Zariyah’s POV
"HE'S CHEATING..."
Those were the first words that came out of my mouth as I looked at the evidence in my hand. The moonlight came in through the thick curtains of the Redstone Pack mansion as I sat in my dark bedroom and stared at the package I had gotten that afternoon but hadn't opened yet. It hung over me like a storm cloud and felt like a heavy weight on my chest.
Something didn't seem right about it, but I was very interested all evening. As I unwrapped the package, my heart pounded harder with every layer I tore away. When the contents were finally revealed, I froze, the air rushing out of my lungs.
"O-Oh my god..." I blurted out.
Photographs spilled out onto the bed—images of Trevor, my alpha, my mate, and Marina, his childhood sweetheart. They were too close and sweet in all of the pictures. My stomach turned as I observed how intimately he stared at her, his hand touching her rising tummy. My thoughts screamed for it to be a mistake, a cruel prank, but the evidence was clear.
Beneath the photos were documents: receipts for gifts—gold, silver, and lavish items—all given to Marina. My hands trembled as I traced the ink on the page. The betrayal was sharper than any dagger.
"H-How could he?" My wolf, Elisia, growled within me, her voice a mix of rage and pain. She had been restless for weeks, warning me, but I had ignored her.
"Elisia..."
“You’re a fool,” she snarled. “You should have fought harder for him, for us.”
Tears pooled in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I'd battled. I had given everything to this relationship with Trevor. But it was evident now that he had already forgotten and abandoned me in favor of her.
I held my tummy, my fingers quivering as I felt the little lump. "It's just us now," I said quietly, trying to keep my voice calm. "We'll be fine, little baby. I promise."
The baby was the only thing keeping me from falling apart entirely. My pup, my tiny beacon of hope, deserved better than this.
Hours appeared to pass as I sat there, buried in different emotions. The door creaked open, and Trevor stepped in, his presence filling the room like a thundercloud. His stare was piercing, and his demeanor was guarded.
"You’re still awake," he said, his tone neutral, almost dismissive.
I stood, clutching the photographs in my hand. "Y-You're late..." I began, my voice shaking but I tried to make a strong stance. I tried to hide the photos behind my back. I sighed deeper as I kept myself calm.
"What's the matter?" he asked coldly.
"Nothing..."
His eyebrows raised. "Are you sure?"
I cleared my throat. "I noticed changes to you... I don't like it."
I saw him lightly rolled his eyes as if he was so done with me. He made me feel like my concern was nothing. "Stop overthinking things."
"I-I am not!" I snapped, my anger finally boiling over. "You are not giving enough time to me and to our child. You are acting coldly and not spending time with me!" My voice cracked, and I had to force myself to continue.
"Zariyah..."
"What? Are you having a good time with Marina, huh?" I snapped. I saw how his expression changed when I mentioned Marina. I felt like my heart was being stabbed. "You are spending too much time with her that you forgot about me."
"It’s not what it looks like," he growled, running a hand through his hair.
"Then tell me what it is!" I shot back.
Trevor’s jaw clenched, and his eyes flashed with frustration. "You’re being paranoid, Zariyah. Marina and I go way back. She needed help, and I gave it to her. That’s all!"
"Are you kidding me?" I scoffed. "This doesn’t look like help, Trevor. It looks like betrayal!"
He slammed his fist on the dresser, making me flinch. "I don’t have time for this. You’re overreacting, as usual."
My chest tightened as his words struck like a whip. "Overreacting? You’ve been distant for weeks, barely looking at me, barely touching me, and now this? How do you expect me to feel?"
"You don’t understand," he muttered, his tone softer but no less dismissive.
"I really don't."
"This is exhausting."
"Make me understand," I pleaded, tears finally spilling over.
Instead of responding, Trevor turned on his heel and walked out, leaving me alone in the oppressive stillness of our room. I collapsed onto the bed, my body quivering under the weight of everything. He didn't care. No matter how hard I pleaded or tried, Trevor refused to fight for us.
"He changes..." Elisia spoke. My wolf whimpered, retreating into the depths of my mind. Her anger had burned out, leaving only sorrow in its wake. "We deserve better than this..."
And for the first time, I agreed.
I wiped my tears and reached for my phone. My fingers hovered over the screen for a moment before I dialed the number I never thought I’d call again. The line rang twice before a familiar voice answered.
"Zariyah?" Alpha Jarred’s deep voice was tinged with surprise.
"Alpha Jarred,” I began, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. "I called because I need a favor..."
There was a pause on the other end, then a soft sigh."It's been a long time since you called, Zari. What is the favor you need?"
I glanced at the photos scattered across the bed, at the hollow emptiness of the room that was supposed to be my sanctuary. "Alpha Jarred... I..."
"What is it? Tell me, I am more than happy to help you with all I can."
For the first time that night, I felt a small spark of hope. It wasn’t much, but it was enough. Enough to start over, enough to fight for a better future for me and my baby. My voice cracked and my grip on the cellphone tightened as I said my request to him.
"Please, I want to transfer to the Sapphire Pack."
