My Fated Mate Tried to Poison Me for Power
Chapter 2
I stared at the notepad Preston had thrust into my hands, my fingers trembling slightly as I read his elegant handwriting.
"I need rare mountain herbs for our bonding ritual," he had written, his expression a perfect mask of concern. "They only grow near the northern ridge. Please bring them back today."
I nodded meekly, keeping my eyes downcast as I always had. "Of course," I whispered, my voice still a novelty to my own ears—a secret I guarded fiercely.
Preston smiled, that charming smile that once made my heart flutter. Now it only made my skin crawl.
"It's important, Hallie," he wrote again. "These herbs will strengthen our bond during the ceremony."
Luna growled inside me. *He's lying. We can smell the deception on him.*
"I'll leave now," I said, still pretending to read his lips poorly.
As I turned to go, he caught my wrist. "The rain is getting worse," he wrote, his expression softening in that manipulative way I now recognized. "But I need those herbs today. I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important."
I pulled away gently. "I understand."
---
The rain pounded against my skin like ice pellets as I trudged up the muddy path. The northern ridge was dangerous—close to rogue territory. My clothes were soaked through, my teeth chattering uncontrollably.
*We shouldn't be here,* Luna whimpered. *This is too dangerous.*
"We have no choice," I muttered under my breath, scanning the underbrush for the distinctive purple leaves Preston had described.
My newly awakened senses picked up every sound—the raindrops hitting leaves, the distant howl of what might be a rogue wolf, the squelch of mud beneath my feet. I shivered, both from cold and fear.
After nearly two hours of searching, my fingers finally closed around the precious herbs. "Got them," I breathed, carefully placing them in the waterproof bag I'd brought.
The journey back was even worse. My legs trembled with exhaustion, my vision blurring from the cold. Twice I slipped in the mud, once nearly tumbling down a steep embankment. By the time I reached the Pack House, I couldn't feel my fingertips anymore.
---
I changed quickly into dry clothes, hiding the herbs in my pocket before making my way downstairs. The Pack House was unusually quiet, most members likely sheltering from the storm.
Voices drifted from the east wing—Preston's voice, followed by a feminine laugh I recognized instantly as Adriana's.
My heart clenched. Luna urged me forward, her curiosity piqued.
*Follow them,* she insisted. *Something's wrong.*
I moved silently through the corridor, my footsteps muffled by the thick carpet. Through a partially open door, I could see Preston sitting on Adriana's bed, his back to me.
"These should help," he was saying, his voice tender in a way it never was with me.
I peered around the doorframe. Preston was gently massaging something into Adriana's shoulders—the herbs I had risked my life to collect.
"Your post-shift cramps are getting worse," he murmured, pressing his lips to her neck.
"How did you get these?" Adriana asked, her eyes closed in pleasure.
"Hallie," Preston replied with a chuckle. "She's so desperate to please me, she'd walk through fire if I asked."
Adriana's eyes opened, a cruel smile playing on her lips. "Poor little Omega. Does she really think you'll make her your Luna?"
"Of course she does," Preston said, kissing Adriana's jawline. "That's what makes this so easy."
Luna howled in rage inside me, the betrayal burning like acid in my veins.
---
Three days later, the Pack House bustled with activity as everyone prepared for the annual Pack Run. I moved through the crowd like a ghost, invisible as always.
"Hallie!" Preston's voice cut through the noise.
I turned to see him approaching, a small box in his hands and a smile on his face that didn't reach his eyes.
"I have something for you," he said aloud, then wrote on his notepad: "A token of my appreciation."
He opened the box to reveal an exquisite floral corsage—white roses and delicate blue flowers arranged in an elegant design.
"It's beautiful," I whispered, genuinely surprised by the gesture.
"Every Luna should have one for the Pack Run," he wrote, his smile widening as he pinned it to my sweater.
The moment it touched my skin, Luna snarled a warning.
*Danger!* she cried. *Can't you smell it?*
And then I caught it—beneath the sweet floral scent was something sharp and acidic. My nose twitched as I detected the unmistakable odor of concentrated wolfsbane.
Preston's eyes watched me carefully, searching for signs of distress. I forced my expression to remain neutral, though inside I was screaming.
"It's perfect," I lied, my fingers trembling slightly as they brushed against the deadly flowers.
His smile widened, satisfied. "Wear it tomorrow at the ceremony," he wrote. "It will look lovely when you walk beside me."
As he walked away, I caught a glimpse of Adriana watching from across the room, her eyes narrowed with jealousy—and something else. Triumph?
Luna paced anxiously within me. *He's trying to kill us,* she growled.
"No," I whispered under my breath. "He's trying to control us."
And as I fingered the poisonous corsage, I made a silent vow: Preston would never touch me again.
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