My Cousin's Wife Despises on Me

The scent of fresh lavender hit me as soon as I pushed the door open. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it was wrong—too strong, too new. My room used to smell like cedar and my favorite jasmine incense, comforting and familiar. Now, it felt like I was stepping into someone else’s space.

Because I was.

My eyes darted around the room, and my stomach twisted as I saw the changes. My bedspread had been replaced with a pale blue quilt I’d never seen before, and there were fresh flowers on the dresser—another unfamiliar touch. My dresser, once lined with old books and framed photos, was now cluttered with perfume bottles, lotions, and a small jewelry box that definitely wasn’t mine.

Bridget had moved in… in the room I owned.

Rhea stirred, her hackles raised, and I could feel her claws scratching at the back of my mind. “She’s marking her territory. In our den.”

I clenched my fists, trying to keep my breathing steady as I turned and made my way down the hall. My wolf’s instincts were screaming at me to confront her, to assert dominance and demand she move out of my space, but I knew I had to be smart about this. Bridget was pregnant, and any kind of confrontation could easily be twisted against me.

I found Bridget lounging in the living room, scrolling through her phone. She looked up when I approached, arching one perfectly groomed eyebrow. “Oh, Luann. I was just about to text you,” she said, as if she hadn’t commandeered my bedroom without asking.

“What are you doing in my room, Bridget?” I asked, trying to keep my voice calm and even. I could feel Rhea pacing, ready to snap at any provocation.

Bridget didn’t miss a beat. “I moved in there,” she said simply, like it was the most natural thing in the world. “The bed in the attic isn’t good for my back, and with the baby coming, I need all the comfort I can get.” She patted her belly, emphasizing the point.

I could feel my temper rising, but I forced myself to stay calm. “You could have talked to me about it first.”

She shrugged, giving me a patronizing smile. “I didn’t think you’d mind. It’s just a room, after all.”

Just a room? Rhea let out a low, rumbling growl, and I had to bite my tongue to keep from echoing it. “It’s not just a room,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper, but I could hear the tension in it. “It’s my room. My space.”

“Well, it’s not like you’ll be here for much longer, right?” Bridget’s smile widened, and there was something almost triumphant in her eyes. “You’re going off to play diplomat with the Black Tears Pack, and Calixto thought it’d be better if I was comfortable while you’re away.”

I felt a pang of betrayal at the mention of my cousin. “Calixto said that?”

“Yes,” she replied, leaning back and crossing her arms over her chest. “He understands how delicate this pregnancy is. We can’t take any risks, and stress is bad for the baby. You wouldn’t want to cause any stress, would you?”

Her words were sweet, but the underlying threat was clear. She was daring me to make a scene, to be the one who made things difficult. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms, and forced a smile. “Of course not, Bridget. But this isn’t just about you. You should have talked to me.”

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic,” she said with a light laugh. “You’re just upset because things aren’t going your way. But we all have to adjust, don’t we?”

Rhea’s growl grew louder, and I could feel her pushing at the edge of my control. “She’s taunting us, Lu. She thinks she can push us out, take over. We need to remind her who this territory belongs to.”

“I’ll talk to Calixto about this,” I said, my voice strained but steady. I needed to find out if he was really behind this, or if Bridget was just using his name to justify her actions.

“Oh, go ahead,” she said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “He’ll tell you the same thing he told me—this is for the best.”

I turned and left the room before I said something I’d regret, my heart pounding as I made my way to the kitchen. Aunt Becca and Uncle Cael were there, sitting at the table with their heads bowed, talking in hushed tones. They went silent when they saw me.

“Did you know she moved into my room?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, but it cut through the air like a blade.

Aunt Becca’s eyes darted to Uncle Cael, who looked down at his hands. “Luann, please try to understand,” Aunt Becca began, her tone gentle, almost pleading. “Bridget is expecting. It’s… sensitive. We thought it might be easier if she had the master bedroom while you were away.”

“Easier?” I repeated, my voice rising. “For who? Not for me, that’s for sure. You didn’t even ask me.”

Uncle Cael cleared his throat, still not meeting my eyes. “We’re trying to keep the peace, Luann. This pregnancy is important for the pack. Bridget is the Beta’s daughter, and we don’t want any trouble with the Rosebud Pack. You know how delicate the rivalry can be.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. They were so worried about keeping the peace with the Rosebud Pack that they didn’t care about how it affected me, their own blood. And what did they mean by peace with that pack? We have been enemies for decades already!