Iris:
My hands trembled as I stared at the pregnancy test, tears already dried on my cheeks. I didn't know what to feel while taking the test. I had purchased it a few days ago after noticing the morning sickness. I had wanted to take the test while his family was away so we could celebrate the news together.
But now it seemed the once good news would only be a bigger disaster. Just as I had expected, the two lines appeared before my eyes. I placed the test on the sink, closed my eyes, and sobbed silently.
"Moon goddess, what has become of my life? I have no one to share the good news with now," I cried, opening the tap and washing my face.
I wondered if, had he looked even a bit guilty, I would have been this devastated. Did I not deserve at least an apology? Did I mean nothing to him?
He continued to go on a date with her without fear of losing me. Was I so available to him that he didn't believe I could leave, or was he so comfortable cheating because I had nowhere else to go?
As if my life wasn't already crumbling, his family arrived too.
"Iris, where the fuck are you?" The minute his sister entered the mansion, she started screaming at me.
I was in the guestroom, unable to bring myself to go into the bedroom and see the messy sheets left behind after their sex.
I sniffled and wiped my tears again, leaving the guestroom to find his mother, sister, and his sister's husband sitting on the couch, rolling their eyes at my arrival.
"Where are the refreshments? Is that how you'll welcome us now?" His sister, Zoe, was always the meanest.
"What do you expect from a rogue? They get chosen by the alpha king and think their rank changed too," my mother-in-law rolled her eyes.
For a year, I endured torture from his mother and sister. I didn't even tell him because I didn't want to hurt him. I didn't want him to choose between me and his family because that would hurt him.
That's when I remembered the torture from his mother and sister, the way they used to burn my hands and back. I silently endured it all for him.
"Your son is cheating on me with his ex. He asked me to shift to the guestroom so he could bring her home," I cleared my throat and finally rested my case in Lady Vivian's court.
The lady of the mansion, the mother of the powerful and undefeated Alpha King Kash.
Silence fell over them before Zoe started laughing along with her gamma mate. Markus was just a useless man who only knew how to order everyone around, and he loved good gossip.
"That was bound to happen. Lara is the Alpha King of the South's daughter. If he marries her, he'll have a powerful heir and also the entire South. It's about time he realized a rogue was going to give him nothing," as expected of Zoe, she started spilling the hate in her heart for me, now more openly and happily.
"Lady Vivian, please make him understand. It will break us apart. I cannot live like this. I am his fated mate. How can he forget about me?" I hated that I knelt down to beg at the feet of this cruel woman, who instantly kicked me away.
"Don't ever fucking tell me what I should do or how my son should live his life. Don't you know your place? We've reminded you time and time again. It's not our fault he grew out of love with someone like you. What have you given him anyway?" she hissed, getting up from the couch, and I instantly rushed to my feet as well.
"What a lucky man your brother is. Lara is known in the werewolf packs as a wonderful woman. He got upgraded from a rogue pussy to an Alpha pussy," Markus commented, letting out a laugh, and instead of hushing him down for his vulgarity, Zoe gave him a high-five.
"I am so happy brother has finally woken up," Zoe clasped her hands, cheering as I stood between them and watched their faces in disbelief.
"Do you think an Alpha would tolerate— all that you do to me? She will never— even lift a glass of water for— you," I started to stutter, reminding them how they had made me work nonstop ever since I got married.
Somehow, they found it funny because they started to break into laughter.
"Who told you we would ask an Alpha to do house chores? We will bring back the maids and the servants for her," Lady Vivian shrugged as she spoke in a very prideful tone.
It hit me then that I was just a form of entertainment for them. They took their anger out on me, and my Alpha King failed to protect me.
I sucked in a breath as I watched their faces one by one.
"Then don't expect me to silently leave my place for her. I will contact the council and complain, and also tell them how you all have treated me here." As soon as I said that, and for the first time took a stand for myself, a hand landed hard against my cheek.
Markus grimaced, his hand printed on my cheek.
"How dare you," I screamed for the first time, getting up from the ground to smack him back, when Zoe rushed in, grabbing my arm and pushing me away.
"Did you see what she was about to do, mother?" she yelled, making her mother step forward and try to grab my hair from the back of my head.
Now that they knew I was already neglected by my mate, they openly abused me.
"I say we kick her out," Markus commented, giving a push to the already angry Lady Vivian and Zoe. The two were unhappy that I did not let them beat me further.
"You have no right to make that decision. I will stay here because this is my mansion too. And I will see how anyone kicks me out or brings in another woman here," I screamed for the first time, but it was too late for me.
The three were watching my face angrily before Zoe pushed Markus toward me.
"Grab her arm and toss her out," she demanded, and he rushed to act upon it, grabbing my arm and starting to drag me toward the exit.
"Let me go. I am the Luna Queen," I yelled at him, struggling and protesting hard.
"Not anymore. The new Luna Queen will be here soon, and we must take the trash out before her arrival," Zoe laughed as her mate pushed me out of the gate. I tried to go back inside, but they closed the metal gate on my face.
The weather was so bad that I could barely keep my eyes open as the cold wind kept blinding me.
"Where would I go? I am still his accepted mate," I cried out, confused at what they thought they were doing to me.
"Then stay out here, take his rejection, and leave. You are not allowed back here again," Zoe hissed from across the gate, arms folded over her chest.
"Now that Lara will be coming home, why would you want to stay anyway? Do you have no self-respect at all?" Lady Vivian asked, shaking her head in disbelief at me.
"Open the door! This is my mansion!" I screamed as they walked back into the mansion. The warriors did not listen to me either.
So did everyone know the Alpha King had chosen another mate to bring home?
I sat at the side of the road, hiccuping from sobbing loudly. Thankfully, I had my phone in my hand, so I texted my Alpha mate one last time.
Me: I am giving you one last chance to make your choice. If you do not end things with her, come home and apologize to me, I will leave you, Kash.
I sniffled, taking heavy breaths as rain started. I was in a thin pink dress, sitting in the rain during winter, waiting for his message. It finally arrived. But my cries instantly stopped, and my breath hitched.
My Husband: Fuck off. I already made my pick. It is her. Now bother me again, and I will come home and reject you.
I went numb for a good five minutes before I stared at the screen again and got up from the road, looking at the mansion one last time before typing him one final message.
Me: You made your pick. Now I am making my decision. I am leaving you. Have a good life with your new mate. Goodbye.
As I hit the send button, I threw the phone on the road before walking into the woods, the ones where I had come from.