Chapter 7

Alpha Conan drove me back the hotel without a word. Jonathan and Luna Samira are gone by the time we get there, and I exhaled in relief. I don't think I would have been able to handle it.

"Thank you, Alpha Conan." I whispered as I got down.

"I'll keep in touch. Remember to act normal, we don't want them to suspect a thing." He said curtly before driving off.

I locate my car in the parking lot and drive back home like nothing happened, despite the slight tremble of my hands on the steering wheel. I unlock the door and step inside. The house is quiet, moonbathed by the full moon outside.

Jayden's room is dark, except for the dim glow of his nightlight in the corner. I walk in and stare at him, curled up under the covers. Then I drop to the floor.

I don't make a sound, just let the tears choose their path as my head rested on his headboard. This boy, this sweet innocent boy, was my entire world. Nothing could change that, no woman, no lies, no cheating mate.

I would fight for him, no matter what it took. Even if I had to go against the people I loved the most. Quietly, I get up and walk to my room. I'm not surprised when I don't see Jonathan in bed, he expects that I think he's at his night shift at work. The numbness returns, and I fall asleep.

The next morning, I wake up early and prepare breakfast as usual. Jayden wakes up soon, walking into the kitchen with a neutral expression.

"Hey honey! How are you? How did you sleep? I'm sorry mummy couldn't tuck you in last night." I coo at him, but my heart drops when Jayden doesn't even smile in return. Instead, he pauses and looks up at me, before replying with a simple "It's okay mummy. I tucked myself in."

My smile falters. "Alright. Why don't you have breakfast?"

To my relief, he slowly sits at his table, and begins to eat. I dress up, pinning my hair nearly and hiding the tired bruises on my eyes with makeup. I sit at the edge of the couch and wait.

Not more than ten minutes later, Jonathan walks in, a stoic expression on his face. My heart jumps slightly as memories flood my vision. A man I had loved so much, betraying everything we stand for as mates. Fate had cruel ways of dealing with people.

When Jonathan sees me on the couch, his steps falter. "You're still here? Shouldn't you be at work?" He questions with his brows raised.

I smile softly. "I missed you last night. Thought I'd wait for you to return before heading out for patrol."

He blinks twice, as if taken aback by my words. "Is everything okay?"

I shift slightly. "Of course. Would it not?"  I get up and wrap my arms around him, desperate to feel the warmth I once found solace in. The warmth that was shared with another woman.

Jonathan pulls away, frowning. "You're acting weird."

I step back, keeping my smile on my face.

"I just want to be a good wife Jonathan. Isn't that what you wanted?"

I had played a wife yesterday, today I was a stranger pretending to be one. A stranger with no place in her own home.

"I need to take a shower." Jonathan says, brushing past me and heading to the bathroom. I stand there and watch him leave, wondering how things would become from now on.

My eyes land on a drawer at the corner of the living room. I tilt my head, wondering why I never noticed the small wooden structure. Then it hits, Jonathan had gotten this as a gift from his grandad who was a carpenter. Slowly, I walk over to it, pulling open one of the compartments.

A small flip phone is inside, and my stomach plummets. The phone is turned off, and my instincts push me to turn it on. Instantly, the screen lights up with a message. Luna Samira's name shines boldly as I read the message underneath, my heart thumping.

'I dreamt of you last night. Did she suspect anything yet?'

Last night, they were together, frolicking with a full sense of security. My stomach churns at the shamelessness. Part of me can't believe that this is real, that this is actually happening.

"Mummy!" Jayden calls out from the kitchen. I jump, clutching my chest before dropping the phone back in the drawer. I made a mental note to take a picture later.

"Coming honey!" I yell back and run to the kitchen. Jayden is on the floor, and to my dismay, his entire breakfast is with him. "Jayden! What is the meaning of this? Why aren't you eating your breakfast?"

He grumbles, crossing his arms. "I want the pancakes Auntie Luna makes me. Why can't I see her again mummy? Why don't you want me to be happy?"

My heart shatters all over again. "I want you to be happy Jayden. Of course I do. But auntie Luna is interfering in our family matters too much. I'm sure you don't like it when someone is always in your space, do you?"

"But I like her in my space." He says quietly. Fresh tears threaten me again, but I restrain.

"You want pancakes? I'll get you pancakes. Mummy will get you anything you want okay?" I whisper, trying to steady my voice.

Jayden's face brightens up instantly, and he hugs me before running to his room to change. I look at the mess on the floor and sigh. This is not the life I imagined for myself when I got married, cast out under my own nose.

I get up and turn to grab a broom to clean up the mess when a piece of paper sticks out to me. It's on Jayden's seat, rumpled and looks like it was in his pyjama pocket. Curious, I open it up, and gasp softly. 

It's a drawing of a woman, scrawny but visible, with blonde hair and a necklace. My chest tightens when I read the inscription below, in Jayden's handwriting: 

'My real mommy.’