Fated To Not Just One, But Three - Chapter 505

Chapter 505: Betrayed
Nora’s POV

I furrowed my brow, confusion twisting in my chest as I watched the woman take bold, hurried steps toward us. Her heels clicked sharply against the marble floor, echoing through the stunned silence of the hall. Before anyone could react, she raised her hand.

SMACK!

The sound of the slap echoed through the air. Everyone gasped. She had just slapped Daniel.

“You think I wouldn’t find out?” she shouted, her voice shaking with rage. “You thought you could hide from me forever?”

Daniel’s eyes widened in shock, his hand moving to his cheek. “What the hell are you doing here?”

My heart pounded as I looked between them, my voice trembling. “Daniel… what is going on?”

He didn’t answer. His lips parted, but no sound came out.

The woman’s eyes snapped toward me, burning with jealousy. “Don’t act innocent,” she hissed. “You really think he’s yours? You think you could take what belongs to me?”

Before I could even move, she lunged toward me, her hand flying up to slap me.

But before the slap could land, a strong hand caught her wrist midair.

“Don’t you dare,” Calvin growled, his voice low and deadly calm. His grip was firm, his aura radiating Alpha dominance that filled the hall. “Touch her, and I swear, you’ll regret it.”

The woman froze, her lips trembling as she met his glare. Even the air seemed to tighten under his power.

I stood there, stunned, my breath shaky. Calvin slowly released her hand, his eyes still burning with warning.

I turned back to Daniel, my voice breaking. “What is going on?”

Daniel looked pale, sweat beading on his forehead. “Nora, I can explain.”

“Explain what?” I snapped, my chest tightening.

The woman scoffed, stepping forward again. “You want the truth?” she spat. “I’m his mate. His wife. And the pup in my belly,” she pressed a hand against her stomach, glaring at him, “is his.”

The hall exploded with noise—gasps, whispers, shocked cries.

I staggered back a step, my mind spinning. “No… no, that’s not possible.”

Daniel’s voice broke through the chaos, desperate. “Nora, please! Listen to me! She’s lying. She’s insane!”

But the woman scoffed, turning on him. “Oh, I’m insane? You mean after you abandoned me in Brooks Pack? After you left your pregnant mate to rot while you ran here to start a new life like nothing happened?”

I felt my breath catch. My hands trembled so badly, I nearly dropped my bouquet.

Daniel’s face went pale. “I didn’t know she was—”

I slapped him before I even realized I’d moved.

The sound was sharp, echoing through the hall. He froze, eyes wide, while I stood there trembling.

“She’s pregnant, Daniel!” I screamed, tears streaming down my face. “You didn’t know? You didn’t know?”

He tried to reach for me, but I stepped back, shaking my head. “Don’t touch me!”

The woman smirked bitterly, folding her arms. “You see now? You were about to marry a man who couldn’t even claim his own child.”

Gasps spread again through the guests.

I could feel every pair of eyes burning into me—pity, shame, sympathy. I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole.

Daniel tried again, his voice cracking. “Nora, please, believe me! I left her because she made my life hell. She used the bond to control me. She’s toxic.”

“And yet,” I cut in, my voice shaking but cold, “you were still bound to her.”

He stopped.

“You were going to let me stand here,” I continued, my throat tightening, “and mark me while your real mate and unborn child exist somewhere else?”

Daniel’s lips trembled. “Nora—”

“No!” I shouted, my voice echoing through the hall. “This marriage is over.”

The silence that followed was deafening.

I could feel Olivia’s eyes on me, full of sympathy, and somewhere behind me… Calvin’s presence. Heavy. Still. Watching.

My chest heaved as I tore the veil off my head, letting it fall to the floor. I turned toward Daniel one last time, my tears blurring everything.

“You broke me before this marriage even began,” I whispered. “You and him both.”

Then I turned, clutching my gown, and ran out of the hall before anyone could stop me.

I ran.

My gown dragged along the floor, the cold air outside hitting my face as I burst into the garden.

My chest burned, my vision blurred from tears. I stumbled near the fountain and finally stopped, clutching my stomach as I gasped for air. Everything—Daniel’s betrayal, the humiliation, the whispers—spun in my head.

And then I heard footsteps.

I turned sharply, wiping my tears with the back of my hand.

It was Calvin.

He stopped a few steps away, his expression unreadable, but his eyes filled with concern. “Nora,” he said quietly, “are you okay?”

A bitter laugh escaped me. “Do I look okay to you?” My voice cracked as I took a shaky step back. “How can I be okay, Calvin? How?”

He didn’t answer, just watched me with that steady, calm gaze that only made me angrier.

“Please,” I said, my voice trembling, “just leave me alone.”

He didn’t move.

“I said leave!” I snapped, the pain in my chest spilling out as anger. “If you think I’m going to come back to you because of what just happened, you’re wrong!”

Calvin’s face tightened slightly, but his voice remained gentle. “I’m not here to ask you to come back. I just needed to make sure you’re okay.”

“Okay?” I let out a broken laugh. “I’m not okay, Calvin. Not from betrayal, not from heartbreak, and definitely not from you.”

He looked down, guilt flickering across his eyes.

“Leave,” I whispered again, my voice hoarse.

“Nora—”

“Leave!” I yelled this time, my tears finally spilling over.

The garden fell silent.

Behind me, I heard soft footsteps approaching. Olivia’s voice followed soon after, calm but firm. “Calvin.”

He turned toward her slowly.

“Please,” she said gently, “go back to your pack.”

He looked between us—between my broken figure and his sister’s pleading eyes—then finally nodded. “Alright.”

He turned back to me, his voice low, heavy with sorrow. “I wish you happiness, Nora. Even if it’s not with me.”

And with that, he turned and walked away.

Something inside me cracked completely.

I fell to my knees, sobbing into my hands. Olivia was beside me in seconds, wrapping her arms around me, pulling me into her warmth.

“Shh… it’s okay,” she whispered softly.

I cried harder. “Why does it hurt so much, Olivia? Why does everything hurt?”

She stroked my hair gently. “Are you crying because of Daniel’s betrayal… or something else?”

Her question made my breath hitch. Because she was right.

It wasn’t just Daniel. It was Calvin too. The pain of losing him, of pushing him away even when part of me wanted him to stay—it was all too much.

I couldn’t even speak.

Olivia cupped my face, forcing me to meet her kind eyes. “You know,” she said quietly, “if you still want him, it’s not too late to give him a chance.”

I shook my head weakly. “It’s too late.”

She smiled sadly. “You’re wrong. Calvin isn’t a bad man, Nora. Not because he’s my brother, but because I’ve seen what life did to him. Our parents left him alone too soon. He had to grow up carrying everyone else’s weight. And then his mate—his first mate—broke him. He lost faith in love after that.”

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I listened.

Olivia squeezed my hand. “He’s not perfect, but he’s real. If anyone deserves a second chance, it’s him.”

I couldn’t speak, so I just nodded slowly, wiping my tears.

Then the sound of a car engine starting reached us from beyond the courtyard.

I froze.

“He’s leaving…” I whispered.

Olivia’s eyes widened. “Nora—”

But I was already running.

I ran down the path, my gown brushing against the flowers, my heart pounding in my chest. “Calvin!” I screamed, my voice breaking. “Calvin, wait!”

Tears blurred my vision as I turned the corner.

And suddenly, I collided with something solid.

Strong arms steadied me before I could fall.

I looked up, breathless, trembling—

And my heart stopped.

It was Calvin.