The War Goddess with Her Triplet Mates

Chapter 3 Heartbreaking News

Soraya’s POV

My eyes fluttered open hours later to an eerie silence that sent chills down my spine. Where was I?

Flashbacks of what happened earlier between Ryder and me flooded my brain and I bit back a sob at the recollection.

I sniffled, when I faintly remembered his words, and how he’d blatantly rejected me brutally before I pa*s ed out. My heart broke.

Looking around the dim surrounding, I tried on de more to make sense of my surroundings but nothing. Instantly I became confused. I had expected to feel the damp straw bed, the endless dripping of water being the lullaby that always put me to sleep and awakened me. I couldn't sense the dreary atmosphere of the dungeon and the existence of misery, was non-existent as well.

I frantically looked around, trying to figure out where I was. The dungeon was too cold to give off this warm aura, spiking a sense of security within me.

Where was I? From the look of things, it appeared I had slept on the floor. Spotting a cream woolen wide rug spread in the middle of the room, I found a bed sitting on a high bedstead. I crawled out of the corner I had pushed myself into, finding a nightstand close to the bed and on it sat a little framed picture of a smiling Luna Vivienne and a little goofy Ryder, wearing his favorite red t-shirt.

I figured after I had pa*s ed out from his chokehold, he must have carried me to his bedroom… but why? Did he bring me here to fully sever our mate bond when I had woken up? It sounded logical, like something he could do and it broke my heart even more.

I took a deep inhale, feeling my wolf pace circles in my head, about howl happily, excited to be surrounded by her mate's belongings. His scent brought tingles to my body, filling me with nostalgia.

It was neatly arranged and I figured he hadn't added anything since Vivienne died, it was exactly how I recalled his room to be, the last thing I visited it. A single candle seated on the nightstand provided a dull glow to the room. He had placed it close to his mother's picture. I figured he was paying homage to her with a scented candle.

I hugged my knees to my chest remembering how this very room had been the site for all our childhood games, tantrums and squabbles. He used to be the sweetest person to exist in my life, always bringing up crazy ideas that always got us into trouble. I smiled to myself when I recalled the last night I visited him, we had been arguing about when to sneak into the kitchen and steal snacks.

My smile faded when his angry eyes flashed through my mind. Now he despised my guts and no matter how many times he had said it to me, it was still always a punch to the gut because it always reminded me how I had lost my best-friend now turned mate.

"That's not true. You haven't lost him yet." Paige said to me, tilting her big head at me.

"You heard him reject me, Paige. He can't even stand my guts. What was I expecting? That he'd accept me?" Tears rolled down my cheeks.

"But the bond didn't break because you were unconscious." Paige pointed out to me, "and he saved you, see?"

I scoffed, "Yes, but he brought me here. It makes sense now, he probably wants to officially sever the bond between us."

Paige hummed lightly before her eyes brightened, "then we'd talk to him before he does that."

I blinked at her, the tears suddenly ceasing, "he hates my guts, Paige. Don't you understand? His mother died because of me so what exactly am I going to discuss with him?"

"If you guys were once as close as your memories portrayed, then talking to him wouldn't hurt. Have you ever tried to get him aside and honestly explain to him what happened that night or have you been accepting every accusation they threw at you because of guilt?" She asked, tilting a thick brow at me.

I remained silent because she was right.

I blamed my weakness for being responsible for Luna Vivienne's death. If I had been stronger then perhaps things would have been different and she wouldn't have died.

Paige sighed, continuing, "Soraya, your father betrayed them. Not you and if you keep accepting the title of traitor then things will never get better. You need to talk to your mate and make him see the truth. I'm not saying there's a hundred percent chance it would work, but at least, there's a fifty percent chance of success."

Her words rang in my head, making the creeping darkness fade away. She was right. I couldn't give up on Ryder without trying. It was the least I could do.

"You're right. Thank you so much." I whispered to her.

Paige howled at me, wagging her big gray tail, "it's okay, now let's go find our mate."

Giggling excitedly, I picked myself up from the floor, ignoring my dirty gown and wiped my tears away. I needed to talk to Ryder. I needed to clear up our misunderstanding and get him to give me a chance. I wanted to tell him that I could transform now, I wanted to tell how I really felt about everything. I needed him to hear me out.

I glanced around, perceiving his scent. I heard a mild sound come from a door beside the wardrobe. I could feel his presence and it piqued my curiosity.

Gradually, I walked towards the door with knitted brows, wondering what was going on.

The door creaked open, and when I peeked inside I saw a table, two chairs, and a blank canvas that sat by a corner. But that wasn’t what had my full attention. It was the voices, I heard.

Two men. Talking. In hushed tones. I recognized the voices instantly. It was Ryder—that’s why I’d perceived his scent still, and his father.

I stilled, the second I heard my name fall out of the old man’s lips.

“Why did you reject Soraya? You know how much I and your late mother wanted the both of you to be mated? That’s why she always pitched Soraya to you, urging the young girl to be patient with her mating process.”

“But I don’t get it, father. Why the F*ck do y’all like her so much? Because why the F*ck would mother chose to save the pathetic thing instead of herself? I just don’t get it!”

There was a long pause, and for a split second I thought he wouldn’t answer, but he spoke up. This time revealing the ma*s ive secret that would forever damage my heart, and break me even more.

He put his both hands on his son’s shoulders, calming him down.

“You see my son, we don’t actually like Soraya. We hated her.”

My eyes widened suddenly, as I covered my mouth by hands, avoiding of shouting out in shock.

“She’s not our blood, so why would we show her any affection. But then your mother discovered something.” The tone of his voice lowered as he finished. “She has a very bright future, and her powers are immeasurable. Unlike any ever seen in the werewolf kingdom. By your side she would be a very valuable a*s et. When your mother learnt this, she informed me and that night we pitched together a brilliant plan to keep her and—”

The rest of his words pa*s by in a blur as I staggered on my feet. I couldn’t bear to listen more harsh words from him.

a*s et? a*s et! The Alpha I was most grateful take me just a tool. Even the one person I’d looked up too, wanted to use me for her pack’s selfish gain and nothing more. Her love was fake. The mother-like’s love was just an illusion. Everything she’d done for me, everything she said to me…they were lies!!!

All these years I’d been living a lie. Oh, but this was worse than an heartbreak. Even worse than Ryder’s rejection.

My entire body shook and shuddered, unable to hold back my frail emotions any longer. The tears poured endlessly and sobs wracked my body. But I couldn’t let my cries leave my mouth, as they might notice me outside.