The Alpha’s Forgotten Mate

03: Harper’s Words

Rose’s POV

Pulling away from him, I could see his obvious shock and I could also tell that he wasn’t expecting me to shove him away in such a manner.

I loved Xander and I have never tried to reject or shun him but at the same time I was still brokenhearted, my wounds hadn’t healed and until then the last person I want to see is him.

Walking past him in a bid to leave the bedroom, Xander’s hand latched onto mine, making me stop in my tracks as his grip around my hand tightened.

“Wh— What do you think you’re doing?” I asked, my voice shaky and my walls gradually breaking but the last thing I wanted was to let him see how weak he renders me.

The last thing I wanted was to make him feel superior to me after what he had just done. Xander cheated on me despite how much he kept singing about his love for me.

“Please—“ He begged, his voice trailing off as he came to stand before me with his eyes glistening with what I’m going to assume was tears.

“I really need to talk to you,” he continued in a low tone, “just this once, give me the chance to talk to you.” He added and I looked into his eyes.

Finally giving myself the chance to take in his appearance, I could tell that Xander’s better days were behind him too.

His eyes were puffy with huge eye bags and dark circles that put a drastic strain on his handsome qualities, he must be lacking sleep, just like me.

He looked thinner than the last time I saw him and I felt my heart tighten because this isn’t the Xander I married.

The Xander I fell in love with and married was full of life, he always smiled, his head was always held high like the true alpha he is.

I pitied him, I wanted to hug him but that would be really mortifying considering what he had done to me.

“Fine, let’s hear what you have to say.” I said with a half-smile, deciding to hear him out.

“Thank you,” Xander released a breath as he took a step closer to me but I took one back, “I know how hurt you are, I understand.” He started and I scoffed.

He doesn’t know the half of it, if he knew just how hurt I was going to be then he wouldn’t have stuck his c**k in another woman’s v****a in the first place.

“Get. To. The. Point, Xander, I don’t have the whole day.” I said firmly, I was running out of patience as I watched him stare at me, his eyes begging me to be a little less mean to him.

“I know you must hate me right now but I swear it’s not what you think.” He added, another drastic miss because he had told me himself that he had impregnated Harper.

Keeping my comments to myself, I raised an eyebrow, probing him to continue talking.

“You can blame me and I’ll gladly take the blame because a woman like you doesn’t deserve what I did but let me explain myself.”

“We’ve been standing here for over ten minutes and you’re yet to explain yourself, Xander.” I said coolly, lifting my gaze to meet him and he nodded.

“You see, during the welcome ceremony, I had a lot to drink,” he started, “and just when I was going to go to bed, I came across Harper.” He mentioned her name and my stomach churned.

“She was in heat and I couldn’t control myself around her, it’s embarrassing to admit but I swear to you, Rose, it wasn’t until the next morning that I knew we had sex.” He finished.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you, Rose, I swear, I just—“ I didn’t want to but I couldn’t bring myself to just ignore all he had just said.

I know Xander well enough to know that he would never lie to me and I’ve also never seen him cry until now.

The tears trickled down his cheeks and he looked like a little child that truly regretted his actions.

My eyes stung from the tears I was also trying to hold back. He had hurt me and then dumped this information on me, why? Because he wants my forgiveness.

“I’m sorry, Rose, I really—“

“Stop,” I said, my voice lower than I intended it to as hot tears made their way out of my eyes, “Just, stop.” I sniffled as I wiped my eyes.

“I have a question and you must be honest with me,” I added after a while of silence and Xander nodding, urging me to ask him anything.

“While you were busy having—“ I paused, I couldn’t even bring myself to say it, “busy having s*x with Harper, did you mark her?” I enquired.

Xander’s eyes widened as he shook his head more times than I actually expected, “I would never do that!” He finally said and I nodded.

“She doesn’t interest me, Rose,” He continued, “I have no intention of marking her nor do I have the intention of keeping her.”

“She’s only by my side because of the baby growing inside her, she only followed me here because I needed her father’s ally to be stronger.” He added.

“Xander, It’s—“

“Rose?” The last voice I wanted to hear at this moment called my name and my fist clenched as my teeth gritted.

I turned in the direction where I’d heard my name and there she was, Harper was standing by the door with the most bitter look anyone could ever see.

Seeing her face was doing things to me and I just wanted to tear her apart with my bare hands but I have to be reasonable.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized and I felt something clutch at my chest as I looked at her, “I didn’t mean to ruin your marriage because honestly, I know just how much you both love each other.” She went on.

“Why are you here?” I asked through gritted teeth as I felt like I was choking, like her presence would kill me.

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop but I overheard your conversation and—“

“So you decided to plunge yourself into a discussion that doesn’t even concern you?” I cut in before she could finish and she smiled.

“No, I came to apologize to you because I feel like I owe it to you.” She explained and I rolled my eyes because I know girls like Harper.

A sincere apology is the last thing anyone can get out of them even though they look innocent and remorseful.

“I only came here because Xander couldn’t keep the baby a secret from you,” she continued and my eyes rolled again.

“I have no intention of raising a child, Rose, so this baby is more of a burden to me. It’s a mistake.” She went on.

“Wh—“

“Just please, let me stay here until the birth of this child and after that, I’ll hand over the baby to you and get out of your hair.” She finished.

“What the hell are you talking about?” I asked, my head feeling as though it was going to explode after hearing what she’d just said and I know I shouldn’t be happy but I couldn’t help but feel a little excitement.

“What I’m saying, Rose, is that I want you to forget about the fact that I’m carrying this baby and consider yourself its mother,” She clarified.

“I have no intention of raising a baby like I said so after giving birth, I’m going to give the child to you.” She finished and I could still hear bells ringing in my head.

There’s no way she just said that.