My Ex Husband Enemy is my Mate

Chapter 3

Donna

I rinsed my mouth with the cold water from the sink and splashed my face untill the redness faded. My stomach still churned, but the humiliation was worse. I couldn't even look at myself in the mirror without feeling shame.

When I stepped out, Blanco was waiting near the bed, his arms folded loosely, his expression unreadable.

“I need to go,” I said, my voice hoarse.

He straightened. “Go?, in this state? Donna, you can barely stand without trembling.”

“I’ll be fine.” I grabbed my bag from the chair, and slung it over my shoulder. “I shouldn't have come here in the first place. This was a mistake.”

“No. The mistake is thinking you can keep running back to that man after everything he’s done to you. He is a loser, why can't you see that?”

I froze, his words slicing too close. “Don't” I whispered sharply. “You don't get to talk about my marriage like that. You don't even know me.”

“I know you more than he does.” I snapped.

“You don't know about my marriage!” I snapped.

“Marriage?” He scoffed, stepping closer. “You call that marriage? He parrades his affair in front of you, he humiliates you, even with your own blood, and you still defend him? Donna, that's not marriage. That's a slow death and I want to believe a woman as intelligent as you is smarter than that.

Anger flared in me, hot and quick. I glared at him, my hands shaking. “Thank you for the ride Mr Blanco but I can handle my life”

He flinched slightly at the way I said his name. Formal. Cold. He looked disappointed, almost hurt, but he didn't push further. He only muttered. “Fine, if you want to walk back into your cage, that's on you”

I clenched my jaw, refusing to answer. I turned and left the room, forcing myself nor to look back.

The hotel lobby buzzed with chatter from guests in elegant gowns and tuxedos, the aftermath of the event, still in full swings. I slipped past them, hugging myself. Why did I feel so torn? Blanco wasn't wrong about Marc, yet hearing him saying it out loud, made me feel exposed, as though he had read my private shame.

I stepped outside, waiting near the curb for a cab. My chest rose and fell heavily, my mind replaying everything. The kiss. The way my body had leaned into his without thinking. The way his words still echoed inside me.

Why was I so drawn to him? Why had I always noticed him at events, even before tonight? He was Marc's rival, the one Wolf I should never have let close. Yet, here I was craving the warmth of his arms when I should have been running.

I pressed my hand against my forehead. No. I won't stoop to Marc's level. I won't cheat. I won't become the same kind of liar he is.

The decision felt clear, but reality didn't care about clarity. My eyes widened as I reached for my bag and realized my purse was gone. My ID. My money. My phone. All of it.

“Oh no.” I whispered. Panic rising. I thought back and realized exactly where I had left it, in that bathroom, the same bathroom where I had caught Marc.

My throat tightened. As if that wasn't enough, a low rumble of thunder rolled across the sky. A cold droplet splashed against my cheek, then another, and then the rain came pouring down.

I gasped, pulling my arms around myself as the water soaked my dress within seconds. My hair clung to my face, mascara stinging my eyes. Of all nights, it had to be this one.

With no umbrella, no purse and no idea where else to go, I turned back toward the hotel.

Blanco was still in his suite when I knocked. He opened the door quickly, as though he had been expecting me. The moment he saw me, dripping wet and shivering, his expression softened into something that looked almost like relief.

“Come inside”, he said pulling me in before I could change my mind.

“I dropped my purse” I murmured, embarrassed. “And I didn't have anywhere else to go”

He nodded without teasing, handling me a towel. “I figured you'd be back”

I narrowed my eyes. “Don't be smug”

He chuckled softly. “Not smug. Just glad you didn't try to face this night alone.”

I dried my hair, avoiding his gaze. He set a cup of tea on the table in front of me.

“You should change out of that dress” he said gently. “I can call the front desk to bring something up”

I shook my head. “No, there won't be any rooms left, not with this event. I’ll just wait for the rain to stop and then leave.”

His brow furrowed, but he didn't argue. “Then stay here tonight, at least until morning.”

I hesitated, then finally nodded.

“Fine. But only because I don't have a choice.”

He smiled faintly. “Sometimes, no choice is the best choice.”

Later after I’d changed into one of his extra shirts and leggings the hotel provided, we both sat on the edge of the large bed. The rain still pattered against the window, steady and soft almost like background music.

I tried to pretend I was comfortable, but the silence was thick. My heart kept pulling me toward him, but my head reminded me of my vows, of the mess waiting at home.

I thought he had fallen asleep when his voice broke the quiet. “You're crying”

I stiffened, realizing the tears had slipped down my cheeks without me noticing. I quickly wiped them away. “I'm fine”

“No, you're not” His hand reached across the sheets, brushing against mine. “You don't have to pretend with me”

My breath shook. “I don't even know why I'm like this. I should hate myself for being here.”

“You're here because you needed somewhere safe,” he said softly. “That's all”

I swallowed, my chest aching. His voice was too kind, too patient. Everything I had dreamed about for years.

The mattress shifted as he moved closer. I felt his arm circle around me, gentle but steady, pulling me against his chest. I didn't resist. For once, I let myself be held.

And in that monent, I didn't feel like Marc's wife or the Alpha's shadow. I just felt like a woman who was finally being seen.

I closed my eyes, my tears soaking into his shirt as he tightened his embrace.

“Sleep” he murmured. “I’ll keep you safe tonight, love. Leave your worries to me “

And for the first time in years, I believed someone when they said that.