After My Mate Chose His Brother's Widow

When my mate’s widowed sister-in-law moved into our pack, Stephen presented me with a rejection letter while I was three months pregnant.

“Marley’s pup is still young,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “Without someone to care for her, she’ll be vulnerable to the cruelty of others. As her brother-in-law, I can’t turn a blind eye.”

I didn’t argue. Instead, I nodded quietly and accepted.

Stephen’s relief was palpable. That very night, he slipped into Marley’s room.

The sounds of their intimacy—her soft moans, the creak of the bed—echoed through the packhouse until dawn. I sat alone outside, the cold biting into my skin, until the first light of morning. Then, I instructed Nori to prepare a cup of wolfsbane tea.

In my past life, I had refused Stephen’s rejection. I had even threatened to end my life outside the Lycan King’s palace to preserve our bond.

Though I had kept our marriage intact, it wasn’t long before Marley, a young widow, caught the attention of a rogue.

Her screams had lasted for three days and nights. By the time Stephen arrived, she was already gone.

He blamed me. When we returned to the pack, he spread rumors that I had betrayed him with a rival pack’s Alpha, tarnishing my name.

I was sent to the pack’s borderlands, where I was subjected to the cruelty of the warriors. I lost our pup and bled out in the snow.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the moment Stephen handed me the rejection letter.

---

I calmly took the letter and signed my name without hesitation.

The moment the ink dried, Stephen snatched it from me, his eyes scanning the document with relief.

I sat on the edge of the bed, staring out the window.

It was the first day of spring, yet a sudden snowstorm had blanketed the pack territory. The heavy snowfall muted the world outside, the air so still it felt suffocating.

Stephen cleared his throat, perhaps realizing his eagerness was unseemly. “Valentina,” he began, his tone formal, “thank you for understanding.”

He paused, then added, “Once Marley’s pup is older, I can still make you my chosen mate.”

His words were laced with condescension, as if he expected me to be grateful for the offer.

His expression darkened, and his voice took on a warning edge. “Also, it’s best if you don’t speak of this rejection to anyone. It could cause unnecessary trouble.”

I nodded quietly. “Of course.”

He was afraid my father, Julien Watson, a high-ranking Gamma, would seek retribution from the Alpha King.

Stephen left without another word, his car disappearing into the snowstorm.

The cold bit into my skin, numbing me to the point where even a bitter smile felt stiff.

Love and indifference—how stark the contrast.

---

The next day, I decided to take a walk through the pack territory.

But I hadn’t gone far before I overheard whispers about my supposed infidelity with a rival pack’s Alpha.

A group of Omegas gossiped under an old oak tree, their voices carrying clearly.

I didn’t bother to defend myself. As I walked past, I caught the final remark:

“Such a shame. The Alpha married a woman like that—his reputation is ruined.”

When I returned to the packhouse, my chest felt heavy, and a dull ache settled in my abdomen.

I didn’t understand why, even after accepting the rejection, these rumors persisted.

That night, Stephen didn’t return.

I had intended to confront him about the rumors, but the pain in my stomach grew unbearable.

Just as I was about to retreat to my room, the door opened.

Stephen stepped in, the scent of Marley’s perfume lingering on him.

He glanced at me, his expression cold and dismissive. “We’re no longer mates,” he said sharply. “You’re not going to question where I’ve been, are you?”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my voice. “Today, I heard some rumors. About me. Do you know anything about them? Did you ever truly want to be my mate?”

Stephen’s eyes flickered, avoiding mine. “I don’t have time for idle gossip. You shouldn’t either.”

His evasion only confirmed my suspicions.

The rumors had come from him.

Anger and hurt tangled in my chest. “Stephen,” I said, my voice trembling despite my efforts to control it, “you know the truth. Why are you spreading lies about me?”

“I accepted the rejection. What more do you want from me?”

Stephen’s patience snapped. His gaze turned icy, and his voice was laced with irritation. “I told you, it’s just gossip. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?”

“Everyone’s talking about Marley, saying she’s cursed. If we don’t give them something else to focus on, how will she and Miles survive?”

“Besides,” he added, his tone bitter, “I’ve always cared for Marley.”

“If you hadn’t caused so much trouble back then, I wouldn’t have married you out of pity!”

His words cut through me like a knife, leaving a gaping wound.

I clenched my fists, my voice shaking. “It was Marley’s brother who betrayed the pack and kidnapped me! He handed me over to the rival Alpha as a bargaining chip. Don’t you remember?”

“After I escaped, *you* begged me to stay silent and marry you!”