Mates at War: A Battle of Hearts

Love Deceit

Jade Nightshade

“You son of a gun!” I screamed, my voice echoing across the conference hall as I clenched my fists so tightly my knuckles ached. I wanted to swing, to land a punch squarely across Rowon’s face. My chest heaved with fury, my blood boiling at the sight of him sitting there like nothing had happened.

“You slept with her, didn’t you? And not just that—you had the audacity to stick your shapeless d**k back into my bed for nine months like it meant nothing!"

The room fell deathly silent. All eyes turned to me, wide with shock. But I didn’t care. Let them stare. Let them see the truth. I stormed toward Rowon, seated at the head of the table, calm and collected, as if he could charm his way out of this. My father stood up from his seat, eyes wide, clearly blindsided by my outburst, but I didn’t stop. I wouldn’t stop.

“Cousin?” I spat, venom lacing every word. “Distant cousin? You lying, cheating bastard!”

Rowon raised his hands as if he could defuse the situation, his expression almost pitifully innocent. “It’s not what you think—”

“Not what I think?” I laughed bitterly, cutting him off. “Kassandra came back, Rowon. She told me everything! She’s your mate, isn’t she?”

His face paled, but he shook his head quickly, scrambling for words. “She’s crazy. She’s lying. We can talk about this in private—”

“In private?” I growled, my voice dropping low, filled with disbelief. “You think this is something we handle in private? You think you can just explain away the fact that you’ve been screwing her behind my back? That you gave me hope, made me believe in us when the whole time you knew you had a mate? And not just that, you got her pregnant!”

That hit him hard. Rowon’s eyes widened, his face frozen in disbelief. “Pregnant?” he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.

I laughed again, sharp and cruel. “Oh, you didn’t know?” I leaned in closer, my voice dripping with spite. “Well, now you do. Congratulations, daddy.”

The murmur of the crowd grew louder, whispers spreading like wildfire. Before Rowon could speak, my father’s voice boomed through the room. “You cheated on my daughter?”

Rowon barely had time to open his mouth before my father’s fist collided with his face. The c***k of impact echoed in the hall, and Rowon stumbled back, clutching his jaw, his eyes wide with shock.

“How dare you hurt my precious daughter!” My father roared, his chest heaving with rage. “I never want to see you near her again. Do you understand me?”

Rowon didn’t respond. He couldn’t. He sat there, dazed, blood trickling from his lip as the room fell into stunned silence.

My father turned to me, his eyes softening as he reached out to take my hands. “Honey, are you okay?”

I couldn’t answer. The fury, the humiliation, the betrayal—all of it overwhelmed me. My throat felt tight, and before I knew it, tears burned my eyes. I nodded quickly, pulling away, unable to face the murmuring crowd, the judgement in their eyes.

I ran. Out of the hall, away from the stares, the whispers. Away from the life I thought I knew.

I couldn’t bear to go back to the house Rowon and I shared. It wasn’t just a home anymore—it was a constant reminder of his betrayal. The walls, the bed, the kitchen—all filled with memories that now felt like lies. Instead, I went to the only place I knew I’d find comfort. My parents' house, a place I had once lived.

The air felt heavy as I walked in, ignoring the greetings from the Omega by the door. I didn’t want to speak. I couldn’t. My heart was too raw, my throat too tight. The only thing that kept me moving was the desperate need for my mother’s embrace.

I didn’t go to my old room. I didn’t want to be alone tonight, not with these thoughts crashing down on me like a storm. Instead, I went straight to my parents’ room. My hand hesitated on the doorknob for only a second before I pushed it open.

There she was—my mother, sitting in her favourite chair, a book in her lap, her glasses perched on the edge of her nose. She looked up as the door creaked, her face softening when she saw me.

I didn’t say a word. I couldn’t. I just ran to her, collapsing into her arms like a child, burying my face against her chest. Her arms wrapped around me instantly, strong and comforting, as she whispered, “Oh, dear...” Her hand moved to stroke my hair, the way she used to when I was small.

And that’s when I broke. The tears I’d been holding in, the pain I’d been trying to swallow—it all came flooding out in choking sobs.

“I hate him, Mother,” I cried, my words muffled against her chest. “I hate him! You were right. I should’ve been careful. I shouldn’t have been so foolish...”

She held me tighter, her hand gently brushing through my hair, her voice calm and soothing. “Oh, darling, don’t blame yourself. You’re young. It’s okay to make mistakes—”

“No, Mum,” I interrupted, pulling back to look into her eyes, my own filled with tears. “I made a horrible mistake. I ruined my life.” My voice cracked, and I could feel the weight of my words pulling me down. “I made a blood oath with him, Mum. A blood oath to be together forever, but now he’s betrayed me... with his true mate.”

My mother’s face tightened with concern, her brow furrowing. “Rowon found his mate?” she whispered, fear creeping into her voice.

I nodded, my lips trembling. “Yes, Mum. He did. The night of the mating ceremony. He lied to me. He found his mate.” I could barely say the words, the betrayal stabbing at my heart all over again. “And he got her pregnant, Mum.”

My mother’s face turned pale as she processed what I said. Her grip on me tightened, but she didn’t speak immediately. She just held me, her eyes reflecting a deep sorrow.

“Oh, my sweet girl,” she finally whispered, her voice heavy with emotion. “I’m so sorry.”

“I don’t know what to do, Mum,” I sobbed, my body shaking against hers. “I feel like I’ve lost everything.”

As I sat there in my mother’s arms, crying like a broken child, something didn’t feel right. My mother hadn’t seemed shocked when I told her about the blood oath. I pulled back, wiping my tears, my brow furrowed with confusion.

“Did you know?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper, but the words hung heavy between us.

Her expression shifted—guilt, sadness. She didn’t deny it. “Yes,” she said quietly. “I knew.”

I blinked, my heart skipping a beat. “You knew? And you didn’t say anything?”

She sighed, her eyes filled with regret. “I wanted you to make decisions on your own. I could only advise you, guide you... but I couldn’t control your choices. You needed to find your own path, and I... I thought you loved him.”

“I did!” I snapped, my voice raw with pain. “I do love him, Mum! But now... now I don’t know. How am I supposed to live without him? How could he—” My voice cracked, and I clenched my fists, feeling the anger surge back. “If only he hadn’t gotten her pregnant! Why couldn’t it just be us?”

My mother’s gaze softened, but she didn’t interrupt, letting me spill everything.

“Was any of it real, Mum?” I continued, my voice trembling. “Did he love me sincerely, or was he just using me to become Alpha? Was I just… convenient?”

She looked at me with so much sadness that it made my chest ache. “That’s not something I can answer for you, sweetheart. You need to ask him. But...” she hesitated for a moment, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “I know one thing. No one can fake a bond as deep as the one you two shared, not for that long.”

I swallowed hard, her words offering little comfort. “Then why? Why would he betray me like this? We promised each other everything. How do I even look at him now? He ruined everything.”

Her arms tightened around me, pulling me close again, her voice soft in my ear. “I wish I had all the answers, my love. But sometimes… People make choices that don’t make sense to anyone but themselves. That doesn’t mean you did anything wrong. You trusted him. You loved him with all your heart.”

“And now I’m paying for it,” I whispered bitterly, fresh tears burning in my eyes.

“You’re strong,” she murmured, kissing the top of my head. “You’ll find a way through this. And when you do, you’ll realise that no matter what happens, you are enough. With or without him.”