Rejected and Pregnant: A Werewolf's Tale of Romance

Ethan Parker, my husband, suddenly walked into the room. His face was a mixture of excitement and a hint of annoyance.

"What happened, Ethan?" I asked in surprise. It was unusual for him to have such an intense expression.

"I've finally found my mate," he said.

My eyes widened and my throat tightened. I hadn't expected Ethan to say something like that.

"How can that be?" I asked, my lips quivering with shock.

As far as I knew, Ethan had mentioned earlier that his mate was married to someone else.

"Isn't she married to someone else?" I asked, still surprised by his revelation.

Ethan nodded, his beautiful eyes meeting mine, but the moment felt like a descent into hell.

"Right, and she's agreed to be with me now," Ethan said.

His words hit me like a thunderbolt under a clear sky, my heart felt as if it had been pierced by a red-hot iron.

Tears began to fall from my eyes.

Looking at Ethan's expression, I could not see any trace of affection left for me.

"Stop crying. I hate people who cry easily," he said coldly.

I understood that as an Alpha, Ethan was expected to be firm, to put his duties before personal feelings.

But his heartless words cut deeply.

"Then... what about our marriage?" I asked, my voice a mixture of disbelief and pain.

Thinking back, I remembered how I got carried away a year ago. I had gotten drunk at the festival and ended up sleeping with Ethan.

We got married afterwards, but it was a marriage in name only, devoid of love - just a ceremonial bond. Still, I never expected Ethan to be so harsh.

"We will remain husband and wife... I need time," he said, his voice distant.

"Need time for what?" I asked, my lips trembling. I tried to bite them to stop the trembling.

My heart was breaking. It was getting harder and harder to hold back the overwhelming sadness.

"You don't need to know, Bella," he replied, using my nickname.

My full name was Isabella, but I was affectionately called Bella.

That day passed in silence. Ethan refused to sleep in our room. Later I found him sleeping on the couch.

A pang of sadness hit me. It must be cold tonight.

Even though I knew he was an asshole, my heart couldn't help but hurt for him.

Quietly, I entered the room and gently draped a blanket over the sleeping Ethan.

"Ethan... don't I even deserve to be your wife?" I whispered, knowing he wouldn't hear me.

I retreated to my room and curled up on the bed, burying my face in the pillow as tears streamed down my cheeks again. "Ah damn it, why do I have to be such a crybaby?" I berated myself.

"Bella, don't cry. There's no point in crying over a man," I tried to console myself.

I tried to gather my strength, but my lips trembled uncontrollably and the tears flowed even more freely.

In the end, despite my efforts to remain strong, I succumbed to my emotions and cried once more.

**

When morning came, I glanced toward the sofa, only to find Ethan gone. In his place was a handwritten note.

"Bella, I have some business to take care of. Don't look for me," it said.

My hands began to shake again, uncertainty clouding my thoughts.

Ethan had admitted that he had met his Mate, a Mate who was already married to someone else. And now this Mate was choosing Ethan.

"Oh God... is my life really that troubled?" I murmured softly, looking up at the ceiling, feeling as if fate was deliberately conspiring against me.

Stepping outside, I noticed that Ethan's personal driver was absent. Only my own driver was there, waiting with a reassuring smile.

"Miss Bella, where are you going today?" my driver inquired.

I replied, "Where do you think is the best place to kill yourself? The driver's face turned pale and his eyes widened in shock.

"Miss Bella..." he began, clearly alarmed.

"I was just joking," I quickly reassured him, trying to lighten the mood. I hadn't realized that my offhand remark would leave my driver so stunned and speechless.

"Take me to the beach," I requested, and he nodded in silent agreement.

The drive to the beach felt somber, devoid of emotion and desire. From the car, I watched the cheerful beachgoers, but I was too preoccupied with my own thoughts to join in their merriment.

Then something caught my eye. Huh? Isn't that Ethan's car? I noticed a familiar car parked on the side of the road. I was sure it was Ethan's.

When my eyes caught the scene in Ethan's car, my heart seemed to break. "Driver, please slow down," I whispered, my voice barely above a murmur.

Obediently, the driver slowed down, giving me a clearer view. There they were, Ethan and a woman, intimately entwined, lips locked in a kiss. The sight left me speechless, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Miss Bella...are you okay?" The driver, noticing my distress, expressed his concern. Tears blurred my vision as I shook my head, unable to articulate my turmoil.

"Just drive," I managed to say, "get me out of here, as far away as you can."

It was then that a realization dawned on me. The woman with Ethan, perhaps she was his chosen partner. They seemed destined to be together, yet the injustice of it all gnawed at me. I was his wife, legally bound to him, and there he was, blatantly with another woman.

The sting of betrayal was compounded by the memory of his message, "Don't look for me. The words now echoed mockingly in my mind. Ethan, my husband, with her, in that car - it was a reality too painful to bear.

I still couldn't shake the lingering sadness of what I had witnessed the day before.

Suddenly, the door swung open and there was Ethan. His face was lit up with an unmistakable joy, radiating happiness.

Behind him was a woman. My heart skipped a beat as I recognized her; she was the same woman I had seen in the car with Ethan yesterday.

"Bella, this is Eliza," Ethan introduced without delay, getting right to the point.

"Eliza, this is Bella, my wife," he added, revealing a connection that took me by surprise.

Eliza held out her hand to me, her head tilted slightly as if she was thinking about something. Perhaps she noticed the coldness of my handshake, a chill that reflected my inner turmoil.

"Hi, I'm Eliza, Ethan's girlfriend," she said with a polite smile, her words carefully chosen.

I longed to respond with the same flair, to say, "I'm Bella, Ethan's wife," the way Eliza had introduced herself.

But I found myself shrinking back, my resolve faltering under the weight of the moment.

"So, Bella, there's something I need to discuss with you," Ethan spoke up, his tone serious.

I nodded in response to his words and half turned towards the kitchen, intending to prepare some refreshments for them.

But Ethan's voice stopped me, his call rang with an urgency that made me stop and face him again.

"Bella, please, forget about the drinks. What I need right now is for you to listen," he pleaded, his voice carrying an edge of dominance and urgency.

I nodded submissively, biting back any kind of response. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Eliza's sly, self-satisfied smile.

We sat down on the sofa, and I couldn't help but notice Ethan clasping Eliza's hand tightly in his. They sat close together, their demeanor reflecting that of a couple deeply in love.

"Bella, you know that Eliza is my fated mate, right?" Ethan asked, and once again I found myself nodding in response.

I felt overwhelmed, my mind a blur, leaving me no choice but to simply nod, unable to articulate my turmoil.

"Bella, about our marriage... I intend to compensate you fairly. You won't be destitute after all this," Ethan said in a tone that hinted at hidden truths.

"What do you mean by that?" I managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper, fear curling in my stomach. But Ethan just shook his head.

"I'll explain everything in due time," he said dismissively.

"But..."

"No 'buts,' Bella. Remember who I am," Ethan reminded me sharply.

How could I forget? He was the Alpha, the leader who commanded respect and obedience. Resigned, I nodded again, unable to resist the authoritative presence of the man who was still technically my husband.

"My only wish today is for you to meet Eliza. She will be my future wife, my chosen mate," he declared, his words final.

I nodded again, my eyes drifting inadvertently to Eliza. She was smiling, but something about her smile seemed off. Was it just my imagination, or was there a hint of sarcasm in her expression when she thought I wasn't looking directly at her?

"Bella, there's nothing to be afraid of. Yes, I'm Ethan's mate, but that doesn't mean I intend to dictate your life. You still have your own path to follow," Eliza said reassuringly.

Her words were labyrinthine and left me confused. She reminded me of my math teacher, who had a knack for making even the simplest concepts seem complex.

In essence, Eliza's way of speaking was complicated, and I struggled to understand her true intentions.

"Ethan, her way of speaking is quite structured. She obviously has a sharp mind, wouldn't you say?" Ethan interjected, prompting me to offer a weak agreement.

"I just want you two to get along," Ethan added unexpectedly.

"What exactly do you mean by that, Ethan?" I asked, my frustration growing. Ethan often spoke in vague, enigmatic terms.

"Eliza is going to be staying with us for a while..." Ethan revealed, throwing another bombshell into our already complicated situation.

"Why is she staying here if she's your soul mate?" I asked, confusion and hurt mixing in my voice.

I had prepared myself for the possibility of being kicked out of the house upon Eliza's arrival. The idea that Ethan would instead invite her to stay with me was unexpected and confusing.

"Bella, it's not that simple. As Alpha, I have a reputation to uphold, a certain dignity to maintain," he explained, his tone authoritative as befitted his role as leader.

"So you're keeping me here just to save face?" I asked, a bitter note creeping into my voice.

"Yes. What would people think if I divorced you so soon? We've only been married a year," Ethan admitted.

His words were like a dagger in my heart. The pain was sharp, but I forced myself to remain composed.

I couldn't let my emotions show, not in front of Eliza, who seemed to wear the face of an angel at times and that of a demon at others.

Ethan mentioned that he had business to attend to, and I couldn't help but think that he had planned his departure on purpose.

He left me alone with Eliza, and my unease grew with each passing moment.

"Bella, do you love Ethan?" Eliza's question hit me like lightning on a clear day, leaving me both shocked and disoriented.

I struggled for an answer. My feelings for Ethan were a tangled web that I hadn't quite unraveled.

"I... I don't know," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Don't know? How can someone as indecisive as you be the wife of an Alpha?" she retorted with a hint of malice.

I lifted my head to meet her gaze.

"Can you make me some tea?" Eliza demanded, a sharp tone accompanying her request.

"Didn't you hear me?" she pressed, her voice now tinged with cruelty. Feeling cornered, I hurried to the kitchen to make her tea, my mind racing with a mix of emotions.

I returned with tea for Eliza and she greeted me with a sardonic smile.

"Bella, you really are cut out to be a maid," she remarked snidely.

Her words were a clear insult.

"Luna's position seems too high for you," she added. My fingers twitched; I couldn't help but jump.

Luna was the Alpha's partner, a revered position in our pack. Eliza's insinuation that I wasn't worthy of being Luna - that I didn't deserve to be Ethan's mate - stung deeply.

"What exactly are you saying, Eliza?" I asked, my voice calm despite the turmoil inside.

"What do I want?" Eliza mused, lifting the steaming tea glass in her hand. "Well, for starters, some recognition of the truth."

"Be careful!" I shouted. But it was too late; Eliza had already spilled the tea over her own hand.

"Eliza! What are you doing?" I yelled, horrified as she deliberately scalded herself with the hot liquid.

"Ethan, help!" Eliza's voice pierced the air, her cry for Ethan shocking me. I couldn't understand why she was screaming for help when she had deliberately burned herself.

Ethan burst into the room and immediately noticed Eliza's reddened hand. His gaze shifted to me, puzzled.

"What happened here?" Ethan demanded, his voice a mixture of anger and authority. I opened my mouth to explain, but Eliza cut me off.

"Ethan... Bella... she threw hot water on me," Eliza accused, her voice shaking. I stood there, shocked and speechless at her blatant lie.

"Ethan! I didn't do it, I swear," I protested desperately.

"Bella, shut up!" Ethan snapped at me, his tone harsh and dismissive.

My husband gently took Eliza's hand, examining the redness carefully. He stroked it lightly, showing concern.

"Eliza, are you in pain?" Ethan asked, his voice soft.

The sight of their closeness twisted a knot in my heart and stirred a pang of jealousy in me.

"Yes, Ethan, my hand hurts," Eliza replied, her voice tinged with discomfort.

"What can I do to help?" Ethan asked, his tone tender, as if they were the only two people in the room.

Their interaction made me feel invisible, as if I didn't exist in their world.

"Ethan, I have to tell you..." I started, but was cut off.

"Bella, stay out of this," Ethan snapped, abruptly silencing me.

"Do you think you need to see a doctor?" he continued, turning his attention back to Eliza.

"No, Ethan, it's not necessary," Eliza assured him, dismissing the need for further medical attention.

Eliza's demeanor changed, becoming almost shy, as if she was about to ask for something embarrassing.

"Lick it..."

"What did you say?" Ethan seemed surprised.

"Lick my hand," Eliza repeated shyly, showing him her reddened hand.

"Ethan, this is absurd!" I protested, unable to bear the sight of their intimate interaction. But Ethan was firm.

"Bella, stay out of this. Eliza is my mate," Ethan declared, his words cutting me off and silencing any further objections. I felt completely powerless and marginalized in this relationship.

Then, to my horror, Ethan complied with Eliza's request and tenderly licked her injured hand. The sight was sickening and blatantly provocative, right in front of my eyes.

Overwhelmed by the display of intimacy, I rushed outside and sought refuge at the side of the house. There I sat down, my eyes filled with tears.

The thought that Eliza might be deliberately trying to humiliate me gnawed at my mind. But even more painful was the nagging question, "Why doesn't Ethan believe me?" My heart ached with betrayal and confusion.

I could hear Ethan and Eliza continuing their conversation, their tones warm and intimate. It was a kind of intimacy I had never experienced with Ethan. I seemed to him to be nothing more than a token, a mere symbol with no place in his heart.

I sat outside for half an hour, lost in my thoughts. Suddenly, Ethan and Eliza approached me. Eliza wore a mysterious smile as she looked at me.

"Bella, you have to apologize to Eliza," Ethan demanded firmly.

"But... it wasn't my fault," I protested, trying to defend myself.

"Enough! I am the Alpha, you will obey me," he ordered, his voice thundering with authority. I had never heard Ethan raise his voice like that before.

Feeling small and defeated, I lowered my gaze, unable to meet their eyes.

It was then that I realized my only option was to apologize.

I turned to Eliza. She held out her hand, feigning innocence.

"Bella, I understand that you're jealous, and I'm sorry if that upset you," Eliza said, her words dripping with false sympathy, as if she were the one who should apologize first.

"Bella! Where are your manners?" Ethan's voice boomed again, making me shake with a mixture of anger and helplessness.

"Eliza, I apologize. It was wrong of me to react the way I did," I forced myself to say, even though every word felt like a betrayal of the truth.

I played along, forced by the fact that Ethan seemed blind to my side of the story.

"It's okay, Bella. It's natural for you to be jealous, but remember, you have no right to be," Eliza replied, her voice soft but laced with condescension.

Her words were a clear message to me to know my place.

Eliza was Ethan's chosen mate, while I was his wife in name only.

"And Bella, let's try to get along," she added, her smile disgustingly sweet, as if to further mock the situation.