Marked By My Ex-Husband's Rival

Caleb - The Chosen One

ARIA POV



The silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating. The only sound in the room was the faint ticking of the clock on the wall, marking each agonizing second. Caleb sat across from me, his posture relaxed, as if he hadn’t just ripped my world apart. His fingers lazily traced the rim of his glass, completely unaffected by my presence.

I had calmed down, or at least, I told myself I had. My tears had dried, my breathing had steadied, but the weight on my chest hadn’t lifted. I couldn’t bear sitting in silence any longer, pretending this was normal.

"What’s your plan?" I asked with a normal tone.

Caleb exhaled as if he had been waiting for this question. “I’ll be filing for divorce.” His tone was casual, as if discussing a business transaction rather than ending our marriage. “As for unmarking you, I’ll have to speak to the village chief about finding an alternative method.”

I knew why. The traditional way for a werewolf to remove a mate’s mark was by sleeping together one last time, an act that symbolized severing the bond completely. But Caleb didn’t even want to touch me now. The thought of lying with me again must have repulsed him.

I didn’t ask why he was avoiding the traditional method. I already knew the answer, and I refused to humiliate myself any further. I had already asked enough questions, had already begged for an explanation that would never justify his betrayal.

My self-esteem had been stomped on enough for one night.

“Okay,” I whispered. There was nothing else to say.

Without another word, I stood up and walked toward the guest room. My legs felt heavy, but I refused to stumble. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing how broken I was.

The moment the door shut behind me, I collapsed onto the bed, curling into myself as silent tears slid down my face.

This was it.

The end of everything I had ever known.

CALEB POV



The night air was crisp as I stepped out of the house, inhaling deeply as if the cold breeze could wash away the weight on my shoulders. The dimly lit path to the chief’s house stretched ahead of me, quiet and undisturbed.

Aria had taken the news better than I expected. She had been shocked at first, but she didn’t cry or scream like I had feared. Instead, she had accepted it—almost too calmly. Maybe, like me, she had realized that whatever we had was no longer love.

Maybe I had mistaken our deep friendship for something more.

When I reached the chief’s house, I found him sitting in his usual spot, his expression unreadable. Selene stood beside him, her presence warm and reassuring. I walked in, sitting across from them as I got straight to the point.

“She was shocked at first,” I said, answering the question in the chief’s eyes. “She asked questions, but she calmed down quickly. I think… her feelings for me have faded with time.” The words felt odd on my tongue, but I forced them out. “I believe Selene is my real mate. As the successor of your position as the village head, I will follow my heart and marry Selena—even if it means hurting Aria.” I let out a breath before continuing. “Or maybe I mistook our deep friendship for love in the first place.”

Selene’s brows furrowed slightly, and she spoke in a soft voice. “I feel bad that she had to see us together like that. It must have been painful for her.”

I glanced at her, shaking my head. “She needed to see it,” I replied. “Otherwise, she would never believe it. Aria has always been dense when it comes to emotions—she wouldn’t have truly accepted it unless she saw it with her own eyes.”

The chief leaned forward slightly, his eyes sharp as he studied me. “And the mark? Have you decided how you want to remove it? Did you find anything?"

I nodded. “I didn't find anything useful in the library. what about you, chief? Did you find a way?”

The chief exhaled, rubbing his chin before he spoke. “There is a way. It’s painful but effective. A burning iron rod will be placed over the mark to burn away the skin. Once it’s gone, the bond will break completely.”

I frowned. “Is there no other way? What if we tear the skin off after making her unconscious? That way, she won’t feel the pain and we cann use the healing potion to heal her skin.” No matter what, Aria and I had grown up together. I didn’t want to hurt her more than necessary. I knew that if the burning iron rod which is made up of a special kind of iron is placed on her boy, she will feel pain from time to time and her scar will never disappear.

The chief shook his head. “The burn isn’t just for removing the mark—it also breaks the emotional shackles created by it. Without this process, she may still feel the bond, even if she tries to move on.”

Selene, who had been quiet for a moment, finally spoke up. “What about her future? What will happen to her?”

I looked at her, then at the chief. “I have something in mind,” I said. “I’ll tell you when the time is right.”

The chief nodded. “The process can be done while she’s unconscious if that’s what you prefer.”

“Good,” I said. “Then we’ll do it in two days.”

That was when the divorce papers would arrive from the council that managed werewolf marriages. Once Aria signed them, we would proceed.

The chief gave me a firm nod before turning back toward his house, disappearing behind the wooden door. The moment he was gone, I felt warm arms wrap around me from behind.

“Caleb,” Selene whispered, resting her head against my back. “Do you think Aria will misunderstand? That she’ll think you’re marrying me just because I’m the chief’s daughter?”

I sighed, turning in her embrace to face her. Her golden eyes shimmered in the dim torchlight, uncertainty flickering in them. I lifted a hand to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear before speaking.

“I don’t care what she thinks,” I said simply. “Sooner or later, she’ll understand the truth—that you and I are fated mates, that this is how things were always meant to be. I will be the village chief, the king of this land, and you will be my Luna.”

Selene studied me for a moment, then nodded. A small smile played on her lips before she leaned in, pressing a soft kiss against mine. It was sweet, unhurried, filled with the quiet promise of our future together.

When we finally pulled apart, I exhaled and glanced toward the path leading back home.

Everything I said was true.

Whether or not I married Selene, my fate was already written in the stars. I would become the next king of this village—the Moon Goddess herself had chosen me. The divine will had been revealed under the moonlight at the sacred statue, marking me as the rightful successor. There was no need for me to lower myself or sell my worth to the chief. My destiny was sealed the moment the Goddess made her choice.

And as for Aria…

There was nothing left between us. Not love, not even the deep bond we once mistook for something more. Perhaps a shallow friendship remained, nothing more than the remnants of spending years together. But even that would fade with time.

I took one last glance at Selene before heading back.

Two more days. And then, everything would be set in stone.