CHAPTER 2

Tonia's POV

I froze, unsure of what exactly she meant by that. Wicked amusement flickered in her eyes and I could immediately tell she wasn't as innocent as she was pretending to be.

"Well, he's not an object that you can borrow!" I told her flatly. "Feel free to ask him, if you want to spend more time with him!"

She didn't miss the ice that laced my words and a frown creased into her face, just before she closed the little space between her and Logan.

She stood on her toes, wrapped her arms around his neck and said, "Logan, could I really spend more time with you." She asked so sweetly, slanting a snide smirk at me.

Logan didn't even think twice as he said. "Sure, Lisa. Anything for you."

I felt as though he literally pulled my heart out, tossed it to the ground, and stomped over it.  How could he say that to her right in front of me— his wife? It was just as though I were invisible to him.

He hadn't even responded to my greetings.

Unable to hold my tears any longer, I raced out of the living room, doubling up the stairs. I bolted into the guest room, tears spilling down my face.

I had never imagined that a day like this would come. I had believed Logan loved me so much that he had forgotten about having a fated mate somewhere, but it had all been a facade. 

Was it because I wasn't  enough for him? Because I couldn't give him a child? Another shocking realization dawned on me and my heart sank even further.

If Lisa was his fated mate and she was pregnant, doesn't that mean he was the father of her child? It meant he had cheated on me with Lisa.

"Anthonia?" Logan's painfully familiar voice sounded so close to my ear, jolting me out of my thoughts.

He was crouching beside me and I wiped my face quickly. "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you in advance." He said.

I sniffled. "So, what would happen to us now?" I asked in a trembling voice as I lifted my gaze to his.

"She's only my fated mate," he said, "this doesn't change anything. You're my wife and it's you that I love!"

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He loved me yet he brought his fated mate into our home on the eve of the day we would be officially crowned Alpha and Luna?

I laughed— bitter and stiff. "She's your fated mate, Logan. That fact is enough to change everything. Let's not talk about the fact that she's pregnant."

A look of horror skittered across his face. "It's not my baby, rest assured!" He half-screamed. "She was raped and she was vulnerable, so I couldn't ignore her." He explained frantically. "Trust me, I never looked for her. I only came across her by chance."

When he realized I wasn't saying anything, he continued.

"Tonia, once I've helped Lisa settle, you won't see her again, I promise. I'll— I'll reject her!"

His reassurance was firm but this time around I wasn't sure I could hold on to it. I had seen the way he gazed at her— just like when we'd first met. He hadn't looked at me that way in a while.

I managed a smile. "It's fine. I understand."

He smiled now. "Alright then, let's go have dinner." He kissed my forehead before leaving.

There was no need to cry when nothing had happened. Let me hope for a little longer instead of concluding hastily.

With that, I went back to the kitchen, arranged the meal, and proceeded to carry them to the dining room.

The Scott's family were already seated around the long dining table and they all spared me disdainful glances as I served but I ignored them.

Lisa was seated beside Logan— in my own space, and the only free seat was at the far end of the table. No one bothered to say anything to correct her, so I took the hint and sat at the empty seat after I was done serving them.

Linda Scott, my mother-in-law, gave an opening speech, and shortly after everyone started eating. Surprisingly, none of them complained about my cooking and it made me relax a bit.

Suddenly, Lisa began coughing out the food. Linda  literally jumped out of her seat to pat her back.

"I think I choked on a stone!" Lisa said with an annoyingly sweet voice, making all my inlaws glare daggers at me.

"Tonia, how many times will I tell you to learn how to cook?" Linda yelled at me  "All you ever do is sit around doing nothing but spending Logan's money! What exactly are you good for?"

I scoffed incredulously. It was obvious Lisa was lying. I had been very meticulous in cooking this meal and there was no way a stone would be hiding in anyone's food.

"Mother, I didn't—"

"It's enough! I don't want to hear it!" Linda cut me off. "You must have done it to make Lisa suffer a miscarriage! You wanted her to become barren like you!"

Her words jabbed violently at my heart and I winced as I glanced at Logan. He had a complicated look on his face, but he didn't bother to interfere.

A sudden realization dawned on me. So many things have changed between us. In the past, Logan would have at least tried to caution his mother for mentioning my barrenness.

I grabbed a glass of water and downed it, wishing it was something much stronger. Tears pricked the corner of my eyes but I pushed it back as I saw Lisa smirk snidely at me.

She held her head now. "Oh, I need to rest now!" She said, infusing pain into her voice.

Logan sprang up and went to her, concern etched deep into his forehead. "Let me help you." He said as he wrapped his arms around her and held her up.

My throat went dry as I watched them go up the stairs. And even five minutes after they'd gone, I couldn't get the image of him holding her tenderly from my mind.

The rites dragged on for what seemed like forever and since no one bothered to speak to me, I felt out of place— I always did when it came to Logan's affairs.

Two hours had passed, but Logan and Lisa still hadn't come back. My heart filled with dread as I dialed Logan. He didn't pick up so I went upstairs to check on them.

Not that I was suspecting them or anything, but because of the unrest in my heart.

As I approached the door of our matrimonial bedroom, the first thing I heard was a hearty laughter from inside.

It was undoubtedly Lisa's voice. My heart started banging against my ribcage. Did he take her to our matrimonial bedroom when there were many other rooms in this house?

They went silent now and I felt anger surged through me as I pushed the door open without a second thought.

Then everything changed completely. There he was, Logan, my very own husband,  lip-locked with his fated mate, Lisa.