Rejected By My Mate, Claimed By His Stepbrother

*Amelia*

Hot tears streamed down my cheeks as I stormed into the dimly lit bar, my heart pounding with fury. The man I'd been married to for two years, Adrian, was sitting there with another woman, his lips pressed against hers as if the world outside didn't exist. Tonight was supposed to be our anniversary-a celebration of our love-yet here he was, entangled with someone else.

I'd doubted my friend when she called to tell me she'd seen Adrian with another woman. I'd trusted him. But now, standing in the bar's smoky haze, there was no denying the truth.

Without hesitation, I marched toward him, my voice trembling with anger. "Adrian, what is going on here?"

He froze, his lips still hovering close to hers, and turned to face me. His expression shifted from shock to guilt in an instant.

"Amelia, what are you doing here?" he stammered as he stood, but my gaze had already shifted to the woman. When I saw her face, my breath caught in my throat. It was Mara, Adrian's ex-mate.

The woman who had abandoned him two years ago-the one who chose another Alpha over him because Adrian hadn't shifted into his wolf. The same woman who shattered his heart when he was at his lowest. And now she was back?

I clenched my fists, my voice sharp. "So this is why you didn't come home for our anniversary? To rekindle things with her?"

Adrian stepped toward me, grabbing my arm. "Amelia, let's talk outside," he said firmly, steering me away from the curious eyes around us.

Once outside, I yanked my arm free. "What the hell is going on, Adrian?"

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's not what you think. Mara... she's been through a lot. Her father forced her to leave me, and the Alpha of the Redmoon Pack... he's been mistreating her. She came to me for help."

"And that justifies kissing her?" I shot back, my voice rising.

He frowned. "She's my fated mate, Amelia. I couldn't just turn her away."

My heart twisted at his words. "And me? What am I, Adrian? Your chosen mate? The woman who stood by you when everyone else doubted you?"

"Amelia, that's not what I meant. You're my Luna, and nothing's going to change that," he insisted, his voice softening. He reached out to wipe the tears from my cheeks. "I'll make it up to you, I promise. But for now, I can't just leave her. I will tell Jake to take you back home"

His words felt hollow, but I nodded numbly. He kissed my forehead before heading back inside. As I stood there in the cold night air, the weight of his actions settled over me. Deep down, I knew everything was about to change.

As Jake drove me back to the palace, I asked the maids to clean up the anniversary dinner I'd prepared, then retreated to our room, too exhausted to think.

---

The next morning,