Chapter 3-The Third Wheel In The Relationship

Felicity:

The morning chill jolted me awake.

Still drowsy, I blinked a few times before turning my head.

A man lay beside me, his arm draped over my waist.

He was naked, so was I.

Fuck. What have I done??

The memories of the last few hours crashed into me all at once, and my blood ran cold.

Panic struck me at once.

I can’t bring another man into my already complicated life. Not before I get myself out of this mess first.

Last night was wonderful and it was exactly the distraction that I needed. But now’s time for me to face reality, no matter how hard it is.

Carefully, I lifted his arm off my waist and crawled away on my knees before grabbing my dress.

I slipped into it, trying not to make a sound, then turned to leave.

But my feet refused to move.

I looked back at him.

The man beside me is still sleeping, still handsome in broad daylight. 

I can’t help tracing his bushy eyebrows, prominent nose, and thin lips with my finger. 

It was the most wonderful night in my life. 

I had never felt so animalistic, so completely claimed before.

I looked down at his body, and found that his wound had healed incredibly fast. 

The open wound was gone, leaving behind only a faint reddish mark. 

He’ll be all right.

Yet somehow, leaving him felt far harder than it should have.

I rushed back to the mansion before anyone could see me or start rumors about Alpha Felix's Luna wandering the streets at dawn.

The mansion was dark so it meant Felix hadn't come home.

Which meant he had never noticed that I hadn't come home either.

As I slipped into a fresh set of clothes, something in the mirror caught my attention.

A fresh mark stained the side of my neck.

My heart nearly stopped.

Wait—

Had he marked me?

My hand flew to my forehead as panic surged through me.

I just have to make sure Felix doesn't see it.

Adding makeup to the mark and concealing it, I took a deep breath and calmed my nerves.

I stepped out of my room to find the maids just arriving for work.

Several warriors stood guard near the mansion entrance.

"Luna Felicity," one of them said respectfully. "Alpha Felix asked me to let you know he'll be occupied with the border situation for the time being. If you need anything, please tell me instead of contacting him directly. I'll make sure he gets the message. It's a security precaution."

I listened in silence as I sat alone at the dining table, barely touching my breakfast.

"What's happening at the border?" I asked.

Not because I still cared about pack affairs, but because yesterday not a single cab driver had agreed to take me anywhere near the border.

"The rogues have launched several attacks," he replied. "The border is under lockdown. No one is permitted to leave or enter unless Alpha Felix personally approves it after hearing the reason."

I gave him a slow nod.

There went my only chance to escape.

I couldn't fucking run away from my murderous husband anymore if the revenge and divorce thing don’t go well.

It was obvious now.

Felix had never been spending those nights at a security center.

He had been sleeping in his late brother's wife's bed.

Now I understood why he was always away.

He only came home long enough to try to get me pregnant, then went right back to Ellen.

All this time, he'd been living a double life.

Felix was the pack's beloved Alpha. 

Everyone believed he was loyal, faithful, and beyond suspicion.

Only the Alpha King could validate or annul Alpha’s marriage. 

I was born with no status, no wealth. 

No one would take me seriously if I simply asked for a divorce. 

I could already imagine Felix saying I’m mentally unstable and locking me away in an asylum. 

I needed to expose the monster hiding behind that perfect reputation, and prove to the Alpha King that I deserved freedom and a new start.

For the next two weeks, I searched for every opportunity to talk to him but he was never home. 

Being trapped in this house had never felt so suffocating. 

I couldn’t help but blame myself for coming back. 

Why did I must seek an official closure? Might as well run away for good.

Sure I might be hunted down, dragged back, and die with a Luna title, forever bound to that scum. 

But at least I’d be out and free now.

By the end of the second week, Felix finally returned home.

"Ah, the love of my life. My beautiful wife."

Felix spread his arms as he walked into the mansion, putting on a dramatic show for everyone watching.

Around us, the maids and warriors smiled, admiring his devotion.

He had spent years building the image of a loving husband so that if I ever disappeared, no one would suspect him.

"Hey," I replied dryly.

He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into a hug.

Even his scent made me nauseous now.

"How are you? Did you miss me?" he asked, pulling away to cup my face, his thumb brushing my cheek.

"I'm fine. " I replied, subtly pushing his hands away.

"Actually, I have something to tell you."

His voice softened as he gently patted my arms.

"You know the north border has been under heavy rogue attacks. It isn't safe anymore, so I made a decision."

For one foolish second, I hoped he was finally going to confess to his wrongdoings.

He wasn't.

"I've decided to move Ellen and my—I mean her son into our mansion."

He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

"You know it isn't safe anymore. Ellen is my late brother's wife, and Noah is his son. I couldn't forgive myself if anything happened to them."

His voice was gentle, his expression full of concern.

“Besides Ellen could help a lot if you are pregnant. Doctor Maeve is quite confident in this new method. We’ll be gifted a baby soon, she said.”

The maids and servants watched with admiration, exactly as he'd intended.

He was putting on another performance, making sure everyone saw the kind, devoted Alpha who always did the right thing.

"Sure," I answered.

Relief flashed across his face as his smile broadened.

Mine never reached my eyes.

The thought of sharing a roof with Ellen made my stomach tighten. 

But It’d be a great opportunity to gather evidence.

"I knew you'd never ask me to abandon my family," Felix said, patting my cheek affectionately before turning toward the entrance.

"Ellen. Noah. You can come in."

I tired to keep my smile on while furious inside.

He hadn't come home to ask.

He had already made the decision.

I leaned slightly to look past him.

Ellen stepped through the front door while a guard carried in her luggage.

The moment Noah saw Felix, he ran to him.

Felix smiled, scooped him into his arms, and held him like he'd done it a thousand times before.

The sight twisted something inside me.

Ellen's gaze met mine.

A small, polite smile appeared on her lips before she walked over and slipped effortlessly into the space beside Felix.

Together with Noah in his arms, they looked like the perfect family.

I looked like a stranger standing in their home.

"Looks like we'll be living together from now on," Ellen said pleasantly.

Only her eyes betrayed her.

Behind that smile was triumph.

It felt as though everything I'd called mine had only been on loan, and she'd finally come to collect it.