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