Discarded by My Mate, Claimed by My Adoptive Brother

3

KATHERINE

I don’t know how long I stayed there, curled up in Lucian’s armchair, flipping through that horrible album. Every photo, every love note written beside or beneath them, was like a stab to the heart—yet another betrayal of our bond, of our marriage.

I felt so incredibly stupid. I had agreed to marry a man I knew didn't love me, a man I knew was still in love with someone else, hoping that with time he would open his heart to me, that he would finally accept the bond. I hoped our marriage would transform from a political affair into one of love…

But that never happened. For so long, I had blamed myself for our failed relationship, for our empty bed, trying to understand what I was doing wrong, how to improve, how to earn his love… but it had never been my fault.

Because he wasn't simply still in love with an ex.

He was in love with his twin’s mate, and God knows for how many years. Not only that, he was with his brother’s mate.

The proof was right there, before my eyes, indisputable. The two of them embracing, kissing, posing for the camera, their respective wedding rings on their fingers. Their relationship had endured despite their marriages. Despite the fact that they were both someone else's partner.

I felt my stomach churn.

Two years.

Two years of betrayals, of humiliations, two years spent looking for a problem in myself that didn't exist.

The shock, the disgust, the pain, and the humiliation soon transformed into something else. Anger.

A burning, terrible anger.

I had accepted coming second to Diana for two years, believing my husband was simply devoted to his Luna, that he was always ready for her every whim or request because he loved his brother, because he saw her as a sister. But that wasn't the reality.

And I was done accepting it. I was done being humiliated.

I had grabbed my phone and called Kelly before I even realized what I was doing.

“Kat? It’s two in the morning…” my best friend yawned.

“I… I’m sorry,” my voice came out broken, almost like a gasp. “I…”

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line.

“Sweetie, what’s wrong?”

At that question, I burst into tears—sobs so violent they made my ribs ache.

It took a while, but I finally managed to tell her everything. I had never spoken to anyone about the problems in my marriage, because I didn't want to see them myself. In the eyes of the world, Lucian and I were a loving, close-knit couple, and I had wanted to bask in that illusion, to maintain it myself. But now… it was too much.

The cracks in the perfect facade were too deep.

“I can’t do this anymore,” I finally confessed, forcing the words out of my throat with a difficulty I didn't think possible. Whether it was the actual struggle to breathe, the pain in my throat after all the sobbing, or because I was finally admitting to myself something I had denied for months, I didn't know. “Kelly, I can't… go on like this. I can't stay in this house anymore…”

“Kat, what are you trying to tell me?”

I took a breath, trying to calm myself, but it was useless. “I… I think I want a divorce.”

Kelly’s mate was one of the most prominent and skilled divorce lawyers in my pack. Maybe he could help me, or refer me to a colleague if he didn't have time for me, but at least…

My heart sank when I heard Kelly sigh.

Oh, no.

That sigh didn't bode well.

“Honey, you know I’m always on your side, right?” She began.

“What do you mean?”

Kelly waited a second. “What I mean is that you are now the Luna of Mirror Lake. Fine, your husband is an asshole of epic proportions, and your sister-in-law is a first-class slut, but… you are his wife. You are his mate, his Luna. You hold all the cards. Lucian has always had a bit of an inferiority complex toward his brother; he would never risk his reputation. A scandal, now that he’s Alpha, is the last thing he needs.”

“I have absolutely no intention of doing him any favors,” I growled.

“But I’m not telling you to do him a favor—quite the opposite,” she replied wittily. “I’m telling you that you can wrap him around your finger. Forget about feelings, about love, about all that stuff. You have him by the balls. Lucian would never give up the alliance with the Lone Moon pack, and the only thing keeping him allied with them is you. Who cares about his mistress? You have the power. You sacrificed two years of your life for that pack. Are you really going to just step aside? Do you know what a huge favor you’d be doing that b***h?”

My tears quieted down for a moment as I considered the possibility. Kelly was right. I was holding all the cards right now. But … was that something I wanted?

Did I really want to hang on to power, while constantly being humiliated in my own home and marriage?

I was tired. So, so tired of all that.

“I don’t care,” I breathed. “I just … I just want out.”

I was so exhausted by all of that s**t that not even the thought of my adoptive mother’s anger scared me into staying. While my dad and Xander would welcome me back home with open arms, especially my brother. I knew my mother would be an entirely different story. We had never gotten along—she would use the failure of my marriage as a reason to attack me again and again.

Let her. I’ll sleep well knowing I have kept my dignity.

“Okay, then.” Kelly’s tone grew softer, and it felt like a hug. “If you want out, then out is what you’ll get, sweetheart. It might take some time for Danny to get the papers ready, considering your prenup and all the implications.”

I balled my free hand into a fist. More time spent chained at Lucian’s side was not what I wanted: had it been on me only, I would’ve walked out of that house right then and never looked back.

But things had to be done properly.

“Hold on, Danny’s up, he wants to speak with you,” Kelly said. I heard some rustling, then Danny’s deep voice.

“Hey there. Heard you need some help?”

He still sounded half-asleep, but the half of him that was awake sounded definitely thrilled and maybe a little evil.

I nodded. “Y-yeah…”

“I’m taking your case, of course,” he said. “And don’t you even dare ask about my rate, you’re family, so you don’t pay. Now, I need to know two things”.

My heart warmed up, and suddenly, I no longer felt so alone as I had just a few moments before.

“Thank you, Danny. What do you need to know?”

“Oh, it’s just a couple of little things. First, you think Lucian’s gonna take the news well?”

“Not at all,” I replied quickly. Kelly was right, the last thing Lucian needed now was a scandal, and a divorce was definitely one. Moreover, divorcing from me would mean losing the alliance, and he needed it far more than my pack.

I could feel Danny smile. “Good, I love a challenge. And to see the other party lose sourly. Second thing, just how angry are you?”

The corners of my mouth turned upwards.

That bastard had made a fool out of me for two years, cheating for the entirety of our marriage. I was going to make him pay for that.

“Very.”

“Go along with what’s expected of you while I get the papers ready,” Danny had said. “Play the perfect little wife, the good Luna, and all of that. That asshole is gonna get a sore awakening soon.”

And so I did.

The following morning, Lucian and I were officially sworn in as Alpha and Luna of the Mirror Lake pack. The reception following the ceremony was quiet and somber, out of respect for the previous Alpha who had just died. None of us had expected to gain power in that way, and most importantly, the pack was still grieving.

During lunch, the helpers packed most of our belongings and loaded them into a small truck. As was customary, the Alpha and his family had to live in the Alpha’s residence—a beautiful villa right in the center of the pack, and Lucian and I were expected to move in right that day.

So, once the lunch was over and we’d shaken hands with the guests, Lucian and I climbed into his Jeep to get to the house. It felt so strange—wrong, even. We were driving toward his twin’s house, but not to visit him.

We were going to move into his house.

And even if I knew that would be temporary for me …

“It feels so… strange,” the words escaped me, and I immediately regretted it. I’d been quiet all morning, both because I had no desire to speak to him after the discoveries of the previous night, and because I had nothing to say. The only words I had uttered were those of the oath.

Lucian flinched, as if shocked to hear me speak.

“Yeah,” he murmured. “It doesn't… I mean, it feels wrong going there. That’s… that’s Nathan’s house.”

Lucian took a turn, and there it was.

The grand villa that, until four days ago, had belonged to Nathan stood before us in all its glory. A historic, Second Empire-style house in red brick, with beautiful rose bushes and honeysuckle climbing the walls.

“Look, Kat… I know I haven’t been very present lately,” Lucian murmured, surprising me by reaching out and taking my hand. My first instinct was to snatch it out, but instead, I took a breath and let him hold it.

Play along. Play along.

“And… I know that if we’re here now, it’s my fault,” he went on. “If I had listened to you more when you said you felt sick, if I had asked to postpone the trip, or if I had listened to your concerns on the boat… we wouldn't be here. Nathan would still be alive. Diana and Mateo wouldn't have lost their family. I just wanted to tell you that… well, that I’m sorry.”

I pressed my lips together, trying to keep a straight face. On one hand, I wanted to scream, because his speech was just more proof that he didn't care about me at all. Again, everything was about Diana. He was sorry he hadn't listened to me because it ultimately caused his brother's death. But he wasn't sorry for putting me through the ordeal of that boat trip just to satisfy Diana’s whims, or for rushing to her aid instead of mine

But by now, I was used to it.

And the thought that I was about to escape all of that kept me strong.

So, I did my best to plaster a polite smile on my face.

Play along, act like the perfect little wife.

“You couldn't have known,” I replied. “There’s no point in upsetting yourself over it.”

Lucian sighed and nodded. “Yeah, maybe… you’re right.”

He gave my hand another squeeze. Then, he got out of the car and, as he usually did, walked around to open my door. He offered his hand like a gentleman, helping me out, and then we headed toward the house.

“Okay,” Lucian said, squeezing my hand as we walked toward the entrance. “Welcome to our new home, I guess.”

He guessed.

Great start, I thought. It couldn't be better.

Hold on, my wolf sustained me. It’s not going to be for long. You just have to endure for a little while. We can do this.

In fact, it could absolutely be worse—and the proof arrived a few seconds later.

The front door flew open, and Diana came running out, throwing herself dramatically at Lucian’s feet.

I really shouldn't have thought that.

“Please,” she sobbed. “Please don’t make us leave.”