MATED TO MY SON'S BEST FRIEND

Chapter 5: My Son’s Betrayal

Aurora POV

Elijah leaned against the headboard, a contented smile on his face as I rested against him. The warmth between us was undeniable, the culmination of weeks of stolen moments and feelings finally unleashed. I had made my choice—I would give in to the bond I could no longer deny.

“I still can’t believe this is real,” Elijah murmured, his fingers tracing gentle patterns along my arm.

I sighed, my emotions a blend of joy and worry. “It is, but it’s also terrifying. I’ve thought about this so much, Elijah. I want to be with you, but... how long are we going to keep this from Ethan? Hiding like this, like we’re teenagers sneaking around—it’s exhausting.”

Elijah’s smile faltered, his expression turning thoughtful. “I know. I’ve been thinking about it too. But we need to find the right moment. Ethan needs to understand—”

“That we’ve been lying to him?” I interrupted, sitting up slightly. My fingers fidgeted with the edge of the blanket as unease filled me. “Elijah, if he finds out like this, it will crush him. He won’t take this lightly.”

Elijah reached for my hand, his voice steady. “I know. I don’t want to hurt him, Aurora. But hiding this isn’t fair to us either. We’ll talk to him. Soon.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but the sound of the front door slamming shut downstairs froze me in place. My heart skipped a beat as the unmistakable sound of Ethan’s heavy footsteps echoed through the house.

“Ethan’s home early,” I whispered, panic surging through me as I scrambled to get out of bed.

Elijah was already on his feet, pulling on his shirt. “Stay calm,” he said quietly, though I could hear the tension in his voice.

Before either of us could make a move, the bedroom door flew open.

Ethan stood in the doorway, his face a storm of shock, anger, and disbelief. His eyes darted between Elijah and me, taking in the disheveled bed, the undeniable intimacy between us.

“What the hell is this?” Ethan’s voice was sharp, each word cutting through the air like a blade.

I froze, my mouth opening and closing as I tried to find the words to explain the unexplainable. “Ethan, I... we—”

“You what?” Ethan snapped, stepping into the room. His gaze locked onto Elijah, a fire burning in his eyes. “You and my mom? Are you kidding me?”

“Ethan, calm down,” Elijah began, his hands raised in a placating gesture. “I can explain—”

“Explain?” Ethan cut him off, his voice rising. “What’s there to explain? You’re my best friend, Elijah! My best friend! And you’re here, in my mother’s bed? Are you out of your mind?”

“Ethan, please,” I pleaded, my voice trembling. “This isn’t how I wanted you to find out. I... we were going to tell you.”

Ethan let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “Tell me? When? After you’d been sneaking around behind my back for months? How long has this been going on?”

I hesitated, and my silence said more than I ever could.

Ethan turned back to Elijah, his voice trembling with rage and hurt. “You were supposed to have my back. We’re brothers, Elijah. And this is how you repay me?”

Elijah stepped forward, his voice firm but tinged with regret. “Ethan, I didn’t plan for this to happen. Believe me, I tried to fight it. But the bond—”

“The bond?” Ethan scoffed, his laugh bitter and hollow. “Don’t give me that mate-bond nonsense. You’re using it as an excuse to justify betraying me!”

“It’s not an excuse,” Elijah said quietly. “It’s the truth. I love her, Ethan. I love your mom.”

The room fell silent, his confession hanging heavy in the air. Ethan stared at him, his jaw clenching as his fists curled at his sides.

I stepped forward, my eyes pleading. “Ethan, please try to understand. This isn’t about choosing between you and Elijah. You’re my son, and I love you more than anything. But I couldn’t ignore what I feel for him. I—”

Ethan raised his hand, cutting me off. “Stop,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. His gaze locked on mine, filled with pain and betrayal. “I can’t believe this. I can’t believe you would do this to me.”

“Ethan, please,” I begged, my voice breaking.

But he shook his head, stepping back toward the door. “Don’t,” he said, his tone hardening. “Don’t try to justify this. You’ve already made your choice.”

He turned to Elijah, his voice icy. “And you? You were supposed to be my brother. You were supposed to have my back, not stab me in it.”

“Ethan,” Elijah started, but Ethan cut him off with a glare.

“Don’t,” Ethan snapped. “Just don’t.”

Without another word, he stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. The sound echoed through the house, leaving Elijah and me standing in the deafening silence.

I sank onto the bed, burying my face in my hands as sobs wracked my body. Elijah stood frozen, his fists clenched at his sides, his wolf’s low growl filling the space.

“This is exactly what I was afraid of,” I whispered through my tears. “I’ve lost him, Elijah. I’ve lost my son.”

Elijah knelt beside me, his hand resting gently on my shoulder. “You haven’t lost him, Aurora. He’s angry, yes, but he’ll come around. He just needs time.”

I looked up at him, my eyes filled with despair. “What if he doesn’t? What if he never forgives me? I can’t lose him, Elijah. I can’t.”

Elijah pulled me into his arms, holding me close as I cried. “We’ll fix this,” he said softly, his voice steady despite the turmoil I knew he felt. “I don’t know how yet, but we’ll fix this. I promise.”

But even as he said the words, doubt lingered in the back of my mind. Ethan’s anger had been raw, his betrayal palpable. Repairing the bond between mother and son—and between best friends—felt like an impossible task.