My brother-in-law is my mate

Watching my husband shamelessly dance with his lover in public was beyond humiliating. Byron was indirectly declaring that our marriage was over.

Before we arrived at the party, he had killed me with his words.

"Tonight, I will inform my dad about our divorce. It's a shame I let you carry the Campbell surname for five years. I can't wait to stop seeing your fat, ugly face."

Now, from the second-floor balcony, I watched him hold his lover's waist, locked in a passionate dance like actors in a romantic movie scene.

I blinked back my tears with the back of my palm. Beyond the disrespect, Byron was going to fight dirty to take our four-year-old son from me.

"You're useless to him," Byron had said more times than I could count, "You've got no status in the society. I'm the better parent, and when I take full custody, Valen will have a new mom who will treat him better than you ever could."

My mind raced for a way out. Running away with my son seemed like the only option, but how?

In this werewolf world, Byron's family were like mini gods. The Campbells were the most powerful family in our pack and tribe. My father-in-law was the Alpha, and their business empire stretched from real estate to healthcare and media. They had wealth and connections that could bury me alive in a heartbeat.

I was nothing more than a disposable afterthought.

I stayed out of sight as laughter echoed from the hall, and now and then, a guest would pass by. They silently judged me with their looks, like I was some desperate gold digger clinging to a man who had never loved me.

Byron leaned in close to whisper something into his lover's ear, and she let out a high-pitched giggle that pierced through the room like some ridiculous lovesick schoolgirl.

His mom treated me like I had a contagious skin disease. My night was about to become unbearable as she strutted over like she owned the world. The woman never missed an opportunity to remind me how beneath the Campbells I was.

Her lips curled into a cruel smile, and the look she gave me was colder than a refrigerator.

"Your disgusting attempts to keep my son are failing miserably. I can't wait for you to sign those divorce papers and disappear from our lives. Look at her." She gestured towards Byron's lover. "She's everything you'll never be-beautiful, elegant, and most importantly, she's a billionaire's daughter. Her family name carries weight, unlike yours, the daughter of a poor driver."

Her words cut deep, but I swallowed the pain and gripped the railing to stop my hands from trembling. My mother-in-law could destroy any chance I had of keeping my son, and I couldn't risk that. Valen was all I had left.

Byron kissed Kiara in front of everyone. His mother chuckled approvingly beside me.

"They make a good couple, don't they?" she said smugly. "If you hadn't trapped Byron with a pregnancy like a desperate tramp, my son wouldn't have ever married you."

Holding back the insult I wanted to spit at her, I bit my lip. What did she know, apart from spending her husband's money and playing queen bee?

I had more issues bothering me. Byron would take Valen from me. I had endured too much pain and a loveless marriage-all to keep my son safe. And now, even that was slipping through my fingers.

"It's time to cut the cake!" my father-in-law, Alpha Jacob, announced, his voice booming.

Reluctantly, I went downstairs and kept to the crowd's edges. The celebrant was Byron's Grandma, Alice. At ninety, she looked like she was barely in her sixties, thanks to the best doctors money could buy. And like the rest of the family, she hated me.

The cake was nine layers of extravagance. Byron and his lover stayed in their little bubble, sharing wine. I looked away.

Trouble hit when his lover accused me of spilling champagne on her. I hadn't even realized someone had shoved me from behind and caused the drink to splash onto her chest.

"I'm sorry," I muttered; though my words lacked sincerity, I forced out the politeness I knew would get me through this.

"Bitch!" she screamed and slapped me hard across the face. The sting spread through my cheek, and people gasped. "How dare you spill your drink on me?"

Even Alpha Jacob, my father-in-law, who had always been somewhat kind to me, stood there, doing nothing. His wife quickly took over, fussing over Byron's lover as if she had been wronged.

"Let's not make a scene, honey. I'll help you clean your dress," she cooed, leading her away.

The slap had been loud enough that I could still feel the imprint of her hand burning into my skin. But instead of retaliating, I crept to the inner living room and sat alone in the semi-darkness.

I wasn't weak for not fighting back. I just wanted my son. I would endure every humiliation, every insult, if it meant saving my son by my side.

Then, as expected, Byron announced the divorce to his parents. "We're getting a divorce," he declared as if it were a business transaction. "

"But why?" Alpha Jacob asked, horrified as if he hadn't noticed that his son had been a terrible husband to me.

"She's served her purpose. I can't have her around Kiara anymore. She could poison her. I'll be alpha next year, and Alexis cannot be my Luna. She irritates me."

I expected the Alpha to rebuke his son, but he looked clueless on what to say.

Byron continued, "I'll throw money at her-after all, that's what she and her money-hungry family are after. But Valen stays with me. Everyone knows how she shamelessly slept with me in my drunk state five years ago and got herself pregnant. I never loved her, and I never will."

"That's not true! I never forced myself on you. We were drunk. You led me to your room and slept with me," I cried out. "Valen is mine. I carried him, I nursed him, I..."

"Enough!" Byron's mom snapped. "You can have more children. Valen doesn't need to be part of your pitiful life."

Tears streamed down my face as I looked at Alpha Jacob, silently begging him to do something, but there was nothing.

Rumor had it that Byron's lover avoided having kids, terrified that a pregnancy might ruin her perfect, plastic figure. She wasn't about to risk her "goddess" body for anyone. But since Byron already had a son, the deal was sealed-Valen would be theirs.

"I won't let you take him!" I shouted as courage flooded through me. "You can do whatever you want to me, but my son stays with me. I won't sign anything unless I keep him."

Byron's face hardened, but a commotion erupted from the main hall before he could respond. My heart raced with panic. Valen had been playing with the other kids at the playground. I rushed out, needing to make sure he was safe.

A man stood in the center of the room, and all eyes were fixed on him. The music stopped. Everywhere was so silent that you could hear a pin drop. He was tall, with dark hair framing a sharp, defined face. He looked so much like my husband, but there was something more-an air of confidence Byron could never pull off.

My heart skipped a beat as I realized who he was. Byron's twin, the one I had never met. And then, something stirred inside me, something primal and undeniable. My dormant wolf awakened with a mad desire, and a sensual scent filled the air, pulling me toward my husband's twin.

My entire body trembled in shock. This man-this spitting image of my husband-was my mate.

Raw shock paralyzed me, freezing every muscle as this cruel joke hit me square in the chest. My mate-the one person the universe crafted to love me right-was none other than my husband's brother.

Could I be any more of a walking disaster?

My mate's dark, intense eyes traced every inch of me, and I felt completely naked, as though he could see straight into my soul.

This bond would be the death of me. Byron already hated me enough to make my life a living hell. Now, adding this bond with his brother would be a nightmare.

From the scraps of information I'd overheard about the Campbell brothers, Byron would ruin me.

My mate's gaze burned into me. It was intense and shameless. He watched me like I was the only one in the room, as if every inch of my skin was on display for his inspection. It was maddening how he made me feel exposed yet desired.

"What the hell are you doing here, Alexander?" Jacob, my father-in-law, barked, storming across the room toward his son. But before he could reach him, his wife rushed ahead, warmly embraced her son, and smothered his face with kisses.

Byron tried to play it cool, but the flush creeping up his neck and the vein throbbing on his forehead told a different story. He couldn't hide the rage. The more he tried to mask his anger, the more obvious it became. He acted like his brother's presence had so much power over him.

Alex, however, looked like he couldn't care less about the cold glares from his father and Byron. He remained calm as his focus locked on me as if no one else in the room mattered.

Fear clamped around my throat, and I quickly dropped my head, praying I could escape his gaze. But it was useless. I needed to leave before things went from bad to worse.

My fingers traced the diamond ring on my finger, a cursed symbol of my chains, to Byron. As much as my heart screamed to run to my mate, I was still married to the man who treated me like shit. And even if Byron finally handed over the divorce papers, there was no way he'd just let me walk away with our son. Not without a fight.

Grandma Alice pulled Alex into a tight hug. "What a pleasant surprise. I would've chased you to the grave if you hadn't honored my invitation."

Alex chuckled, finally tearing his gaze away from me. "You've got decades left, Grandma. Trust me, I wouldn't miss your birthday for the world."

The partygoers resumed their chatter, turning their attention away from the family reunion. It was a small, private gathering, so there wasn't much risk of our awkwardness spilling into the public. But even so, I couldn't stay. I needed to get out of here before something terrible happened.

I walked to the mini-living room and tried to pull my thoughts together. My head felt like it would explode.

Who could I even talk to about this mess? My family? Yeah, right. My father had always been a spineless puppet, letting my mother ruin his life. My sister was only eighteen, too naïve to understand anything, and my brother was just as greedy as my mother. Both of them spent more time bragging about my marriage to Byron Campbell than they did caring about my actual well-being. Like hitching me to that monster was the greatest trophy they could ever show off.

The thought of running away with my baby and vanishing while Byron was distracted by his brother crossed my mind more than once. But who was I kidding? Even if I made it to the estate gates, I'd get caught before touching the handle.

And let's say, by some miracle, I did sneak out-Valen was Byron's son. How the hell could I ever pull off an escape with a child who Byron would hunt down in a second? The Campbells owned everything. I wouldn't make it past the first town without being dragged back.

The thought twisted my stomach into knots. Trapped, I sat there, desperately trying to plan my next move. The bond with Alex felt like a vice around my heart, squeezing tighter every second, but I couldn't give in.

As much as it tore me apart, I had to stay away from Alex. Valen came first. I couldn't let Kiara, with her selfish, shallow ways, raise my son. She would ruin him. I felt it deep in my bones.

I was convincing myself to stay strong when a presence filled the room, knocking the air from my lungs. My mate had followed me, and the intensity of the bond hit me like a shockwave and made me shiver.

We were alone.

His footsteps echoed softly behind me and sent a jolt of panic through my chest. My internal fire alarm blared, telling me to run, yet my body betrayed me and stayed rooted to the spot like a damn statue.

"Look at me," his deep voice rumbled. The sound vibrated through my thighs and settled in a way that made me hate myself.

A low chuckle rumbled from him, dripping with confidence. His footsteps grew louder and closer until the warmth of his breath danced along the side of my neck, and my skin exploded in goosebumps, betraying every bit of logic left in me.

"Why are you running from me, mate?"

Oh shit, shit, shit...

"Please, just leave me alone," I stammered, and my voice trembled. "I don't want to talk to you."

He spun me around gently. His eyes bore into mine with a depth that made me want to run and, at the same time, fall into his arms. No one had ever looked at me like this before.

"It's you," he whispered. "It's always been you."

Confusion clouded my mind. What did he mean by that? But before I could ask, Byron's voice cut through the air.

"Alexis!"

His voice snapped me out of the trance I'd fallen into. Like a scared child, I ran toward him, nearly stumbling hastily. Byron caught me, pulled me close, and then did what I dreaded most.

He kissed me.

My wolf recoiled in disgust. Every fiber of my being screamed in protest at having another man touching me, especially as my true mate stood just a few feet away.

I'd tried getting Byron to notice me again and show affection for five years. He was the same person who saw me at the party my mother had forced me to attend five years ago.

That night, he was so kind to me, knowing that being at the Campbell party made me extremely nervous. We had too much to drink and ended up in bed. That was my first walk of shame, resulting in my son.

Every kindness he showed that night transformed into raw hate, to the point that he denied ever even seeing me. By some miracle, he agreed to marry me despite his hatred for me, but now, his sudden display of affection felt like a mockery.

His fingers brushed my arm. After years of craving his attention, he chose to show it tonight-the night I met my mate.

How cliche.

"Are you alright, honey?" he asked, loud enough for his brother to hear. His lover stood behind him, glaring daggers at me. I feared her hatred would burn a hole through me.

Byron pulled me even closer as though to make a point. "I see you've met my lovely wife," he said to his brother with a smug grin plastered on his face. "I sent you a wedding invite, but you ignored it. Alexis and I are happily married and blessed with a four-year-old son."

The shock on Alex's face was raw. His eyes flickered between us, trying to make sense of it all. I begged him with my eyes to remain silent. I needed to keep my bond with him a secret because if Byron found out, he would kill me-or worse, take Valen from me forever.

"I was busy," Alex finally said. His tone was calm but edged with something darker. His voice was like Byron's, but it had a raw quality, making my heart race for all the wrong reasons.

"Congratulations, but I feel sorry for your wife. She's stuck with a psycho. Do you even love her?"

Byron laughed, but I could feel the rage boiling beneath the surface. His grip on my wrist tightened so much that I knew it was leaving a bruise.

"That's rich, coming from you, the family's black sheep," Byron sneered. "At least I'm married, responsible, and accepted by society. I'm the pack's future alpha. After all these years, you've returned to cause trouble?"

Alex smirked as if his brother's words didn't get to him. "I asked if your wife loves you. I see disgust in her eyes. You even came to Grandma's party with your lover."

I couldn't take it anymore. My body was going to collapse if I didn't leave. "I need to use the restroom," I muttered, pulling free from Byron's grasp and rushing toward the door. My steps quickened as I reached the front entrance, pulling it open and gasping as though I'd been suffocating all this time.

After stumbling back home, barefoot and drained, I could finally breathe. The five-minute walk felt like a marathon as I clutched my heels. My feet throbbed with every step on the cold pavement, but the relief of escaping that hellhole was worth the discomfort.

To my surprise, the nanny had brought my son home earlier than expected, and he was fast asleep in his SpongeBob pajamas.

Relief flooded over me as I stood at my son's room door, watching the rise and fall of his chest. His face looked peaceful, and his dark curls tousled on the pillow.

Valen was a smaller version of Byron, except that he had my cornflower blue eyes and the little birthmark on his nose, which was a signature of my side of the family. I stood leaning against the doorframe, wrestling with the bleak reality.

Life as a rogue with a child? That was a nightmare waiting to happen. I wanted so much more for Valen than the scraps I had to offer.

What kind of mother would I be to ruin his life? I couldn't give him the world, not even close. And it burned inside, knowing I wanted him to enjoy the finest things, but all I had to offer him were crumbs.

My mom had always bragged about how I married into wealth and said I could start any business since I didn't have a college degree to fall back on. The truth was far from the fantasy she spun. Byron's wealth wasn't mine. He made sure I never forgot it. He controlled everything, from the clothes I wore to the brand of tampons I used.

I had once dreamed of opening my own fashion house after weaning Valen. But Byron crushed that hope with a single blow. He looked me dead in the eyes and said I had to choose my son or my independence.

That was the day my dreams died, buried under his wealth and power, leaving me nothing but a shell of the woman I once wanted to be.

Sighing, I slipped back into my bedroom, sat in front of the mirror, and took off my earrings. But shaking off the events of the evening wasn't as easy.

Alex's face flashed before me, and my heart constantly slammed against my chest. My hand drifted to my neck, caressing it absentmindedly. He wasn't here, but his scent invaded every corner of my thoughts.

He stirred emotions I never knew I was capable of feeling. A hot, uninvited tear slid down my cheek. I bit my lip hard, pushing back the emotions threatening to drown me.

Why did everything have to be so damn complicated?

Grabbing a makeup wipe, I rubbed my face with more force than necessary. "Stop thinking about him," I hissed at my reflection, scrubbing harder, as if wiping away the makeup could erase the memory of him, too.

The thought of running away with Valen danced in my mind again, but fear rooted me in place. Deep down, I knew the truth-I didn't want to leave. The mate bond pulled at me like invisible chains, dragging me toward Alex, and I felt powerless to fight it.

Byron flaunted Kiara like some shiny new toy, parading their affair for everyone to see. They weren't even mates. How could I resist Alex when the pull was so primal?

"Fucking immune bitch," I spat, cursing the Moon Goddess. "You gave me a shitty childhood, a shitty husband, and now, a forbidden mate? What's next? I hate you!"

The room stayed silent, mocking me with its emptiness. I let out a bitter scoff. Of course, she wouldn't care. Why would some immortal being give a damn about my pain and suffering? She was the goddess of fucked-up destinies.

Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed the sound of the front door opening until I heard Byron's voice downstairs. Panic surged through me, and I rushed into Valen's room, slipping under the covers beside him.

I had initially planned to wear some cheap lingerie tonight to appease Byron and try to beg him to give me a chance, but now the idea made me want to puke. My wolf, already irritated, recoiled at the thought.

Byron's heavy footsteps echoed in the hallway, and my body tensed. He never came to Valen's room-this was my sanctuary, where I could escape from him, especially on nights when he entertained his lover. The sound of their laughter and moans usually made me want to die.

I glanced at Valen, still sleeping soundly, his small leg thrown across the bed. I stood, smoothing my robe, and tiptoed toward the door. I was just about to slip out when Byron barged in.

His eyes locked onto me, full of irritation, and my wolf snarled in my chest. He couldn't stand me, and the feeling was now mutual.

"Let's talk outside," I whispered, hoping not to wake Valen.

Byron said nothing, but I brushed past him, keeping my gaze down. He followed me into the hallway, closing the door softly behind him.

It felt like walking into the lion's den. My heart hammered in my chest, and the empty hallway seemed to close in on me. Why did I feel guilty, as if I had done something wrong?

Byron broke into a half-grin, motioning for me to come closer. That sinking feeling of fear settled deeper.

"Why did you run off?"

Each word he spat was laced with ice. Did his brother tell him something?

"I... I needed to take Valen home."

"I did that," he said, stepping closer and yanking me by the collar of my robe. His grip burned against my skin. "I didn't want him around that madness."

Confusion clouded my thoughts, but it explained why the nanny had brought Valen home earlier.

"Is there something you want to tell me?"

His gaze bore into me as if daring me to lie. Panic set in, and I shook my head, probably more vigorously than I intended.

That nasty smirk twisted his lips again. "Good. It better stay that way. If I even sniff a trace of unfaithfulness from you, you'll regret the day you crossed me. I'll end you and your family. And if you behave, maybe you could still be Luna."

A sharp gasp escaped my lips. What was he talking about? Luna?

"Do... do you mean you're not divorcing me?" My voice trembled, uncertain of what game he was playing.

Byron remained silent, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed.

"Do you want a divorce?" He leaned in, his voice turning cold. "Because if you do, Valen will never be in your custody. You'll never see him again."

The fear in my spine spread like wildfire. I shook my head and tried to speak, but my voice got lost in my throat.

"I thought so." He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Now, go to my bedroom and wait for me. Let's make this marriage work."