Chapter 3

This birthday has to be the worst of my life. Hell, it was probably the

worst in all of history.

Richard...my step-dad is my freaking mate and he is married to my

freaking mother.

Right now, I watched angrily as Richard and my mom cuddled up on

the couch as we had "family" movie night.

I can't believe him...

All this time he knew....All this time when he was going on dates with

my mom and kissing her and screwing he-OH MY GOD I CANNOT

BELIEVE THIS.

I felt like crying. My heart was breaking every time I glanced at them.

Mom looked content and happy snuggled up again him. This is why I

made the decision to not tell her. Yet... anyways.

You don't know how bad she was after Dad died. She was the beyond

definition of a wreck. How many nights she tried to commit suicide or

cry for hours before she fell asleep. I was there for her through all of

that and I refuse to let her reach that low again...even if she has to be

happy with what is mine...

Maybe I could reject him and let them be...

But that won't stop the pain I'll feel from seeing him every day.

"Everything alright hunny?" I felt mom's hand on my shoulder and I

looked at her to see a concerned look on her face.

"Yeah mom I'm fine.”

"Well, you're crying. The movie isn't that sad sweetie.” She added with a

chuckle.

My hand went up to my face subconsciously and I wiped my eyes. God,

I didn't even realize I was crying, how am I going to do this?

"Oh. Ha-ha, just felt a little sad for John that Savannah married

someone else. He really cared about her and waited for her but she

went ahead and got with someone else, knowing it would hurt him." I

said, and I saw Richard stiffen slightly as he got the message behind my

words.

"Maybe she didn't have a choice.” He added, not making eye contact

with me and I shook my

head slowly.

"There is always a choice. People just love to play victim and act like

they don't have one.”

Richard didn't say anything in reply to what I said because he knew I

was right.

He had a choice. He could have told me when he found out and spared

me the pain I've been feeling all these years but no, he willingly lied to

me and let me hurt seeing him with my mother.

I will never forgive him for that.

"Well" Mom began after a moment of silence. "Maybe if we finish the

movie we can see why she-"

“I'm going to bed." I rudely said, cutting her off. I felt a twinge of guilt

for snapping at her, she didn't know what was going on. It isn't her

fault

I mumbled a goodnight and got up without waiting for a reply from

either of them, heading to my room.

As I trudged up the stairs, my built up emotions took over and I silently

sobbed.

How could he do this to me? How could any man put his mate through

this type of pain willingly?

My human half despised Richard, but my wolf side craved him. For him

to touch me, hold me

and make the pain go away.

But it will never go away because he is the one causing it.

Opening my bedroom door, I pushed it to close and flopped down on

my bed, but then it dawned on me..

I didn't hear the door shut. His scent hit me like a pile of bricks and I

felt like crying all over again.

"Fuck off Richard." I said with an added sniffle.

"Danica please, let me explain.”

I shot up from my bed and stood before him, my arms crossed and I

was seething. Bipolar, I know but is he being serious?

"Okay Richard. Give me your pathetic excuse as too why you lied to me

all these years. Why you knew I was your mate since the moment we

first met and said nothing. Why you watched me literally go for days

and weeks in agony because you know I felt a connection between us, I

just didn't know we were mates. Do you think I deserve this? Do you

think my mother deserves this?

She has been through too much Richard and you are playing her just

like you played me. You are a selfish son of a bitch and I can't wait till I

get the strength to reject your worthless ass.”

The words poured out of my mouth like I was drinking water and for a

moment, I didn't realize what I said.

Could I actually reject him? Rejecting your mate is the hardest thing any

wolf would have to do besides their first shift. You would be cutting all

ties from your other half, severing the mate bond and the pain you will

feel from that, will be like no other, but do I have a choice?

Like I said before, there is always a choice but I won't put my mother

through pain and let her fall back into despair. It may sound stupid, but

you have to be in my situation to understand where I'm coming from. I

love her, a lot and I would do anything to keep her happy, even if it

costs me my own happiness. She is all I have left...

"I didn't have a choice Danica. I was surprised to even find you. I went

through most of my life searching for my mate and I never found her,

but I guess she just wasn't born yet." He said with a sight chuckle but I

in no laughing mood.

"I couldn't tell you we were mates. You were 16 Danica. 16! I was 37.

(Y'all better not say shit or I'm removing the age again. Just imagine

David Beckham. He's like around that ag, maybe older and still fine asf

so hush lol) Think about how that would look. I didn't think you would

even believe me. And your mother...I didn't want to be with her after I

first met you but I had to stay because if I left then I didn't know if I'd

ever see you again. Danica I had no intentions of letting you suffer, I

wasn't even aware you felt the pull. You never said anything to me.”

I laughed dryly.

"Yeah I'm going to my step-dad and tell him I've had feelings from the

moment we met with no explanations whatsoever. That made no sense

to me. I was a kid. I don't give a shit what you think was right or what

was assumed or whatever. The point is you should have said

something.

Whether or not, I'd believe you that doesn't mean you stay quiet and

keep something as huge as this to yourself Richard. You could have

avoided this situation right now if you had just said something.”

Richard ran his hand through his thick locks and sighed, obviously

frustrated.

“I'm sorry."

I rolled my eyes and wiped my tears.

"You knew it was going to hurt me but you did it anyway so you fuck

you and your apology and get the hell out of my room.”

He sent me a hurt look, and then reluctantly left my room, closing the

door behind him.

My legs felt wobbly and my shoulders shook as a heart wrenching sob

took over me and I fell to the floor.

Talk about a fucked up life.