Two Mates, One Heart

A Bitter awakening

Gloria was moved to her room, and locked inside. The door only opened when it was time to bring her food, and every time they left the room, the key was used to lock her in. She felt a growing sense of despair, especially since they had taken her phone. She could no longer contact her parents. But what worried her the most was the pain she began feeling in her head. She found herself sleeping more often, unable to keep her eyes open.

Gloria :

I once believed that the worst pain was hearing his voice intertwined with Helen's behind closed doors. But I was naive. I hadn't realized that betrayal could manifest in deeper, more insidious forms.

At first, I thought it was mere exhaustion. I would wake up with a heavy head, my body unwilling to move, sleep overtaking me at every turn, as if trapped in an endless foggy dream. Every attempt to grasp reality would pull me back into an uncontrollable slumber.

Then Eline came.

Her eyes, filled with concern, whispered a truth that shattered my world more than any previous revelation: *Arnold had been drugging me.* The man who professed love, who vowed protection, had been slipping something into my drinks to keep me subdued, disconnected from reality... and from them.

I felt as if my heart had been crushed beneath his feet.

Occasionally, I'd awaken to traces of his scent. He would visit to inhale my aroma, to satiate his wolf's desires while I lay unconscious, powerless. Just a body used to quell his urges, while his heart... belonged to Helen.

Anger surged within me, but I knew better than to reveal it. Eline and I devised a plan. I feigned acceptance, uttering words devoid of emotion. I told him I needed time. His eyes lit up with joy, believing I had returned to being his obedient puppet.

But inside... I was ablaze.

*"I can't take it anymore...*

My body is tired, my mind is foggy, and my heart—my poor heart—is slowly crumbling. Every time I close my eyes, I feel the weight of betrayal. And now I know why.

He was drugging me.

Arnold, the man I thought I could build a future with... was keeping me sedated. Feeding me lies in the form of sweet drinks and poisoned care. I thought the pain I felt, the headaches, the nausea, the heaviness—I thought it was from the bond breaking... but no. It was him. He wanted to keep me quiet, compliant, numb to the truth.

I vowed, with every fiber of my being, to reclaim myself. I would not remain a shadow in a man's life who betrayed me on every level. I would not be the second choice, the dormant body he visited at his convenience.

I would make him regret.

When Eline finally told me the truth, I felt a spark of rage ignite. She told me about the drugs in my drinks, how Arnold wanted to dull my senses, hide his betrayal. He didn’t want me to feel it—feel *them*. Him and Helen. Together.

And now… he’s come to me again.

He said, *'You’ll be moving to the cabin starting next month. I’ll visit you whenever I can. But you must know, I won’t abandon you. I love you too. My wolf loves you. But I love Helen more. She was my first love, and she still owns my heart. You’ll get used to it—with time. You’ll see.'*

Used to it?

He really thinks I can live like this… torn between being his hidden mate and a shadow of a woman. He wants to keep us both, like trophies. But I’m not a consolation prize. I’m not something to get used to.

And if he thinks I’ll accept this fate quietly, he’s forgotten who I truly am."

Finally... I felt the air gently brush my face, no bars, no walls choking my breath. I walked down the corridors as if I had been reborn, as if my steps were reclaiming my ownership of myself. With every breath I took, inside I screamed, "I’m here, free."

But the thrill of freedom didn’t last long... My eyes, despite myself, became fixed on the scene I had always dreaded seeing.

They were there... at the big dining table. Arnold, with all his calm charm, sat surrounded by a sense of contentment, his arm wrapped around her as if she were his precious jewel. And she, Helen, sat on his lap, looking at him with the gaze of a woman who owned the world, while he returned her gaze with tenderness, feeding her from his hand as if she were a spoiled child.

Their laughter, their whispers, the subtle touches that sparked a fire in my chest... every movement was a wound, every smile from him to her was a betrayal played out before me mercilessly.

I watched in silence, my body standing still, but my soul was falling little by little.

The next day, everyone started decorating the grand hall. The music, the white flowers, the shimmering ribbons... a royal party being prepared with pride. I heard the whispers: "The announcement of the upcoming heir... Helen is pregnant with the Alpha."

The hall buzzed with joy, but my heart was drowning in a dark silence.

I looked at Helen. She was smiling, but she didn’t fool me. Behind those bright eyes was a shadow of sorrow... the shadow of a woman who knew she had been rejected once, so she returned to take her revenge. She was carrying the child of the man I loved... the child of the man who was supposed to be mine alone.

-third person:

The hall was lit with warm, vibrant colors, chandeliers hanging from the ceiling like small stars, reflecting the light in a way that made them seem alive. White and blue flowers were delicately spread across the tables, their soft fragrance mixing with the scent of old memories.

A sense of artificial collective happiness filled the air... Laughter echoed, toasts were raised, and congratulations were exchanged, as if everyone was in a lavish dream of loyalty to power and reverence for the future heir.

Then the large door opened.

Arnold entered first, exuding authority, wearing a sleek black suit custom-made for him, with broad shoulders gleaming with the golden emblem of his tribe. His blue eyes shimmered with the cold confidence of one who knew his place, his arm firmly around Helen’s waist.

Helen... She appeared as though she had stepped out of a fairytale. She wore a tight white dress that proudly showcased her pregnant belly, embroidered with golden threads resembling the Tree of Life. Her blonde hair was pulled back, crowned with a silver flower tiara, and her lips wore the serene smile of a conqueror. She walked as if the very ground laid itself before her, as though proclaiming to the world, "I am Luna, and I carry the blood of the royal heir."

The crowd stood and applauded with enthusiasm. Some stepped aside in respect, others bowed, and cheers filled the hall: "Long live Luna! Long live the tribe!"

And among the crowd... there stood Gloria.