Chapter 4 - The Accusation

Melody's POV

Asher's reaction gave me the answers I came looking for.

“So it's true,” I said softly.

His brow furrowed.

“You really did a fertility-binding procedure and didn't tell me about it,” I continued.

His jaw tightened.

“That's not the issue right now,” he said.

My eyes burned with tears and my voice broke as I spoke.

“For three years, you watched me hope. Every month I thought maybe this would be the month, every time the test was negative, you held me while I cried. You told me not to give up. You told me we'd have our child someday.”

I shook my head slightly.

“All those times, you knew. You knew it was your fault we couldn't have children.”

“Melody,” he said. His voice was low.

“Was that why you always consoled me?” I continued as tears blurred my vision.

“Was it because you knew I was blaming myself for something you already knew wasn't my fault?”

His expression changed.

“That isn't what this is about.”

“Then what is it about?” I asked, my voice rose slightly.

He stepped closer.

“How are you pregnant, Melody?” His voice was calm but I could sense the anger underneath.

I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out.

I don't know either.

I had asked myself the same question ever since I left the hospital.

“I...” My voice faltered.

Asher stepped closer again, stopping inches away from my face.

“How?”

I shook my head.

“I don't know.”

His eyes darkened.

“You don't know?”

“I took the test this morning. I thought it was wrong, so I went to the hospital and Dr. Ashton confirmed it.”

He snatched the test results from my hands, unfolded the paper and looked at it. When his eyes scanned the words, his face became colder.

“How the hell did you get pregnant if you weren't cheating on me?” He asked, his voice was raised now.

My heart stopped.

“What?” The word came out as a broken whisper.

“I can't father a child, Melody, so why do you have a positive pregnancy test result?”

My eyes widened.

The pain that ripped through my chest was so sharp I had to take a step backward.

“You think I'm cheating on you?”

“You think I've been sleeping with another man?”

“Who's the father?” He barked, ignoring my questions.

“I've never cheated on you, Asher.” My voice trembled.

I pressed a hand against my chest as I continued. “I have never even looked at another man the way I look at you and I don't intend to.”

Tears spilled down my cheeks.

“You're my mate. The only man I've ever loved.”

His jaw tightened and he looked at me with a coldness I have never seen directed at me before. He stepped closer.

“I accepted you as my mate. I gave you everything, and this is how you repay me?” I could hear the pain in his voice.

I shook my head and reached for his hand but he immediately pulled back like my touch stung him.

“No. Asher, that's not…”

His eyes darkened and his voice dropped into a dangerous growl. He stepped closer until there was barely any space between us.

“If you won't tell me who the father is, I'll find him myself. And when I do, he'll wish he never crossed paths with you.”

My heart shattered at his words.

He still doesn't believe me.

“There is no one else,” I whispered as tears ran down my cheeks.

He suddenly threw the pregnancy test results on the floor. The paper fluttered between us before landing near my feet. Then he walked past me.

“Asher!” I called but he didn't look back.

He stormed towards the door, his shoulders rigid with anger.

The door slammed behind him with such force that shook the entire room.

I flinched.

I stared at the closed door in shock. Then my knees gave way and I sank onto the floor, covering my mouth as a sob escaped my lips.

A heavy sob tore through me. I pressed both hands over my face, but the tears wouldn't stop.

My mate thinks I cheated on him.

This wasn't how today was supposed to go.

This morning, I had imagined the look on his face when he realized that after three years of waiting, our family was finally growing. Instead, I was sitting alone on the floor while the man I love believes I've betrayed him.

My chest hurts. It feels as though something inside me has been ripped apart.

Beneath my own grief, I could feel my wolf’s confusion and pain. She feels Asher's accusations too.

I wrapped my arms around myself and sobbed harder.

My eyes landed on the pregnancy test results lying on the floor.

That little piece of paper had once been something I was looking forward to seeing, but now, it's looking like the beginning of a nightmare.