REJECTION: Fated To My Ex-Mate’s Brother

Chapter 002 ~ Tough girls don’t cry

~SAPPHIRE~

“You know it’s perfectly fine to cry and throw tantrums, right?” Leon muttered, taking a sip from his drink, his gaze fixed on me. I had come straight to his bar after leaving Gavin’s place. I needed somewhere to cool off anyway.

I scoffed, staring at the glass of red wine in my hand. “Tough girls don’t cry,” I spoke up, my voice barely above a whisper, clearly betraying what I just said.

Leon sighed and took the glass of wine from me. “I know you, Sapph. You talk tough when you are literally breaking to pieces inside,” he said, his voice calm and collected. “I’m sorry that Gavin hurt you this way. I know how much you loved him and believe me, I can relate to your hurt. And Camille…” he sighed, shaking his head in disappointment. “I’m so sorry she betrayed you like this. It’s better you cry and let it all out.”

“Cry?” I snorted, taking the wine back. “Let it all out?” I snorted again. “That àsshole isn’t worth a drop of my tears, Leon, and neither is Camille.” my voice was laced with hatred and contempt.

Who would have thought that one day, I would sit here, rejected, broken and calling the person I once considered the love of my life an “asshole”.

Leon nodded in understanding and I like that he didn’t probe me further. Leon might be a guy but he was someone who truly understood me. I can proudly call him my partner in crime. Whenever I was feeling angry or down, I usually come here to his bar—the best in the pack—to cool off, and he was always available to either listen to my rants or help me get revenge.

Leon gulped down his drink and slammed the glass on the table, shattering it to pieces. I looked up at him, my brows raised in confusion.

“You aren’t going to sit and let this go, right?” he asked, his voice laced with menace and annoyance. “You are going to make them pay for hurting you, right?” he demanded.

I have no idea why he was suddenly being vicious with murderous intent in his gaze, but I love it. I sneered, that’s when I realized that a tear had rolled down my cheeks, clearing the confusion I had about his sudden change in reaction.

As much as Leon wanted me to pour out my aggression and anger, deep down, I knew he hated to see me cry. And I’ve practically trained myself to be strong all these years. After losing my parents, I suffered ridicule from the pack members who believed they died of a curse. I bore the pain but when my only surviving Aunt was hospitalized with no cure for her cancer and the fact that I’d be saying goodbye to her soon, I knew it was over and no one was coming to save me.

Except Gavin whom I loved, so I trained myself to be strong both in heart and might so I could be worthy to stand beside him as his Luna, but he betrayed me and chose Camille over me.

I clenched my fists, my head reeling with different ways to exact revenge on them.

I stared at the glass of red wine and smirked. “The only thing I see is red, Leon, but killing isn’t the best revenge. It’s too lenient,” I sighed and stood to my feet, taking slow strides around the table and Leon, my expression thoughtful.

“If I want to really make Gavin and Camille pay, I have to crush their dreams,” I muttered and turned to face Leon. “Guess what I have in mind.”

Leon smiled, standing to his feet as well. “The day the next in line to the throne would be chosen.”

I snapped my fingers. “Bingo!”

“But Gavin already has the Alpha in the palm of his hands because of you. How are you going to handle that if you want to get revenge?” Leon asked, running his hands through his dark brown hair.

I folded my arms, a mischievous smirk spreading across my face as the perfect plan swirled in my head, making me all excited and ready for execution. “Gavin is nothing without me, Leon,” I said, staring at my manicured nails, disgust lining my features at the sight.

I sighed and turned to look at Leon again. “I gave him the Alpha’s heart and I can definitely take it back as well,” I walked to the table, grabbed the drink and downed it in one go. “I’m gonna need your help carrying that out, but first, there’s a big fish I need to catch.”

“Who?”

“Kaiden.”

Leon gasped, fear crossing his features as he stared at me with mouth agape. “Kaiden? Are you crazy?” he whisper-yelled, his eyes darting around the bar to see if someone had heard us.

I shrugged. “Why are you panicking?” I asked. “It’s just Kaiden.”

Leon snorted, his face contorting into a stern frown. “It’s just Kaiden? Are you being serious right now?” he massaged his forehead, letting out a deep breath. “Sapphire, Kaiden isn’t someone you should concern yourself with, okay? He is dangerous and is on a whole different level. Besides, he hates whoever has anything to do with Gavin.”

“Exactly,” I snapped my fingers, smirking. “That’s exactly why I want to see him. He is my Plan B,” I sneered. “All I have to do is strike a deal that can benefit both of us. That way, I wouldn’t lose, and he can get what he wants as well.”

Leon pulled his hair, feeling like I was driving him into the edge of craziness. “How would you know what he wants? And even if you do, how sure are you that you’d be able to talk the demon of Wolf Borne Pack into working with you?”

Leon had a point, but I was determined to make Gavin pay for what he’s done. I wasn’t going to sit back and watch him become the Alpha so I’d have to bow to him and lose on both ends.

Never!

Kaiden might be Gavin’s senior brother and a “demon” as the pack people call him due to how ruthless, tough and merciless he was, I knew what made him tick.

“Leon,” I called, my voice tinged with confidence. “Don’t worry about me convincing Kaiden,” I patted him on the shoulder. “Worry about whether everyone would be able to handle the chaos I’m about to unleash.”

Without waiting for him to say anything else, I brushed past him and walked out of the bar. Immediately I was out, my tough mask slipped, and I stood there, fists clenched as I fought back the tears that wanted to spill from my eyes.

Yes, I was tough, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t break when someone I loved and sacrificed my youth for, throws me and everything we’ve shared away like it means nothing.

I looked up at the sky and drew a long breath.

When I had calmed down, I headed for the pack hospital, where my Aunt Hannah was. I needed to see her.

As I entered the hospital room, my eyes fell upon my aunt’s frail figure lying in the bed. Her once vibrant skin now looked pale and gaunt, her hair thinning from the countless rounds of chemotherapy. My heart ached at the sight of her, and I felt a lump form in my throat.

I took a deep breath and took a seat, my gaze fixed on her sleeping figure. Tears rolled down my cheeks and I couldn’t help wondering if I was crying over the betrayal or my aunt’s condition.

When I had cried to my satisfaction, I gave Aunt Hannah a peck on her forehead since she was still asleep and rushed home.

As I got home, I headed for my room immediately. I opened my wardrobe and brought out black pants, a tank top and a black leather jacket. I wore them and finished with black boots.

On my way here, I had already formulated a plan in my head. It mustn’t fail.

I packed my hair into a ponytail and took my phone, calling Leon immediately. He answered after the first ring.

“Sapphire,” he called.

“Leon,” I smirked. “Let’s go fishing.”