Useless Woman

Roana (Rou-Anna)

 "You should take an Omega since she failed to have a child! A real woman is all we need to protect the Alpha bloodline."

 The moment my mother-in-law spat out those cruel words to my husband, Alexander Silverstone, I froze. My eyes darted to him, the Alpha of the Silverstone Wolf Pack, waiting—praying—for him to stop her. To say something. Anything to defend me and protect me from those wild false accusations.

 But he didn’t. He just kept eating his food, as if her venom meant nothing. His eyes were stuck onto the beef like he never ate one before.

 "If she didn’t bring three villages as wedding gifts, I would have never let you marry this thick belly. Look at her. How will she conceive a child when her womb is filled with fat and uselessness?" She spat, her eyes were on my belly,

 Tears stung my eyes. My body trembled with rage and agony. Linda had been getting on my nerves lately. 

But I had been trying to control myself because of Alexander who already supported me like a protective shield. But today, it felt different. He was too quiet as if he didn't even hear her insulting me openly, Infront of everyone.

 My fist slammed against the table, rattling the dishes. I couldn't control myself from defending myself from this constant bullying.

 "Shut your mouth, Linda!" I snapped, my wolf bristling beneath my skin, pressing against my ribs like it wanted to rip out. "We don’t need a child. And even if we did, it’s our life, not yours! Stay out of it!" My voice cracked into a growl that made the servants flinch.

 Her face twisted in outrage. "Wh-what? What did you just say? Son! Is this how you let your wife speak to me? Did she forget that I am her mother-in-law?”

 Finally, Alexander looked up. But not to defend me. No—his blazing blue eyes turned on me, cold, sharp, full of annoyance.

 "Apologize to Mom," he didn't say, he commanded, his tone heavy with authority.

 "Alex?" My chest caved. " Apologize? Did you even hear her? She insulted me. She insulted your Luna!"

 "Enough, Rou!" His growl made the room quake. "No matter what she said, she was concerned. Without a child—"

 "Enough!" I cut him off, my voice cracking, my wolf pacing and snarling inside me. "We both know what’s happening with us. You should stand with me, not force me to swallow her insults! She mocked my body. I may be overweight, but I am not a doormat!"

 My heart bled as his eyes, filled with irritation and disgust, pierced me. Then his next words shattered everything.

 "I don’t have any problems, Rou." He leaned back slowly, his gaze like a blade. "You lied to me. You lied about me being infertile."

 I froze. "I… lied?"

 A cruel smirk curved his lips. He pulled something from his pocket and tossed it on the table. I leaned forward with trembling hands. An ultrasound photo stared back at me.

 My wolf howled in confusion, scratching against my bones. Whose?

 "My child," Alexander declared, voice rich with cruel satisfaction. "My mate is pregnant with my child. A proof that I wasn't as useless as you!"

 The fork clattered from my hand. Did I hear him right? His who?

Linda gasped and laughed with joy. She grabbed the photo from the table and yelped.

I felt my body loosening like all the strength wiped out. 

 Cheated? My husband, the love of my life—He had cheated on me? He had found his mate—long before this moment? And he had a child with her? No, Impossible. The child wasn't his. He might have cheated but it was clear that he didn't have that ability to make other people pregnant. Not even through IVF. 

But the thought of him loving someone and sleeping with another woman had completely crushed my world. Ripped me apart. My wolf wailed in agony.

 "You… you’re lying," I whispered, my jaw trembling.

 He tilted his head, voice laced with venom. "Why would I lie? Look at you, Rou. A woman like you doesn’t deserve truth, let alone me. You’re nothing but weight and shame. And you dared to tell me I was broken? That I was less of a man?" His growl thundered. "Do you think I’m a fool?"

 The slap came before I could breathe. Linda’s palm seared my cheek.

 "You witch!" she spat. "You tried to drag my son into your misery? Make him believe he was useless like you? You disgust me!"

 Her slap barely registered. Because the betrayal cut deeper. 

 Two years of marriage. My father had given three wolf villages as dowry just to marry me off, the unwanted daughter. I was overweight, mocked, ridiculed. No man wanted me. Not even with those villages. After all, they needed skim, picture perfect Luna. Even Omegas were lucky enough to get their attention but me.

 And yet… I had loved Alexander. Loved him like my salvation. He gave me confidence when I had none. For two years, he was everything I dreamed of.

 And now, he tore my world apart with one photograph and one line— nothing but weight and misery.

 Tears fell onto my lap as I stared at him. His face carried only boredom, as though my heartbreak was an inconvenience. Suddenly I realised my emotions were nothing to him and it was enough to make it turn into some cold and numbness uselessness.

 I stood. My wolf snapped inside me, growling for freedom. My hand clenched around my phone.

 "Where are you going?" His icy voice chased me.

 I didn’t answer. My body moved on its own. My favourite heels felt so heavy, hanging onto my feet.

 "Roana!" His tone hardened as he followed. "Don’t walk away. Let’s talk. Leaving like this is cowardly and—"

 My hand struck his face with a sharp slap. His head snapped to the side.

 A gasp rippled through the entire pack house. Then came the silence. It was deafening.

 "Sleeping with another woman, getting her pregnant, and keeping your wife in the dark—that’s cowardly, Alexander." My voice shook with fury and pain. "I’m leaving this Pack. You’ll get divorce papers soon. I made it clear—cheating is the one sin I will never forgive."

 I stormed into the bedroom, my wolf pacing madly, begging me to tear him apart. The servants’ eyes followed, glinting with cruel satisfaction.

 Behind me, Alexander roared, "If you hadn’t lied, I wouldn’t have done this! I had to prove myself!"

 I laughed bitterly, clutching my head. The pain was unbearable. I turned, meeting the man I once begged the Moon Goddess for.

 "Congratulations, Alexander," I whispered, my voice breaking. "You’ve destroyed me better than any enemy ever could. And you proved yourself that you could go down to the filthiest place to prove something you didn't have the ability to prove."

 I dragged a suitcase across the floor. He caught my wrist, desperate, trembling.

 "Stop it, Rou! I’m not choosing her. But the child—our child—she’s only a vessel. Like a surrogate. It’s ours." Suddenly his tone shifted. “ We will be the parents and -!”

 My heart felt nothing. My wolf snapped and growled inside me, wanting to lunge for his throat. I always kept myself away from people so that I wouldn't fall in love with people who wouldn't appreciate me. But I failed to protect myself from the only person I ever loved.

 "Son!" Linda stormed in, her eyes gleaming with triumph. She shoved me back, venom dripping from her voice. "Let her go. Who cares? You finally have an heir. Your mate deserves everything, not this pathetic whale."

 My lips curled into a snarl, but Alexander cut in.

 "Enough! Stay out of this, Mom. I’m not divorcing her. Rou, we’ll adopt the baby and—"

 "I don’t want to!" My voice was raw, broken but fierce. I shoved clothes into the suitcase. " I am not a pathetic woman who will play home with your illegitimate children and a cheater like you."

 "You’re overreacting, Rou!" His voice rose, desperate. "Even after your lies, I forgave you. Now we’ll have a child. Why can’t you see—"

 "Alpha!"

 The word froze the room.

 We turned to the doorway. A woman stood there, her belly swollen, ready to give birth.

 My wolf went still. My heart stopped. I couldn't help but scan the woman like she was some sort of product. Her clothes, her jewelry, and the belly, everything screamed something bitter. Something I didn't want to accept. 

But what hit me the most was the belly! She was so pregnant.

 "So," I whispered, the air trembling in my lungs, "you cheated long before we even discovered our problems." I turned towards Alex who was standing still like a deer caught in headlights. 

 Alexander’s face drained of all color. His lips parted, but no words came.

 "You make me sick," I hissed, my wolf snarling through my voice. "Even the bond feels poisoned now."

“ Stop it, Rou! Why can't you be reasonable? I am the Alpha. I can provide you two without any -!”

Another slap echoed as the back of my hand hit his face. “ Fuck you, Alexander!”

 I gripped the suitcase, but before I could step past him—

 The pregnant woman’s hand moved off her belly. In her palm glimmered a silver mark, glowing faintly.

 The mate mark. The Mark that he refused to gift me. The mark for what my Wolf had been in constant agony and pain.

 So, he marked her and I was living a life with lies and wild fantasy that he would love me forever. How pathetic I am!