Bk 1 - 01: Forgiving his cheating wife

TRISTAN

“Another man?”

No, that could never be possible. ‘Those miserable guards spread rumors all the time.’ I thought but worse, my hands were cold and my heart was beating with an unsteady thud while I gritted my teeth so hard it ached.

My wife, Brenda, was sitting on the bed behind me. She was eight months pregnant with our child, and her small hands were resting on her bump. I turned around to face her, taking a deep breath to keep my voice as calm as possible.

"Brenda," I said, walking over to sit on the edge of the bed beside her. "I need to ask you something, and I need you to tell me the truth."

She looked up at me with her soft blue eyes, but I noticed the subtle way her fingers twitched on her dress. "What is it, Tristan?"

"Where were you yesterday afternoon?" I asked gently. "You told me you were visiting the healers, but the head healer said he didn't see you at all."

Brenda pulled her hands away from her stomach and shifted back slightly on the bed. "I just took a walk in the gardens, Tristan. The room was feeling stuffy. Why are you asking me like this?"

"Because people are talking, Brenda," I said, taking her hand in mine. Her skin was cold, and she tried to pull away, but I held on to her fingers. "They are saying you met with Ethan Willow at the border. They are saying you two have been seeing each other in secret."

Brenda froze, and the color drained right out of her face. She didn't answer me immediately, and her silence felt like a stone sitting on my chest.

"Tell me it isn't true," I pleaded, searching her face for any sign that it was a mistake. "Just tell me they are lying and I will end anyone who spread this rumor. Please, Brenda."

She slowly yanked her hand out of my grip and looked away toward the door. "It's true, Tristan."

The words hit me so hard I felt like I couldn't breathe for a second. I stood up from the bed, my hands trembling as I stared down at her. "What are you talking about? He is from Ashmoor. He is our enemy. You are carrying my child!"

"I don't love you," Brenda said, her voice completely flat and void of any warmth. "I have been meeting Ethan for months. I love him, Tristan. I have loved him for a long time."

I stared at her in complete disbelief, my vision blurring for a moment. My wolf shifted uncomfortably inside me, letting out a low, depressed whine at her rejection. The pain in my chest was so sharp I had to press a hand against my ribs to keep myself upright. I had built my entire life around making her happy. I gave her everything she ever asked for, and I loved her more than my own life.

"No," I whispered, shaking my head as I dropped back down to my knees in front of her. I grabbed both of her hands, holding them tightly to my chest. "No, don't say that. You're just confused. The pregnancy is stressful, and you aren't thinking clearly."

"I am thinking clearly," she replied coldly, staring right into my eyes. "I don't want to be your Luna. I don't want to be in this palace with you."

"I don't care about any of that," I said quickly, the words tumbling out of my mouth before I could stop them. "I don't care about the rumor or what the elders will say. I will forgive you, Brenda. I forgive everything. Just stay with me. We can fix this, and we can raise our child together. I'll make you love me again."

Brenda pulled her hands back again and stood up slowly, holding her belly. "You don't get it, Tristan. I don't want your forgiveness."

Before I could answer her, a faint knocking came from the door of our bedchamber. I wiped my face with the back of my hand and stood up, trying to force my composure back into place. I opened the door to find my personal guard, Jonathan, standing in the hallway with a tense expression.

"My King," Jonathan said in a low tone, keeping his eyes lowered. "Lord Ethan Willow is at the southern gate. He claims he has official documents from Ashmoor, but he insists on speaking with you directly tonight."

Pure rage flared in my chest at the sound of that name, making my jaw ache as I clenched my teeth together. Ethan Willow had the nerve to step foot into my kingdom after taking my wife's heart. My wolf growled deeply inside my mind, demanding that I rip the man apart right at the gate.

"Tell him to wait in the main hall," I commanded, my voice dropping into a low, deadly register. "I will be down in a moment."

"Yes, Alpha," Jonathan bowed and hurried down the corridor.

I turned back to look at Brenda. She was watching me with wide, nervous eyes, her lower lip trembling slightly. Seeing her worry about another man cut deeper than any blade ever could, but I forced myself to stay calm for her sake.

"Stay here," I said softly, stepping toward her and reaching out to touch her shoulder, but she flinched away from my fingers. I lowered my hand with a quiet sigh. "I am going to handle this properly, Brenda. I won't kill him if that is what you are afraid of. I will give him safe passage back to his land, but you are staying here with me. We are going to be a family."

"Tristan, please don't do this," she whispered, her voice tight with suppressed tears.

"I have to protect what is mine," I said quietly.

I turned around and walked out of the bedchamber, closing the doors firmly behind me. I walked down the long, dim hallways of the Varkhar palace, the cold floor echoing under my boots. My mind was racing with a thousand thoughts, but one thing was completely clear to me. I could not lose my family. I would swallow my pride, I would endure the embarrassment, and I would forgive the woman I loved just to keep her by my side.

I reached the grand hall where Ethan Willow was standing near the fireplace. He turned to face me as I entered, a small, arrogant smirk touching his lips that made my blood run cold with hatred.

"Your Grace," Ethan said, giving a mocking bow. "Thank you for granting me an audience at such a late hour."

I walked straight up to him, stopping just a few feet away so I could look down into his eyes. "You have five minutes to leave my kingdom, Ethan, or I will forget my duties as a king and butcher you where you stand."

Ethan didn't look scared at all. He just smiled wider and folded his arms over his chest. "I see Brenda finally told you the truth.”