Chapter 2
1112 Words
Why Courtney of all people? Why the woman who made her entire existence in the pack hell until she married Zane and became Luna.
She thought she was finally free from Courtney’s clutch but it seems fate has designed her happiness to forever remain in the hands of that devious woman.
Astrid stares down at the water overflowing from the bowl, staring at her distorted reflection as her heart clenches in terrible pain at the news Zane broke to her.
He did not even show her a little dignity or respect by telling her privately.
“What is taking you so long with the water? Hurry up!”
Courtney’s yell snaps Astrid out her trance and she wipes the tears pouring down her eyes with the back of her hands and makes her way to the dining room with the bowl of water for Courtney to wash her hands.
She spent the whole day preparing this dinner in hopes that she and Zane would share an intimate moment and that she can break the news of their pregnancy to him but instead she is made to serve him and his future wife the meal she prepared like she is an omega.
Maybe that is what Zane sees her as, an omega. Maybe that is the true reason why he has never shown her any real affection, he sees her as unworthy.
Courtney is the daughter of his father’s beta, a powerful Beta and one of the richest men in the Moonstone pack, she is a much better match but why did Zane wait three years to decide to marry Courtney?
Why did he not just reject her the night he found her as his mate and marry Courtney, what was the need to give her hope and so brutally rip it away from her?
Astrid’s hands tremble as she places the bowl of water on the table in front of Courtney but she is distracted by taking a glance at Zane as she does so and the bowl slips, spilling the water on Courtney.
Before Astrid can even apologise, Courtney smacks her hard across the face.
“You did that on purpose. You b***h!”
Astrid holds her stinging face in shock, glancing at Zane sharply.
“How can you be so clumsy?” Zane almost yells at her, his blue eyes turning ice cold.
The shock on Astrid’s face turns into full blown disbelief and the pain stinging her face is nothing compared to the wanton pain that crushes her heart when Zane scolds her.
“Clumsy is all she knows how to be.”
The words roll off Courtney’s tongue with contempt and she rolls her eyes at Astrid scornfully.
“Get out,” Zane orders coldly in palpable annoyance and irritation.
Astrid purses her lips tightly, fighting back the tears tugging at her eyes as she nods and slowly walks away, her heart shattering into a million pieces.
She is his wife, the Luna of the pack and another woman slaps her over something so trivial in front of him and instead of defending her, he berates her.
She is truly worthless to him.
The tears break forth from her eyes, running down her cheek and she turns back to look at them, only to see Zane help Courtney to her feet, grabbing a napkin and tenderly dabbing the spot where the water spilled on Courtney’s gown, apologising to her.
Astrid sobs deeply, clutching her chest like she can feel a hand squeezing her heart, the tears pouring down her eyes with more force as she runs up the stairs to her room.
For three years she has been married to Zane and not once has he shown her a quarter of the tender affection she just saw him show to Courtney.
She did not even think he was capable of such.
Has she been a fool to be having hope? That somehow as time went by he would fall in love with her as she is in love with him.
Was she stupid to think that being an obedient, dutiful wife and Luna would be enough for him to look upon her with affection?
What will become of her child now? Does she still tell him about it?
Will he even accept the child?
The next thing Astrid feels is a hand tapping her and she groans, rubbing her swollen eyes with the back of her fingers as she opens them, only to see Zane glaring at her.
She must have dozed off from her exhaustion while crying.
“Go and sleep in one of the guest rooms, Courtney and I will sleep here tonight.”
Zane’s cold voice washes over her and she stares wide eyed at him,a wanton pain stabbing furiously at her heart.
He is asking her to leave their matrimonial bed for him and his lover?
Does she really have no dignity in his eyes?
Is this how little he respects her as his wife?
Can he not wait till after the divorce to bring Courtney into his bed?
He is still legally married to her, she is still his wife.
“Did I wrong you Alpha? Why are you doing this to me?” Astrid is forced to ask, trying her best to keep a strong front despite the mess of emotions she feels inside.
“Do not ask me silly questions,” Zane replies coldly, his eyes bereft of any soft emotion. “I told you from the start that this marriage could end at any time. Now– is that time.”
“But I am your mate, the goddess made us for each other,” she says in a sullen tone, broken and confused.
She tries to blink back her tears but they break forth anyway, her heart throbbing in agony.
“The goddess doesn’t determine my fate, Courtney is the woman after my heart and she will be my Luna. Besides, my father rejected his fated mate for my mother and we all know how well they turned out. The mate bond is a joke, now leave,” Zane dismisses her harshly, his tone sharp like spears, piercing her already shattered heart.
Her wolf howls in pain and she stares deeply into his cold blue eyes and she sees no affection whatsoever in them for her.
She purses her lip tightly and nods in agreement, rolling off the bed and leaving the room as Courtney walks in, smiling sinisterly at her.
What will become of her and her child now?
If Zane doesn’t want her, there’s no way he will want anything to do with a child from her.
- Writer
