3. Made His Choice

My lungs burned as my feet pounded against the familiar pavement of my childhood street. I'd returned hours after running from the house, and luckily, Cast had left. 

I hadn't heard a word from him for three days now. 

Running had always been my escape, and with new life growing inside me, I felt a surge of energy I couldn't quite explain. It was strong. So strong.   

If this was what Alphas had running in their blood their whole lives, no wonder they were always so intense. 

I slowed to a jog near the old oak tree where Selena and I took photos before Mine and Cast's wedding. She'd been my maid of honor. 

The memories flooded back, but they were tainted now. The betrayal still stung, cutting deeper than any physical pain ever could.

"Lila!" A voice called out behind me.

I turned to see Selena approaching, her face flushed like she'd been crying. I hadn't expected to see her here, not after everything.

"What do you want?" I asked, trying to keep my composure. And my distance. The urge to slap her was overwhelming. 

So damn overwhelming.

"We need to talk," she said, thankfully stopping a few feet away.

"I have nothing to say to you," I growled. Wow, I never growl. Definitely the Alpha blood.

"Please, just hear me out."

I hesitated, then crossed my arms over my chest. "Fine. Spit it out."

Selena took a deep breath. "I know you're hurt and have every right to be. But there's more you need to know."

"More lies? More secrets? More bullshit?" I shot back, feeling an almost uncontrollable anger increase within me. 

Being pregnant with an Alpha's kid was going to be so difficult.

"It's not like that," she insisted. "Castor and I... we've been together for years."

 I struggled to breathe. "Years?"

She nodded, looking down at her feet. "We love each other, Lila. We were together before he discovered you."

I laughed bitterly. "You love each other? And what was I? Just some obstacle in your perfect little romance?"

"It's complicated," she said quietly. "You're his fated mate. He needed you."

"Needed me for what? To play house while you two had your fun?"

"To have his child," she admitted. "Only a child from his fated mate can guarantee the Alpha genes."

I stared at her in disbelief and disgust. "So that's all I am? A breeder?"

"No, it's not like that," Selena pleaded. "We didn't plan for things to happen this way. Fate just... it sucks sometimes."

I shook my head as I started to cry. "How stupid was I to think you were my friend. You were my maid of honor while fucking my husband."

"No," she said quickly. "That was real. I care about you, Lila. I always have. I always will."

"Funny way of showing it," I muttered, wiping away a stray tear. "I don't know why I should believe a word you say."

Selena reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. "You should see these."

She handed me the phone, and I hesitated before taking it. Text messages between her and Castor filled the screen. Texts that indeed went back years. Each one was more devastating than the last.

"I love you, Selena."

"I don't love Lila."

"What I want is a baby. Once I have an heir, I'll divorce her. Then we can be together forever. I never lied to you. I would never lie to you. I choose you, Selena."

"What about Lila?"

"She can leave. I don't care. I just want an alpha kid. You know I have to have one."

My hands trembled as I read hundreds rapidly, the words blurring through my tears. 

The depth of their deception was overwhelming.

"I thought you deserved to know the truth," Selena said quietly.

I looked up as anger and pain burned in my chest and my stomach. "Get away from me. Now."

She opened her mouth to speak, but I cut her off. "Now, Selena. Before I do something we'll both regret."

She nodded slowly and started backing away. Without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving me alone with the shattered pieces of my life.

Shattered pieces that she helped create.

Later that afternoon, my parents cornered me in the living room. Mom had that determined look, and Dad stood beside her, arms crossed.

"Sweetie, we need to run some errands," Mom said, forcing a smile.

"I'm not really in the mood," I replied, still drained from my encounter with Selena. I didn't dare tell them about it. For all I knew, they would invite her over to dinner or something if I did.

"It wasn't a request," Dad added firmly.

Sighing, I grabbed my jacket and followed them out to the car. The drive was silent. When the car stopped, I looked out the window to see a coffee shop I didn't recognize instead of the grocery store.

"Why are we here?" I asked.

"Go inside, honey. Someone's waiting for you," Mom said, avoiding looking at me no matter what I did.

Realization dawned on me. "You tricked me."

"It's for your own good," Dad insisted. "You two need to talk."

I glared at them before stepping out of the car and walking toward the shop. As I entered, the aroma of coffee did little to soothe my nerves or stomach. I'd pushed off the nausea for most of the day until the pungent smell assaulted my nose. 

Castor sat at a corner table, looking up as I approached.

"I'm not doing this," I said, turning to leave.

"Wait, please," he called out as he stood up. "Just give me a minute."

Against my better judgment, I stopped and faced him. "You have one minute."

He gestured to the seat across from him.

 I remained standing.

"Fine," he sighed. "I'm sorry, Lila. For everything."

I scoffed. "Sorry doesn't even begin to cover it."

"I know I've hurt you, but we can work through this," he continued, reaching out toward me.

I stepped back quickly. "Don't touch me. Touch Selena. When she cornered me this morning, she clarified that it's been happening for years."

He started to get frustrated. "What did you say? Damn, no. Selena shouldn't have talked to you."

"That's what you're upset about? That she told me the truth?"

"She complicated things," he muttered.

"Complicated things?" I repeated in disbelief. "You've been cheating on me for years, using me to get an heir, and I'm the complication?"

"You don't understand," he growled, then quickly looked around to ensure no one noticed. 

I made a mental note to try to have these conversations in public from now on. Maybe my parents weren't totally throwing me under the bus here. 

"Then enlighten me, Castor. Do you love me? Really love me?"

He remained silent.

"Answer me!" I demanded, raising my voice on purpose to see if he would care about others hearing me.

People in the café began to glance our way, but I didn't care. Let them see. Let them hear. Let him be uncomfortable with it.

"It's not that simple," he finally said after intimidating everyone enough to make them look away.

"It's a yes or no question," I shot back. "Do you love me?"

More silence.

I laughed bitterly. "That's all I needed to know."

As I turned to leave, he grabbed my arm, pulling me back. "You're not walking away from this."

"Watch me," I retorted, yanking my arm free.

"I'm not letting you go," he muttered. "We have obligations. You have obligations. You don't get just to walk away. None of us do."

"I owe you nothing," I replied coldly.

"You owe me an heir," he declared. "If you want a divorce, fine. But not before you fulfill your duty first."

I stared at him. "You can't be serious."

"I've never been more serious," he replied.

Tears blurred my vision, but I refused to let them fall. "You're unbelievable."

"This is how it has to be," he insisted.

"No, Castor. This is over," I said, backing away. "I'm done being your pawn."

I turned and left the cafe, ignoring his calls behind me. 

I knew what I had to do. It was time to take control of my life, for me and the little life growing inside me. A little life that deserved better than a broken mother and a cheating father. 

I couldn't stop their Dad from being a cheating asshole, but I could do something to unbreak their mother.

I needed a lawyer. I needed to end this chapter of my life.

Castor had made his choice. 

Now, it was time for me to make mine.