My jaw dropped as I ignored Clara's question. She stood stark naked in the arms of an unfamiliar man. His hand was wrapped around her waist and he was also bare. It was obvious that they slept together.
I rushed towards him and grabbed him on the neck, then threw him towards the bed.
"Who are you? What gives you the right to sleep with my woman?" I shouted as I pressed against his neck.
Clara stood behind me, holding my hand and trying to stop me from strangling him.
He struggled to speak, but I didn't give him a chance as my hand remained fixed on his neck.
"You're going to kill him." Clara screamed as she struggled to take my hand off his neck. I released my hand and he stood up from the bed and headed to the corner. I looked at him with bloodshot eyes before turning to address Clara.
"I got you flowers. I wrote a note. I promised to do everything to make you happy." I paused, my voice breaking down in pain despite my masculinity. "Why would you do this to me?"
She turned her face away from me as I spoke and wrapped the sheets around her naked body. I couldn't control myself and rushed towards the man a second time, pinning him against the wall.
I delivered a punch to his face and he struggled to escape from me, but I was stronger than him. He moved away from the wall and tried escaping from the room, but I pulled him back and punched him again, causing him to stumble backwards.
"Triton! Stop it!" Clara continued to scream, but I swore never to stop.
"Who are you?" I barked at him as I was about to punch him for the umpteenth time. His naked body was covered in sweat. I raised my hand to hit him, but it remained hung in the air as I heard Clara's voice.
"He is my mate." She said with tears in her eyes and rushed towards his side on the ground.
I couldn't believe it and hoped that my ears were playing tricks on me. But she said the same words again.
"I found out three weeks ago, that's why I've been giving you the cold shoulder."
"What?" I asked with a raised brow.
"I found it hard to tell you." She said as she supported the man towards the bed. "Please don't kill him. I love him." She added as she sat by his side.
I looked into her eyes, hoping for her to tell me that it was a prank, but her gaze was fixed on her mate, nursing his injuries.
"Arrrgh!" I growled and punched the wall severally until blood flowed out of my fists.
"I hope you find your own mate." I heard her say.
I bit my lower lip and felt my eyes reddening. I felt like a fool who had loved blindly. The pain was unbearable.
"Find my mate?" I chuckled inwardly. I had just rejected my mate for her, yet she broke my heart.
I kicked the stool by my side in anger and stormed out of the room. I picked the note which I wrote and tore it to pieces. My chest kept rising and falling. The flowers were still on the table. I grabbed it and threw it into the fireplace.
"No!" I screamed, running my hand through my hair. I left the house and slammed the door behind me.
Mounting my horse, I swore to myself that I must find her and claim her—my rejected mate.
I rode like a crazy fellow and the people on the road moved out of my way as they saw me riding. I didn't care. Only one thing was on my mind, if I was fast enough, I could still meet her.
I stopped in front of the bar. My breathing was ragged from the long ride. I pushed open the door and rushed towards the room. The door was locked. I knocked repeatedly, and a man opened the door.
My fingers balled into fists, ready to punch him if he was sleeping with my mate.
"Where is she?" I thundered, pushing him out of the way and walking inside the room.
My eyes fell on a woman in the corner. I turned away as I looked at her. I hadn't seen the face of my mate, but I had seen her eyes. Besides, this woman was shorter and she had blue eyes.
"Disgusting." I spat to myself as I had walked into a room of a harlot with her client. As I was about to leave, she walked towards me and held my shirt.
"Hey handsome. I can give you what you need. Two men is okay for me."
I flung her hand away from my body and walked out of the room. That wasn't my mate.
I walked towards the room where the barman was.
"Did you see any woman come out of that room?" I pointed in the direction of the room.
The man chuckled before responding. "A lot of women entered there."
"She was wearing a veil." I said impatiently.
"A veil?" He repeated. "The women from veilwood hardly come here. I haven't seen any of them in ages."
I gritted my teeth and slammed my hand into the table.
"You seem troubled sir. Can I get you something to cool down?" The man asked as he cleaned the cups.
I sighed and offered no reply. How was I even going to find her without knowing what she looked like?
Her scent—She smelt like wild roses with a bit of lilac and lavender. It was intoxicating and alluring the first time I met her. But now, it could be the key to finding her if I used my senses right.
"I'll have the strongest of undiluted rum." I said to the barman.
The liquid trickled into the container as he poured it. I had to drink to forget the pain of what I felt at Clara's house.
The liquid burned my throat, but soothed my mind. I stared into the cup and said to my wolf. "We must find our mate."