Chapter 3

Swara’s POV

I noticed there was a backdoor right where they stood. Sure it led to the bathroom. Little wonder, they could catch up with me so fast.

I was out of breath from running and too weak to fight.

I felt like beating Bram to a pulp but I was no match for him.

So I faced my twin sister. I was no match for her either. But I was willing to give it a try.

“How could you Saloni?” I matched across to her, willing to slap her. But she was faster than me. She caught my hand and held it firmly.

“You know I’m more useful to him than you are. It’s high time you accepted the truth.”

“And what is the truth?” I yelled still struggling to free my hand.  But she wouldn’t budge.

“The truth is he can never be with you. He was only stalling till the right time to tell you. If he ever makes you, that’d be after I’ve given him an heir so your weak energy doesn’t tamper with his vital essence.”

“How could you do this to me, Saloni?” Tears wouldn’t stop brimming down my cheeks.

“Balme it on your wolf. Not me.”

“Why did it have to be on my birthday?” Saloni had no hint of remorse in her eyes. She seemed happy I caught them making love.

“You know what you saw. He is content with me. It’s my birthday and we always made love on my birthday. You walked in on us. Bad timing. No one invited you to my party. It’s your birthday but the party was thrown for me. Why couldn’t you stay home and save yourself the trouble?”

My sister was a hopeless case – always meant to cause me pain and trouble. But not Bram.

My gaze held his eyes. “Are you going to dump me for my sister because she has it better? Is that what love means to you? Except you mean to tell me your love was a lie. You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“I know.” Bram was blinking back the tears that threatened to fall.

“Bram, I gave you, my life. I confided in you about my secret pains and struggles. Meanwhile, you had been seeing my sister behind my back?!”

“Don’t let her guilt trip you. You did nothing wrong. Are you supposed to marry someone just because she is fated? Is love all there is to a bond? Strength and compatibility matter too. Don’t listen to her. I’m the best choice for you.” Saloni whispered to him.

“If you are going to reject me indeed, stop calling my bluff and do it now!” I shouted at him amidst a tear-soaked face. Deep down, I didn’t want him to reject me. And I hoped he wouldn’t. But the inevitable was bound to happen.

“Seeing you like this makes me feel bad. I don’t want you to break down completely. I will reject you tomorrow.”

“No Bram. It has to be now.” I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Yes do it now just like she said.” Saloni was finally getting what she wanted.

“She is right. Reject me for good and be done with it. I can handle the rejection. You are not the first. My family rejected me first. I was a fool to think anyone would accept me when my own family rejects me every day!” I was downcast.

“Even you have rejected yourself. That is why you only saw yourself through the eyes of Bram.” My sister poured salt on my injury.

“I’m sorry Swara. Just know that I had love for you at the time. But it was short-lived. I felt more sorry for you than I loved you. I felt sorry for all you were going through. I wanted to be the shoulder you can lean on. And I can still be the friend you need. But not your lover.”

“Bastard cut the crap and reject me now!” I screamed and caught the eye of some onlookers.

“Bitch you are causing a scene.” A passerby bellowed giving me the look of disgust.

I saw rejection through the eyes of everyone. No one wanted me. Even my sight was an eyesore to them.

I sought solace on the floor as I heard Bram mumble some words that sounded like rejection.

“Sometimes to reject someone is love. If I marry you, I will only cause you pain. My family don’t like you. Just for the mere fact your wolf is weak. And what’s worse than having in-laws that don’t like you.”

Just then, my father came on the scene and met me a shadow of myself.

“Foolish girl, what were you thinking? That Bram will choose you over my daughter?”

Had he just called Solani his “my daughter”?

So I wasn’t his daughter.

Only Solani was his.

“I’m sure you are happy your daughter got what’s best for her – a cheating and an unfaithful man.” I was loud enough for my dad to hit me in the face.

My mouth flew to pick up specks of dust from the ground.

Bram rushed to my aid. But my father held him back. That only broke my heart father.

“What do you think you are doing? Are you a fool? I told you not to start anything with Swara. I have selected Saloni for you. But you did otherwise and ended up two-timing. Now you have hurt Swara. Don’t make it harder for her to forget you. You must keep away from her.”

My father scolded Bram.

The last few years with Bram felt like a waste of time.

I rolled on the ground. Father and Saloni left me to grovel on the ground.

Bram looked on at me in pity. That’s all he ever felt for me. Pity. Just pity.

He looked at me like I was pathetic. And walked out on me a few minutes later.

I kept wailing and grieving like a woman who had lost her family to a flood.

What pained me was that he didn’t even look back to give me emotional closure.

The mere thought of him going to see Saloni and having another steamy session with her drove me mad.

I took to my heels, running in his direction, and stopped him abruptly.

“You enjoyed the sex with her, didn’t you? You don’t think I can fuck you like that? Try me and see.”

“Don’t do that, Swara. This is not you. Don’t make me lose my respect for you.”