Chapter 3

Selene's POV

Tyler’s eyes widened in shock. 

For one brief moment, I thought he would pull me into his arms.

I thought he would comfort me.

But instead, he slowly removed my hands from his arms before stepping away from me completely.

“Selene,” he said quietly. “I am sorry.”

I stared at him in disbelief. That was all he had to say?

Tyler dragged a trembling hand through his hair before letting out a long breath.

“What happened with Amelia, it isn’t like I planned it” His jaw tightened. 

A mistake wasn’t mistakenly putting his dick in my sister and now she was pregnant.

Tyler closed his eyes for a moment before speaking.

“A few months ago, Damon rejected Amelia.”

“I know.”

“She was devastated. She kept blaming herself, saying she wasn’t enough.” His voice dropped. “She came to me that night crying…”

My mind struggled to process his words properly even though I could already sense where he was heading with this.

“I only wanted to comfort her.”

My stomach twisted.

“And comforting her meant sleeping with her?”

His expression filled with shame, “I know it shouldn’t have happened and the next morning, we found out the Moon Goddess gave Amelia and me a second-chance mate bond.”

The words landed like a slap across my face.

“No…”

“I didn’t know it was possible, neither of us expected it” he admitted.

I shook my head over and over.

“So after everything we shared, how could you do this to me?” My voice cracked. 

He was now sounding dismissive, “It wasn’t that simple.”

I laughed bitterly.

“It sounds very simple to me, you slept with my sister because you felt pity for her and then got her pregnant… and now she is your mate and pregnant?”

I stared at him like I no longer recognized the man standing in front of me.

“I couldn’t abandon my child.” He said flatly, it was almost as though he was telling me to suck it up.

My eyes burned with fresh tears.

“So you abandoned me instead? I needed you too… the child I lost needed you too!”

He took another careful step toward me, “I didn’t mean to hurt you but Amelia and I have already agreed on what happens next.”

I could already sense the dread already coming but still I asked, “What do you mean?”

“We’re getting married.”

Those words shattered what little remained of my heart.

“But only for one year.” He added as though he was trying to pacify me.

I stared at him.

He continued as though that somehow made everything better.

“The baby deserves to be born into a complete family. Amelia deserves stability now while she recovers from everything Damon put her through.”

I could barely hear him anymore.

“After one year, when the baby is older… Amelia and I will end the marriage, then I’ll marry you.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

“You and I are still meant to be together, Selene.”

The laugh that escaped my lips was broken, “You expect me to wait?”

“I’m asking you to understand… our mate bond hasn’t disappeared and you’re still the woman I want to spend my life with.” He continued.

My chest tightened so painfully I thought I might collapse.

“And what about our child? You can’t even say anything about that, our baby died, Tyler.”

His face crumpled with guilt but only for a second.

Tears now streamed freely down my face as I continued, “I spent seven days trying to reach you.” My voice shook as I added.

“I called you, waited for you and had to bury our child alone.”

Silence.

Finally, Tyler spoke again, “I’m trying to do the right thing but it looks like you aren’t okay… once you have calmed down then we’d continue this conversation.”

I looked at him as though he were a stranger.

“You are insane,” I whispered painfully.

Tyler grabbed my hand carefully.

“I am sorry,” he said again. “But please do not ruin today’s ceremony.”

I looked at him in disbelief.

“Ruin it?” I repeated weakly.

“For the family’s reputation,” he answered quietly.

My chest tightened painfully again.

He cheated on me. Got my sister pregnant. And just ignored the fact that I lost our baby. And somehow I was still expected to protect their reputation.

Tears continued falling silently down my face as Tyler squeezed my hand gently one last time before letting go completely.

Then he turned around and walked away.

“Tyler…” I whispered weakly but he did not stop walking.

He simply left me standing there alone.

I kept staring at the empty doorway while painful memories replayed inside my head.

Amelia interrupting every moment I shared with him. Amelia constantly calling him away from me. And Tyler always going to her.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

Of course they chose her. They always chose her. My knees weakened beneath me, and I slowly collapsed onto the floor.

The moment I touched the ground, everything inside me finally broke apart completely as I cried harder than I ever had before.

“I never mattered,” I whispered through my tears.

I remembered every moment Amelia was praised while I was ignored. Every moment I was blamed for things I never did.

Every time I was told to stay quiet so Amelia would not feel bad.

I had spent my entire life standing in her shadow. And now she had taken the only person I ever truly trusted.

The father of my dead child.

“She took everything from me,” I whispered brokenly.

Then slowly, the sadness inside me started turning into anger as my eyes landed on the scissors resting on the dressing table nearby.

I stood up slowly before grabbing them tightly.

Then I dragged the blade across my gown. The fabric tore instantly. I cut through it again. And again.

Until the beautiful dress no longer looked like something meant for an engagement ceremony.

It looked ruined. Just like me. I stared at myself in the mirror.

My hair looked messy and my face was covered in tears. I did not look like a bride to be anymore. I looked forgotten. And without thinking further, I walked downstairs.

Music and laughter immediately filled my ears the second I got down. People smiled like nothing was wrong. Then slowly, guests started noticing me.

But I kept walking until I saw Amelia standing among them.

She looked calm. She looked as though she had not destroyed my life.

The moment she noticed me, her smile faded slightly.

“Selene…” she said quietly.

She quickly grabbed my hand and pulled me away from the crowd before I could react.

The moment we entered a quieter hallway, I pulled my hand away from her immediately.

“Do not touch me.”

Amelia sighed softly.

“I did not force him.”

“He was my mate,” I snapped painfully.

“And now he is mine,” she replied calmly.

My chest tightened painfully again.

“How long?” I whispered.

“You knew I loved him.”

Amelia smiled faintly.

“That is exactly why I wanted him.”

I froze completely.

“I never did anything to you,” I whispered painfully.

“You existing was enough,” Amelia replied coldly.

Tears filled my eyes as Amelia shrugged carelessly. “I enjoyed watching you lose things.”

“You are my sister,” I whispered brokenly.

She laughed softly.

“I never cared about that.”

My chest felt like it was collapsing again. At that moment, without realizing it, I slowly lifted the scissors still resting in my hand.

Amelia’s eyes immediately dropped toward them. And then suddenly, she grabbed my wrist.

“Amelia—” I gasped.

Before I could react, she yanked my hand violently toward herself.

I tried to pull away, struggling against her grip, but she was stronger than I expected. The blade sliced across her shoulder and at the same time, I felt it slice through my palm.

A searing pain shot through my hand, and warm blood spilled instantly between my fingers.

I cried out as Amelia released me and staggered backward, clutching her bleeding shoulder.

For one heartbeat, we simply stared at each other then she looked straight into my eyes before a slow, satisfied smile curled across her lips.

And she screamed.