My Step-Dad Is My Mate
Chapter 3

This birthday has to be the worst of my life. Hell, it was probably theworst in all of history.

Richard...my step-dad is my freaking mate and he is married to myfreaking mother.

Right now, I watched angrily as Richard and my mom cuddled up onthe couch as we had "family" movie night.

I can't believe him...

All this time he knew....All this time when he was going on dates withmy mom and kissing her and screwing he-OH MY GOD I CANNOTBELIEVE THIS.

I felt like crying. My heart was breaking every time I glanced at them.Mom looked content and happy snuggled up again him. This is why Imade the decision to not tell her. Yet... anyways.

You don't know how bad she was after Dad died. She was the beyonddefinition of a wreck. How many nights she tried to commit suicide orcry for hours before she fell asleep. I was there for her through all ofthat and I refuse to let her reach that low again...even if she has to behappy with what is mine...

Maybe I could reject him and let them be...

But that won't stop the pain I'll feel from seeing him every day."Everything alright hunny?" I felt mom's hand on my shoulder and Ilooked at her to see a concerned look on her face.

"Yeah mom I'm fine.”

"Well, you're crying. The movie isn't that sad sweetie.” She added with achuckle.

My hand went up to my face subconsciously and I wiped my eyes. God,I didn't even realize I was crying, how am I going to do this?

"Oh. Ha-ha, just felt a little sad for John that Savannah marriedsomeone else. He really cared about her and waited for her but shewent ahead and got with someone else, knowing it would hurt him." Isaid, and I saw Richard stiffen slightly as he got the message behind mywords.

"Maybe she didn't have a choice.” He added, not making eye contactwith me and I shook my

head slowly.

"There is always a choice. People just love to play victim and act likethey don't have one.”

Richard didn't say anything in reply to what I said because he knew Iwas right.

He had a choice. He could have told me when he found out and sparedme the pain I've been feeling all these years but no, he willingly lied tome and let me hurt seeing him with my mother.

I will never forgive him for that.

"Well" Mom began after a moment of silence. "Maybe if we finish themovie we can see why she-"

“I'm going to bed." I rudely said, cutting her off. I felt a twinge of guiltfor snapping at her, she didn't know what was going on. It isn't herfault

I mumbled a goodnight and got up without waiting for a reply fromeither of them, heading to my room.

As I trudged up the stairs, my built up emotions took over and I silentlysobbed.

How could he do this to me? How could any man put his mate throughthis type of pain willingly?

My human half despised Richard, but my wolf side craved him. For himto touch me, hold me

and make the pain go away.

But it will never go away because he is the one causing it.

Opening my bedroom door, I pushed it to close and flopped down onmy bed, but then it dawned on me..

I didn't hear the door shut. His scent hit me like a pile of bricks and Ifelt like crying all over again.

"Fuck off Richard." I said with an added sniffle.

"Danica please, let me explain.”

I shot up from my bed and stood before him, my arms crossed and Iwas seething. Bipolar, I know but is he being serious?

"Okay Richard. Give me your pathetic excuse as too why you lied to meall these years. Why you knew I was your mate since the moment wefirst met and said nothing. Why you watched me literally go for daysand weeks in agony because you know I felt a connection between us, Ijust didn't know we were mates. Do you think I deserve this? Do youthink my mother deserves this?

She has been through too much Richard and you are playing her justlike you played me. You are a selfish son of a bitch and I can't wait till Iget the strength to reject your worthless ass.”

The words poured out of my mouth like I was drinking water and for amoment, I didn't realize what I said.

Could I actually reject him? Rejecting your mate is the hardest thing anywolf would have to do besides their first shift. You would be cutting allties from your other half, severing the mate bond and the pain you willfeel from that, will be like no other, but do I have a choice?

Like I said before, there is always a choice but I won't put my motherthrough pain and let her fall back into despair. It may sound stupid, butyou have to be in my situation to understand where I'm coming from. Ilove her, a lot and I would do anything to keep her happy, even if itcosts me my own happiness. She is all I have left...

"I didn't have a choice Danica. I was surprised to even replace you. I wentthrough most of my life searching for my mate and I never found her,but I guess she just wasn't born yet." He said with a sight chuckle but Iin no laughing mood.

"I couldn't tell you we were mates. You were 16 Danica. 16! I was 37.(Y'all better not say shit or I'm removing the age again. Just imagineDavid Beckham. He's like around that ag, maybe older and still fine asfso hush lol) Think about how that would look. I didn't think you wouldeven believe me. And your mother...I didn't want to be with her after Ifirst met you but I had to stay because if I left then I didn't know if I'dever see you again. Danica I had no intentions of letting you suffer, Iwasn't even aware you felt the pull. You never said anything to me.”

I laughed dryly.

"Yeah I'm going to my step-dad and tell him I've had feelings from themoment we met with no explanations whatsoever. That made no senseto me. I was a kid. I don't give a shit what you think was right or whatwas assumed or whatever. The point is you should have saidsomething.

Whether or not, I'd believe you that doesn't mean you stay quiet andkeep something as huge as this to yourself Richard. You could haveavoided this situation right now if you had just said something.”Richard ran his hand through his thick locks and sighed, obviouslyfrustrated.

“I'm sorry."

I rolled my eyes and wiped my tears.

"You knew it was going to hurt me but you did it anyway so you fuckyou and your apology and get the hell out of my room.”

He sent me a hurt look, and then reluctantly left my room, closing thedoor behind him.

My legs felt wobbly and my shoulders shook as a heart wrenching sobtook over me and I fell to the floor.

Talk about a fucked up life.