CLAIMED BY MY MATE’S UNCLE

~Eveline~ It was the night of our wedding anniversary, but Darius came home later than usual. Something he had never done in the three years of our marriage. Still, I served him dinner, a practiced smile on my face, one I’d been taught to wear as his perfect wife, and the pack’s Luna. I had questions. Especially about the strange feminine scent that clung to him. But I forced myself to remain calm until after dinner. However, halfway through the dinner, he slid a document across the table. My eyes widened, and the smile that graced my lips this time was far too real. “Is this… my gift?” He didn’t reply. His face was cold, and he could barely meet my eyes. “Open it,” he said instead. I smiled. “We can open it after dinner. This is our night, and…” “Eveline!” I froze. He let out a deep sigh, then his voice softened. “Open it now.” My stomach tightened. Something in my gut told me that something was wrong. Terribly wrong. I reached out to grab the sealed envelope. For some strange reason, my hands trembled as I grabbed it. Taking a deep breath, I opened the envelope. Now, I was struggling to keep the smile on my face. As I pulled the document out and saw the title, it felt as though all the air in my lungs was knocked out. Divorce papers. I looked up at him, my lips trembling slightly. “Darius…” I paused, swallowing hard. “Did I do something wrong?” He ran his fingers through my hair, as though he was having a hard time too. “You didn’t.” “Then why?” My voice broke slightly. Tears threatened to fall. We’ve been married for three years, and I have lived every one of those years as his perfect wife. I thought we were good. That we were in love. Until now… Darius groaned. His eyes were slightly red when he looked at me. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “But… she’s back.” It was just a few words, but it was enough to knock the breath out of my lungs. “She’s back!” I repeated, almost in disbelief. He nodded. “Your sister’s back. We have to end this marriage now.” I stared at him, but I could barely see his face anymore. “I appreciate your care and support all this time. Thank you for taking her place and ensuring everything went well. You will be compensated for your…” he paused, as though he couldn’t find the right words. I could no longer hear him. Celeste was back, after running away two days before she was to marry Darius. I was forced to take her place. But forced was never the word. Not when Darius turned out to be my own mate. Not when I had secretly loved him for years. Now, she was going to take everything back… and the man I thought loved me was willingly casting me aside for her. I dug my fingers into my palm. “So this was the plan all along?” My voice came out small. Darius’s eyes darkened slightly. “Please don’t...” He sounded wounded, like he was the one hurting. I leaned forward, heart pounding. “My sister’s back now, and you’re going to marry her?” He didn’t meet my eyes. “That’s the arrangement.” I let out a small dry laugh, yet my lips trembled. “Did… did those three years really mean nothing to you?” “I’m sorry, Eve,” he whispered. “I never meant to hurt you. But… Celeste and I… we were always meant to be together.” My heart shattered at that. I was the backup plan all along. So this was the life I had given up my dream for. And it hadn’t even lasted three years. I wanted to laugh, but tears came out instead. Yet, the man I had secretly loved for three years couldn’t even look me in the eyes. Something he did when there was nothing left to discuss. A tear slipped down my cheek, but I quickly wiped it away. “Do you need me to leave immediately?” My voice was barely steady. Darius ran his fingers through his hair in frustration, his eyes red. “I hate to do this, Eve… I really do. But… these things are complicated.” I let out a sound of disbelief. “Complicated? You are my mate.” Another tear rushed down my cheek as I reminded him of the role of fate in all this. Yet, he looked away. “I really am sorry, Eve.” It was clear. His mind had been made up. I forced myself out of the seat. My legs felt too weak to carry my weight anymore. I held the chair for support. I tried to stay calm in the midst of all these. But what good was it? My marriage was doomed anyway. As I approached the staircase, his voice came again. “Eve…” I paused, my heart racing at the tenderness in his tone. For a second there, a foolish hope rushed through me. “She’s moving in tomorrow morning. I thought you should know.” My heart slammed against my chest with painful force. I bit down hard on my lip, and kept walking. Don’t look back. Don’t miss a step. Yet, I did everything I warned myself not to do. I missed a step as I turned to look at him again, and fell on the stairs. My knees hit it with a painful thud. “Oh God, Eve…” Darius rushed forward as he said this, but I got up quickly, running up the stairs before he could get the chance to touch me. The tears fell heavily, blurring my vision. Somehow, I couldn’t even bring myself to blame him completely. It was my fate. I was undeserving of love. That was exactly how I was made. Just to take up another person’s space for a while… to enjoy a love that was never meant to be mine for a short period. And then, the owner always comes back to claim it. It happened with my parents... Now, Darius.