn't want you to be alone," he finally admitted, his voice barely above a whisper, as if saying the words out loud would make them real. "I thought if I could convince you to stay, we could figure it out together. I thought—"
"You thought what?" I interrupted, the anger flaring within me. "That we could pretend to be something we're not? You'd rather lie to me than face the truth?"
He shook his head, frustration etched across his features. "I just… I didn't want to lose you. I didn't think you would want me if you knew I found my mate. I thought I could make this work, make us work."
"But at what cost?" I retorted, the tears I had fought to hold back now spilling down my cheeks. "You're asking me to ignore what fate has decided, to turn my back on my true mate if he ever comes along, all for what? Because it's convenient for you?"
"Please, Elena," he pleaded, his voice cracking under the weight of emotion. "I don't want to lose you. You're all I've ever wanted. I thought we could make it work as chosen mates. I thought—"
"Stop saying that!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the trees surrounding us. "You don't love me for who I am! You love what I represent—an easy path to power and acceptance! How can I trust anything you say after this?"
I could see the despair in his eyes, the realization that his ambitions had clouded his judgment, that he had lost sight of what truly mattered. It broke my heart to witness his struggle, but I could not overlook his betrayal.
"We can't go back to how things were," I said, my voice softer now, tinged with resignation. "I need time to think. I need to figure out who I am without you. I can't be the girl you want me to be if I'm not even sure of myself."
I turned to leave, each step feeling heavier than the last. Behind me, I could feel his gaze, a mix of regret and longing. My heart ached for him, for the love we had shared, but I knew I had to put myself first for once.
As I walked away, Zena stirred in my mind, a comforting presence amidst the storm of emotions. We'll find our mate, Elena. Trust your instincts. It's the only way to truly be happy.
I took a deep breath, allowing Zena's reassurance to wash over me. The path ahead was uncertain, but I knew one thing for sure: I would no longer be anyone's stepping stone.