Crowned by Fate Chapter 144

Skye’s POV

"Yes." Lydia nodded after closing the door behind her.

"Have some Moonbloom tea," she said, gesturing to the steaming pot on the small table. "It's my own blend—helps with sleep. You didn't seem to rest well last night." She pointed at the dark circles under my eyes.

Though Lydia hadn't been present when Leon and Adrian fought, she certainly knew about our foolishness.

"Thank you," I said, accepting the cup gratefully. The herbal aroma was soothing, with hints of lavender and something uniquely magical.

"What about you? I've never heard you mention Alpha Rodrigo before. Of course, it's your private matter—you don't have to tell me if you'd rather not."

Lydia poured herself a cup and sat across from me, her fingers tracing the rim thoughtfully.

"I wasn't deliberately hiding anything from you all. I just didn't want anyone to worry. If you want to hear the story, I should warn you, it's not exactly a pleasant bedtime tale."

"You and he were lovers?" I probed gently. "He seemed to care about you deeply."

"Care?" Lydia let out a bitter laugh that made my heart clench. "Let me tell you exactly how he ‘cared’ for me."

Her eyes grew distant, focusing on something far beyond the hotel room walls. The mask she always wore couldn't hide the pain etched in every line of her face.

***

Lydia's POV

I grew up with my mother in a small town on the border between the United States and Mexico. My mother was a witch, and as for my father—I never met him.

It wasn't until my first shift at eighteen that I discovered I had werewolf blood running through my veins.

Before that awakening, I lived like any ordinary human girl. No father, no pack, but these absences never troubled me much. My mother's love was enough, and the quiet life we led suited us both.

But at nineteen, a college hiking trip changed the trajectory of my entire existence.

I found Rodrigo bleeding and broken at the bottom of a ravine. His leg was twisted at an unnatural angle, and deep gashes covered his torso.

Any normal human would have died from those injuries, but somehow, he was still breathing.

My instincts kicked in immediately. I used what little medical knowledge my mother had taught me, combined with makeshift splints and bandages torn from my own clothes. It took hours to stabilize him enough to move

The way he looked at me when he finally opened those dark eyes, like I was his personal miracle, his salvation...

He was the first werewolf I'd ever knowingly encountered.

Strong, confident, devastatingly handsome—it was impossible not to be drawn to him.

What I didn't know then was that he was an Alpha. What I certainly didn't know was that he already had a mate.

Our first year together was like a dream.

Rodrigo pursued me with the intensity of a hunter tracking prey, but his touch was always gentle, reverent. He'd drive six hours just to spend a weekend with me, bringing exotic flowers and stories of pack life that fascinated my isolated heart.

He taught me about my wolf side, my wolf grew stronger, more confident. I thought I'd found my place in the world—by his side.

The second year of our relationship began with subtle changes.

His visits became less frequent, his excuses more elaborate. But whenever doubt crept in, he'd appear with that crooked smile and those passionate kisses that made me forget every question.

Then one night, everything shattered.

Three female warriors burst into my apartment. Before I could react, they had me bound and gagged, dragging me into a black SUV.

The drive felt endless, my wolf howling in confusion and fear.

They threw me into a basement cell—no windows, just concrete walls and a single flickering bulb. For hours, I waited in terrified silence.

When she finally appeared, I understood immediately. The Luna mark on her neck, the rage in her eyes, the way she carried herself with entitled fury—this was Rodrigo's mate.

"Bitches like you are all the same!"She backhanded me so hard I tasted blood. "A pathetic half-breed thinking she can seduce an Alpha?"

"I didn't seduce him!" I gasped, spitting crimson. "Rodrigo and I are truly in love! I had no idea he was an Alpha, and I certainly didn't know he had a mate!"

Every word was truth. Having lived outside pack society my entire life, how could I have known?

The concept of mates, of Alpha obligations—these were foreign to me. All I knew was that during our first year together, Rodrigo had been everything I'd ever dreamed of in a partner.

"Lying whore!" My explanation earned me a kick to the ribs that left me gasping.

"I'm not lying! Let me see Rodrigo! I'll prove I'm telling the truth!"

The Luna's smile turned predatory. "You think he truly loves you? Fine. I'll show you exactly how much Rodrigo loves you."

That night, they dragged me from the basement. Heavy doses of wolfsbane kept me docile, my limbs refusing to cooperate.

They shoved me into a bedroom closet—her bedroom—positioning me where I could see through the slats.

I heard Rodrigo's footsteps approaching. My heart leaped with desperate hope. I tried to call out, to beg for help, but the wolfsbane had paralyzed my vocal cords along with my body.

Through the narrow gaps, I watched Rodrigo enter. He moved straight to his mate, pulling her into his arms with practiced ease. The kiss he gave her was wild and tender—exactly like the kisses he'd given me.

"Darling," his voice was soothing, apologetic. "I've already explained everything. That half-breed saved my life, then threw herself at me. I only slept with her once out of gratitude. I promise it won't happen again. You're my mate, the only one I'll ever love."

What followed was a performance designed to destroy me. His mate made sure to meet my eyes at the worst moments, her triumphant smirk a dagger to my heart.

Every touch, every moan , every passionate moment—all carefully orchestrated to show me the truth.

I'd been nothing but a diversion. A grateful fuck for saving his life.

The woman I thought was done with her torture, but that night was only the beginning...