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Owen returned after a couple of days, but instead of the mansion, he rushed to the pack doctor’s cottage when he learned that I was confined there.
His face was pale and worried as he held my hands and asked, “Oh, hun. Why are you in bed? What happened? You can’t get sick as our baby will be affected.”
I yanked my hands away and sat up, avoiding his gaze. “It’s nothing, maybe just a bit exhausted because of the duties I’ve been handling lately,” I replied. Funny how he didn’t have any idea that I was here because of his infidelity, and still not aware of my miscarriage.
For a moment, a strange silence formed between us, separating us from the truth that I couldn’t–or wouldn’t–bring myself to reveal. I could feel his guilt through our shared matebond, but I couldn’t sense all of it since he seemed to be mastering how
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to block me out.
Finally, he sat beside me and gently took my hand in his. This time, he didn’t let go of my hand, as if he was trying to convey his remorse and willingness to make things right. “I know I wasn’t always around and taking care of you. But I promise you, I will make up for lost time and be the mate you deserve,” he whispered, kissing my hand. “When you and the baby are fully recovered, I want us to celebrate your birthday together. What do you think?”
I looked up at him. His excitement didn’t mirror my own feelings. But somehow, I replied, “That sounds lovely. I would like that.”
“Cool!” His beam widened, as though he felt that he was saved from a potential disaster.
On the day of my birthday, he took me to a restaurant in the city which was owned by a pack member in our community. He never ran out of stories about the packs
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that he had visited lately, as though trying to distract me from my own thoughts. Although I knew that those stories were only fabricated. He had never actually been in those packs. I knew it since I phoned those packs and asked about him. They said that Owen had never been there. in a long time.
Such a big fat liar!
“…and you know what?” he continued. “Alpha Rick said that he wants us to visit. when out pup-”
The sound of his phone ringing interrupted him, and Owen glanced down at the screen with a reluctant expression. “Sorry, I have to take this,” he said before quickly excusing himself, rushing through the washroom without another word. And a couple of minutes later, he came back; hist face looked pale and troubled.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, waiting for him to share the news–or should I say, another alibi.
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“Alpha Rick… he’s been attacked,” Owen finally whispered, placing his cold hand on my bare shoulder. “He’s asking for our help, Aleli. I must go and assist him and-”
“Go,” I cut him off, forking a piece of cake and placing it in my mouth.
He seemed to be caught off guard by my nonchalant response. He said, “Hun, please don’t feel bad about me leaving you alone.”
“I know, Owen. We have to support them since they are our friends, and we can’t turn our backs on them in their time of need.” I simply nodded.
A sigh of relief escaped his lips as he shoved the phone back into his pocket and stood up from the table. “Thank you for understanding, hun. Don’t worry, I’ll prepare a much bigger celebration back in the pack when we return victorious.”
I watched him sprint out the door, my eyes a bit misty with unshed tears. “Just go on fooling around, Owen.” I whispered to
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myself “you wil
gee all off the ent
your apology will up for it
forse strings to make
best
I remembered when we were seven he was the form to green me and even comited un | egy wisdom.before Cam so he could be the first one to wist me a reppy printe and celebrate with me. Even neer te doing it as though it was a sacred matition And because of that my foost hear fel for him, believing that his actions were genuine and sincere. But now. I realise that no one could love me annouctionally bur myself.
That night. Owen unexpectedly returned with gifts in hand, and no trace of bloody battle could be seen on his spotless witine
shirt.
I checked on those items when he was asleep, and my heart seemed to be stabbed again as I saw the notes attached to each gift. [Happy birthday, Amber]
My instinct was to destroy those gifts, but I
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chose to keep them along with the photos and videos I had collected in the past few weeks.
An idea popped up in my mind. What if I catch him on the spot so he can’t deny his infidelity any longer?
With that, I followed him to his favorite bar
one night later. It was a bar where shifters mostly frequented.
As I entered the dimly lit establishment. I first spotted his old friends from highschool sitting in a huge U–shaped
booth in the corner. And in a loveseat, 1 saw him cozying up with a woman who was definitely not me. Blonde, curvy, and laughing at something he said.
“Amber.” My fists clenched at my sides as I watched them together, my heart sinking. Owen’s hand’s explored her body as they kissed passionately and seemed to not care about anyone else around them.
I suddenly remembered the first time they
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announced their being mates when we were eighteen. The pain I had felt then came rushing back, fresh and raw. Only now was even worse, seeing it play out in front of me.
They only stopped when one of them faked a cough, saying, “Oh come on, Alpha. Why don’t you mark Amber again? After all, she’s divorced and available.”
“Yeah, that’s true,” one woman said with a
smirk. “It’s been a while since we’ve had a
good wedding. Plus, you need a Luna to run your pack, Alpha.”
Owen chuckled as though he found the whole situation amusing, while Amber circled her arms around his neck, gazing at
his face with adoration. “You know I’m
always here for you, Alpha.”
“Then what are you two waiting for? Let’s make it official!” A tipsy man chimed in, raising his glass in a toast. “To Alpha Owen and Luna Amber, may your bond be as strong as the moonlight,” he declared,
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prompting cheers and applause.
“Mark her, mark her, mark her!” they began chanting, catching the attention of other people in the bar who joined in the celebration.
“Well, 1-” Owen froze when he turned to my spot at the bar, where I had been observing the scene with disgust. He stood up, slipping Amber’s hand from his grasp. “A–Aleli? What are you doing here?”
