The Mate between Sisters

Vaelra’s POV I went home to work that evening, and with a little smile I had been wearing all day. It was my anniversary of one year of mating with Rhevik Dorne and I had to make it special. I even went to the market, on my way back, and purchased fresh meat, the costly kind he so much preferred, but to which he seldom allowed us to spend money. I said to myself that I would make something nice and perhaps we would finally have a peaceful night together. I opened the door of our house hoping that I would find a warm reception or, at any rate, some kind of greetings. Rather, Rhevik was sitting in the living room looking cold-faced. He did not even seem to be pleased to see me. I made an attempt to remain calm and walked in full placing the bag of meat on the table. I said, “Happy anniversary. I got something nice for us. I can cook now, in case you are hungry.” Rhevik gazed at the bag, and then at me as though I had uttered a preposterous thing. He sat back in the chair and gave a big sigh. “What now?” He hissed. I hesitated a moment, and I smiled a little. I answered. “It is our one year anniversary today.” His face tightened instead of responding in a kind manner. He got up and walked nearer to me. I was able to sense the shift in the air. Something was wrong. “You work too much, you are never home,” he said . “What sort of a mate are you supposed to be? What’s there to celebrate? One year of doom?” I attempted to hasten along. “I only work because we need the money. I do not use it on myself. I thought you would have seen…” He interrupted me. He said, “Understand? Look at you, Vaelra. You eat too much, you work too much, and you do act like you are doing something right.” My chest tightened. My fingers curled up a little on either side, but I managed to keep myself calm. I replied, “That is not just. I am trying my best. I am trying to take care of us.” Rhevik gave a little laugh, as though I had made a joke. “Take care of us?” he said. “You cannot even look after yourself. Do you not think I see it? Your body, your weight. All about you is why nothing has been happening in this bond.” Nothing that he had said struck me as forcibly as that sentence. I had a trembling voice as I responded, “What are you talking about? My weight has nothing to do with this.” He came nearer and this time his voice was colder. “It does,” said he, “and we cannot feign. and maybe, had you been better, I should not be gazing elsewhere.” I looked at him, and could not hear what he was saying. Then he uttered those words that shattered all. “I said, I am sick of you, Vaelra. I renounce you as my mate.” I wondered, I thought I heard him wrong. I heard a ringing in my ears, as my body was frozen. I choked on my breath. “Rhevik. you cannot say that. please, say not that. we can do something about this. in case I did something wrong, I will fix it.” I touched his arm, but he jerked away. “Do not touch me,” he said. “There is nothing to repair. I ought to have put this to an end.” I felt my breath was irregular. Again I said, “Please. Do not do this. I have no one. You are my mate.” The end of my voice cracked, and I despised the way it was so feeble. Rhevik gazed at me unemotionally. “You ought to have gone before I returned,”he said, “I do not wish to see you here when I resume.” Then he walked away and past me. I waited a minute, and could not understand, when I heard the door open. I hurried behind him. “Wait, Rhevik, wait,” I said. “Please! Do not go away so!” But he did not cease. I walked out behind him, in a brisk pace, my heart a-thudding in my chest. It did not matter to me how I appeared and how desperate I sounded. I only had to get him to listen to me. He entered his carriage, and I snatched the door ajar. I said, “I am beseeching you, please, do not do this to me. I love you. I can do better. Just have another chance.” He never looked at me. He just began to walk away, ignoring me. I stood there, on the road a few seconds, staring in the direction in which he has walking. It was as though something had been pulled out of me. Then there was a breaking in me and I began to walk. I was not sure of my destination. I just knew I could not remain alone in that house. I needed answers. I had to find out why he had suddenly despised me. I did not think, and i began to follow him and found out he had gone into a house. Must be his mistress’s house. My hands was as I knocked on the door. And there she stood, looking surprised but not puzzled, when it opened. She knew me all right. I said, “Please. I only want to speak. I have no intention of fighting. I just want you to leave him alone. He is my mate. All I have.” My voice broke anew and tears began to rush down my face, but I did not pause. I proceeded, “I will correct it,” said I, “in case I did anything wrong, only do not take him away. Please help me. Leave him he is my only mate.” She stared at me a little, and moved aside. I trailed her in. Rhevik was there. Sitting as he belonged there, as I was the one who did not belong. I stared at him on the spot. “Please, come home, and we can forget. I will change. I will do anything.” I begged him. Rhevik did not move at all. “You must not have come here,” he said. The woman next to him grinned a little, and I got that sinking sensation in the stomach. I pleaded with him, muscus running down my nose. “I am begging you.” Then Rhevik rose and slowly approached his mistress. His hand was on her shoulder, and she leaned into him in an easy manner. My breath caught. “You do not understand. She is pregnant with my child, which you could not do one year!” He dropped the bombshell on me.