My Dearest Mate, How Dare You Cheat On Me?

I watched Deacon take care of this she-wolf while hiding behind a pillar. He hadn’t been to a single prenatal check-up with me this entire pregnancy, always claiming he was “too busy with pack duties.” But here he was, darting around the hospital, picking up medication, helping another woman in and out of appointments—like the perfect mate.

At that moment, I realized it wasn’t that he was busy. He just didn’t want to make the effort for the mate he’d been bound to for seven years.

Deacon held her close in the bustling hospital lobby, his voice gentle as he reminded her, “The doctor said you need to eat less tonight and stay active. Early pregnancy digestion can be tough, so let’s try to follow their advice this time, okay?”

“Aww, fine,” she replied with a playful pout. “But it’s your fault! You got me all those desserts!”

“Alright, alright, I’ll take the blame,” he said, smiling as he brushed a stray lock of her hair back. “It’s all on me for making my sweetheart eat too much, okay?”

“That’s better.” She smirked and tugged at his arm. “Fine, I’ll forgive you... this time.”

They were so casual, like a true mated pair, their bond seemed inseparable as they stood there laughing together. Watching them, I felt like a stranger in my own life, invisible under the harsh, cold lights of the hospital.

With a heavy heart, I cradled my belly and turned to leave. Outside, the rain had started up, falling in cold sheets against the pavement. The chill autumn wind whipped around me, stinging against my face. As I stepped out into the rain, I witnessed Deacon draping his coat over his lover's shoulders, shielding her from the downpour as he helped her into the passenger seat.

She grinned up at him, grabbing his tie to pull him in for a kiss. He leaned down and kissed her deeply, standing there with the rain coming down on them both. When they finally pulled apart, Deacon tapped her nose playfully. Tara tugged on his tie again in retaliation, biting his lip just a little too hard.

I thought Deacon would blow up at her because he never liked that kind of needy gesture when I did it, but Deacon just smiled, looking pleased. He climbed into the car, looking like the very picture of bliss, as if this was all perfectly natural for him. Just before the car pulled away, Tara rolled down her window, locking eyes with mine.

She smirked at me, with smugness as if to say, “Annette, you’ve lost.”

I felt a strange calm settle over me. I shook my head slowly. “It’s okay, Annette,” I whispered to myself. “He’s just a man, nothing more.”

As the car turned the corner, I raised my hand in a wave, as if bidding farewell to a ghost. “Deacon, I don’t want you anymore. You’re hers now.”

With that decision, standing alone under the hospital awning, I pulled out my phone. Calmly, I sent every piece of evidence I’d gathered to my friend, a respected lawyer known throughout the anthropomorphic society for her prowess in securing ironclad dissolution deals. I was going to carve out the best future I could for my child, no matter what.

By the time I finished, the rain had soaked the hem of my dress. But I barely noticed. Just as I slipped my phone back into my bag, it rang. It was Mom.

“Annette! Dean texted me so I made some soup for you and brought it to the house. Where are you and Dean? Why's nobody home?” Her voice was warm, full of love and concern.

Before I could answer, she kept going, “Oh, that Dean! You’re this far along, and he’s still taking you out? You really need to take it easy now. What if you ran into an accident?”

Hearing her voice felt like a punch to the chest. All the pain, the anger, everything I’d been holding back, threatened to spill over, tightening in my chest. I bit down on my lip, fighting the sob rising in my throat. My body shivered from holding it all in.

I forced a smile, even though she couldn’t see it. “Don’t worry, Mom,” I managed. “I was craving for something so Dean took me out.” I swallowed hard, struggling to keep my voice steady. “Yeah, we’re being careful. Dean’s right here with me.”

I couldn’t let her hear me cry. I had to keep it together.

“It’s raining, Mom,” I added, “so drive home safely, okay? Text me when you get there.”

I ended the call quickly before my voice could crack. As soon as the line went silent, I let out a shaky breath, and the tears started falling. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t hold them back anymore.

I stood there, clutching my heavy belly as I cried alone in the pouring rain, surrounded by strangers bustling in and out of the hospital. And in that cold, indifferent world, I cried until I couldn’t cry, no more.