The Mate He Didn’t Deserve Chapter 03

The Mate He Didn’t Deserve Chapter 03

Ringing filled my ears. I tasted blood on my lip before I realized what had happened.

I stared numbly at the man in front of me, who was now cradling Nadia’s hand, checking it gently as if it had been wounded.

When he looked at me, his eyes were filled with disgust, like I was his worst enemy.

“Do you have any idea how much she cares about you? She simmered that soup for four hours.”

“Aurora Lewis. She’s your best friend.”

I laughed through my tears, pointing furiously at both of them. “Cares about me?”

“Cares about me in my husband’s bed? That’s what friends do? That’s just a shameless mistress!”

Caleb’s voice turned icy. “You’ve got it backwards. I marked Nadia on our wedding night.”

“Chronologically, you’re the other woman.”

My mind went blank. I thought I’d misheard. “What did you say?”

Caleb spoke slowly, clearly. “I slept with Nadia on our wedding night. Marcus was conceived then.”

My soul felt like it had been torn out. I flashed back to our wedding night.

I’d nervously put on the nightgown he liked. He’d only thrown a blanket at me, cold and distant.

“My brother just passed. It would upset his widow.”

Then he left without a backward glance.

In the early hours, Mrs. Cater—grief-stricken over her eldest son—had found we hadn’t consummated the bond.

She’d punished me for failing to produce an heir and fulfill my duties as Luna of Blackthorn Pack.

A hundred lashes. I’d called Caleb over and over, only to get his voicemail.

All while I was beaten bloody, he’d been in bed with my best friend—his brother’s widow.

Another mouthful of blood burst from my lips. I clapped a hand over my mouth, staring at the red on my palm in disbelief.

Nadia panicked and pushed Caleb.

“Stop saying that!”

She rushed to my side.

“Aurora, are you okay? I’m sorry, the night you two bonded… I missed Finn so much, I—”

I shoved her away before she could finish.

I squeezed my eyes shut, steadying my ragged breath.

“Leave.”

Nadia tried to speak again. I screamed. “Get out!”

Caleb wrapped an arm around Nadia and led her toward the door.

Before he left, he glanced back at me.

“Nadia’s pregnant again. From now on, I’ll be Finn Cater—the husband she thought she lost.”

“And your husband, Caleb Cater, will be overseas for advanced training, his marriage broken beyond repair.”

I trembled violently, watching their retreating figures.

Proud as Caleb was, he was willing to spend the rest of his life living under his brother’s name for her.

I lowered my head, tears crashing onto the blankets.

On my ring finger was the simple band he’d handmade for me, engraved with both our names.

He’d promised it would witness a lifetime of happiness together.

It had all been a lie.

Caleb moved fast. Within a day, news of Finn Carter’s miraculous return spread across the internet.

So did stories about me.

The barren Luna, rejected by her mate after four years of childlessness. A discarded she-wolf her mate would rather flee the country than face.

I watched Caleb, posing as his brother, appear in public with Nadia , arm in arm.

He even announced he’d make up for lost time with a grand wedding, earning waves of congratulations.

I read the cruel mockery aimed at me online, everyone demanding I divorce him gracefully.

Then I smiled.

I dialed an unknown number.

“It’s time for you to come home.”