REJECTED BY MY HUSBAND, CLAIMED BY HIS BROTHER

Chapter 2

I didn’t say anything trying my best to push back a heavy sob. He looked at me again. That smile was gone now and he looked ready to devour me. “Ana. You’re joking, right?”

“No,” I said quietly. “I’m not.”

He stared at me and I watched his face slowly darken. One second. Two. Then it hit him, full-force.

"What the f**k is this supposed to be?" He yelled, punching the wall so hard I flinched. "You think you can leave? Just like that? You’ve lost your damn mind.”

Those words seemed to hit a button and my rage came flooding back. “Oh please,” I snapped. “Don’t act confused. I saw you, Taryn. I saw you in our shower with her. You didn’t even try to hide it. You think I’m blind?”

He flinched. Just slightly. “You were supposed to be out,” he muttered—only to pause probably realizing that he had just sold himself out.

"Baby, you can't leave me. I made a mistake," he pleaded, grabbing my hands and I yanked them out like he had leprosy.

“Oh goddess," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Romantic.”

“You can’t leave me,” he growled and I crossed my arms staring at him with a bored expression. “You wouldn’t survive a day out there without me. You’re nothing—”

"Oh ple—" I had not even finished when he wrapped his hand around my throat slamming me against the wall. His face barely an inch away.

“You leave me, I’ll make this whole pack your personal hell,” he said. “You’ll wish you’d never opened that pretty little mouth.”

“You done?” I asked, trying to sound brave even though my back felt like it had been snapped in two.

He looked like he had more to say but instead he stormed out. Letting out a tired sigh I picked up my phone.

“Justin, file the papers.”

I ran a hand through my hair walking out the door and towards the ballroom in hopes of fixing whatever Taryn might have ruined.

I walked in just in time to catch a blood hungry glare from him. I tried to tell myself that his threats were all empty but that didn't stop my heart from pounding as he walked up to the stage.

He wasn’t supposed to. That was Darain’s spotlight. He had worked so hard for the pack but then again Taryn could never let someone be the center of attention.

My wolf whimpered in fear as we watched people try to drag him back but he all waved them off. A few muttered. Someone even called his name, trying to stop him. He ignored them, grabbing the mic with a menacing smirk.

"Everyone," he said, those brown eyes glinting. "let’s welcome our Alpha back. My big brother. The man who left us in capable hands—mine, of course."

A few people chuckled awkwardly and I stood there hoping a boulder would fall from the sky and crush him.

"He's been so good and for that I hope he gets the best in life." He paused and the crowd cheered. "I hope he finds a Luna who’s loyal. Devoted. Someone who doesn’t spread her legs or emotions for anyone who shows her attention."

Silence followed and I could tell what was coming next.

"Like my mate," he said. "Liliana."

"She’s been emotionally involved with one of my employees. My assistant, actually." He pulled out his phone, waved it like some damn trophy. "Got the texts to prove it."

I felt sweat slide down my back and I stood frozen while everyone whispered and threw glares at me. The one person who didn't was Darian who glared at Taryn.

"The threats weren't empty," my wolf, Aria whimpered and I knew—this was only the beginning.

As if it couldn't get worse, the Alpha got up and I watched him trying to pull Taryn away. I watched his eyes redden with anger as he tried to whisper something but Taryn wasn’t hearing any of it.

He yanked his arm free from Darian’s grip like he’d just touched fire, straightened his suit and kept going like this was some award speech he was giving.

"Ungrateful," he spat, running a hand through his chest nut with a look like I had destroyed him. "I gave you everything, Liliana. Everything. And this is how you repay me? Emotional affair? With my own assistant?"

I felt like the ground under me was crumbling. People weren’t just watching anymore, they all turned to me giving me disgusted looks and I could hear some of the words they threw.

Darian called the guards to take him off the stage, but it was already too late. The damage was done. The story had been told—the version he wanted them to believe.

I tried to speak. Tried to get someone, anyone, to look at me. "He’s lying," I whispered. Then louder, "He cheated on me! I saw him. With someone else—"

No one was listening.

Taryn had poisoned the air, and now I was infected. Their glares cut through me, staring at me like I was dirt. A wolf cheating on her mate? It was taboo. Sacred bonds weren’t supposed to be broken. Heck, we weren't even supposed to crack—he did it and now I was here paying the prize.

I stood still trying to absorb all of what had just happened when he walked down the stairs and towards a woman. Slim, tall and dark blonde she was the one I had caught him with earlier. He grabbed her by the waist and kissed her like he didn’t just ruin me minutes ago.

Anyone with a f*****g brain could price everything together in a matter of second s but no one bothered. My chest felt too heavy and with a defeated look I turned walking out of the building.

Tears rimmed my eyes and I tried my best to push them back clutching my purse with so much force my knuckles turned white. The whispers seemed to get louder by the minute and even some of the ladies I thought were my friends laughed.

Unable to take it any longer, I pulled out my phone dialing for the driver but I kept going to voicemail. That bastard Taryn must’ve ordered him to block my number.

Rage coursed through my veins so much that I almost smashed my phone on the floor but I was only going to lose. Maybe look like a crazy b***h. So with a growing ache in my chest I pulled my heels off and walked.

By the time I got to the house, my feet were raw and all I wanted was to shower, breathe, and get my damn things. But the second I stepped toward the door, two guards moved in front of me like I was some intruder.

"Ma'am, Alpha Taryn said you’re not allowed in."

I laughed, pushing the rough strands of hair behind my ears. “You’re joking, right?”

I waited for an answer but they only exchanged looks then stared at me. My eyes began to sting and I took another breath.

“Just let me grab my things.”

“Taryn’s orders. You can't come in," the dark skinned one repeated and I felt the urge to pull his head off. "You have to let me in. I bought this house with him."

They just stared back with pity and it felt like I was going crazy. Taking a deep breath I turned away trying to book a hotel at least for the night but I felt my face go cold as I logged into my back app.

The joint accounts had been emptied leaving me with nothing.