002: Cracked From Within!

ALAINA

Another bang! Another hit!

I just couldn't get enough today, could I?

Fear made me trip over my feet as I rushed in the direction of the door. My mother-in-law was known for her lack of patience but this was very different, more aggressive and malicious and I knew seeing her would birth nothing but trouble.

This was Logan's family house and I'd lived with her from day one of our marriage. I knew a lot of calamity was about to go down.

I raced to the door with my heart in my mouth, scared to shit of what manners of insult those few minutes of stalling would earn me, but to my utmost surprise when I unlocked and pulled the door open my mother-in-law wasn't the only person standing there.

Esmeralda?!

My mouth fell open, forming a faltering ‘o’ and my chest ached like it was being squeezed by a pair of ice-cold arms. Why was she here?!

Who brought her here?

What-

“Took you long enough!” My mother-in-law hissed as she snatched the door handle from me and pushed past me without considering how hard the door hit my arm.

I winced, utterly perplexed but turning sharply as she ushered Esmeralda in. My brows pinched together and my face contorted in confusion as my mother-in-law walked in the very bane of my existence right from the moment I stepped into this pack.

Esmeralda was the Alpha's sister, and Logan's mate.

His fated mate!

But he didn't love her. He chose me as his fated mate at the mating ceremony even after finding she was his fated one. He rejected her. He rejected Esmeralda, our Alpha's sister but chose me! A low-rank omega as his mate!

Wasn't that the most solid proof of his love for me?

She was beautiful, with fair hair and blue eyes that could pierce into one's soul. Every time she stared at me with her blue eyes, I thought I was a sinner for taking away her mate.

I was also curious sometimes. But as it was due to love, I didn't bother thinking about it over and over.

Now I had no idea what was going on and I was trying hard enough to collect my thoughts in order to ask the right questions. I looked teary, with puffy eyes, and clad in a miserly-looking robe. This shouldn't be how Esmeralda should have met me!

“What…”

“Where's he? Can I see him now? You know it's important that he takes care of this, Mother,” She cooed, giving all of her attention to my mother-in-law as though my presence in the room was that insignificant.

It suddenly felt like I couldn't comprehend words anymore and my heart was beating way too fast. “Excuse me? Mother? What do you mean and why are you here, Esmeralda?”

I talked to Esmeralda but looked at my mother-in-law suspiciously and unbelievably.

“He'll be in his room for sure, sweetheart,” My mother in law responded to her but ignored me. Neither of them seemed to be interested in responding to my question.

Esmeralda cast her gaze on me, her lips peeling into a sick smirk before she attempted to push past me but I was quick grabbed her arm and pulled her back. “Where do you think you're headed to!?”

She jerked her arm away from my grip and stepped back, her expression mean and condescending. I hated how taller she was. “Who said you could touch me?” She asked softly, the silence was just a build-up to more tension. “How dare you lay those cursed hands on me, Omega? Do you want to know death?”

“Bullshit,” I scoffed.

“What. Did. You. Just. Say?”

I stood my ground, unwilling to be shaken up by the fact that she was basically royalty. Her brother was enough force to contend with and I'd spent half my life getting bullied by them. “You're trespassing! Tell me what you want or I'll have you thrown out this instant! WHY THE HELL ARE YOU IN MY HOUSE!”

“You insolent thing!” That came from my mother-in-law who grabbed me and pulled me away from Esmeralda. “How dare you-”

“No, no…” Esmeralda chuckled lightly with her hand over her mouth. She waved a dismissive hand at my mother-in-law who looked like she was ready to rip me to shreds. “I'll handle this, mother.”

She called my mother-in-law ‘Mother’ again! My eyes widened and I turned to see if Logan was in the room yet.

I knew he and Esmeralda worked in the same division in the company owned by Alpha Alexander, but this disrespect was way too much for work-related issues. It took all of my willpower not to throw a smack across her pretty little face!

I played that I didn’t hear what she just said and queried her as I’m the hostess. “Tell me whatever you want and I'll relay it to my husband.”

Esmeralda burst into a stifling peal of laughter and the hint of humor in her eyes caused me to shrink a little more into myself. “Husband, uh? I guess…” She leaned closer. “You don't know yet, do you?”

Know-

“Know what?” I hated how small and strained my voice came out. I clenched my fists to keep from trembling.

“Esme?!”

I released a breath I didn't know I'd been holding and both our heads shot in the direction of the room his voice came from. Logan was standing there with a glass of water as he stared at both of us in horror.

The look on his face felt like a stab to my chest, and my thoughts were running wild. But I trust him. I trust Logan! This. This has to be something else.

“Your coworker seems to have something to say, and she's sure doing it dramatically!” I forced the words out as I turned on my heels to meet Logan in the middle of the large living room as he rushed over with concern etched on his face.

But it wasn't for me. He wasn't rushing to meet me.

My husband slipped right beside me and hurried towards Esmeralda with his arms wide open. “Esme! I told you I was going to handle it! Why'd you come?”

Someone, shoot me. Right. Now.

Now!

My feet remained glued to the ground as I watched him nuzzle and hug her so tightly. He never did that with me!

He just-

No. No. This wasn't happening! “Logan…” I muttered his name. I suddenly couldn't find my voice. Regardless, he didn't look back at me.

“Little Logan missed you. I couldn't wait anymore!” She groaned, patting a kiss to his chin while my mother-in-law giggled dramatically, her sinister laugh tearing through my headspace.

The room had already started to spin and I couldn't even feel my own skin. Little Logan?? What were they talking about??

Esmeralda smiled at me and waddled closer. I could tell that Logan tried to hold her back, to stop her from moving towards me.

He wasn't holding me, or next to me!

Like she fed off the terror mercilessly swirling inside of me, Esmeralda reached into her purse and forced a folded sheet of paper into my quivering hand. “This should help you understand.”

I roughly unfolded the paper and scanned the contents of it. There and then, I felt my heart crack open!

My hands wouldn't stop shaking and my tears were falling fast, dabbing over the piece of paper that Esmeralda immediately snatched from me.

“P-pregnant?” I mindlessly stuttered, looking up at her through the shameful tears that easily gathered in my eyes, clouding my vision. “Y-you're—” I choked out. I couldn't breathe!

“I'm relieved that you can read,” She droned, rubbing her hand on her belly. “I'm pregnant, Allie.” Now she leaned against Logan. His eyes were dead cold, piercing into my soul. “For my mate, Logan. Did you really think you could fight destiny?”

“B-but…” I couldn't barely see a thing. Pain shot up to my chest. I felt it sink into my skin! I tasted the betrayal on my tongue, it was everywhere, blinding me! My body was no different from jelly. I turned to Logan. “This has to be a misunderstanding, right?”

I sought his eyes for a response. All I got was a blank stare, so cold that I felt it seem into my skin. “Y-you said- no, you love me! You're…my husband.”

“Don't call me that.” Logan winced, his expression conveying the heaviest of disgust. “I no longer want to be that.”

“What?” I echoed, my brows pinching together. I had begun to breathe through my mouth. “How could you…” ah! My words dissolved into sobs, cruelly racking from my throat. I was crumbling like a sandhill right before both of them. “HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT!? YOU LOVE ME, LOGAN! YOU LOVE ME!”

“Where's it, Mother?” His voice was ice cold, sharp at the edges as he darted his gaze to her.

Where's what?

“Right here!” She chimed. “I remembered to pick it up.” After which she immediately handed him a file in an envelope.

“Here!” Logan slapped the documents on the table before me with a loud bang that caused me to jump.

“Sign it. And leave!”