Found my Lycan Brothers

Chapter 3

Sloane's POV

I stared at Zane, my heart hammering in my chest, waiting for his response. The air between us crackled with tension.

His face hardened, a mask of disbelief settling over his features.

After a long, agonizing pause, his brows knitted together, and a flicker of scorn laced with venom flashed in his eyes. "Is this your new trick?" he spat.

I shook my head, desperation clawing at my throat.

"No, it's not... I'm telling the tru..."

Before I could finish, his hand shot out, gripping my face with bruising force.

His silver eyes blazed with fury, the edges of his irises bleeding crimson. "You think you can use pregnancy to keep your Luna position? Wake up, Sloane. You still need to answer for what you did three years ago."

He was still hung up on Evelynn's Silver Bane poisoning, convinced I was the villain. For the woman he believed to be his true mate, he was ready to condemn me to an eternity of punishment.

A pained whimper escaped me as I struggled against his grip.

"I've never lied to you, Sander... not then, not now..."

I poured every ounce of my heart into those words, begging him to hear me, to believe me, even if just for a moment.

"I don't trust a word you say." His teeth ground together, his gaze dripping with disgust. "Listen closely—even if you are pregnant, I won't let that pup live."

His words landed like a sledgehammer. He released me and turned, stalking toward the stairs.

I slumped against the cold wall, my heart sinking into a frozen abyss.

He'd made his stance clear. He didn't want our child.

My last shred of hope crumbled to dust.

Pain tore through me; an unrelenting tide of despair drowned me.

I watched as Zane knocked and entered Evelyn's room. Soon, her sweet laughter echoed through the hallway. The sound was piercing to my ears.

The sound was a knife, twisting in my gut.

Fourteen years of devotion, three years as mates, our happy home... and even our child—all of it meant nothing compared to Evelyn's single lie.

That was how much he loved her.

And me? I was nothing but a fool, a pathetic obstacle in their fairy-tale romance.

I knew, with chilling certainty, that I had been unwanted all along.

I wiped my tears, forcing myself to stand on trembling legs. I shuffled to my room and began to pack my stuff.

It was the same cramped servant's quarters I'd lived in since I was seven, even after becoming Luna of the Fullmoon Pack. I'd never been granted a proper room, a proper place in his world.

My belongings were pitifully few.

In no time, I'd packed a worn suitcase, ready to leave this life behind.

Just as I prepared to go, my phone buzzed. It was my aunt, Emily Boyd, her voice bubbling with excitement.

"Oh Sloane, you should be the happiest woman alive! What could you possibly have to regret? Well, besides those terrible foster parents of yours."

"What... What do you mean?" I asked, confusion swirling in my mind.

I'd never told Emily about my struggles.

She believed Zane and I were a perfect couple, blissfully in love.

I was a rogue, abandoned at three and taken in by Waylon and Rhoda Ashford, my foster parents. They'd raised me, but not as a daughter. They treated me like a servant, giving me food and a roof but never love.

They forced me to work, even when I was running a fever. Only Emily, Rhoda's kind-hearted sister, had ever shown me warmth. She was my only family, and I couldn't bear to burden her with my pain.

In her mind, I was living a charmed life.

"Listen," Emily gushed, "I've been working with a supremely wealthy  gentleman to track down your roots. We've gone through every detail, even your DNA. And we did it, Sloane! We found your family! You have six brothers!"

"What?" My hand tightened around the phone, my heart pounding so hard it hurt.

"Six brothers!" she exclaimed, her joy infectious. "Three biological, three adopted. They're dying to meet you. They're on their way to..."

Her words were cut off by a harsh shout. "Emily, move your lazy ass and get back to scrubbing the stairs!"

Emily's employer, a tyrant of a woman, was yelling at her again. Emily wasn't allowed personal calls during work hours.

The line went dead.

I stared at the darkening screen, my mind reeling.

I couldn't believe what I just heard.

Did Emily say she found my family? Six brothers?

How could that happen to me?

It felt impossible, like a fever dream born of my pain.

I was an abandoned orphan, always alone.

The idea of having brothers or even a family seemed too good to be true.

I believed it had to be a mistake.

I couldn't let myself believe in miracles anymore.

I pocketed the phone and dragged my suitcase toward the door.

Then, I took one last look at the room I'd called home for fourteen years. Memories flickered, moments of laughter, pain, fleeting sweetness, and endless sorrow, before dissolving like smoke……

A tear slid down my cheek.

I turned, resolute.

Goodbye, Fullmoon Pack.

Goodbye, Zane.

Everything was finally over.

I meant to slip away quietly, but as I stepped into the hall, Evelynn sauntered past, fresh from a shower, her damp hair clinging to her shoulders.

She spotted my suitcase, her lips curving into a smug smile as she glided closer.

Her red silk nightgown barely covered her, a faint mark, likely a kiss, blooming on her exposed skin.

Leaning in, she whispered as she showed off that mark, "Zane was insatiable. Nearly killed me with how... passionate he was. But oh, it felt divine."

I took a deep breath, my fists clenching.

"Nothing new," I said coolly. "I've had that every day for three years."

Her eyes flashed with danger, her hand twitching as if to grab me.

But her expression suddenly changed, transforming into sweet, fake innocence.

"Sloane, don't leave so soon," she cooed, loud enough for anyone nearby to hear. "We can work out compensation..."

She reached toward me like she meant to hold me back, but then, her foot slipped. She let out a high-pitched scream and fell hard to the floor.

"Evelynn!" Zane's voice boomed, laced with panic.

In a flash, he shifted into a silver wolf midair, bounding down the stairs to scoop her into his arms.

Evelynn clung to him, trembling like a frightened fawn.

He steadied her, then whirled on me, his eyes blazing. "Sloane, how dare you hurt her again!"

I stood frozen, shock stealing my voice. "No... I didn't touch her," I stammered, shaking my head.

Evelynn nestled into his chest, her voice quivering. "It's okay, Zane. You were here in time. I just... I think Sloane misunderstood me. I only wanted to ask her to stay."

My grip on the suitcase tightened, my nails biting into my palms until they bled.

She was doing it again, twisting the truth and playing the victim.

His eyes narrowed at my suitcase, suspicion curling his lip.

"So, you're really leaving this time? Or is this another one of your games?"

He produced a document, the mate bond dissolution agreement, and thrust it toward me. "Good timing. The court just approved my request. Just fill in the amount you want."

I stared at the paper, stunned.

I didn't expect he'd move so fast, so eager to be rid of me.

Bitterness flooded my chest, threatening to choke me.

"I don't want your money," I said, meeting his gaze with as much strength as I could muster. "I just want to leave quietly."

He scoffed, unconvinced, and strode to the sofa, lighting a cigar. "Sure. You must want a fortune, then."

"But first," he added, his voice cold as steel, "you owe Evelynn an apology."

"An apology?" My voice cracked with disbelief. "She wasn't even hurt!"

His eyes were merciless. "You scared her. That's unforgivable."

The injustice burned through me, searing my heart.

I was his wife, yet he'd never shown me a fraction of such concern.

Even now, on the brink of breaking our bond, he couldn't resist humiliating me.

Zane, what did I ever do to deserve this? How can you be so cruel?

The last flicker of my love for him faded, consumed by the ache in my chest.

I drew a steadying breath, my voice firm. "I won't apologize. I did nothing wrong, not today, not ever. I've been framed, over and over.

"One day, you'll see the truth, Zane, and you'll regret this. But by then, you won't have my love back."

"Your love?" he laughed, a sharp, mocking sound. "That's worth less than nothing."

His words were a final dagger, slicing through what little remained of my heart. But they also steeled my resolve.

"Then we're done," I said, my lips trembling but my voice steady. "I, Sloane Ashford, reject you, Zane Blackthorn, as my mate."

Shock flared in his eyes, followed by a glimmer of rage.

His jaw clenched, and he growled, "Fine, Sloane. You've made your choice.

"I, Zane Blackthorn, accept your rejection."

His voice thundered, each word carving my heart into pieces.

The pain was unbearable, a void swallowing me whole.

I bit down hard, refusing to look back.

I grabbed my suitcase and brushed past him, leaving Moonspire Villa behind.

The cold wind whipped at my aching body, my tears streaming freely.

I walked until my legs gave out. I collapsed onto the ground, letting the rain soak through me……

As my consciousness faded, a roar split the sky. A sleek helicopter descended, its blades slicing through the storm.

I forced my eyes open. Through the blur, I saw a massive golden wolf racing toward me through the cabin door.

He reached me, his golden eyes brimming with worry. He lowered his head and scooped me onto his back, his golden fur wrapping me in warmth.

A mournful howl echoed across the night sky as he leaped back into the chopper.

Just before darkness claimed me, I saw the wolf shift into a tall man with golden hair and matching eyes. He grasped my hand with trembling care.

"I'm your brother," he said, his voice choked with emotion. "I've finally found you!"