Chapter 3

It was a beautiful single-family villa with a spacious yard.

By the gate, Marcus was holding a newborn wrapped in a blanket, soaking in the sun. Sophia sat gracefully in a wicker chair beside them.

As I walked closer, my eyes fell on the baby's blanket.

It was the exact same custom-designed blanket I had bought for my own pup.

Marcus looked up and saw me. The smile on his face vanished instantly.

His first instinct was to thrust the baby back into Sophia’s arms. He stood up, blocking the entrance.

"Elena? What are you doing here?"

I stared at the man I had shared a bed with for seven years. My mate.

"I came to see your newborn half-blood pup."

Sophia’s face went pale. She clutched the baby and shrank back into the house.

Marcus immediately turned to soothe her, then turned back to me, his brow furrowing deeply.

"Elena, she just gave birth. She's fragile. You are pregnant too, don't make a scene here."

"If you want to talk, let's go somewhere else."

I looked directly into his eyes.

"Marcus, when you told me this morning that you were out of town handling pack business, you were actually in this house, delivering her baby?"

Silence fell over the yard.

Valerie walked out of the house and cleared her throat.

"Elena, what's done is done. Don't be so dramatic."

"Sophia has been with Marcus for five years. She just gave him a child."

"He can't just abandon his own flesh and blood, can he?"

I turned my cold gaze to her.

"So, your entire family knew, and I was the only fool kept in the dark?"

Sophia's tears began to stream down her cheeks.

"Elena, please don't blame Marcus. It's all my fault."

"I don't want anything. I just want my baby to have a father."

She sobbed, looking down at the infant in her arms.

"Elena, your pup is still so small, but my baby is already born... Please, don't ruin his home on his very first day in this world."

How ridiculous.

I was the one whose home had been shattered, yet I was being painted as the villain trying to ruin theirs.

Footsteps echoed from behind.

Caitlyn walked out of the villa. Seeing me, her expression shifted. She hurried over and grabbed my arm.

"Elena, let's go back first. Don't do this here..."

"It's not a bad thing for an Alpha to have two children. Marcus can easily afford to raise both."

Dylan followed close behind, chiming in.

"Yeah, Elena. It's not like Marcus is rejecting you."

I looked at these people.

Just yesterday, they were leaving sweet comments under my posts, wishing me happiness.

I wrenched my arm free from Caitlyn's grip and pulled the ring off my ring finger.

*Clink.*

The ring hit the stone pavement, bouncing a few times before resting in the dirt.

"Since the three of you make such a perfect family, I'll step aside. Marcus, I'm rejecting you."

I turned to leave.

But my wrist was suddenly gripped with terrifying force.

Marcus stared at me, his eyes bloodshot with rage and panic.

"I will not accept your rejection, Elena. The pup in your womb is my blood too."