Chapter 1

~LILY'S POV~ Smash! The glass box slipped from my hand and crashed onto the floor with a sharp sound. I stepped into Tyler's room with my heart racing like a wild stallion. And there, right in front of me, my worst nightmare came true. The Alpha's son, Tyler—the guy who had been my crush for as long as I could remember, the one who had held my hand and promised me an eternity as his only—was holding Audrey in a romantic embrace, making out with her on his sofa. It felt like the whole world had frozen. The promises, the dreams we had shared together, all shattered like fragile glass. Tears blurred my vision as I turned away. The pain was too intense to bear. "Lily!" Tyler's voice sounded desperate as he called my name, but I couldn't stand to listen. I couldn't face him. Feeling so hurt and angry, I just ran. How could he betray me like this? After everything he said, everything he promised me…the tears refused to flow but I could barely see as I was running. I bumped into Jaxon at the entrance. His eyes looked worried and confused as he searched mine, wanting me to explain. My voice failed me as I was totally lost in my feelings. Jaxon held onto my shoulders firmly but gently, wanting me to tell him what had made me look so shattered the way I was. "Lily, what happened? What's the problem? Why are you-" I didn't even hear what he was saying. I wanted to say everything, to yell about the betrayal that was tearing me apart, but the words stayed stuck in my throat. I hurried to the car, and the driver's eyes widened when he saw me on the brink of tears. I didn't say anything, just told him to take me home, to the grove. The car started loudly, drowning my feelings. Tears finally ran down my cheeks as he drove, and the road ahead looked blurry. I kept seeing Tyler's face next to Audrey's in my mind. The way he held her waist and their lips entwined in each other's… "Fuck!" I cussed and removed the bracelet he gave me for my 17th birthday last year from my wrist. I stared at it for a while, wanting badly to wake up and realize this was all a dream. But I wiped my tears and felt the reality bitterly sink in. I threw it at the glass window and brought my palms to my face. In no time, my hands were soaked with tears. I couldn't hold it in any longer. "Ma'am, I thought you wanted to stay till evening for the young master's party?" The driver asked innocently but I belted out my frustration on him. "Just shut up and drive, okay?!" I yelled at him and he nodded, focusing back on the road. I just couldn't…believe it. The things he promised and the secrets we shared seemed to fall apart just like that. Tyler betrayed me. He betrayed me. I shook my head and kept in that position till we got home. _____ When I got to the grove, a fresh wave of sadness hit me again. My wound was still new but upon getting home, it seemed like it was reopened. The other members of the grove looked at me with pity and understanding as I walked to the mansion. It seemed like they already knew I was heartbroken, like they could feel how much I hurt. Was this going on for a long time, even before I found out? Had this been happening behind my back? So everyone knew and noone told me about it? Wow. I felt even more stupid and foolish with each step I took. I couldn't even face my parents or anybody for that matter at that moment. The hurt and confusion inside me were too much to handle. The weight of it all made it hard to breathe. All I wanted was to escape, to be far away from everything that reminded me of Tyler's betrayal. I just needed to be away, away from everything. I went to the garden for comfort. Being alone in that garden felt like the only way to find some peace, even if it was just for a little while. The trees provided a shelter, and the rustling leaves seemed to understand my pain. Nature was my refuge. I could sort through my thoughts and figure out how to heal from the pain Tyler had caused. The aroma of flowers around me made me feel better, even though my heart still hurt. Watching the flowers dance in the basking sunlight made me realise life would still go on despite this utterly devastating thing that just happened to me, but still, it hurt. Audrey. That sneaky bitch. I always knew she wanted to have Tyler. She had tried everything to entice him and have him for herself, but I paid no attention to her because I trusted in Tyler's faithfulness. Guess I was more than stupid and unobservant. I let her slip under Tyler's arms right under my nose. I palmed my forehead. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! But Tyler wasn't less to blame. How could he? I gave him everything. Everything I had, everything I had to offer; my time, my attention, my love, my care…for god sake I just turned 18, and I already knew by the goddess that I would marry him. I had crushed on him for the longest time, but we recently just started dating. Still, I knew I would love no other and he would never betray him. This was life spitting at my face. All of a sudden, a strange voice seemed to come from the wind and called my name. "Lily…" I felt my heart beating fast, and I looked to where the voice came from. It was eerie but oddly familiar. I knew that voice. Even though the pain of Tyler's betrayal was still raw, I felt curious. I followed the mysterious voice carefully down the garden trail, not sure what I would find. "Who…is it?" I then stopped and went to sit back down. I was just hearing things. "Lily…help." but it called my name again. And it called for help. My ears and hairs stood. FORBIDDEN MATE