Chapter 4

Leila tosses and turns on the pristine white sheets of her soft mattress, her red and puffy eyes settling on the chandelier dancing to the tune of the strong wind blowing in from the open window.

She smiles bitterly at the ornament swinging above her, it reminds her of own self. She is not in control, she just dances to the tune of whatever terrible music her miserable life is playing.

Two years ago, she was just a regular girl hoping to replace her fated mate, to live a simple life with him and raise beautiful children but life has her right now as a hated Luna and a jilted wife.

Tatum promised to come home after dropping Carmela but it’s been hours and he is still with her, probably reminiscing of the love they used to share before Carmela disappeared

She blinks back the tears tugging at her eyes as her chest tightens in pain from the thought.

They aren’t mates. She forgot. She shouldn’t have let his kindness cloud that.

It was his ultimate act of kindness that made him marry her. After Carmela went missing, the pack members turned on her and her mother. Many blamed her for the incident, a few even accused her of plotting it.

The abuse started as verbal and gradually grew physical, to the extent that their house suffered an arson attack with them inside it.

It was that same night that Tatum called a pack meeting and declared her as his second chance mate, marrying her on the spot, even if they both knew they felt no bond.

She runs her hand over her taut stomach. Depending on her decision in a few days, it would remain ever taut or grow into a huge bump.

“No way Leila! I took an oath to preserve life, I will not do it.”

Amanda’s voice carried every bit of seriousness when Leila spoke of the abortion.

“Amanda please, this child will only create problems, I don’t want it,” Leila replied, her eyes coating with tears, pain and desperation lacing every syllable that left her mouth.

“You are asking me to kill the next Alpha of this pack, even if I break my oath and do it, I can never live with myself, it would haunt me for life,” Amanda’s tone was as low as a whisper, her eyes full of fear and worry.

“What is going on Leila? Talk to me. We have all been waiting and praying for this child to come. Why do you suddenly want to get rid of it?”

How could Amanda not know? Everyone in the pack knows — they are getting a new Luna.

Her poor baby is not being born as the heir of Alpha, but could only be an illegitimate child. Leila can’t allow that.

Leila pursed her lips and dropped her head to avoid Amanda’s weary eyes, feeling a crack in her heart. To Amanda, she had the perfect life, only she knew how far it was from perfect.

“She’s back Amanda, Tatum will get rid of me. I don’t want my child to grow up in a broken home,” Leila replied with a trembling voice and as the words left her lips, the flood gates opened and she could not hold back the tears that streamed down from her eyes.

The pain in her chest felt like a thousand needles prickling an open wound.

“Oh dear…..” Amanda scurried over and curled her hands around Leila in a soothing hug.

“He loves you and I know you love him too. Why don’t you talk to him about it first? You have been married for two years, it has to be worth something,” Amanda replied.

Leila closes her eyes and heaves a deep sigh, standing up and walking over to the window, the heavy wind blowing her auburn hair in all directions.

She failed to guard her heart, and now feelings for a man that doesn’t belong to her are growing in her heart like crazy vines.

Even though they were feelings she could never revel in, feelings she could never openly express to him, feelings she knew he could never return, she felt happy when he returned home and ate with her, when he cuddled her to sleep or chatted with her into the night over pack matters but now, all of that was about to be taken away from her.

But what if Amanda is right? What if Tatum is also in love with her? Could the time they have spent as a couple be worth something to him?

Will he even return home tonight? Will he ever sleep in her bed again? Will she ever go to bed wrapped safely in his warm embrace?

She is not stealing him, or jealous. She is just concerned. He said he would be home. She is only worried about his safety.

She mindlinks him, waiting in the darkness, nervous but also anticipating. She didn’t know she missed him so much. Her heart is beating fast as if she was back to when she was 16, having a crush on the handsome yet gentle man.

The mindlink is through, and her cheerful words blurts out: “Alpha–”

Only to freeze when she sees through his eyes–

Carmela is in his arms.