Two

Frozen, I stood there as the shock of this discovery slammed into me. My heart pounded furiously, and I found this stranger’s presence disturbing. 

Every cell in my body came to life. I didn't know what to make of it. When our eyes met, and his gaze locked onto mine, they held me captive, knocking my breath out of me.

The idea of a mate made me warm, but this was wrong.

So wrong.

How could my husband's brother be my mate? I'd always known Byron had a twin, but I’d never heard much about him because his family rarely spoke of him.

He was standing right before me, turning my world upside down. His dark, intense eyes scanned my body like a camera, taking in every detail. I felt naked as if my very soul was laid bare before him.

"Justin, darling," his mother rushed over, hugging him warmly. His father didn't move. His face was scrunched up with displeasure before he tried to appear unbothered. 

Byron's face was red, with a vein twitching on his forehead—a clear sign he didn't want his brother here. 

His twin didn’t care about the awkward greetings or the cold reception. His gaze remained fixed on me, even as his mother smothered him with kisses and affection. 

I looked away, my heart pounding in my chest. This was wrong. I was married to Byron, bound to him by vows, and our child. The diamond ring on my finger suddenly felt like a shackle. I needed to block out every feeling of desire and attraction I had for my husband's brother.

The room began to spin, and I felt lightheaded, but I stood there, trapped and unable to move.

"What a pleasant surprise, Justin," Grandma Alice embraced her grandson with genuine warmth. "I would have chased you to my grave if you hadn’t honored my invitation."

Justin finally tore his gaze away from me and smiled at his grandmother. "You're not dying anytime soon, Grandma. And why would I miss the best grandmother in the world’s birthday?"

His brother and cousins turned away, ignoring him. I slipped to the adjoining living room, desperate for a moment to gather my thoughts. 

My hands were shaking visibly, and I felt like I might collapse at any moment. I needed to talk to someone, but who could I turn to? No one in this family would understand.

"There you are, Alexis," my father-in-law’s voice interrupted my thoughts as he entered the room. "It’s been five years, and you still act like a stranger here. You belong to this family and are the mother of my grandson. Go dance with your husband.."

"I have a headache," I lied.

"No excuses this time," Jacob chuckled, lifting me off the seat. "At the last party, you said you had dizzy spells. Are you sure you're not pregnant?"

I shook my head and managed a forced smile. Jacob Campbell was the architect of my marriage. He was the only one who genuinely cared about me in this cold family. My father had served as Jacob's driver for over twenty years, even donating a kidney to him. In return, Jacob had repaid my father by forcing me into this marriage with Byron after that crazy one-night stand. 

I reluctantly returned to the birthday celebration with Jacob, and just as we stepped back into the room, I felt his other son's eyes on me again. 

His gaze was intense as if he was counting every step I took. They swept down my body and then back up to my face. I wondered if he was like Byron, who preferred curvy women.

Justin waited until I was alone again and then approached me. His eyes, clouded with lust, raked over me, and I felt a pull between us, something primal and undeniable. My inner beast stirred with need. I stepped back, trying to create distance, but it was useless.

He leaned in close, his breath warm against my ear, and whispered a word that sent shivers down my spine. 

“Mate.”

He could feel the bond, too. This was insane!

"Alexis," my husband's voice snapped me out of the trance. He motioned for me to come to him, and like a scared child, I rushed to his side. 

My heels felt unsteady, and I almost stumbled, but Byron caught me and held me close.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly, his eyes searching mine. For a moment, I thought I saw genuine concern in his gaze, and his fingers gently stroked my arm. But I knew better. 

After years of craving Byron’s affection, he was only showing it now, on the night I met my true mate.

How wonderful.

“I'm fine," I said, forcing a smile. 

His lover watched me with an evil glare and narrowed her eyes as she realized I had caught her stare. A cold smile played on her lips as if she knew something I didn’t.

"Let me introduce you to someone," Byron whispered, pulling me closer. His brother had stopped halfway across the room, and I could see the confusion in his eyes as he watched us. I dreaded this moment and lowered my gaze, trying to avoid looking at Justin.

Byron held me close as we walked toward his brother, who was playing the role of a devoted husband for all to see. "Justin, meet my lovely wife, Alexis. I sent you a wedding invite, but you ignored it. We have a son, Valen."

Justin was taken aback. I felt like I was living in a nightmare, watching myself from outside my body. This couldn’t be real. 

If Byron found out that his brother was my mate, he would kill me. I had to keep this secret, find a way to talk to Justin, and beg him not to reveal the bond. I had to protect my son—I couldn’t live without him. Byron would take him away from me if he found out.

"I was busy," Justin finally spoke. His voice sounded like thunder rumbling in the distance. He sounded so much like Byron, but his tone had an edge, something more raw and untamed. 

Even his voice made me feel things I didn’t want to acknowledge. Shame and desire clashed inside me, leaving me breathless. 

"Congratulations to you, but I feel pity for your poor wife, who’s stuck with a narcissist and an abuser."

Byron stiffened beside me, his grip on my waist tightening as he tried to maintain his composure.

"After all these years, you decided to visit, but only to come around and cause trouble. How typical," my father-in-law's voice rang out behind us, thick with anger.

Justin seemed like the family's black sheep, who had broken away from the Campbell legacy. 

"At least Byron is married and does not sleep around with every girl. Can you boast of his achievements?"

Although I was still trembling, I was relieved that the attention had shifted away from me, even if only for a moment. But I could still feel Justin’s eyes on me, piercing through the facade I was trying so hard to maintain.

"Hello, Father," Justin finally acknowledged Jacob, but his eyes remained on me. "It’s nice to see you."

I couldn’t take it any longer. "Excuse me, I’ll be right back," I mumbled, pulling away from Byron’s grasp. I needed to escape.

I heard Justin’s voice behind me. "It’s not about being married. Are you happy? Is your spouse happy with you? Women don’t stay for love—they stay for appearances.”

My steps grew faster. I reached the door and pushed it open, gasping for air. This was not the life I envisioned for myself—this was too much for me.