After My Mate Chose His Mistress, I Fought

I smoothed my hand over the soft curve of my seven-month pregnant belly as I entered the grand hall of the Shadowcrest Pack house. The weight of my unborn pup pressed against my spine, a constant reminder of the life growing within me. Two omega wolves flanked me, their heads bowed respectfully as they guided me through the crowd of mingling werewolves from various packs.

"Luna Isabella," one of them murmured, "Alpha Marcus asked that you be seated near the front for the gathering."

I nodded, grateful for the consideration. Despite the discomfort of late pregnancy, I'd insisted on attending this inter-pack meeting. After all, I had invested my family's resources to help rebuild this territory when Marcus's pack was on the brink of financial collapse. Though no one here knew my true identity as the daughter of the Alpha King of the Moonveil Pack, I took pride in what we had accomplished together.

My gaze swept across the hall, searching for my mate. The bond between us pulsed steadily, though lately it had felt... muted. I attributed it to the strain of the pregnancy and Marcus's increased responsibilities with the territory expansion.

*Something feels wrong,* Lyra, my wolf, whispered in my mind.

I pushed the thought away. Everything was fine. Marcus had been attentive throughout my pregnancy, especially after I'd nearly miscarried in the early months. He wouldn't risk anything happening to our second pup.

Across the room, I spotted Vivian Cross, daughter of Alpha Gregor from the neighboring territory. She stood tall and elegant in a crimson dress that accentuated her curves. Our eyes met briefly before her lips curved into what I could only describe as a predatory smile.

Then I saw Marcus, my mate, my Alpha, leaning against a marble pillar. He didn't acknowledge me. Instead, his gaze was fixed on Vivian, who gave him an almost imperceptible nod.

Before I could process what was happening, rough hands seized my arms. I gasped as three werewolves from Vivian's pack surrounded me, their grips bruising.

"What are you doing?" I demanded, my voice rising in panic. "Release me immediately!"

"Shut up," one of them snarled, tearing at my pale blue gown. The delicate fabric ripped, exposing my shoulders and back.

*Fight back!* Lyra howled within me. But I hesitated, confused and afraid for my unborn pup.

"Marcus!" I called out, searching desperately for my mate. The gathering had gone silent, all eyes on the spectacle I had become.

One of the wolves kicked my legs out from under me. I fell hard to my knees, the impact sending a jolt of pain through my swollen belly.

"Crawl," a female voice commanded. Vivian. "Crawl like the worthless rogue you are."

Tears burned my eyes as I looked up at Marcus, silently pleading for intervention. His face remained impassive, almost bored, as he watched me being degraded before his entire pack.

"Marcus, please," I whispered, the mate bond stretching thin between us. "Our pup..."

A boot pressed between my shoulder blades, forcing my face toward the cold stone floor. "I said crawl," Vivian repeated, applying more pressure.

With trembling arms, I began to move forward on all fours, my pregnant belly heavy and vulnerable. The rough stone scraped against my skin. I felt a warm trickle down my inner thigh and realized with horror that I was bleeding.

*Our pup is in danger,* Lyra whimpered. *Isabella, please, we need to protect our pup!*

The pain intensified as I crawled, each movement sending fresh agony through my abdomen. The assembled werewolves parted to form an aisle of shame, some averting their eyes, others watching with cruel fascination.

When I reached the center of the hall, Vivian's foot pressed down on my back once more, pinning me in place. Through tear-blurred vision, I watched as Marcus finally moved from his position by the pillar. Hope flared briefly in my chest.

But he walked past me without a glance, stopping directly in front of Vivian. With deliberate slowness, he cupped her face in his hands and pulled her into a passionate kiss.

The mate bond between us shuddered violently.

"No," I gasped, the betrayal stealing my breath. "No, no, no..."

*He's chosen another,* Lyra howled in anguish. *He's betrayed us... betrayed our pups!*

My world collapsed into fragments of pain and humiliation as Marcus and Vivian continued their display, her hands possessively gripping his shoulders, his fingers tangled in her hair.

I clutched my side where blood now stained my torn gown. A sharp contraction seized my womb, and I knew with terrifying certainty that something was terribly wrong with my unborn pup. The room began to spin around me, faces blurring into a kaleidoscope of indifference and cruelty.

As darkness crept into the edges of my vision, I heard Lyra's voice, no longer broken but filled with a cold, dangerous fury.

*They will pay for this, Isabella. We will make them pay.*

The last thing I saw before consciousness slipped away was Marcus breaking the kiss to glance down at my crumpled form, his eyes devoid of any love or concern as my blood pooled beneath me on the stone floor.