CHAPTER 12

**Nadine’s First Life: Rumors**

Nadine tried to get up but Marcus was fast enough to stop her. He blocked her nude form with his body and stood up against Frederick. But it was too late because its crew arrived and also peeked inside the cave.
“Frederick, give us a few minutes first to get dressed,” Marcus said to Frederick then he motioned for Nadine’s father to wait outside while they got dressed. He's positive that Frederick would listen to his explanation.
However, Marcus was mistaken because Nadine's father was stubborn to listen to their explanation!
“Marcus, you already know what to do, don't you?” Frederick glared at Marcus and warned him to do the right thing or hell would break loose!
“Go with your father, Nadine. I'll see you in a week for our wedding,” his voice was weak and only Nadine could hear him.
“Are you mad? Marcus, you don't have to marry me,” Nadine said to Marcus but he remained angry at her. The way he looked at her was different! It was full of hatred and she felt as if she had been stabbed and trampled. They were mates and she had always wanted him but she also wanted for him to love her with all of his heart. It wasn’t the right time yet to be married!
“And then what? Should I just let our child be born as a bastard?” Marcus raised his voice to convey his thoughts.
“Marcus, what are you talking about? It only happened once! I won’t get pregnant,” she reasoned out she only made him more furious. He turned away from her and faced her father.
“Alpha Frederick, I apologize for what happened. Rest assured, I will do what’s necessary to remedy this situation. Nadine’s reputation will not be ruined,” Marcus explained to Frederick.
Meanwhile, Nadine was disappointed in Marcus and her father. They discussed about the wedding as if she wasn’t there. “Dad, you can’t force him or me to get married!” She screamed at them but they both ignored her. Then, he left without saying anything to her! How rude!
“Let’s go home, Nadine, and you better prepare a good explanation to your mother,” Frederick said.
“Dad, are you angry?” She asked but then she realized it was a stupid question to ask. Frederick Smith glared at her, and then he clenched his jaw before speaking to her. He was mad!
“What do you expect, Nadine? That I would be glad to see my daughter naked under a man? In this cave?”
“Still, it is not right to demand marriage when I was the one who initiated it,” she confessed the truth.
“Enough! Do you think I will believe you? Marcus is a well-trained man as the future alpha of White Pride!”
“I seduced him into doing it with me,” she continued.
“Seduced? What do you know about seducing men? You are barely eighteen and you haven’t had a man! You only have him!”
“Dad, I am telling the truth! I seduced him into kissing me!”
“Enough!” Frederick’s voice echoed inside the cave when he roared like a tiger, and the next thing she knew, she was taken outside of the cave.
Nadine was devastated over what happened. She lost the trust of her parents, and at the same time, she lost Marcus, too! She messed up everything!
As soon as she returned home, she decided to stay inside her bedroom, and she would only go out when it was time for her meals. Sometimes, she could get away by eating inside her room. It was possible because of Kate’s help!
Thankfully, he father didn’t summon Marcus immediately, but she really wondered why he didn’t come to visit her even once! His indifference told her he didn’t really care about his feelings!
Three days later, she heard from Kate that rumors started to spread about what happened in the cave. She was confused as to why there were rumors when nobody was there except for her and Marcus. Did someone else witness the scene? She racked her brain for a possible reason why there were rumors about her, but she couldn’t think of anything. In addition, his absence made her feel more miserable!
Then, she was notified that her father had gone on a trip. It was a sudden trip and when she asked her mother about it, she had no idea. Nadine was even more confused! With her father’s absence, Marcus would surely not come to proceed with the marriage!
With the rumors going around, Nadine knew she was ruined and doomed forever!
Since her father left, Nadine was restless. She felt heavy as if something bad had happened. She retrieved her phone and tried calling Marcus. When his phone rang on the other line, excitement rushed through her. She almost shouted with joy when he answered the call, however, it wasn’t Marcus who picked up the call but someone else.
A woman. It was a woman on the other line, and Nadine furrowed her brows while trying to recognize the woman’s voice. It wasn’t her nanny or anyone close to him.
“May I know who is calling? Marcus can’t talk right now,” the woman said on the other line.
“You. Who are you?” Nadine asked rudely.
“I am his girlfriend, and you are? Who are you?”
“Nadine,” she replied.
“Ah, Nadine, his best friend,” the woman stated.
His best friend? Nadine laughed at her situation. Marcus may have informed the other woman she was just his best friend! Girlfriend? He didn’t say anything about his girlfriend, and besides, they were mates! How could he has a girlfriend?
“Where is he?” Nadine inquired even if she could barely talk because she was hurting deep inside.
“My boyfriend is still taking a bath,” the other woman replied. “I will inform him that you called, okay?”
“It’s fine. You don’t have to tell him about this call. I will just drop by at his place soon,” she said while trying to sound cheerful.
After the call ended, she was more confused than ever! The incident happened few days ago but Marcus never even bothered to call her. Not even once did he ask if she was doing well! Nadine threw her phone away and it landed on the floor.
She returned to her bed, and covered herself, but her phone suddenly beeped. She got a message! Expecting that it was from Marcus, Nadine rolled over to get her phone. Then, she immediately regretted her action for reading his message.
“LEAVE ME ALONE, NADINE.”