CHAPTER : YOU’RE MY WIFE

Alex said that he had spoken to the Elders about it.

They told him it was rare—but not impossible—for mates to be unable to fully mark each other.

“It’s uncommon,” Alex explained, “but it has happened before. In some cases, the bond just... doesn’t complete.”

Austin frowned. He had been trying for weeks. Every time he got close to marking Ariana, something inside him pulled back. It was like a wall he couldn’t break through.

“It’s been two weeks,” Alex added. “You still haven’t marked her. What’s going on, Austin?”

Austin ran a hand through his hair. His voice was low and tired.

“I don’t know, Alex. I just… I don’t feel the bond with her.”

He looked up, eyes filled with doubt.

“It’s not there. Not like it should be.”

Alex hesitated before saying,

“There’s something else. And you’re probably not going to want to hear it.”

Austin tensed. “What is it?”

“The rogues who attacked Rosemary… They’re connected to Ariana.”

Austin’s eyes darkened. He shot up from his chair.

“What?”

Meanwhile…

In her room, Ariana sat on her bed, scrolling through her phone. She paused on a photo—Rosemary laughing with a man at a bar. She zoomed in, smiling to herself.

“So... you’ve been sneaking around behind Austin’s back,” she whispered.

“Such a little tramp.”

Just then, the door burst open. Ariana looked up and smiled, pretending to be surprised.

“Austin!” she ran to him and hugged him, but he didn’t hug her back.

She held up her phone quickly.

“You have no idea what that little human has been up to.”

Austin looked at the screen. A photo of Rosemary… and a man sitting beside her.

Ariana smirked. “They’re meeting again tonight. At the Blue Owl Bar. At eight. You should go see it with your own eyes.”

But Austin didn’t even blink.

Instead, his voice was sharp.

“I told you to stay away from Rosemary.”

Ariana’s smile dropped.

“I was just—”

“Did you send those rogues after her?” he asked coldly.

“What? No! I... I would never—”

Austin didn’t believe her.

“Clearly, you don’t know how to behave,” he said. Then turned and called for a guard.

The guard stepped inside.

“Yes, Alpha?”

“Ariana is under house arrest for a week. She does not leave this room unless I say so.”

“WHAT?” Ariana shouted. “Austin, I’m your mate! You can’t do this!”

“Watch me.”

Later that evening…

At the Blue Owl Bar, Rosemary sat across from Marcus, the same man from the photo. She looked nervous.

“So…” she said softly. “You said you know something about my real parents?”

Marcus nodded. “I asked some old friends. Eighteen years ago, a couple in this area lost their daughter. I think they might be your parents.”

Rosemary’s heart skipped.

“Eighteen years ago… that’s when I was adopted. You think they’re my real family?”

“Maybe,” Marcus said. “But there’s more. The couple… they weren’t humans.”

Rosemary stared. “What do you mean?”

“They were werewolves.”

She froze. Her mouth went dry.

“That… that can’t be right. I’m human.”

“Not all werewolves show signs early,” Marcus explained. “Some don’t shift until later. Some… never shift at all. But they still have werewolf blood.”

Rosemary looked down at her hands. Her thoughts were spinning.

“So what does that make me?”

Marcus smiled gently. “It means you might be special. It means there’s more to you than you know.”

He reached across the table and placed a hand on hers.

“Whatever we find… you won’t face it alone.”

But before Rosemary could respond, a hand grabbed Marcus’s wrist and yanked it away.

“Get your hand off her,” a deep voice growled.

It was Austin.

He stood there, eyes glowing, his body tense.

Austin’s eyes locked onto the man sitting across from Rosemary. The way they were seated, how close the man’s hand had just been on hers—it all sent rage through his blood.

The man quickly pulled back, startled.

Rosemary stood up, confused. “Austin? What are you doing here?”

Austin ignored her question. His eyes were on the man.

“So this is why you left the pack tonight?” he spat.

“To sneak around and meet him? You really are good at playing the victim, huh? Sweet, innocent Rosemary.”

Rosemary’s eyes widened.

“What are you even talking about? Marcus is here to help me!”

“Help?” Austin scoffed.

“What kind of help, exactly? The kind that makes you forget you’re married?”

Rosemary’s jaw dropped.

“What is your problem?” she snapped.

“It’s none of your business who I talk to!”

Austin stepped closer. His voice was low but firm.

“None of my business? You’re my wife, Rosemary. I have every right to know what you’re up to.”

Rosemary’s hands clenched at her sides. Her voice shook.

“Your wife in name only, remember?”

She took a deep breath and added,

“You’ve got your precious mate. So stop acting like you have any say in what I do. I’m done with this.”

Without waiting for a response, she grabbed her purse and walked off, her heels echoing on the floor as she disappeared through the bar’s exit.

Austin stared after her, his chest tight. When he turned back to Marcus, his eyes were full of warning.

“Stay away from her.”

Marcus stood up, his own voice steady and challenging.

“Or what?”

But before Austin could take another step forward, Maya rushed in between them.

“Austin, stop it!” she shouted.

Austin froze. “Maya?”

She looked at him with disbelief.

“Do you even know what’s going on?”

He frowned, still angry. “I know enough—”

“No, you don’t!” she snapped.

“I’m the one who brought Rosemary here tonight. Marcus is just helping her search for her family.”

Austin blinked. “What?”

Maya looked furious now.

“Do you have any idea what Rosemary has been through? The Lucys treated her like trash—barely fed her, barely clothed her, bullied her every day. And now you—her so-called husband—you’re making her life even worse!”

Austin’s voice broke.

“No, I didn’t…”

Maya cut him off, tears in her eyes.

“Yes, you did! You’re being a total jerk, Austin! All she cares about is finding her real family—and all you care about is your stupid jealousy!”

Silence fell over the bar. Austin looked down, ashamed.

“You’re right,” he whispered. “I… I messed up.”

Back at the pack house…

Rosemary lay curled in bed, hugging her pillow tightly. Her cheeks were wet with tears. The pain in her chest felt unbearable.

“It’s gonna be okay,” she whispered to herself in the dark.

“I’ll find Mom and Dad. I just have to keep believing.”

She sniffled.

“But Austin…”

Her voice cracked.

“How could he say those things to me?”

Suddenly, the door creaked open. Austin stepped in quietly, guilt written all over his face.

“Rosemary…” His voice was soft. “I’m… I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make things worse.”

She sat up slowly, her eyes red and tired.

“Just stop,” she said coldly.

“Leave me alone. Like you always do.”

Austin’s heart sank. He couldn’t say anything more. He turned toward the door, his hand reaching for the handle.

But it wouldn’t move.

The knob twisted—but the door wouldn’t open.

Locked.

He frowned, trying again.

Still locked.

Rosemary looked at him, confused.

“Why isn’t it opening?”

Then suddenly—the lights in the room flickered. The air turned cold.

Both of them froze.

A shadow moved past the window.