Chapter02

The Perfect Betrayal

Serena

“Who is she to you?” I asked for the third time, my voice barely gradually shaking as Ronan led her into our home.

“All you need to know is that she’ll be staying here,” he replied, as if I had no right to know, like that explained anything.

Staying here to do what? In our home?

“But… why did you allow that?” My heart pounded restlessly. “Ronan, who exactly is she?”

He didn’t flinch, neither did he answer me. Instead, he ignored but turned to the woman and with a sickening softness I haven't seen in him, said, “Let me show you to your room, and help you settle down.”

Her heels mockingly clicked against the well polished marble floor like little hammers, each step pounding vigorously into my chest. And still, Ronan wouldn’t spare me a glance. 

I stood speechless and frozen at the foot of the staircase, as I watched in disbelief.

She didn’t even care to look in my direction. Not even once. But I saw it displayed on her face. The annoying smirk perfectly tugged at the corner of her lips. 

And then again, … the bump. Though small, but still visible.

No.

No, no, no, this can't…

“She’s pregnant?” My voice came out as a whisper but cracked on the word.

Ronan on hearing that, stopped halfway up the stairs, but still didn’t try to face me.

“Yes,” he said triumphantly. 

I clutched the edge of my dress, greatly troubled. “And all you cared about was bringing her here? To our home? What exactly am I to you now, Ronan? A ghost, right?”

His silence said it all, louder than a scream.

>>>>>>>>>>>

“Why exactly are you doing this to me?” I finally found the courage to ask him later that night after taking ages to knock on his door.

He was lying in bed, well, it used to be our bed, with so many memories and the lights off. I stood like a ghost in the doorway, the exact room I once stood as his lovely wife, his partner, the woman he never failed to pull affectionately into his warm arms every night.

“You’re really making this very hard on yourself,” he muttered, still closing his eyes.

“I gave up everything I would have benefited just to be with you and support you,” I said. “I would have preferred to stay behind and endure the torment of Ravenfall’s cruelty, the shame, even the scorn and the isolation. There is nothing compared to the glorified suffering I'm facing here. You came when I needed you, gave me hope, Ronan. And now you turn and give them reasons to treat me like garbage again, even worse than the ones I've endured. They never ceased in grabbing every opportunity to spit at me, remember? And right now, they don't hide anymore, but do it openly with your permission.”

He finally opened his eyes, but they were better closed than open because of how cold they were. “Maybe you should’ve considered giving me a child as I wanted, if you wanted to keep your place.”

I gasped unbelievably, the words cutting deeper than claws could have.

“So that’s exactly what I was to you all these while? A womb for your heir with a title?”

“You were supposed, according to plan, to be a Luna,” he said, grudgely rising from the bed. “Not add it.”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The pack stopped a long time ago to bow to me before I even noticed it.

I walked a few steps past warriors who never ceased to stand at attention any moment I was near them, but now, they barely glanced at my direction. Omegas weren't left behind, as they constantly whispered in corners. Some giggled like they just won a jackpot, while the others pointed. No one dared to stop them anymore. Not even my so-called husband, Ronan.

That same night, I tried to do something new, though not entirely new, as I always eat in the dining hall when I was still on Renon's good book of record. She came over, sat across from me, and intentionally placed her hand and started rubbing on her swollen belly.

Ronan didn't care to show up.

“You seem to be a little pale in my eyes, Luna,” she said, intentionally putting a stress on the title just to make her emphasis very clear like it tasted sour in her mouth.

I didn’t care to answer her. I don't trust myself these days , as I might end up lunging across the table.

She gave a mischievous cough, then stood up and walked over to the kitchen counter. I watched her movement from the corner of my eyes, and just when I thought she was coming back to her seat, she picked up the silver tea kettle sitting lazily on the counter and poured a cup.

I didn’t even realize she had taken the pain of pouring mine too until she brought it over with a devilish smile.

“I brought a peace offering,” she said very sweetly.

I didn’t move, neither did I touch it.

She frowned after staying a few minutes without me saying anything, but didn’t push it either. “Suit yourself then.”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The next morning, guards stormed in and dragged me out of my chambers even before dawn.

“What is this?!” I screamed in confusion, fighting hard against their grip. “What have I done to deserve this?”

They said nothing to me. Just continued hauling me through the halls like I was a notorious criminal. I saw from the corners of my eyes how the omegas peeked from behind the doors. I saw the excitement in their eyes.

The dungeons were cruelly freezing.

Mold clung like a second skin to the walls like damp secrets. My clothes by now were torn. My hair is messy and dirty. I shivered because of the excessive cold in one corner of the cell, praying this was some twisted nightmare I would soon wake up from.

Hours passed, but it was still the same. Maybe days, I lost hope, and I couldn

’t tell how long I've stayed anymore.

Then, the footsteps I'm familiar with approached.