Terms of the heart

*Amelia*

Hot tears streamed down my cheeks as I stormed into the dimly lit bar, my heart pounding with fury. The man I’d been married to for two years, Adrian, was sitting there with another woman, his lips pressed against hers as if the world outside didn’t exist. Tonight was supposed to be our anniversary—a celebration of our love—yet here he was, entangled with someone else.

I’d doubted my friend when she called to tell me she’d seen Adrian with another woman. I’d trusted him. But now, standing in the bar’s smoky haze, there was no denying the truth.

Without hesitation, I marched toward him, my voice trembling with anger. “Adrian, what is going on here?”

He froze, his lips still hovering close to hers, and turned to face me. His expression shifted from shock to guilt in an instant.

“Amelia, what are you doing here?” he stammered as he stood, but my gaze had already shifted to the woman. When I saw her face, my breath caught in my throat. It was Mara, Adrian’s ex-mate.

The woman who had abandoned him two years ago—the one who chose another Alpha over him because Adrian hadn’t shifted into his wolf. The same woman who shattered his heart when he was at his lowest. And now she was back?

I clenched my fists, my voice sharp. “So this is why you didn’t come home for our anniversary? To rekindle things with her?”

Adrian stepped toward me, grabbing my arm. “Amelia, let’s talk outside,” he said firmly, steering me away from the curious eyes around us.

Once outside, I yanked my arm free. “What the hell is going on, Adrian?”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It’s not what you think. Mara… she’s been through a lot. Her father forced her to leave me, and the Alpha of the Redmoon Pack… he’s been mistreating her. She came to me for help.”

“And that justifies kissing her?” I shot back, my voice rising.

He frowned. “She’s my fated mate, Amelia. I couldn’t just turn her away.”

My heart twisted at his words. “And me? What am I, Adrian? Your chosen mate? The woman who stood by you when everyone else doubted you?”

“Amelia, that’s not what I meant. You’re my Luna, and nothing’s going to change that,” he insisted, his voice softening. He reached out to wipe the tears from my cheeks. “I’ll make it up to you, I promise. But for now, I can’t just leave her. I will tell Jake to take you back home”

His words felt hollow, but I nodded numbly. He kissed my forehead before heading back inside. As I stood there in the cold night air, the weight of his actions settled over me. Deep down, I knew everything was about to change.

As Jake drove me back to the palace, I asked the maids to clean up the anniversary dinner I’d prepared, then retreated to our room, too exhausted to think.

---

The next morning, I woke to an empty bed. Adrian hadn’t come home. My heart sank as I got up, the ache in my chest deepening with every step. From downstairs, the sound of laughter and chatter reached my ears. My stomach churned as I made my way down, dread pooling in my gut.

At the dining table, Adrian and Mara sat together, their conversation light and easy. She was seated in my usual spot, her hand brushing his as they laughed. They didn’t even notice me until I cleared my throat.

Adrian looked up, smiling. “Hey, Lia. You’re finally awake.”

I ignored his casual tone, my eyes fixed on Mara. “What is she doing here?”

Adrian’s expression turned serious. “She has nowhere else to go. Her parents won’t take her back, and she’s left the Redmoon Pack. She’ll stay here for now.”

Mara’s voice was soft, laced with false humility. “Please don’t be angry, your highness. I promise I won’t be a burden.”

I could see through her act. The feigned helplessness, the calculated tone. But Adrian was blind to it.

“Amelia is kind-hearted. She’ll understand,” Adrian said, his hand resting reassuringly on Mara’s shoulder.

My throat tightened, but I forced a small smile. “Of course,” I murmured before turning away and heading upstairs. I couldn’t stay in that room any longer.

"Amelia, where are you going? Come join us for breakfast," Adrian called as I headed upstairs.

"I'm not hungry yet," I replied quickly, avoiding his gaze before continuing up the stairs. I didn’t want to be anywhere near his ex-mate—if I stayed, I might say or do something I’d regret.

---

I had barely settled in my room when there was a knock at the door. Assuming it was a maid, I called out for them to enter. But it wasn’t a maid. It was Mara.

She stepped inside, her demeanor completely changed. Gone was the timid facade. Instead, her lips curled into a wicked smirk. “Nice room,” she said, her tone mocking.

I stood, crossing my arms. “What do you want?”

She walked closer, her eyes glinting with malice. “I just thought I’d remind you that Adrian is my fated mate. You’re nothing but a placeholder.”

My jaw tightened. “If that’s true, why hasn’t he rejected me yet?”

Her smirk faltered, but only for a moment. “Oh, he will. And when he does, I’ll be the Luna of this pack.”

I laughed bitterly. “Then why are you here, Mara? If you’re so confident, why not just take what you claim is yours?”

Her eyes darkened, and before I could react, she pulled a knife from her pocket and plunged it into her own stomach. Staggering backward, she screamed. “Help! Somebody help! The Luna stabbed me!”

The door burst open, and Adrian rushed in. His eyes darted between Mara, clutching her bleeding stomach, and me, my hands stained with her blood from trying to push her away.

“Adrian, she attacked me,” Mara gasped weakly. “Please… make her stop.”

As she collapsed, Adrian’s gaze turned to me, filled with rage and anger.

“What did you do?”

To be continued…