The Pack's Betrayal: Grace Of The Mute Mate

I stared at the pregnancy test in my shaking hand, my breath caught somewhere between fear and disbelief. Positive. Again.

"How... How did this happen?" I whispered in my mind. My fingers dug into my palm as nervousness twisted through me. Should I tell Michael?

No.

I couldn't survive it a second time.

Even after three years, his words still echoed like a cruel curse.

"A weak and wolfless mute like you can never bear my child, the future Alpha of our pack!!". I could still remember the dark look in his eyes as he stared at me deeply, rather glared at me like I was a criminal.

I was indeed a criminal to him. I was the reason his life was ruined. If I never existed, he wouldn't have been paired with a mute and weak Omega like me, he would have been happily married to the love of his life Prisca, not like they aren't happily in a relationship now.

But still, it wasn't my fault. I didn't make the moon goddess pair us together as fated mates. It wasn't my fault that I lost my memory, my voice, and my wolf at a young age.

Even after spending most of his time with his lover, he still loathes me deeply. Even after all I've done to be a good wife to him all these years, he still treats me like a piece of trash.

We were never always like this. He used to be so much friendlier to me before. I could still recall when I first stepped foot in this pack even though it's been ages.

I was only eight years old and the last surviving wolf from my pack. I was brought in by Michael's father after a sudden rogue attack on my pack that made me lose my family, my packmates, my voice, and my wolf.

Michael's father and my father were best of friends and that was the reason he took me in. I was immediately welcomed into the family by the Crawfords.

All except Michael's sister Jota.

She bullied me relentlessly, but I endured because Michael always pulled me behind him, defending me. He'd smile at me, ruffle my hair, tell me I was safe. Back then, I believed him.

Until the day I turned eighteen.

The moment our mate bond had snapped into place, his expression twisted.

"Why the hell is it you? Everything ruined!" He roared at me as his eyes turned wild.

Those words shattered every piece of affection I held for him. I'd loved him silently all my life-and he had never wanted me.

For no other reason than he was already in a passionate relationship with his lover, Prisca, who is the daughter of a Beta, beautiful and capable, completely superior to me in every way. Though I didn't want to admit it, Prisca was a perfect Luna candidate.

I was prepared to accept rejection.

But fate had other plans.

On his deathbed, Michael's father made it his final wish that Michael needed to marry me as his Luna if he wanted to be the Alpha.

Then, it was the beginning of his undying hatred for me.

For five years of being married to him, I had hoped that he would finally warm up to me and love me the way he should but those were all mere wishes. As a mute Luna, I was nothing but a source of shame for Michael so he always made sure I was invisible to the public.

I was a ghost in my own home.

Everyone knew he was already married but no one knew I was his wife so because of that, I wasn't respected the way I should be. Seeing that my protector had turned his back on me, I became prey to more bullies and insults from everyone, including the servants, who treated me like I wasn't worth breathing the same air.

I was drowning in those thoughts when the bedroom door opened sharply.

Out of fear of being caught with the pregnancy test, I quickly hid it in a drawer and emerged from the room's closet I had earlier locked myself.

Michael staggered inside, reeking of alcohol. His face was flushed and unfocused. He nearly collapsed before I rushed forward and caught him.

As I held him in my arms, the sparks went through my spine and my core immediately got wet. I felt ashamed but it was not something I could control when my fated mate was close to me. I was made for him. But I seemed to be the only one who could feel this.

"Michael..." I mouthed silently as I eased him toward the bed.

Michael was always so disgusted by my touch that he wouldn't allow me when he was sober. I pulled his heavy body with me and placed him on the bed. He was so heavy that I collapsed on top of him.

Realizing that we were in really close proximity to each other, the butterflies started fluttering in my stomach again. I don't know if it was the progesterone, which made me crave this moment in his arms even more.

I wanted that someday he would finally accept me kissing me and claiming me in the way I dreamed. However, a reddish mark on his neck awakened me as if cold water poured down from my head.

It was a lipstick mark and there was only one person who would ever have the audacity to mark him this way. He was drinking with Prisca again. What else could they have done it together?

My heart plummeted. I didn't want my imagination to run wild as it would only hurt me so I shook the thoughts away as I squeezed my tears back.

Like a good wife, I laid him well on the bed and took off his shoes for him.

I tried to hand him a glass of water so it would help him sober up a bit but he suddenly sat up and shoved me away, making the water spill all over my clothes.

Instead, he shoved me away. Water splashed across my nightgown, soaking it completely.

I gasped in shock as I stared at the mess he had made on the floor. I took a deep breath and was about to pick up the fallen cup when he suddenly held my hand.

My heart jumped.

I was shocked in my spot, wondering why he took the initiative to hold me when he suddenly pulled me towards him, making me sit on his lap. What's going on??

I raised my head and stared at him, noticing the familiar red in his eyes. I knew it was our mate bond working. Following his glance, I then realized that the spilled water had wet my nightgown showing my curves.

His fingers caught my chin, forcing my face toward him. His voice was low, rough.

"Don't run."

I froze.

Then he placed a deep, painful kiss on my lips.

It wasn't gentle, it wasn't loving-it was the hungry, unrestrained pull of the mate bond mixed with alcohol. I tried to pull back, but his hold only grew stronger.

"Michael... please..." My voice didn't exist, but my eyes pleaded for me.

He didn't care if he was hurting me and kept biting on my lower lip like he wanted to chew it off. When he had his fill, he pushed me onto the bed and started to tear off my clothes, urgency overcoming everything.

I tried to shield my stomach instinctively, terrified for the tiny life growing inside me, but he didn't notice.

"Michael, stop..." my mind screamed.

But I had no voice.

And he only grew more desperate when I flinched. The bond turned my resistance into fuel for his dominance.

As my body was completely naked underneath him, he attacked my fragile body with deep, painful kisses and bites. Afterward, he took off his belt and trousers and forcefully pushed all of his length inside of me.

How I wished I could speak so he could know how I felt. But without voice or wolf, I could only cling to him and match his movements, giving my mate and husband what he wanted.

By the time dawn crept into the room, exhaustion washed over me. Michael stood, now sober, adjusting his trousers with that familiar cold detachment.

His eyes were back to sober again.

His voice cut through the quiet:

"Just because I touched you doesn't mean I'll acknowledge you as my Luna."

My heart clenched in pain but my throat couldn't make any sound.

"Prisca will always be the one in my heart, don't you ever forget that!!".

The door slammed.

Silence swallowed me whole.

I curled up in agony, tears streaming down my face. Why should all this happen to me? Am I not worthy of love just because I'm mute and have no wolf?

No matter how many times he said those words, they still pierced me like the first time.

My palm drifted gently to my stomach.

At least I was no longer lonely. Whether Michael would love me or not, I still had my baby, and I would try my best to survive with it.

TBC

I didn't even have much time to recover my feelings before the door was pushed open without warning. I quickly covered my bare body with the bed sheet and was a bit relieved it was Morgana, Michael's mother.

A deep frown appeared on her face the moment she noticed the state i was in.

"Why are you crying?" She asked, rather harshly.

I stared at her silently, knowing she wouldn't care about the reason I was like that.

"Don't you know that crying in a situation like this can bring bad luck to the family?" She asked, arms akimbo.

"Michael is your husband, your mate, and your Alpha so you have to take in everything he does to you without complaining as it is your duty." She scolded as she walked closer to me slowly.

I nodded my head slowly in response to her unfair words. She had always been like this; always turning a blind eye to her children's ill treatment towards me. They were her precious angels and they could never do any wrong in her eyes.

"Now...get dressed quickly, you have to work now. I'll give you a hard lesson if anything goes wrong with my precious grandson's big day because of your laziness." She ordered and gave me one last disgusted look before leaving the room.

Immediately after Michael and I got married, his sister Jota found her fated mate and they tied the knot. It didn't take long for her to be pregnant and tomorrow is the child's first birthday.

Like being continuously bullied wasn't enough, I became a servant immediately after Michael's father's death. Even though there were a lot of servants to do the work, they still made me do most of the chores.

As a result of that, all of the servants see me as nothing but a mere slave that was beneath them. I sighed deeply and stood up from the bed shakily as my legs still haven't healed from the earlier event.

I entered the closet and immediately changed into a pair of trousers and a T-shirt. I had no time to wash up because I didn't want Morgana to call on me for the second time. I knew what would happen next if I delayed much longer.

After putting on my clothes, I immediately set to work. After stepping into the midst of the other servants, I immediately heard the soft whispers and noticed the disgusted stares I got from them.

"She's here finally, back to her place."

"Look at what she's putting on." A soft snicker followed after that statement.

"I wonder what the Alpha sees in her to make her his bed mate." Someone whispered making me a sad smile.

Not even any servant would believe that I was his mate with the way Michael, his lover, and his family openly treated me.

"Sharing a bed with the Alpha can never get you a higher status. I mean, look at her... she's just a weak whore that's beneath us mere servants." Another one muttered and the rest of them burst out laughing.

I bowed my head silently, trying to hold back my pain and anger. I took deep breaths as a way to calm myself down. I knew nothing would ever come out of picking a fight with them.

How could I win when I was unable to make a sound to defend myself?. I could only ignore them and continue with the work assigned to me. After working

endlessly for several hours, we were finally done with the preparations.

Jota wanted it to be a grand event so it took us more time and effort to set the place up. I wanted to retire back to my room and take a small nap before the event fully began when a servant suddenly passed by me, roughly shoving me aside in the process.

As a result of her violent push, I lost my balance and fell hard on the bare floor. I held my back hoping my baby wasn't hurt.

Instead of apologizing, the servant smirked evilly at me and muttered "Dumb bitch..." before walking away.

Realising she did that on purpose, anger caused me to stand up and walk up toward her. I turned her to face me and landed a hot slap on her face making her stumble backwards a little.

She held her red cheek with her eyes wide, not expecting me to fight back.

"You just slapped me!!" She screamed at the top of her voice while I replied her with a fierce look in my eyes.

She angrily raised her hand and was about to retaliate when she suddenly stopped mid-air. I noticed how her eyes quivered in fear and she quickly retreated her hand.

"Alpha..." She muttered with a small bow and that was when I realised that we weren't alone.

"Leave.." Michael ordered in his deep voice and she scurried off immediately like her pants were on fire. I turned to stare at him in surprise, wondering why he had chased her off instead of watching others humiliate me like he used to before.

"You!!" He said as he suddenly gripped my shoulder harshly, pulling me towrads him. I couldn't even make a groan even though I felt I could slump at any moment under his violence.

He's an Alpha wolf, whose power was ten times stronger than a wolfless omega like me.

"Don't get any delusions. Today's my nephew's birthday and I want everything to be perfect."

"I expect you to do as you always do, stay out of my sight and avoid drawing any attention towards you. I hope I've made myself clear??" He asked as he tightened his hold on my shoulder.

A soft sob left my mouth as I nodded in understanding. He let out a small 'humph' before he let go of me and walked away. I stood at my spot as I watched him disappear from my sight.

His cold back seemed to be what he had left me the most since we were mated. Michael always cherished his family, but that didn't include me. Once again, my eyes fell on my flat belly. The memory of how I lost my first baby before was still vivid. What about this time? Would Michael accept this baby?

I had no answer. Thankfully no more trouble after that interlude. The party finally began and the hall was filled to the brim with a lot of guests.

Jota was a well-known lady and even with her horrible character, she still managed to gather rich and powerful allies from everywhere she went. I was standing in a far corner watching silently as the whole family gathered happily.

Everyone looked at the stars of the day with delight. My eyes were filled with envy as I watched Jota seated closely next to her husband with their child in his arms.

She had everything I had ever dreamed of, a loving husband and family. I thought of my own pregnancy, wondering what it would feel like to be finally able to carry my baby in my arms.

As I was deeply immersed in my thoughts, I suddenly heard my name being called. Jota had waved at me to offer her the drink. It made me finally visible to the guests but no one would know I was actually Michael's Luna.

I'd been used to her liking to command me like a queen but I didn't expect her quality to be low like this when she whispered at my ears.

"Fiona, you must be very jealous now, right?"

I quickly glanced at her smug expression knowing there wasn't going to be anything nice from her mouth.

I wanted to leave but she gripped my hand.

"I bet you'd never get such a beautiful moment like this," She began.

"After all, your muteness would be passed down to your children. If else, what do you think my brother was so repulsed by your pregnancy before?"

I balled my hands but couldn't stop shivering in anger.

She knew that my inability to speak wasn't hereditary but she just didn't want to miss any chances to humiliate me. She knew exactly how much I had suffered when I was forced to give up my first child, but she just enjoyed it.

"Trust me, no one would want a mute like you as a family. You'd better give up early and set my brother free." As if not seeing my pain at all, she turned to hold Michael's arms like a spoilt sister.

"Brother, when will you divorce and then marry Prisca? Our pack needs a more decent Luna and a strong heir."

I wanted to do something to defend myself but when my eyes met with Michael's warning gaze, I immediately withdrew and that made Jota smirk more at me.

"Her condition isn't hereditary so there's no way any offspring from her would have her condition." He suddenly said, making me stun at my spot.

Jota's mouth also dropped down in shock. It had been a long time since he had stood up for me since our bond was confirmed.

"But still, I would never allow a weak and wolfless Omega like her to bear my children." He added, making the smirk return to Jota's bitchy face and sinking me into an extreme ice hell.

So, that was his true heart, wasn't it? He still hated to have a child with me... then what about the child I'm carrying now? Will they do the same horrible thing to it again?

TBC

Michael is really heartless.

You don't know what you have till you lose it.

The rest of the party was a blur to me, my mind consumed by anxious thoughts about my baby's future. The next morning, I stood before the mirror, staring at my reflection-pale and haunted.

My eyes were dark and swollen. Obviously, I hadn't had a good night's sleep. I shook my head with a bitter smile and quickly got dressed. It was a new week, and I had somewhere to go.

I curved my lips as I stared at the huge signboard of a café. HEAVEN CAFÉ was the only place in this city that could help distract me from all my problems back at home. I had managed to find a job here.

"Fiona!!" I heard my name being called the moment I entered the café. My smile widened when I saw Tacha walking toward me with her arms open wide for a hug.

"I missed you so much," she muttered as she embraced me tightly.

"Seriously?? I was only gone for a day," I told her with sign language, and Tacha immediately understood.

"A day?? It felt more like forever. Do you know how hard it was for me to manage this café all on my own yesterday?" Tacha pouted at me.

"So you didn't miss me, just the work I was supposed to be doing?" I joked, smiling softly.

"You got what I mean."

"Well, now I'm back, so you don't have to miss my service anymore," I signed to her, playing along with my joke. And then we both burst out laughing.

Tacha was the only genuine friend I had made after joining the Moon Stone Keepers pack. She's a gorgeous and caring woman. Even though she wasn't much older than me, she cared for me like a big sister would.

She even learned sign language for me. She wasn't that good at it, but she still tried to understand me.

Time with Tacha was always comfortable and happy. In the blink of an eye, the morning passed, and the customers had filled the café to the brim. I received an expedited order for delivery while Tacha was busy attending to other customers.

The address wasn't very far, so I decided to go by myself. However, when I got to the address, I realized it was Michael's company. How had I not noticed that earlier?

Michael wouldn't be happy to see me here; he had warned me before not to be in the same space with him whenever we were in public. His company was a no-go area for me.

I wanted to turn back but figured I was already there, and I didn't want to cause Tacha trouble. I took a deep breath and walked into the building. The receptionist kindly directed me to his office.

"I should just drop it off at the door and leave," I thought to myself, but I stopped when I heard a familiar voice from Michael's office.

"How long should I wait, Michael?" It was Prisca; her voice sounded like a scream.

"I'm tired of seeing that woman having my rightful place! You're MINE, and it was supposed to be us getting married!"

MINE? I couldn't help my temper at hearing that word. Was that how they called each other? But it was supposed to be a word reserved for mates. How did she have the guts to claim him as hers?!

"He's MINE!" I screamed in my mind, but... was he?

As my hand grasped my neck, my heart plummeted. The absence of Michael's mark on my skin was a constant reminder that he found the idea of fully claiming me as his mate repulsive. With a calculated move, I nudged the door open slightly, curious to witness Michael's reaction to Prisca's grievance.

I wished I hadn't done this. Then I wouldn't have seen Michael just pulling Prisca close to him in a loving manner that he'd never done to me.

"You know my marriage to her means nothing," he said before landing a soft kiss on her hair.

"It's only because of my father's dying wish. You are always and forever the only one in my heart." Tears gathered in my eyes, and my heart was bleeding.

I couldn't bear it anymore. I wanted to run away, but Prisca somehow spotted me, and her eyes widened in surprise.

"Fiona?" she called out.

I panicked when Michael turned to look at me.

"How do I escape from this now?" I asked myself.

"What are you doing here?" His voice was mad, and his eyes were red. I had never seen him this angry before. I bowed my head in fear, not knowing what to answer.

"Fiona... I never expected to see you here," Prisca's high-pitched voice resounded as she walked toward me.

"Did you come to see your husband?" Her tone was so taunting that I could easily tell she was aiming to irk me. Taking a deep breath, I picked up the order and wanted to put it on his desk.

"Oh... you were just delivering our order."

Prisca snorted and arrogantly grabbed the coffee from me before walking back toward Michael.

"Relax, baby... You don't have to get angry at her... she was just doing her job." She smirked as she rubbed her hand seductively on Michael's chest, not minding my presence.

I watched silently like a fool as Michael calmed down at her command. He was ready to do anything for her.

"You spoil me too much, even to the extent of neglecting your wife," she complained, feigning sympathy for me.

I knew she was enjoying how tormented I felt at that moment. I couldn't help but look at Michael, but his eyes were only fixed on Prisca as if she were the most precious one in the world. And watching this was enough to kill me.

"Why do I still hold the stupid illusion that he would love me one day? I should have already learned that I had no opportunity to win his heart when it only belonged to Prisca," I asked myself painfully.

I decided to leave, but Prisca called out my name.

"Hold on, you forgot your tip," she said, retrieving a few dollar bills from her purse and extending them toward me. My gaze fell upon the money, my expression unreadable. The amount seemed excessive for a tip, leaving me wondering if this was an attempt to belittle me.

I shook my head, indicating that I didn't want it, and that only made Prisca grin evilly.

"Why don't you want it? I'm sure you badly need it to cater for yourself. Isn't that the reason you're working at that small café despite being the Alpha's mate?"

I balled my fists angrily, attempting to retort, but held myself back because I knew it wouldn't make any sense to her.

"Just take the damn tip and leave!!" Michael's harsh voice suddenly resounded in the office, giving me a jolt.

Did he hate seeing me at his workplace so much? I managed to hold my tears and forced a smile before collecting the money. I was about to leave, but his voice stopped me again.

"Remember your position," he voiced harshly.

"Don't delude yourself about things that don't belong to you, and dare not break my rules again. Or else I'll make sure you pay for it."

I nodded silently, though my heart ached hard. Then I walked out of the building before tears pooled down my face.

It started raining heavily outside. I didn't mind, as it helped hide my tears better. However, a figure suddenly came, and I lost control of my motorcycle and fell off it.

It hurt so much...

My vision got dizzy, and my body was numb in pain. I wanted to call for help, but I couldn't make a sound.

"OMG! Can anybody come to help me? I don't want to lose my baby!!"

TBC