My Dearest Mate, How Dare You Cheat On Me?

I looked into his oblivious gaze, and it broke my heart even more. How could he lie so easily, so shamelessly, without a hint of guilt? It was like he was a stranger.

“You’re lying, Deacon. You were with Tara. You took her to a dessert café and bought her a strawberry cake!” I wanted to scream that to his face, but the thought of letting him see me so pathetic kept my mouth shut.

Instead, I took a breath, feigned calm, and squeezed his hand. “You know, honey, I’m suddenly craving a strawberry cake. Could you pick one up for me?” I asked, my voice mimicking the way Tara probably asked for favors. “I want one from Le Blanc on the west side square.”

Annoyance flickered across his face as he pulled his hand away, frustration creeping into his expression.

“Le Blanc’s cakes aren’t anything special. Besides, you’re far along now; you need to watch what you eat.” Standing, he added, “Just hold out a little longer, okay? Call Mom—maybe she can bake you something.”

Without waiting for a response, he muttered, “I’m going to take a shower. I’m exhausted.”

And with that, he left me standing there, alone, outside the room I’d been using on the first floor since my pregnancy started. We’d been sleeping in separate rooms for months, and at first, his excuse—that it was for my and the baby’s safety—seemed reasonable.

But, I wondered how long it had really been since we’d drifted apart. I didn't even notice our bond thinning.

It seemed mate bonds just weren’t what they used to be. Four generations back, they were sacred. Now, people treat them like nothing more than attraction. If I could choose, I’d live in the old days, when mates were bound by something that mattered. Maybe then, I’d be cherished instead of discarded like an old rag.

Swallowing my sobs, I gently stroked my belly and whispered, “Darling, you and I are about to face a tough battle together.”

My gaze shifted to the dining table, where a blinking light caught my attention. It was Deacon’s phone, buzzing with messages. He didn’t even try to hide his infidelity from me; the clues had been too obvious, but I had ignored them all. Did he really think I was that naïve?

I glanced up the stairs, took a deep breath, and waddled over to his phone. It was locked. I tried our birthdays and anniversaries but nothing worked. Then, a string of numbers popped into my mind. My heart raced as I typed in the date from Tara’s ultrasound, hoping it was also a bust.

However, it unlocked. Yet another twist of the knife to my chest.

Biting my lip, I opened his messaging app. I sneered when I saw Tara’s name pinned at the top of his contacts, while mine was buried somewhere down the list. I wasn’t even sad anymore—I just wanted to bash his head in.

“Cheating mutt,” I muttered, scrolling through their messages.

It was sickeningly sweet: “Darling, I miss you,” and “Baby, when will I see you again?” They were so cozy with each other that it made my skin crawl. But I kept my emotions in check, recorded everything, and sent it to my phone.

Next, I opened Deacon’s shopping app. His order history was packed with pregnancy supplements, skincare products, and makeup—all sent to Tara. None of it had ever reached me. To think I was his mate and wife. I took screenshots, then wiped my tracks before placing his phone back exactly where he’d left it.

I waddled back to my room and felt a small movement in my belly as I lay on the bed like my baby was comforting me. I gently stroked my belly, humming softly to calm us both. But the weight of Deacon’s betrayal pressed on my soul, leaving a hollow ache inside me. Seven years together, and this was how he repaid me. What a cruel joke.

Then his phone rang, and I heard him rushing down the stairs to answer it. Through a crack in the door, I watched his face soften as he picked up the call. With a glance in my direction, he stepped out to the patio and closed the door behind him.

I scoffed in disbelief. Does he think I’m deaf, too?

I heightened my hearing, listening in. The first few words made me want to tear his hair out. Deacon’s voice sounded loving, filled with a warmth I hadn’t heard in years, as he spoke to her.

“I know,” he said, almost sighing. “I’ll see you later.”

I rolled onto my side, turning my back to the door as I tried to stifle another sob.

The truth was a bitter pill to swallow, but witnessing it firsthand was agony beyond words.