My Mate Slept With My Sister, So I Chose His Father

Chapter 2

The Alpha's Warning

Aria's POV

I didn't remember how I got home.

One moment, I was standing in Alpha Darius's hallway, trying to understand why his eyes had followed me.

The next, I was sitting on the floor of my bedroom, still wearing the dress I had put on for what was supposed to be the happiest night of my life.

My hands were shaking, and my chest felt empty. I pressed my palm against my heart, but nothing.

The mate bond was gone, completely gone.

I had always imagined what it would feel like to lose someone I loved. I never imagined losing a part of myself along with them.

Aria. My wolf's voice was barely a whisper. I'm here, I closed my eyes. She sounded different, smaller and broken.

I don't want him anymore. The lie escaped my lips before I could stop it. But my wolf didn't answer. And that silence hurt more than anything.

A knock sounded at my door, and I quickly wiped my face.

"Who?"

"It's me."

My mother's voice, but I didn't answer. The door opened anyway. She stepped inside and immediately noticed my face.

"What happened?"

"Nothing, I lied."

"Aria."

I looked away. My mother sat beside me. "You've been gone for hours. Selena came home before you."

My stomach twisted, of course she had. She had probably returned to the house proudly, knowing she had stolen my mate.

My mother touched my shoulder. "Did you and Adrian argue?"

I laughed, a bitter sound.

"That's one way to describe it."

"What happened?" My mother asked again, insisting. I looked at her.

"My mate rejected me."

She sounded surprised. "What?"

"Adrian rejected me tonight."

My mother's face went pale. "But why?"

I couldn't say it, not at first. But then the words came out. "Because he was sleeping with Selena."

My mother stared at me, she covered my mouth.

"No."

"Yes."

"No, Aria. Selena wouldn't—"

"She did."

My voice cracked. "I saw them."

My mother covered her own mouth. And for a moment, she looked genuinely shocked.

And then something unexpected happened. She sighed, not cried and not screamed. But sighed.

"Your sister has always been impulsive."

I stared at her. "That's all you have to say?"

"Aria—"

"She slept with my mate."

"I know."

"She destroyed my bond."

"I know."

"Then why are you defending her?"

"I'm not defending her."

"It sounds like you are."

My mother looked uncomfortable. "Maybe this is for the best."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"For the best?"

"Adrian is the future Alpha. If he no longer wants you, forcing the relationship won't make you happy."

I stared at her. "Did you know?" She hesitated, but that hesitation was enough.

My heart sank. "You knew."

"Not everything."

"But you knew something."

She looked down. "I heard rumors."

A bitter laugh escaped me. "Everyone knew except me."

"Aria, please—"

I stood up. "I need to be alone."

My mother reached for me. I stepped away.

She looked hurt, but I couldn't comfort her.

Not tonight, and not when my entire life had just collapsed. She left without another word. I locked the door behind her.

Then I slid down against it. I cried until my throat hurt, until there were no tears left. And until morning came.

By sunrise, I had made a decision. I wasn't going to beg Adrian, never. I wasn't going to fight Selena, and I wasn't going to let the pack watch me fall apart.

If they wanted me broken, they would be disappointed. I stood in front of my mirror, my eyes were swollen and my face looked exhausted.

But inside the pain was something I hadn't felt the night before. Anger.

I changed into a simple black dress and left my room. The house was unusually quiet. But as I walked downstairs, I heard voices coming from the dining room.

My father, my mother, Selena and Adrian. I stopped, but I didn't want to see him.

But then I heard Selena laugh, something inside me hardened. I walked in and everyone turned.

Adrian's eyes met mine, and for the first time since the rejection, I saw hesitation on his face.

Good.

I walked past him and sat down. Selena looked me up and down. "You're wearing black."

I picked up a cup of tea. "Yes." I said.

"Why?"

I looked at her. "Does it bother you?"

She smiled. "No."

"Then stop asking questions."

My father cleared his throat. "Aria, we need to discuss what happened."

"No father."

"No?"

"I'm not discussing it."

"You're still part of this pack."

I looked at him. "Am I?"

No one answered. That silence told me everything.

Adrian stood up. "Aria, we should talk privately."

I laughed. "About what?"

"About last night."

"There's nothing left to discuss."

"I know you're hurt."

"Hurt?"

I stood up too. "You slept with my sister."

He lowered his voice. "It happened."

"It happened?"

I stepped closer. "Did it just happen three months ago?"

He said nothing. "Did she accidentally end up in your bed every night?"

"Aria."

"Did she accidentally wear my necklace?"

Selena's face changed. I smiled.

"That's what I thought."

Adrian's eyes darkened. "I don't owe you an explanation anymore."

I nodded. "You're right."

I looked at Selena and whispered. "Neither do you." And then I walked away.

I had almost reached the door when Adrian spoke. "Don't go near my father."

I stopped, and I turned. "What?"

"You heard me clear."

I

"Why would I go near your father?"

"Because he's dangerous."

I almost laughed. "You're warning me about your father after sleeping with my sister?"

His eyes flashed. "He's not like me." But something about the way he said it caught my attention.

"You seem afraid of him."

"I'm not afraid of anyone."

"Then why warn me?"

He didn't answer, and I walked out. But his words stayed with me. He's not like me.

By afternoon, the entire pack knew, of course they did. Whispers followed me everywhere.

Some pitied me, while others blamed me. A few even congratulated Selena. But I ignored them.

I was walking through the training grounds when I heard a familiar voice behind me.

"Aria."

I stopped. Alpha Darius stood beside the training arena, he was alone. I immediately remembered the way he'd looked at me the night before.

I turned to leave, but he said, "Wait." His voice wasn't loud but I stopped anyway.

He approached me up close, he was even more intimidating. He looked straight into my face.

"How are you?"

I almost laughed. "Do you really care?"

"Yes."

The answer came too quickly. I stared at him.

He seemed to realize what he'd said.

"I witnessed what happened."

"I know."

"I should have stopped my son before it reached that point."

I shook my head. "You couldn't have stopped him."

"Perhaps."

"Where is your wolf?"

My body stiffened.

"Why?"

"You haven't shifted since last night."

My heart skipped. "How would you know?"

His eyes remained on mine. "I notice things."

There was something unsettling about that answer. But I stepped back.

"I'm fine."

"You are not."

His voice softened. "You've lost your mate bond."

I looked away. "It doesn't matter anymore, doesn't it?"

"No."

He moved closer. "Then why are you shaking?"

I looked down. My hands were trembling. And I clenched them. "Because I'm angry."

"Good."

I looked at him, his eyes had turned strangely cold. "Anger is easier to survive than heartbreak."

I didn't know what to say. And for the first time since Adrian rejected me, someone wasn't telling me to forgive him.

Darius wasn't pitying me either, but he understood. Maybe because his own mate had abandoned him.

"Why did your mate leave?" I asked.

His face instantly changed. "That's not a question you should ask."

"Sorry."

He stepped back. "Go home."

"Why?" I asked, again.

"Because my son is already watching you."

I laughed.

"What does he want?"

Darius looked to the training grounds, I followed his eyes. Adrian was standing across the field, watching us.

Darius lowered his voice. "He thinks you're trying to get revenge."

I looked at Adrian, and then back at Darius. "And what if I am?"

Something flashed in Darius's eyes, interest.

Not anger, but interest.

He leaned closer. "Then be very careful, Aria."

"Why?"

His eyes dropped to my lips before returning to my eyes. "Because revenge has a way of becoming something else."

But before I could respond, he walked away. I stood there, frozen. I should have been thinking about Adrian, about Selena and about my broken bond.

But instead, one thought kept repeating in my head. What did he mean?

That night, I received an unexpected message, from an unknown number.

“You want revenge?”

I stared at the screen, and another message appeared. “Then stop crying over a man who chose your sister.”

My heart pounded.

A third message arrived. “Choose someone he can never compete with.”

I stared at the words.

Then another message appeared shortly after.

“Choose his father.” I dropped the phone.

Because I knew exactly who had sent it, and for the first time since Adrian rejected me...I smiled.