Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose.

Jarek.

It was one thing to be utterly, absolutely and blindly in love with one woman, and another to be completely destroyed by another.

When I heard the news of Keisha’s recovery, I didn’t know how I felt. I wasn’t even sure if I was supposed to feel anything.

I instantly went numb, and a chilly sensation coursed up my spine as I listened to Orion fill me in on everything, and when he was done, I hung up without saying a word.

I had even totally forgotten about Leilani’s presence behind me until I felt slender arms wrapping around my arm, but I didn’t instantly realize it was her. I withdrew my arm so fast, one would think that her touch burned, and by the time I finally realized what I had done, it was already too late.

Leilani was staring at me through tears in her eyes. Her eyes were wide with horror, and her face ashen as her lips trembled.

"Jay?"

No. No no no.

"Leilani... wait, I can explain."

My heart sank when she shook her head at me, her red rimmed eyes gleaming as she whispered; "I think you have a duty now that requires your attention." Her voice was soft— too softly, it grated on my conscience. "Your mate just woke up, you should go to her."

"Leilani please no. I don’t want to go to her. I’d just been very startled. I didn’t know you were right behind me..."

"I understand." She cut in abruptly, and then smiling at me one more time—a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, she drawled; "I’ll leave first. I’m still hungry." And with that, she walked away, leaving me aching all over and feeling like an abject fool.

It hurt to see her leave like this, and what was worse was when I discovered that she’d left the red scarf behind.

But it was too late. By the time I realized this and rushed to the parking lot, she’d long driven off, leaving nothing but her sweet addictive scent in her wake.

My heart ached tremendously as I got into my car, but because I had no idea where Leilani was headed— because she wouldn’t even pick my calls— I headed for the hospital instead.

The bright fluorescent lights shone overhead as I walked past, but that was the least of my worries as I strode through the halls, heading for the ward I dreaded the most.

Deep down, I wished that this was a dream, a nightmare, and that when I would arrive at Keisha’s ward, I would find her still unconscious, still in a coma...

"Jarek?" A familiar voice called out to me and I froze when I was met with a set of hazel eyes I once loved but now abhorred. "Baby, you came?"

My eyebrows twitched in discomfort, even my throat felt like there was a bile now settled at its base. My eyes latched on Keisha’s face— pale but smooth, and a feeling akin to annoyance instantly rose at the bottom of my stomach.

As soon as she saw me, a bright smile lit up her face. But I did not return it. "You’re awake." I simply said, not bothering to step any further into the room even though she had her arms outstretched towards me. "That’s good."

She glanced at her still outstretched hands, but seeing as I won’t take it, she dropped them, her face downcast. "My mother told me that you were already contemplating pulling the plug on me. Thank the goddess that I woke up." She mumbled with a smile.

I frowned at her, feeling quite unsure that I shared in her sentiment. However, what struck out to me the most was the fact that she didn’t look annoyed or hurt by that information. Hell, she even sounded too strong for someone just waking up from an eight-month long coma.

My eyes narrowed suspiciously as I watched her plop some cut kiwi into her mouth, and then she smiled. "Don’t worry, I’m not mad. I may have been a little bit disappointed but that’s all."

"Mhm."

Maybe she noticed my stiffness or not, but it didn’t stop her from chatting away. Her bright smile lit up the room as she drawled; "So tell me, how are you? How have you been holding up? You look quite different... quieter."

"And you talk too much for someone who should be recovering." I pointed out, noticing the way her face flushed before she dropped her head and picked up another fruit.

"I just missed you." She mumbled after a moment of silence.

And I should’ve felt better after hearing that, right?

I should be glad that my mate missed me, right?

Unfortunately, I was not. Because Keisha and I were long done before this whole accident happened. The flutter I usually felt in my chest didn’t happen, and my wolf, Fenris, who would’ve been extremely pleased with her presence was unusually quiet.

Though through our link, I could feel his rage directed at her and at me for bringing him here. I could sense the way he vibrated with anger and frustration. Unwilling to have anything to do with her, he retreated into the deepest corner of my mind and cut himself off.

I shook my head. "You’re confused. You don’t miss me. You shouldn’t miss me. Right now, if there’s anyone you should be saying those words to, it’s Gerald, and your daughter, Hazel or Hannah, or whatever she’s called."

"Her name is Grace." She said softly, her eyes never leaving my face.

Her words, so softly said, felt like a blow to my chest. My breath left my lungs in one swift second and all the pain and anger I once felt tripled as I glared at her.

She dared name her daughter after my sister?

My sister who she had hurt and in a way caused her death?

I gulped, blinked back tears and turned to her. "Well, since you seem so great, you should know that I have always wanted to reject you. That the only reason I waited for you to recover is to finish the process... and it’s one of the reasons I am here now."

Keisha’s eyes filled with tears which she instantly wiped off. She shook her head softly, her lips trembling as she spat; "I’d rather die than reject you, Jarek."

"And I’d rather die than be with you." I replied without a moment’s hesitation, causing her eyes to widen as the smile on her face deflated.

"You don’t mean that, do you?"

"I do." I drawled, "I mean it with every fibre of my being. Moreover, I’m in love with someone else. Someone else who has that one thing you never did: a conscience."

At the mention of that, Leilani’s face flashed through my mind, and surprisingly, my wolf stirred.

I ignored the frown on Keisha’s face. Ignored the way tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. There was a time when I would’ve been affected by that; But not anymore.

So I muttered; "I, Jarek Frostclaw, hereby reject you, Keisha Lockwood as my mate. And henceforth, wish to have nothing to do with you in the future."

She didn’t respond, she began to gasp uncontrollably, clutching her chest as her face went ghostly pale. Suddenly, the machines beside her began beeping loudly, so loudly that a few nurses rushed into the room.

They glanced between us in confusion, their eyebrows furrowing when Keisha pointed to me with tears leaking out of her eyes. She cried; "He wants to leave me! He no longer loves me!"

A nurse with the name tag: Beatrice, instantly turned to me. She bowed and said; "Alpha, please you’ll need to leave. I don’t think your presence here will be of any good to her. I’ll inform you of her progress, but for now, it’s best you leave."

I froze.

No, she cannot do this.

I snarled. "I want to talk to her!"

"But she’s dying, Alpha." Beatrice argued. "She may die if you remain here. It’s quite obvious that your presence here stresses her emotionally, and she doesn’t need that right now if she must recover."

But I didn’t care one bit about that.

My eyes snagged on her face one more time, and goddess, she looked so white, you’d think she was a ghost.

But despite this, I couldn’t help it. I didn’t trust her. And it didn’t help that she was staring at me with an almost imperceptible smile on her face.

I stormed out of the room.