Chapter 3 : Second Chances

*Valeria*

My mouth opened and shut as I tried to collect myself. Tried to get my heart to restart. Tried to clear my head.

Yep, that champagne was definitely a bad idea.

"What a diligent little Luna," the King continued in his low voice when I was unable to speak. "Defending a pack of wolves that are in fact incapable and unprepared."

That made me find a voice.

"What a typical impolite Lycan," I said coolly in a steady voice, glaring at him. "Thinking you are better than everyone else."

The King chuckled, and I felt a tinge of fear for what I had said. That had not been appropriate in any way. He was the Lycan King after all, and was not to be tested. He especially shouldn't be called names.

Yet I couldn't help but challenge him, feeling my blood heat as he stepped closer.

"I don't think I am better than everyone else, doll," King Dominic said.

Doll? Really?

I took a step back as he stepped towards me again, his eyes and voice flashing with anger before he quickly controlled it. "However, I would say I most certainly am better than that Alpha of yours."

My mouth dropped open.

"Wow, we open our home to you and this is how you speak of us?" I asked, unable to hide my growing irritation.

"It's not the only thing open around here," he said with a tight mouth. "So tell me, how many times has he cheated on you now?"

"What?" I snapped.

"It must have been a lot," he said slowly, and then looking at my face added. "Don't tell me you didn't know."

My mind was spinning, and this time it wasn't because of the drinks.

"You're lying," I spit at him. "I heard you were rude, but to stoop to this level is something else…and as our guest…unbelievable."

I forced myself to move, to try and get past him, but his hand snaked out and grabbed my wrist, twisting me around. I stumbled just slightly, but he kept me on my feet, taking another step closer.

"I am not lying," he said slowly as if trying to keep his voice calm. "I despised your Alpha the moment I met the two of you. Not only is he a weak Alpha, but he is a hypocritical person. Sitting there claiming you and spewing love for you when everyone here could smell that Omega on him."

My chest tightened so much it burned, and my stomach dropped.

"Ev-everyone…smelled…" I stuttered out, unable to look at him as I felt my world start to crumble.

Everyone. He had said everyone.

I might vomit.

His hand softened on my wrist, and I was so upset that I barely even felt the tingles that covered where he touched. "You are human, you must not be able to smell it…but yes, the scent was strong to the rest of us…my kind in particular."

My head swirled again.

"Has-hasn't anyone ever told you?" He asked, and I was still so upset that I didn't notice the care and hesitation in his voice now.

I just shook my head, at a loss.

He had truly thought I knew. Knew this horrible thing that he had flung around like it was obvious news.

Was it possible? Was he telling the truth? Was I wrong? Was it really, truly possible that my husband had cheated on me?

The idea was almost unbearable. After everything we had been through, six years of sticking by each other and supporting each other, he had always been my rock. I couldn't rely on smell like these werewolves, I just had to rely on my eyes, and what I had seen.

I wouldn't even consider the warning Rosie had given me…or the looks of pity I thought pack members gave me when I wasn't looking…I had always assumed it was for the lack of pregnancy. Still, that didn't prove anything…

And was there really concrete proof that I had seen to support this Lycan's accusations? This Lycan who had just admitted that he despised my husband? Could he really be trusted?

I ripped my arm from his relaxed grip. "Declan is my mate, my Alpha, and I am his Luna."

Dominic's eyes flashed blacker than they had been all night, but then slowly dimmed slightly. It still caused me to stagger back a step.

"Stubborn girl," he said through clenched teeth before letting out a sigh. "Though I have to admit, it is impressive that you are strong enough to take this news and still want to show support for your husband. Loyal to a fault it seems."

In the last part, he seemed to say more to himself than to me, so I turned to make my way back inside.

His words halted me after less than two steps.

"Your mate bond with him has almost disappeared," he said quietly. "Haven't you wondered why you haven't gotten pregnant after so many years? Even with an Alpha?"

I slowly turned and looked at him, but he must have seen something on my face that convinced him to continue.

As if he hadn't already shattered me enough.

"It is because infertility is a side effect of a broken bond," he continued, staring me down the entire time. "As an Alpha's mate, you should have been pregnant within the first full moon cycle after completing your bond."

"Why do you- no, how do you know?" I asked, just as quietly, unable to look at him as I asked.

It was embarrassing to see him look at me with such pity in his eyes. But I had to ask. Even with my hesitations, I needed to know.

"Because," King Dominic took a deep breath and reached forward to place his finger under my chin, lifting it to look at him. "Because I am your second chance mate."

Silence.

I was pretty sure my heart had stopped again. He stepped closer, now only a foot or two away.

"As soon as I saw you, I knew what you were," the King stated, more hurriedly now. "And when I was introduced to you both and could…smell him," another look of rage. "I knew what it must be; what that must mean. Because if your mating bond was intact, you wouldn't be given a second chance mate."

Still silence. My mind was whirling as I stared into his eyes inky depths, unable to process his words.

"I am sure you can feel it too," he said, inching closer. "Our auras are pushing us towards each other. Even as a human, you can feel it I'm sure."

And still nothing. My brain was broken. I was sure of it.

"However, even with a broken bond," his voice sounded angry, but almost a little…nervous now. "You need to reject Declan to clearly sever all ties with him and his pack so that way I can take you away. You can't leave freely with me otherwise."

Well, that got me.

"Leave with you?!" I burst out unexpectedly. "I can't leave with you!"

"But-"

"No," I stepped away from him, putting distance between us, even though my body screamed at me when I did. "Even if, no, even though what you said is true, I will never become your mate."

A look of hurt flashed on his face before he was able to conceal it cleanly.

"I am sorry, but I don't know you, and granted what I do know, I don't like," I said. "You are ignorant, arrogant, and annoying."

"You dare speak to me like this?" he asked incredulously, anger flecking his tone again. "I am the King, and I deserve your respect."

But I was already broken. He didn't scare me now.

"From the stories I have heard, you don't deserve anything," I said angrily, whipping around to walk away again before he could reprimand me.

This time he didn't try and stop me, but just as I reached the door he left me with one more thought.

"One day, doll, you will regret what you said."

With a shiver, I walked back through the door and into the large room.

Practically everyone was gone now. Even Declan. Had he not noticed me? Waited for me?

My emotions spun and whirred, not wanting to believe the words that the Lycan King had just told me, but deep down feeling their truth. He may be a lot of things, but I had to be honest with myself, he didn't seem like a liar. It's like my body and my brain were arguing on what kind of man he truly was.

Second chance mate…

I couldn't even think of that, even though my body protested more and more the further I got from him as if confirming his tale. The odds of mating with another wolf, a Lycan even, seemed highly unlikely. Another disadvantage of being a human in a werewolf world: I had no idea what to believe.

I had to find Declan and ask him myself. Ask him about our bond…and about the cheating. There was no way he was cheating on me. He loved me and I loved him. The thoughts tasted bitter even in my mind, as if ringing false even there.

I gave up everything to be with him. How could he do this?

He wasn't in our bedroom, so I turned and made my way to the only other place he would be at this time of night. Luckily for me, his office wasn't far from our bedroom. And luckily for me, it did appear as if someone was in there based on the lights, so I wouldn't have to keep hunting him down.

Unluckily for me were the sounds that I could hear coming from the room with each step I moved closer. The sounds of moans and wet skin slapping were beating in my head like drums.

It could be anyone, it didn't have to be Declan…it was his office, but we were throwing a party. Maybe some crazy partygoers snuck off, not wanting to wait to get home.

"AH, DECLAN!" A voice cried out as if mocking me.

Dumb. I was so dumb.

Even though I didn't want to see it, even though my heart was already cracking, I grabbed the door handle and twisted it. I needed to see it with my own two eyes. Had to see it to believe the betrayal that I could hear even now.

The door swung open.

There, lying with her back on his desk, her dress gathered at her hips, was Melissa. Her face was glowing in pleasure; a willing participant…

And there, standing on the edge, thrusting himself into her over and over with an animalistic growl of pleasure was the man that I had sacrificed my whole life for.

Declan.

I wasn't aware of it happening, but a scream ripped from my lungs as my stupid human heart shredded to strips.