My Dearest Mate, How Dare You Cheat On Me?

A few minutes later, I heard Deacon tiptoe into my room. I lay still, pretending to sleep, unwilling to face him. My skin crawled as he sat behind me, his hand resting on my belly while his fingers gently brushed through my hair.

In a soft voice, he whispered, “Honey, the Alpha has an urgent errand for me. I need to head back to the pack mansion.”

What a load of crap. Did he really think I was stupid? Who would buy that he was talking to the Alpha with that sweet, affectionate tone?

I turned my head, meeting his gaze, clinging to the last shred of hope I had left. “I don’t feel well,” I murmured, my voice barely a whisper. “Could you stay?”

For a second, I let myself believe that if he stayed instead of rushing off to that skank, maybe—just maybe—I could try to forgive him. But then, I remembered: trust is fragile. Like a shattered vase, once broken, it can never be truly whole again.

As expected, he forced a smile, trying to appear sympathetic. “Sweetheart, it’s the Alpha’s orders. I can’t ignore them.” He paused. “I’ll call Mom to come stay with you, okay?”

A wave of nausea rolled over me, and goosebumps pricked my skin. Still, I forced out the words, “Drive safe.”

I lay there in silence as he got dressed and left. After a moment, I got up slowly, holding my belly, and made my way downstairs. Outside, I hailed a taxi.

“Riverstone, Downtown,” I told the driver, my voice firm.

The driver sped through the streets, and just as we pulled up, I saw Deacon’s car arrive. My stomach twisted as I asked the driver to park behind a tree. From the back seat, I watched as Tara practically floated into his arms, like some delicate butterfly.

He caught her tenderly, his hand resting on her flat stomach. His expression softened, and with a playful look, he tapped her nose, like she was the only person in the world that mattered.

I cradled my belly, my free hand trembling as I pulled out my phone, switching it to video mode. I watched through the screen, my lips quivering, as Deacon lifted her into the passenger seat and carefully buckled her seatbelt, his gestures so gentle, so caring. The kind I once believed was reserved for his mate, me.

My eyes stung, but I fought back the tears. I couldn’t fall apart now.

“Sir, follow that car,” I whispered, my voice barely steady.

We tailed their car as it climbed onto the overpass, neon lights flashing through the window. I sat there in a daze, my nails digging into the door handle until they split. The sharp pain grounded me, and I brought my bleeding fingers to my mouth, biting down hard.

I kept repeating to myself, “Annette, hold on. The pain will pass.” But I wasn't sure how long that would be or if I could handle that alone.

Finally, we arrived at Evergreen General Hospital. I hurriedly stepped out to follow them, but the driver, who had been silent the entire ride, suddenly spoke up, his voice surprisingly gentle. “Miss, please, take care of yourself. For the baby’s sake, don’t harm yourself.”

Since discovering Deacon’s affair, I hadn’t told a single soul. The secret felt like poison, corroding me from the inside. Somehow, the kindness of this stranger felt like fresh air, grounding me, and pulling me back from the edge.

I closed the car door softly and managed a small, grateful smile. “Don’t worry, sir. No one can hurt me anymore.” I took a deep breath. “Because I’m ready to throw the trash where it belongs.”