Two Mates, One Heart

Betrayal of the Soul

In recent days, everything had changed. Arnold, who once considered Gloria his favorite companion, began to drift away—not overtly, but gradually, as if his heart was being drawn elsewhere. He would sometimes laugh with Helen, go out with her, and occasionally disappear to other places. There was something strange in his eyes, something that made Gloria's heart uneasy. Despite her deep love for him, she felt that something was changing in him, something that wasn't in her favor.

That night, Arnold decided to put everything on the line. In the heat of his burning emotions, he was drawn to Helen, just as he had always wanted. Helen found the perfect way to captivate him. With a touch, a word, a charming smile, Arnold was ensnared in her trap, unable to retreat.

He didn't hesitate when he kissed her, unable to restrain his desires. He breathed her in; she was the only one on his mind, and without hésitation he marked her. suddenly, he stopped when He heard a scream from afar—a sharp cry filled with pain.

He opened the door quickly, his heart pounding unnaturally fast. His eyes scanned the darkness until they fell upon Gloria. She was lying on the floor, unconscious, her face pale, her eyes closed as if life had left her. He felt a heavy weight in his chest, something he hadn't anticipated. Gloria, whom he had kept in his heart, was bleeding invisible pain.

He quickly carried her in his arms, his eyes filled with regret. But the pain was more than he could bear. He couldn't believe what he had done. How could he destroy everything between them so easily? How had he become a traitor in this moment?

He took her to the hospital, where he stayed with her for a while. Time passed slowly, each second feeling like a death sentence for his conscience. But he felt something else—a strange feeling creeping into his heart when Helen appeared behind him, her face bright with an ambiguous smile.

"Arnold, come on, leave her now. Gloria is no longer your mate. I'm here now, and I'm what you need," she said in a calm voice that touched his torn heart. Her words meant more than he thought, but they cut his soul like knives. There was a silent moment between them before he could utter a word.

He stood there, surrounded by pain and conflicting emotions. In his heart, he knew that Gloria didn't deserve this pain. But he was so enamored and attached to Helen that he could no longer think clearly. Yet, when he looked at Gloria, he felt a deep sting in his heart, as if the entire world had vanished in that moment.

Helen, calmly, led him away from Gloria's room. She brought him back into her own world, where he no longer needed his past. "Arnold, I'm here now," she said again, and there was something tragic in her words—something like an irrevocable promise.

But in his heart, deep down, he knew he was no longer the person he once was. He knew that betrayal wasn't just an act against another, but against himself as well.

Disappointment engulfed him, but there was nothing he could do to change it. He wished things were different, that he had the strength to face himself and his conflicting emotions. But now, there was no turning back.

After twenty-four hours, Gloria opened her eyes to a ceiling and walls as white as snow, just like her heart.

"Gloria," a voice called her name. She turned her eyes to find her friend Elin.

"My dear, you're finally awake. How do you feel now?"

"Like a train ran over me, to put it clearly," Gloria replied.

"I'm so happy you're okay. We thought you..." Elin trailed off.

"How long have I been in the hospital?" Gloria asked.

"A whole day," Elin answered.

"Did you spend the entire day by my side? Didn't Arnold come to check on me?" Gloria asked.

Elin sighed deeper. "My dear, you need to talk. You can't keep going on like this."

"I know, Elin. I was heading to his room to talk when I heard them. They were in the middle of their affair, and then I felt a sharp pain in my lower stomach, then my neck, and after that, I lost consciousness."

"Oh my God, how could he do this to you?"

Just then, the door slammed open, revealing Arnold, who entered the room. "Elin, leave us alone," Arnold commanded.

"Okay, I'm happy you're okay, Gloria. I'll go now," Elin said, walking out.

After Elin closed the door, Arnold turned to Gloria.

"Gloria, how do you feel?"

Gloria closed her eyes, overwhelmed by her stressed nerves. "I'm not okay, if that's what you care about."

"I wanted to apologize. I didn't think clearly before..."

"Before you slept with her, or before you marked her as your own?" Gloria asked, looking into Arnold's eyes.

"Tell me, why did you do this? If you didn't want me anymore, you should have rejected me, not make me live through the pain of betrayal... You know... you are worse than my first partner. At least he did his duty and rejected me. But you..."

"Gloria, please forgive me. You know I love Helen. I told you before."

"No, you didn't tell me. You told me you accepted me as your mate... You told me you'd love me for the rest of our lives... You told me you'd marry me... You told me I helped you get over Helen, and that we’d be the happiest couple on earth... Haha... Oh my God, overnight I turned into the saddest partner on earth."

"Gloria, we can work this out... Yes, Helen will be the Luna, but we can live together. We'll be happy, believe me. You’re my mate, I can't let go of you. And my wolf can’t let go of you either".

end of chapter seventeen