Between Secrets and Seduction

Just another night

Natasha entered the pack house after leaving Layla for the night. She stomped her way upstairs to the grand master bedroom her and her chosen mate, Daniel, shared on rare occasions. She stopped and winced roughly at the lewd sounds behind the door. She sighed and put a hand to her chest, wishing she could even feel the betrayal going on behind that ornate wooden door. Natasha's eyes stared at it, willing it open to no avail. A silent, shaky, breath escaped her lips as she walked away. She knew it was his favorite pastime, 'w***e hunting' he called it. She wished she hadn't rejected her true mate before even meeting them. She wished she had been patient enough for the blessing of the Moon Goddess.

Natasha hit the last step and stood on the first floor of the huge house while feeling more alone than ever. Her eyes trailed over all the expensive furnishings in the grand hall-styled entrance. It used to look beautiful to her. These days the memory of the price tags just feels hollow. With a heavy sigh, she turns from the sight and heads for the expansive kitchen to pour herself a glass of red wine. The sounds of giggles descending the stairs forced her to stop. She had no desire to deal with one of Daniel's 'new secretaries'. Even so she placed her hip to the kitchen counter and waited for whatever excuse would come this time.

Almost on cue, Daniel and another woman entered the kitchen. Daniel nor this new woman even looked Natasha's way. Natasha felt one of her eyebrows threatening to leave her hair line with how far it shot up. "Having fun, Dear?" She drawled slowly whilst swirling her wine glass in feigned boredom. Daniel nearly tripped as he looked at his wife with an incredulous look upon his face. "Why are you here?" He asked gruffly. Natasha felt her temper rising but she forced a smile. "Why wouldn't I come to my own home, dear?

The other woman tugged on Daniel's robe sleeve, whispering something to him. Daniel nodded, and sighed but smiled so lovingly at this woman that Natasha felt bile rise in her throat. Daniel turned to his wife with eyes cold as ice as he spoke, "I need to speak with you, rather, we do." He gestured to the younger woman beside him. "You may want to find a chair, Natasha." She frowned as she looked between the pair with curiosity. She did not find a chair, nor did she put down her glass of red wine. She didn't feel anything really, and it surprised her. "You found your true mate, didn't you, Daniel?" Natasha said rather matter-of-fact, as she sized up the younger girl. "And you're going to reject me now, correct?"

Daniel didn't even blush as he confirmed her words, "Yes, Natasha. Sally is my true mate and I plan to reject you and mate her as the Goddess has finally put us together!" Natasha barked out a cruel laugh as she shook her head. "What happened to the man who didn't want a real mate because they could be used against an Alpha as a weakness?" Daniel cringed as his words were thrown callously into his own face from years ago. "That's because- I never-" He growled and balled up his fists. Every next word bitten off, "I had absolutely no belief in what the elders used to say, and I was a fool for it!" He stared at Natasha as if seeing her for the first time, "You would do the same if you met your true mate," His words had softened, as if trying to convince her of the idea.

Natasha sighed and waved her hand with annoyance more than anger. "This is why we had a prenuptial signed, right? Because we might find our mate." Daniel nods with slow deliberation as he remembers the prenuptial agreement. His current wife had been worth so much more, financially speaking, than he had. In fact, most everything in this pack had been financed or bought by Natasha. He sighed slowly as he tried to pull a racing thought out of his mind. "The prenuptial agreement, I had honestly forgotten all about it." He finally admitted.

Natasha sets down her glass and reached into her business suit pocket to pull out the lawyer card. She offers it to Daniel with a sad smile. "You should probably speak to Mr. Berhman, Daniel. We have a long road ahead of us." She turned to the young girl, "Sally, was it? You need to start taking up Luna training. Tomorrow morning go see Miranda. She is my second in command and Beta Kyle's wife. She will get you on the fast track on that side of things." She pulled herself up to her full height and looked at them both, "The bank accounts will be frozen tomorrow morning, Daniel. Please, for the love of the Goddess, don't do anything that could get you or your mate in trouble."

Daniel's jaw fell open as he stared at Natasha in disbelief. "You can't," She held up a thin hand to interrupt him, "I damn near own you as well as all the pack lands. You don't tell me what to do. I will be civil with it all as long as you don't try to make a fool of me, deal?" She then held her hand out as if this were any other old business transaction, smirking when Daniel shook her hand obediently. "I think I'll go back home to be with my daughter. Good night, kids." She spun on her heel and grabbed her purse, her jacket, and went to her car. Daniel just stared at his hand and then his mate, Sally. Sally could only return the favor.

Natasha squealed her tires and laughed as she gunned her car out of the pack house driveway. She could taste the freedom. She could finally do what she wanted without Daniel telling her that every idea she had was a misplaced idea, or a horrible idea. She hit the highway to the mountain vacation home where Layla was still at. She reached to her radio and turned up the song that was playing. The wind stole her voice out of the car as she half screamed, half sung with the song as she sped down the highway. Her eyes were stinging. She didn't know if it was the night air rushing through her window, or if it was the suddenness of what had just happened at the pack house.