Chapter 2: The Choice He Made

AUREN'S POV

I didn't know when the tears came rolling down, my vision blurred, I could barely see anything.

"Mel…Melvin" His name trembled from my lips.

The tears wouldn't stop. I wiped at them with shaking fingers, but more followed.

The entire council hall stood there and watched me fall apart.

 I needed Selene to laugh and say “Pound it!!, that was a prank on you and you fell for it”.

 But she wasn't moving, her eyes couldn't even meet mine.

I took my blurry eyes off everyone in the room and kept them on Melvin, no one else mattered right now, only him. 

Because none of this made sense. It could be anyone but Melvin.

Not the man who had spent two years telling me we would figure everything out together.

My mind drifted to how he left council meetings early just to eat dinner with me. I remembered how he walked Elder Vayric from this same council room when he presented my inabilities before everyone.

This same man today, watched me break, he knew how much my not being able to produce a child and to meet the pack needs weighed me down. 

How could he do this? My heart felt like it was breaking apart, piece by piece.

"Tell me this isn't real. Please…Melvin" My voice cracked.

Melvin's grip tightened around the document in his hand.

"Auren… please, listen."

"No." I shook my head violently. "No, don't do that."

The room blurred again, my feet became too weak for the ground.

"Tell me this isn't real, I beg you." I fell on him and wrapped my arms around him, my head buried on his chest. “Please tell me it's a joke, I promise to…to forgive you my love”. I sobbed.

I thought he would actually deny it, but no, he pulled me out of his body instead and moved his face away.

My stomach twisted, I held it from falling apart.

"Selene is…. pregnant” He paused and raised his eyes, like he was waiting for the words to land. 

He continued “Auren and–"

I cut in "And the child is yours?" I stared at him.

The silence answered before he did. A cold chill ran through my spine.

"Auren..."

A broken laugh left me, it sounded more like a sob. "You actually did it?, You slept with my friend? Your staff?"

Nobody looked comfortable anymore, it wasn't because they cared, but how they had to watch the damage.

“And you aren't even disgusted by how much you have reduced me today?” My voice shook.

Melvin took a step toward me. “Auren”

I stepped back immediately, the movement stopped him.

"When?" The question slipped out of my mouth, nobody answered.

I looked directly at Selene.

"When did you start developing feelings for my husband?"

Selene lifted her chin. "Someone needed to do your job and save this pack’s identity..and I stepped in."

I barked out another laugh, it was so hard, the tears rolled out again.

My voice echoed through the hall.

"You saved the day by sleeping with my husband?..you were my best friend, I trusted you with my pains, my secrets and you…you used it against me?”

Her jaw tightened, the confidence she walked in with flickered, only for a second then it returned.

 Elder Corvin rose from his seat.

"Auren, a child is needed and we have one, it changes things from now, we need to move ahead with what's next."

I turned sharply as he continued.

"As painful as this situation may be, Thornridge finally has hope."

Elder Vayric nodded as Elder Covin continued with his voice louder than before.

"The future Alpha has finally been secured."

More agreement followed, one after another, like wolves circling prey.

My hands curled into fists, they weren't even pretending anymore. This wasn't about betrayal, this was politics.

Selene lowered her gaze, wearing an innocent look, but she was winning.

Then Elder Vayric stood, the room immediately went quiet. The old wolf folded his hands behind his back.

His gaze moved from Melvin. To Selene. To me.

"The child deserves legitimacy and Thornridge deserves stability.” He smiled and opened his arms. “Thornridge has that now, our pack would be more respected than ever”.

My stomach dropped. The words settled heavily inside the hall.

The conversation was moving into a dangerous direction, that seemed beyond just the pregnancy.

And everyone seemed to know it except me. My pulse pounded loudly in my ears.

I looked around the room, at their silent agreement and how everyone was totally fine with what was going on. 

My breath caught.

For the first time since walking into the council hall, I realized this meeting had never been about seeking my permission.

It had been about announcing decisions that had already been made.

I slowly turned toward Melvin.

He knew.

The way he avoided my eyes told me he knew exactly where this conversation was heading.

My chest tightened.

"Melvin!!"

His name came out like a whisper this time.

Elder Vayric stepped forward.

"The council has reached a unanimous decision."

The words snapped every head toward him. Even Selene straightened beside Melvin.

"The unborn child must be protected. The future of Thornridge depends upon this child," Elder Corvin added.

My eyes burned, tears blurred my vision, and my whole body shook as if a bitter cold had settled into my bones.

I was no longer part of the conversation, it was like I had become invisible in the room, I was the sacrifice being discussed.

Elder Vayric unfolded a document from the table beside him.

"The council has also agreed that immediate steps must be taken to secure stability within Thornridge."

A strange feeling settled in my stomach. The kind that came before disaster.

I watched Selene's fingers tighten around the fabric of her dress. The thought hit me instantly.

She already knew what was about to be announced.

"The pregnancy changes the future of this pack," Elder Vayric continued.

"Therefore, preparations will begin for the official mating ceremony between Alpha Melvin Calmoore and Selene Varktor."

The room erupted into a loud murmur. I gasped. My head spun and for a moment I thought I might collapse.