Torn between two Fates

Chapter 1

Kara POV

“This ends today, Kara! You've worked so hard and you deserve to be happy in your marriage…not that damn b***h!” I say to the reflection of my 21 years old self staring back at me.

Growing up, grandma used to tell the five year old me that the best way to boost confidence before any occasion is to look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself you can do it. And I've carried her lessons to this very day. But sadly, grandma is no longer here because she died a long time ago.

I double check myself a few times then I hurry to go meet my husband who, I believe, is waiting for me at the breakfast table. I wouldn't want to keep him waiting because today, of all days, is the most important day in the pack.

The coronation.

I soon get to the dining room but then, I realize something is wrong. Only one plate of sandwiches is sitting on the vast table.

My husband is nowhere to be found.

“Hey, have you seen my husband?” I ask one of the maids.

“Sorry my lady, I should have informed you earlier that he would be having breakfast alone,” she muses.

Alone?

When did the prince start having breakfast alone? This has never happened in our three years of marriage. Not for once.

The maid leaves, and the vast hall falls silent as I contemplate why he chose to have breakfast alone. A very unusual thing to do on an important day. We were to have breakfast together before leaving for the ceremony. But that is no longer…

“Don't mind the maid. Your husband is nowhere but beside his newly-found mistress,” a deep voice says interrupting my thoughts.

I turn to see Father-in-law sipping a dark liquid at the corner, a mixture of herbs, the doctor's prescriptions for a steady heartbeat.

Now that is a plausible explanation.

I thank him and find my way out. Adrian, my mate and husband, is with her again. When is this going to stop?

I shuffle my feet for a few seconds while careful to not trip from the heels. The castle is now filled with strange faces, most whom I don't know. However, Adrian has a way of standing out amongst the crowd so he is easy to find. I see him standing at the corner. His hair is a perfect match with the brown robe draping to his ankles. He is always handsome like when I first saw him three years ago. But he is not alone.

Some other heavily dressed lady in a pink gown is backing my direction, and my husband is having a conversation with her. He smiles each time she speaks, something uncommon during our marital discussions.

Father-in-law was right.

I quickly grab a drink from a waitress passing by as an air of jealousy washes over me. Then, I realise that this has to stop. Yes, I'm a typical jealous woman. That's how grandma described an ideal wife and I have no apology to tender.

Forcing comportion on my already heated nerves, I sashay to put a halt to the whole thing. I won't allow the marriage I painstakingly built to crumble down to a b***h who showed up two weeks ago.

“Hey! honey, you missed breakfast,” I say, forcing a smile.

He heard me, but It takes a while before he acknowledged my presence.

“Argh, Savannah asked me to join her.” He turns to her, and his eyes flicker with passion. “Hope you enjoyed the breakfast?”

“Sure, I hope we have many more in the future,” she smiles.

A wave of conflicting emotions washes over me and my mood changes. I see the way she looks at him with passion. What the hell is she up to? They've had breakfast together and she expects to have many more in the future? I know her type. Husband snatcher. This must be halted before it gets any worse.

“It's time, husband, can we go in,” I reach for his arms in an attempt to drag him away. However, he wouldn't move his feet.

“The hall is still pretty much empty. Why don't you go in, I will hang around much longer.”

Damn. My tricks just failed me and I don't know what else to do. I try to control my emotions even though they are getting the best of me.

“I guess I will just wait then,” I say, trying to mask my displeasure.

“Be my guest.”

At this point, Savannah turns to me, “Adrian and I are discussing the waterfall projects, you know. Care to join us,” a devilish smile on her face.

“I would—”

“No need, Savannah. My lovely wife isn't built for such sophisticated discussion. Besides, I need a drink. Care for some?” my husband says, looking at her.

“I'm fine, I think I've had enough already,” she replies.

My husband ignores me and saunters towards the counter without asking if I care for a drink. But I don't mind because I've had enough of his hurtful comments this morning. But here is the moment I've been waiting for. A moment to tell this b***h to leave my husband alone and not ruin my marriage.

With a heavy sigh, I give her a stare.” “Don't pretend, Savannah. I know why you are here…and you are not welcome. I suggest you leave my husband alone and figure your s**t out Alpha Kane.”

Her eyes flare up and she is totally amazed that I could say that. And why wouldn't I?

Adrian returns bearing a cappuccino and we all pretend like it never happened.

“Hey! What did I miss?” He says.

“I was just telling Savannah how amazing it would be to see her get back with Alpha Kane. Don't you think that would be amazing,” I say to my husband.

“Ahh! He stutters for a few seconds. Clearly, he never saw that coming. “Yeah! Sure! Why not!” He sips and I see he is uncomfortable with my comments. He wouldn't want to see his highschool sweetheart get back with Alpha Kane. Does he?

Savannah, on the other hand, now bears a steel expression as she seems lost in thoughts.

I just struck a chord with her.

The coronation is soon to begin. The guests and Alphas from neighbouring packs are making their way into the hall. A few moments from now, my husband would be made the crown prince of the pack. I, on the other hand, would become the future Luna of the pack. Amazing, right? But considering the fact that our three year marriage is yet to produce a child, I am not entirely sure of that. I'm not sure of anything, except that I have to protect my marriage.

I will myself back to reality. “So, Savannah, when are you leaving?”

My husband shoots me a glare. “That's really not necessary, Kara. Savannah is an invited guest…besides, I was just telling Savannah how perfect it would be to finally hold a child of my own,” he says to get back at me.

Of course he must have told his highschool sweetheart how I failed to give him a baby, and the many other things I can't imagine. Anyway, I maintain composure as best as I can. The other guests are strolling towards the hall where the coronation is to hold, and it would be unwise to cause any scene.

“Why don't you tell her what we are currently working on,” Savannah says in the direction of my husband. “It would be nice, you know.”

“I don't think its necessary,” he deadpans.

He doesn't think it necessary to inform me of any involvement with his ex? What else do I not know.

The whole thing becomes suspicious. There is the fact that my husband chose to invite his highschool sweetheart, the woman who broke his heart three years ago, to the coronation.

Yes. Savannah turned down his marriage proposal, preferring to go with Alpha Kane of the Beowulf pack, who was, at the time, looking for Luna shortly after assuming the position of Alpha.

It was during this period that I met Adrian who was still healing from a wounded heart. I never doubted him as Tara, my wolf, confirmed him as my mate. This was two weeks after I clocked eighteen.

Soon, we got married on the recommendation of his father, Alpha Darius, who was, at the time, a very good friend of my father.

But somehow, Savannah is back, and they've had breakfast together. What more do I not know?

“Tell me what, Adrian?” I bellow, trying to get my husband to talk to me.

“Tell you what! Huh! That you are insecure and that you feel threatened by her presence, and that I invited her without telling you. Aren't you tired of making me your prisoner?” he snaps.

My heart makes a thud realising what he just said to me, and in the presence of another woman. My husband has lost his senses.

Savannah holds back a giggle.

“It's time,” another voice echoes in the background.

We all turn to know who it is, and Alpha Darius, my Father-in-law and the king of Vermont pack, registers. “It's unwise to keep the guests waiting,” he adds with a commanding tone.

The air in my lungs becomes hot as I feel an intense heat growing inside my body. With some clenched fists, I manage to keep my hands at sides knowing he just termed our marriage a prison. It requires no brainer to decipher what he implied.

“Well, if you insist on knowing, Savannah is helping me with the Waterfall project…I don't expect a stay-at-home wife to understand that,” he scoffs.

My heart sinks further at the awful adjective. He means to say I am completely useless and a no-brainer, which is clearly understandable since the original plan was for me to be a stay-at-home wife for our baby. A baby we are yet to have. And now I am being insulted for something he himself suggested.

Realising how important it is that we maintain appearances, I pace after him as he zooms off towards the coronation hall. I try to hold his hands but he snubs me, preferring to hold that of his highschool sweetheart.

The coronation is brief and my husband, Adrian, is confirmed as crowned prince and future King of the Vermont pack. The ceremony ends after receiving various pleasantries and gifts from the other Alphas. At night, I find myself turning and tossing on the huge bed. As usual, his side of the bed is empty. This has gone on for two weeks ever since Savannah returned. I try to shove away the thought that he is with her but each time I try, the thoughts come pouring like an endless stream.

How can I ignore the fact that my husband is spending time with another woman?

When Savannah showed up two weeks ago, I found her arrival suspicious. She showed up thirteen days before the coronation. Suspicious, right? But like a good friend, I tried to know what caused a rift between her and Alpha Kane, the man she dumped my husband for. However, she said nothing tangible except that she is no longer on good terms with him, which isn't plausible. Then I tried to befriend her, but then, my suspicions only increased, fueled by my husband's late night outings. Then I withdrew from her, hoping to send a message that the man I told ‘till death do us part’ three weeks after eighteenth birthday, is off-limits . But clearly, it is either the message was not received, or it was ignored.

The thud of his footsteps signals his entrance. I allow him to change out of his clothes, and as he sneaks his way into bed, I throw my eyes open with the intention of ironing things out.

I have to.

“We need to talk, Adrian.”

“Can it wait till morning, I'm pretty exhausted.” He rolls his face in the opposite direction. Clearly, he isn't interested in any talk. But the night seems like an eternity, and I need to get it off my chest.

“No, Adrian. We need to talk,” I insist.

“Fine. What do you want to talk about?” Still trying to avoid my presence, he turns but faces the ceiling.

“About us… our marriage.”

“What is it about our marriage?”

Good heavens! He is so annoying each time he pretends like all is fine.

“We've not been man and wife lately. We barely talk. No s*x—”

“Oh stop it, Kara. Just go straight to the point. This is about Savannah, isn't it.”

“Yes, Adrian, it's about her,” I return with a harsh tone.

“Now tell me, what is about her? Why do you feel threatened by her presence,” he barks. The atmosphere is becoming tense so I fear that our voices will be heard.

“You know what, Kara. Forget it. I should have known I was getting married to an insecure lady when my dad suggested you to me. It turns out that the whole thing is a mistake,” he spits.

My heart sinks deeper at his last remark. He just called our marriage a mistake. A tear rolls down my cheek before I know what is happening.

“Oh save it, Kara. Don't fool yourself, “ he barks, looking irritably. He finds his feet and the tears pour freely from my eyes. I slump back to the bed and pull the blanket over my face. I allow myself to sob in the darkness for the next few seconds. This is what I get for being in love.

“Is this about the baby?” I ask amidst my tears.

The doctor's diagnosis showed I am fine. We are both fine, and yet it remains a mystery that I can't get pregnant.

“What! No, Kara. This is never about a baby. Besides, I think it's best that we never had any.”

“What, what do you mean?” I ask in the midst of my confusion. The man I married till death do us part is now a puzzle that needs to be solved.

“Not having a baby comes with freedom and flexibility,” he contemplates for a few seconds, as if choosing his next words. “Look, Kara, you are a free woman…you can find yourself another man.”

“What!” My heart pounds as I try to make sense of his words. “What is that supposed to mean?”

I can't control the tears.

“It means what it means, Kara. There is no ambiguity in my words.” He sighs,”Since I can't reject you, you can find yourself another man…and goodnight.” He shoves the blanket over his body, leaving me in a state of dilemma.

He is done with talking and now wants to sleep. The deed has been done, and pleading isn't an option.

My heart shatters into a million pieces as the tears fall freely. Rejection isn't allowed in the werewolf world. All a werewolf could do is ask that a mate bond be transferred to another suitable partner, and this comes after the confession of previous sins to an elder council, under a full moon, and with the moon goddess as witness. The moon goddess termed it ‘Renixion,’ a process meant to purge the werewolf world of illegalities between mates.

Maybe this is his subtle way of rejecting me.

I cry the whole night, wondering how things get to the present state. Sleep is not an option. How can I sleep knowing that I'm a married but free woman? The moon goddess should have anticipated this subtle but punishing way of rejection.

The night stretches on, but dawn eventually comes. As usual, he is gone.

I drag myself out of bed, take a shower, and find my way out. I have no appetite for breakfast so I head outside to catch some air but my heart stops when I see them kissing. Adrian and Savannah. No sense of shame as their lips lock with passion. This must have gone on for a long time, and explains why he said I'm a free woman.

Staring from the balcony, my fist tightens around its handrails. The b***h finally got what she wanted but how could I not have seen it coming? Of course I chose to ignore the subtle signs, the late nights, the missed hospital appointments, and all others, thinking Adrian would never do anything to hurt me. But I am…

“My son is quite busy,” someone says from the side. I turn, and Father-in-law appears, his eyes on Adrian and Savannah, still kissing in the courtyard.

“It’s fine, Father-in-law, men are sometimes carried away,” I say in an attempt to mask the reality. But my appearance only betrays the word of my mouth.

He sighs. “You may pretend all is well, Kara, but everybody knows that your marriage is coming to an end; or, at the very least, have come to an end.” He turns to face me, his presence making me scared. But his negative words against my marriage scared me the most.

“I'm sorry, father-in-law, you—”

“Darius, call me Darius.”

“D-Darius,” I stutter while testing the name on my lips. His lingering gaze is on me.

“Good, because I would like to make you an offer.”

An offer!