Chapter 2: The Aftermath.
*Jane*
I couldn’t sleep.
Xander was fast asleep beside me. He’d had no trouble nodding
off, obviously not very concerned with the fact that he’d
singlehandedly ruined my night.
I traced the sharp line of his jaw with my eyes, trying to search
for evidence of his betrayal.
Just say a word, a name. That was all I want.
But there was nothing. Not even a twitch.
Of course not. Xander was extremely calculated, even in sleep.
He always wanted to control everything, me included.
My eyes drifted to the dresser, where his phone kept lighting up. I
looked back at Xander. Before I could convince myself not to, I
reached for his cell.
It felt like I was committing a serious crime as I tapped my finger
against the screen. It lit up, but Xander had taken the extra
precaution by setting his notifications to private.
Chapter 2: The Aftermath
The only thing I could see was the sender, and all twenty- something texts… and counting were coming from the same person. I peered down at the profile picture. It was a tiny, blurry picture even though it looked like Mia.
I spent the entire night spiraling, replaying that horrible birthday
party in my head, wondering what was really going on between
Mia and Xander.
I eventually gave up on sleep, and dragged myself to the kitchen.
By 6 a.m., I’d consumed three cups of coffee.
I looked up when the smell of mints came to my nose. Xander
appeared in the kitchen doorway, dark hair disheveled, rubbing
his temples.
“Morning,” he mumbled, shuffling toward the coffee pot. “Last
night was great. You good?”
Was it? I wanted to ask, but instead, I answered, “Just tired.” I’d
tried to keep my voice steady, but the bitterness still managed to
slip out.
Xander paused mid–sip, his gray eyes narrowing slightly over the
rim of his mug. The kitchen suddenly felt too small, and the tiny
peace I’d felt here has vanished completely.
“What’s wrong, Jane?” He dropped his voice, sounding more
Chapter 2. The Aftermath.
concerned than he really was.
What’s wrong? I almost laughed. I gripped my mug tighter. “I’m.
Fine.”
He frowned again and set his coffee down. “You don’t sound
fine.” He reached for the coffee pot, refilled his mug and slid into
the chair beside me. “Talk to me Jane.”
I turned to look at him. My husband. He was devastatingly
handsome. Xander was almost a whole foot taller than me,
towering over most of the pack. His dark hair fell in tousled waves, still messy from sleep. A lifetime ago, I would have buried my fingers in the silky strands and planted a sweet kiss on his full
lips.
Now when I looked into his gray eyes, it felt like I was looking at
a stranger. Even the strong line of his jaw, his usual early morning stubble that used to make my knees weak did nothing
to me anymore.
As he gazed at me innocently, I found myself transported back to
how we’d met at the Werewolf Academy. Eighteen–year–old
Xander had been leaning against the brick wall right outside the
dining hall. I’d barely even noticed him as I walked past, but he’d
spotted me immediately and declared, “You’re mine.”
And like every typical sixteen year old would, I laughed in his
Chapter 2: The Aftermath.
face. I’d believed he was feeding me some elaborate line, toying
with my feelings. I didn’t even sense any sort of partner
relationship between us.
“You’re lying,” I’d told him flatly. “You don’t
ven know me.”
But that didn’t deter him. He spent months pursuing me
relentlessly. He would slip notes into my textbooks, get me
coffee, escort me to and from class. He was attentive, caring… just
perfect.
I finally cracked and agreed to be his girlfriend. But with a condition. “If I find my destined partner when I turn eighteen, I’m breaking up with you,” I’d said to him. Xander grinned with so much confidence I almost took the words back. “Agreed. But you
won’t want to.”
He was right. On my eighteenth birthday, when my wolf finally roared to summon her mate, I’d felt that unique sensation directed at none other than Xander. It made me the happiest
person in the world.
Now, that memory tasted bitter in my mouth. It was tainted by his involvement with his Beta and how that had turned me into a laughing stock.
“You embarrassed me last night,” I finally blurted. I set my mug down hard enough that coffee spilled over the rim. “And what
Chapter 2 The Aftermath
was that karaoke performance with Mia? Everyone was
watching.”
His jaw tightened at the mention of her name. “God, jane. You
always do this… make trouble out of nothing.”
“Nothing? You think it’s nothing?”
“Do you know how many women would kill for your life?” He
gestured around our large kitchen with its marble countertops
and advanced appliances. “I’ve given you everything. Luna title.
This house. The cars. The vacations.”
What was he even talking about?
“And it’s never enough.” He ran his hands through his hair in
frustration. “It’s always Mia this, Mia that. She’s my Beta. I’m tired
of it Jane. So damn tired.”
This was my fault now? After everything he’d put me through?.
I glared at him for a moment. But I also knew that if I pushed
further, he’d reach for his phone and call my mother. She never
took my side, and thought it was my luck to marry Xander. After
all, she couldn’t live without Xander’s money.
“So how would you like me to show my gratitude, my lord?”
He sighed. “I don’t want to argue with you, Jane. Actually…” he
Chapter 2: The Aftermath.
paused, straightening his shoulders. “There’s something I need to
discuss with you. I’ve been thinking it’s time.”
My stomach dropped. This was it. Xander was about to ask for a
divorce. Mom was going to kill me. She already planned a
vacation in Paris next month.
But when Xander opened his mouth, he said, “I think we should
consider an open marriage.”
I sat still, waiting for the punchline, because it had to be a joke.
But his expression remained serious. It finally dawned on me.
Xander was not joking.
“Absolutely not,” I yelled. “Are you out of your mind?”
“I’m not asking for your opinion, Jane. I’m telling you what’s
going to happen.”
I couldn’t believe what was happening. A divorce would have
been much better than this. But I just had to know… “Why?”
He looked away before answering. “I want a pup. It’s been seven
years. Blackwood couldn’t be without an heir.”
My mouth flew open. Did he wake up with the sole purpose of
hurting me? I knew what that statement meant. My inability to
conceive had made me a failure. Eight rounds of IVF, eight times
Chapter 2: The Aftermath.
I’d put my body through hell, and eight times we’d failed.
“How dare you say that to me?” I hissed. “That’s not my fault!”
“Jane… you need to calm down.”
“The doctor always says we’re both healthy!” My voice broke.
“Just the embryos are… unusual.”
“It’s not my fault either. Maybe it’s just us together.”
I couldn’t believe he said that.
I reached for the buttons of my blouse, let it fall to the floor,
stripping down until I was standing naked in front of him. “I can
try again.” I leaned into him, grabbed his hand and placed it over
my chest. “Does this not move you anymore?”
Xander’s face hardened into something I didn’t recognize.
“Jane” He snatched his hand away from me and rose to his feet.
“Put your clothes on, Jane. This isn’t about sex.” He turned away
from me as if the sight was distasteful and grabbed his keys from
the counter.
I fumbled with my clothes. “Where are you going?”
He didn’t look back. “Out!” He walked away, toward the stairs.
Chapter 2. The Aftermath
“Wait,” I shouted, my voice shaking.
Xander turned around, impatient. “What?”
“Let’s do it. The open marriage.”
“Good” He said before left.
I spent the next couple of hours pacing in the kitchen, drowning myself in coffee while wild thoughts ran through my head. When the door finally opened again, I was sitting at the kitchen. table, coffee mug in hand. Xander walked in first.
“Hey,” I began. “We should…” I turned my attention back to the
door at the sound of heels. Mia walked in, wearing her signature low–cut dress, wheeling a large suitcase behind her.
No.
“Jane,” Xander said casually as if this was completely normal. “Mia’s moving in. She’s my girlfriend now.”
I had always prided myself on my ability to remain calm regardless of what was going on. But for the first time in my life, I understood what it meant to want someone dead.
