Goddess’s Design His Fated Mate by Pooja

Chapter 22

Willow

Seven Years Ago

“Willow, you’re taking forever to choose a gift,” Ella sighed, slouching against

the jewelry shop’s wall. I’d dragged her here after school.

“I want to get something special for Reuben. Something made just for him,” I

replied, my focus on the display of beautiful gold rings on the counter.

“You’re too pure, Willow,” Ella chuckled. “It’s Reuben’s twentieth birthday. Trust

me, he’s a young billionaire. He doesn’t lack for anything. Just get him whatever

you like. As for me, all I care about is dancing and the wine at the party,” she

said dreamily.

I shook my head in amusement. Since her breakup a week ago, Ella had dove

headfirst into partying, dancing, and wine. Bix often tagged along, skipping his

college classes to be with her.

As I perused the rings, my attention was captivated by a stunning man’s earring.

It was a small gold piece with intricate designs etched onto it. Admiring its

beauty, I knew instantly that I’d found the perfect birthday gift for Reuben.

“Could you please pack this one up for me?” I asked the shopkeeper, holding up

the earring.

With three years‘ worth of savings, I could finally afford a gift for Reuben at the

age of eighteen–or at least, I believed I was eighteen. I did not remember my

birth date, but I knew it fell somewhere in October, coincidentally the same

month as Reuben’s. As the end of the month approached, I assumed I had

already crossed that threshold. Unlike other she–wolves in the pack, I had yet to

get my wolf. While werewolves typically shifted into their wolves in our pack at

sixteen, at seventeen I was still waiting for that pivotal moment in my life.

Leaving the shop after making the payment, I walked out happily, holding the

small box tightly against my chest. Reuben’s birthday party was only a few hours

away, and I couldn’t wait to present this gift to him.

Evening had settled in, shortening the wait. As I stepped out of the store, I

noticed Ella engaged in an intense phone conversation.

Drawing nearer, her growling voice becaudible, tinged with anger.

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“Oran, where the hell are you guys? Are you boys having a party? Just now I saw

one of my friend’s posts. Is Bella really with Reuben…” Ella’s voice halted

abruptly as she noticedapproaching.

“What’s going on?” I asked, sensing something was amiss.

“It’s nothing, she hurriedly ended the call.

“Don’t lie, I heard you mention Reuben’s name,” I pressed, skeptical. “What post

were you talking about, Ella?” I inquired further.

Ella met my gaze with a helpless expression. “Willow…”

“Ella…” I prompted, my expression serious.

Finally, with a defeated sigh Ella confessed, “It seems that Reuben’s college

friends have thrown a party for him at the club.”

“So why were you acting strange earlier? Are you upset that they’re partying

without you? Don’t worry, we’ll join the party tonight. Plus I’m fine with Reuben

having a private party with his friends,” I chuckled, making my way towards

Ella’s car.

“Actually, the issue isn’t the party, it’s this…” Ella handedher phone. I

paused before continuing to open the car door. On the screen was a post from

Ella’s friend showing several pack members, boys drinking and dancing. In the

background, Reuben was visible, not alone but with a tall striking woman

dressed in revealing attire locked in a close hug.

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My grip tightened on the phone, unsettled by their intimacy. “Who is she?” I

asked Ella, my voice tense.

“That’s Bella. I’ve seen her once with Bix and Oran when they were hanging out

with their college friends,” Ella explained.

“Ohh…” I nodded, forcing a smile. In truth, I was trying to rationalize the

situation to case my concerns. Maybe they were old friends or close pals who

hadn’t seen each other in ages, explaining the prolonged hug. “Let’s go. We

need to get ready for the party, right? It’s already past six in the evening,” I

diverted, attempting to shift my focus. Yet, as I tried to return Ella’s phone,

another post fiashed on the screen, drawing my

attention.

I couldn’t resist checking it. The new video showed Bella dragging Reuben onto

the dance fioor, despite his initial refusal, both were laughing. The boys cheered

as a romantic song played, creating an intimate atmosphere. Bella moved

provocatively

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Chapter 22

while blushing and touching Reuben’s ch*st as they assumed a dance position.

I felt incredibly uncomfortable witnessing their close dance, their bodies

pressed together with each movement. Seeing Reuben smile at her and

reciprocate on the dance fioor made my mind go blank. A mix of strange

sensations, anger, and an unfamiliar emotion stirred within me. Clutching the

phone tightly, I turned to Ella.

“Do you know which club this is?”

She hesitantly nodded, sharing the name. Without a moment’s delay, I hailed a

taxi and went straight to the club. An hour later, I arrived. The sky mirrored the

darkness that had clouded my emotions as I stepped out of the taxi, only to

spot Reuben exiting the club hand in hand with Bella and surrounded by their

friends. My blood boiled at the sight of it.

“Isn’t that Willow?” Oran noticedapproaching them quickly.

Reuben’s surprise was evident as he turned to look at me, before he could react

I leaped toward Bella, landing a punch. “How dare you…”

“Oh, crap!” Bix and Oran exclaimed in shock.

“AHHH…” Bella cried out, clutching her injured nose.

“Willow… what are you

“Did

Reuben stood to the side bewildered and stunned.

you enjoy dancing with her?” I glared at Reuben, then delivered a hard kick to

the woman as she struggled to stand.

“Damn!” Oran was taken aback as Bella staggered and fell toward him. He

hesitated to assist her as he watchedcharge toward her. Just as I reached

out to grab her hair so that I could slam her down, an arm wrapped around my

waist.

“Oran, get Bella out of here!” Reuben’s voice pierced through the chaos as he

heldtightly, swiftly pullingaway.

“No! Letgo!” I screamed, struggling against his hold, but his grip remained

tight. Bix and Oran managed to escort Bella away.

Once they were gone, Reuben released his hold on my waist. “Willow… what are

you doing…”

Now that I was free from his grasp, I stood tall, and turned to face him.

“Cheater!!” I screamed, hurling the small box at his chest.

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“Cheater?” Reuben raised a brow, observing the earring as it ctumbling out

of the box to land at his feet.

“You were smiling, dancing, and even holding hands with another woman!

You’re cheating on me!!” I shouted, my face fiushed red with anger.

Reuben’s expression suddenly shifted. He picked the earring up from the

ground and approached me. ‘If helping a friend in gaining her lover’s attention

and assisting her in pretending a bit is considered cheating, then yes, I

unintentionally cheated on you,” he stated calmly, stopping right in front of me.

My eyes widened at his revelation. “You… you were helping her to gain her

lover’s attention?” It dawned onthat he had been dancing, holding hands,

and smiling at her all as part of an act.

Reuben nodded, “Bella has unrequited feelings for her young stepfather. She

deliberately dressed and behaved provocatively to catch his attention by

sending him a video of us together. Her plan worked, her stepfather was on his

way to take her home, but…” He paused, lifting my chin so that I would meet his

gaze. “I didn’t anticipate that my performance would provoke jealousy from

someone that has never once responded to my confession over the last three

years,” he said, smiling.

My heart raced in my chest. I had completely misinterpreted everything, causing

jealousy stir withindespite never having mustered the courage to respond

to Reuben’s confession of love. Caught off guard by Reuben’s charming smile,

my ears burned red. “Who was jealous?” I turned my face away in

embarrassment.

Reuben softly chuckled and gently urgedto meet his gaze again. “You looked

so beautiful fighting for me, Willow…” His whisper brushed against my l*ps,

sending a tingling down to my heart, “You looked so beautiful fighting for

your love…”

A faint smile played on my l*ps as I shyly lowered my gaze. “I was afraid of

losing you, Reuben,” I confessed in a whisper, lifting my gaze to meet his. “I

can’t live without you, Reuben,” with that, I raised myself on my toes, pressed

my l*ps against his, and poured out my feelings. “I love you, Reuben. I love

you…” I finally admitted.

Tseemed to stand still for Reuben as he did not react for a couple of

seconds. When he finally realized that he was not dreaming that this was reality,

his eyes widened, shining with emotion.

“I love you too,” he pulledinto a deep passionate k*ss. “I love you, Willow. I

f**king love you more than you can ever know,” he repeated those words

fervently between our k*sses.

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I smiled, parting my l*ps to grant him full access. Our tongues danced in sync as

I wrapped my arms around his n*eck, losing myself in the moment.

“F***!” Reuben groaned, his desire overwhelming him as he pressed his

hardness. against me. “Willow, I can’t wait any longer. I want you to be mine

tonight,” he declared, liftingeffortlessly and guiding us into the back seat of

his car.

As he laiddown on the car seat, my heart raced wildly. He leaned in, his l*ps

meeting mine in a series of k*sses, his fingers deftly sliding my top from my

shoulders. His k*sses trailed down my n*eck, eliciting a loud moan from me. A

rush of strange yet thrilling sensations pulsed through my heart and between

my legs. The pleasure was intense, and I lost track of tas he removed my

top, leavingin just my bra. At that moment, my own desires overwhelmed

me, I was drawn so deeply into Reuben’s passionate embrace. I yearned for him

as much as he did for me.

However, when I saw him removing his shirt and positioning himself between

my legs, a sudden surge of fear gripped me.

“Willow…” he touched my inner thighs, sliding his fingers between my legs. I saw

his bulging cock, ready to work its way inside me.

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“Reuben… wait,” I placed a trembling hand on his chest.

“Why…” he looked at me, desire clouding his eyes.

“I’m scared,” I whispered, clutching at his chest.

Reuben looked atfor a moment before asking, “Don’t you trust me?”

“I do, but…” My voice trembled as I met his gaze, a tear escaping. “What if we’re

not meant to be together?”

“What do you mean?” he frowned.

My throat went dry when I said what I had never wanted to even think, “What if

we are not soulmates?” I bottled up my feelings as my heart broke into a million

pieces. Suddenly I felt Reuben’s warm hand cupping my cheek. I could not help

but open my eyes and look at him.

“That’s it?” A faint smile tugged at his l*ps as he leaned closer to me.

“That’s it? If we do not turn out to be soulmates then we can’t be together

Reuben. It will be the end for us,” a tear raced down my cheek. The mere

thought of being bonded o someone other than Reuben shattered my heart. I

couldn’t fathom a life without

him.

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He gently brushed away the tears at the corners of my eyes and murmured,

“Look deep into my eyes…

“What?” I blinked with wet lashes.

“Do what I say,” he rubbed my lower l*p.

I followed his instructions and locked eyes with him.

“Keep looking until you see it.” he whispered.

“See what?” I asked, listening to him. At that moment, I saw a green–eyed black

Alpha wolf gazing back atthrough Reuben’s eyes. When our eyes met in my

mind Reuben and my wolf echoed the word, “Mate….”

I gasped at the resounding words reverberating in my mind, realizing it was my

wolves. emerging from within me. My wolf was acknowledging the Alpha in front

ofas its mate. Reuben… was my soulmate…

“How is this…” I choked on my words.

A faint smile graced Reuben’s l*ps, “I recognized you the day our eyes first met,

Willow.”

My eyes widened. “What?” My voice barely rose above a whisper. So he’d been

waiting forduring the past four years, restraining himself? “Why did you do

that? Why didn’t

you tell me?”

“Is there anything sweeter than earning the love of your soulmate before the

revelation of a mate bond?” He gently lifted my chin and tenderly brushed his

l*ps against mine. “I had to win your love, Willow. Not just through a mate bond,

but a love that would bind you toforever,” he raised my hand that held the

ear ring. When he moved it closer to his ear my eyes widened sensing his

intention. As I tried to take my hand back, he held my hand tightly so that I

would focus on him as he pierced his ear with the earring. Thick blood dripped

from his ear as he promised, “A love that will never fade… Willams

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