CHAPTER 1: FAT

CORA'S POV

I had spent six years trying to become the woman my mate would be proud to call his wife.

Six years of waking before sunrise to exercise while the rest of the pack slept, six years of starving and buying clothes that hid my curves because Daniel hated seeing me in anything that hugged my body.

Six years of pretending his words didn't hurt but tonight, I was determined to believe things could change.

It was our sixth wedding anniversary.

I stood in front of the bedroom mirror, smoothing my hands over the red dress I had bought for the occasion.

It hugged my curves and I looked beautiful.

My stomach wasn't flat. My thighs were thick, and my hips filled the dress beautifully.

For once, I didn't hate what I saw.

I touched the necklace around my neck. Daniel had given it to me on our first anniversary, back when his eyes still softened whenever he looked at me.

Back when he called me beautiful.

Back when he whispered that I was the only woman he would ever want.

My wolf stirred inside me.

He will like you tonight.

I smiled sadly.

"I hope so."

I picked up the small black gift box sitting on the dresser.

Inside was a silver watch.

Daniel had mentioned wanting one months ago, and I'd secretly saved money to buy it.

I couldn't wait to see his face.

Maybe tonight would remind him of the man I'd fallen in love with.

Maybe tonight, he'd remember why he'd chosen me as his mate.

Maybe…"Mommy!"

Tobias's voice came from downstairs.

My heart immediately fluttered with warmth.

I slipped the box into my purse and hurried toward the stairs.

At least my son would be happy to see me.

I had spent the afternoon preparing his favorite meal before leaving for the beauty salon. I'd even bought him a chocolate cake.

"Mommy's coming!" I called.

I reached the bottom step.

Then I heard a woman's laughter.

I froze.

The sound was unfamiliar.

My smile disappeared.

There was another voice too.

A man's voice.

Daniel.

I frowned.

Why was Claire here?

My adopted sister hadn't mentioned visiting tonight.

I took a step toward the living room.

Then Tobias spoke.

"Daddy, does this mean Claire is going to be my new mommy?"

The gift box nearly slipped from my hand.

My heart stopped.

For a second, I wondered if I'd heard him incorrectly.

New mommy?

I moved closer.

"Of course she is," Daniel said.

His voice was calm like they were discussing something completely ordinary.

I pushed the living-room door open and my world shattered.

Daniel was sitting on the couch.

Claire was sitting closely beside him.

Her fingers were tangled in his hair, and his shirt was unbuttoned.

Her lipstick was smeared across his mouth.

I stared at them.

Neither moved.

Tobias sat on the floor between them, smiling.

"Mommy!"

My son jumped to his feet.

Then he looked at Claire.

"Or should I call her Mommy now?"

Something inside me cracked.

I looked at Daniel.

"What's going on?"

He didn't answer.

He simply stared at me.

His gaze traveled from my face to my red dress before settling on my stomach.

Disgust flashed across his face.

That look hurt more than anything else.

I swallowed.

"Daniel?"

Claire slowly stood.

She adjusted her dress and walked toward him, slipping her arm through his.

My eyes dropped to her slim waist.

Then to my own body.

Suddenly, the dress I'd been proud of felt ridiculous.

Daniel finally spoke.

"I think you know what's going on."

My fingers trembled.

"You're cheating on me?"

He sighed as if I were exhausting him.

"Don't make this dramatic, Cora."

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

"Don't make this dramatic?"

I looked at Claire.

"My sister?"

Claire lowered her eyes.

For once, she didn't look guilty.

She looked victorious.

"You were never supposed to find out tonight," she whispered.

My stomach twisted.

"Tonight?"

Daniel stood.

He walked toward me, stopping several feet away.

"I was going to tell you eventually."

"Tell me what?"

He looked directly into my eyes.

"I don't love you anymore."

The words were simple, yet they destroyed me.

I shook my head.

"No."

"Cora…"

"No."

I backed away.

"You can't just say that."

"Why not?"

"Because we're mates."

His expression hardened.

"Being mates doesn't mean I have to spend the rest of my life pretending I'm attracted to you."

My chest tightened.

He had never said it so openly before.

He'd called me heavy.

He'd told me I needed to lose weight.

He'd refused to take me to pack events because he was embarrassed by me but somehow, hearing him say he wasn't attracted to me was worse.

I looked at Claire.

"How long?"

Neither answered.

"How long have you been sleeping with my husband?"

Claire glanced at Daniel.

He nodded.

"Almost a year."

My knees weakened.

A year.

While I'd been trying to save our marriage, he'd been building another one behind my back.

I thought about all the nights I'd waited for him.

All the dinners I'd prepared.

All the times I'd wondered why my mate no longer touched me.

The answer had been standing right in front of me.

Claire.

My own sister.

I wiped the tears spilling down my cheeks.

"Why?"

Daniel's jaw tightened.

"Because Claire is everything you aren't."

I stared at him.

He continued.

"She's slim. She's elegant. She knows how to take care of herself."

Each word felt like a stab wound to my heart.

"And she's not embarrassed to be seen with me."

I looked down at my dress.

"I've never been embarrassed to be seen with you."

"That's not what I meant."

"It is."

I laughed through my tears.

"You think I'm fat."

Daniel didn't deny it.

"I've told you for years that you need to do something about your weight."

"I tried."

"Not hard enough."

My heart broke.

"I've tried everything."

"Apparently not."

Claire placed a hand on his chest.

"Daniel, there's no point arguing."

I looked at her.

She smiled.

That smile told me everything about my evil sister.

My son suddenly tugged at my dress.

"Mommy?"

I crouched down.

"Yes, baby?"

"Are you leaving?"

I forced a smile.

"No."

He looked at Claire.

"I want Claire to stay."

My smile disappeared.

"Why?"

"Because she's prettier."

The words came from my six-year-old son.

My own child.

I couldn't breathe.

Daniel didn't correct him.

He didn't tell Tobias that his mother was beautiful.

He didn't tell him not to speak to me that way.

Instead, he simply watched.

I stood slowly.

"Fine."

My voice barely sounded like mine.

I looked at Daniel.

"Do you want me to leave?"

He hesitated.

Then he said the words that would haunt me for years.

"Yes."

I nodded.

"Okay."

I turned around.

"Cora."

I stopped.

Daniel's voice softened.

For one foolish second, hope returned.

Then he said, "You should get used to Claire being here. She's going to move in."

I closed my eyes.

Something inside me went completely still.

I placed my hand over my stomach and took one slow breath.

Then Clair cleared her throat loudly, "Actually, there's something else; I'm pregnant."

I walked upstairs.

I packed a suitcase with shaking hands.

I left the wedding ring on the dresser.

I left the anniversary gift beside it and before dawn, I walked out of the house where I'd spent six years trying to earn love.

I dialled a number. “I'm coming to you now.”