Iris’s POV

Anxiety and dread gripped my heart as I prayed to the moon goddess that my ears were just deceiving me—that five years of devotion and commitment hadn't all been for nothing.

My mate, Alpha Jake Smith's birthday was coming up tomorrow. I had been working tirelessly to make sure everything was in order for the birthday. I needed to get his opinion on some of the options for the designs, so I went to his office where I knew he would be.

“Iris is really busting her ass for your party, Alpha Jake.” I heard Beta Philip's voice say as I lifted my hand to the door handle.

“I almost feel bad for her.” Philip added with a small chuckle.

I froze, as confusion and unease settled in my chest. Why would Beta Phillip say that? My heart raced as I stood there to hear more.

“She’s so desperate to please you. It's honestly pathetic,” Gamma Luke chirped in with a sneer in his voice.

Jake snorted. “Well, what do you expect when she’s so broken and needy?” He responded casually.

“What will happen when Zara gets back? Because I know she won’t miss your birthday party.” Luke asked.

My blood ran cold. Zara? But Zara was just an old friend of Jake. Right?

“What will happen?” Jake asked with a snort. “Zara is the one I want by my side as my mate, and Luna—not Iris.”

The room erupted in laughter at his words.

“You’re ruthless.” Philip chuckled.

“What? It’s true. Her family issues have really messed her up. Nobody wants that type of luggage.” Jake defended.

“I wonder what the moon goddess was thinking to give her to me as a fated mate. But on the brighter side, she is a good way to keep myself satisfied till Zara gets back.” He added, and they all laughed.

I covered my mouth to stifle the sob that almost escaped. Pain and betrayal settled in my chest.

Five years. Five years of loyalty, love and sacrifice. But everything had just been a big lie, and it seemed like everyone else knew, except me.

Tears streamed down my eyes as I turned away from the door and left, abandoning the remaining of the preparations.

~

When I got home, I released the tears that I had been holding on to all the way home. I wept as I remembered all the promises and vows that Jake had made to me over the last five years. How had I never seen it? He had always looked so genuine and sincere.

I glanced at the pregnancy report lying on the table beside me with tears blurring my vision. I had wanted to surprise him with the news of my pregnancy for his birthday tomorrow, thinking it would be the best birthday present.

I flung the pregnancy report across the room with a cry of anguish as I thought of how stupid I had been all these while. I glared at my stomach with bitterness. There was no use bringing the child into this world – a world of deceit and betrayal. No one deserved this kind of life.

However, as I thought of removing the small life growing in me, I got overwhelmed with sadness. I couldn’t get rid of this baby. This child belonged to me, and was the only thing I was sure of in my life.

I cried myself to sleep that night as I kept replaying everything that happened over and over in my head.

The next morning, a gentle kiss on my forehead woke me. I blinked sleepily, and I found myself face to face with Jake's soft smile.

“Hey you,” he murmured softly. I smiled warmly at him.

“Hey,” I replied with a croaky voice.

The events of yesterday felt like a distant dream at first, before it slammed into me, and the smile on my face faded instantly.

Jake noticed it immediately, and he furrowed his eyebrows in concern.

“Are you alright?” He asked, rubbing his thumb across my chin.

I gave him a forced smile as I nodded, turning my head away from his hand.

“Iris, are you sure?” He asked, his furrow deepening.

I nodded, “Just tired.” I replied, trying to keep the pain out of my voice.

“Oh, I noticed you left early yesterday without finishing the preparations for my birthday. You must have been tired.” He replied, with concern shining in his eyes.

Jake looked so concerned and worried for me. It was so hard to imagine that he was the same person who had said those cruel things in his office yesterday.

‘Oh Jake, you’ve really been so good at fooling me all these years’. I thought to myself as he turned to walk away. ‘But no more’.

Iris’s POV

“Iris, I don't know if I have said this before, but I really appreciate you. You've really been working a lot for my birthday celebration, so thank you very much.” He thanked me with a soft smile on his face, as though he wasn't the same person who had mocked me yesterday.

He leaned to kiss me, but I turned at the last moment, making him kiss my cheek instead. I noticed a flicker of annoyance cross his face, but he quickly brushed it off. How had I been blind to these little signs for this long?

“Alright, I'll see you later. I have some little preparations to take care of.” He announced, patting my head gently. “I’ll come pick you up by 4.” He promised.

~

After preparing, I waited for Jake, but he didn’t show up. By 5pm, he sent me a message.

~Can’t make it. Party has already started. Come by yourself~

I scoffed in bitterness as I stared at the phone with tears welling up in my eyes. It was just another broken promise—nothing new.

With the help of a pack member, I was finally able to make it to the pack’s grand hall where the party was taking place. As I arrived, I immediately found Jake. He stood chatting and laughing with Phillip and Luke, but he wasn’t alone. A tall blonde stood beside Jake, clinging to his side, while his arm was around her waist, holding tightly. They looked like the perfect couple.

Pain stabbed my chest as I watched how he gazed into her eyes with so much affection and love, like she was the only person in the room.

I approached them reluctantly, bracing myself. Immediately Jake noticed me approaching, his expression hardened, and a flicker of annoyance crossed his face.

“Hey Luna,” Philip and Luke murmured. I could see the mockery clear in their eyes as they excused themselves.

“Hey,” I replied to them, then I turned to Jake, but he completely ignored me, giving his full attention to the blonde.

For a long time, they chatted, and even flirted, while I stood there awkwardly like the unwanted stranger. They didn’t even care that I was right there. It was getting too painful to bear, so I decided to leave them.

However, the moment I turned to leave, the tall blonde turned her attention to me.

“Hey, you’re Iris, right?” She started, causing me to pause.

I nodded, “Yes, I am.”

She gave me a smile. “Hello, Iris. I am Zara.” The tall blonde introduced herself, confirming my suspicions. This was the Zara that they had been talking about the day before.

“Nice to meet you, Zara.” I greeted with a forced smile on my face.

“First, let me apologize for delaying Jake from coming to pick you this evening. My flight was delayed, and he had to wait at the airport to pick me. It was all my fault that he couldn’t come pick you.” Zara apologized with a soft smile on her face.

Zara wasn’t fooling me with the fake smiles. I could see the delight and glee in her eyes as she spoke.

“It’s fi—” I started, but Jake interrupted me.

“What are you apologizing for, silly? It’s not your fault that the flight got delayed.” Jake scolded her lightly, poking her nose affectionately.

Zara giggled, leaning into him. “Come on, Jake. I’m trying to be nice.”

Tears welled up in my eyes as I watched the two of them. I had promised myself that I wouldn’t cry in their presence, but it was just so hard to watch as Jake poured all his attention and affection on her, completely ignoring me.

“Excuse me,” I mumbled, rushing off to the bathroom so that nobody would see me cry.

Iris's POV

Immediately I entered the bathroom, I locked the door behind me, leaning against it as the tears ran down my face. The ache in my heart increased, and I clutched my chest as I sobbed in pain.

All those years of promises and vows had all turned out to be fake, a big lie. Zara was really the person he wanted.

I don’t know how long I stayed there sobbing, but finally when it felt like I had no more tears to shed, I stood in front of the mirror and stared miserably at my red eyes, and disheveled hair. I looked like a mess—nothing like the gorgeous Zara.

I washed my face, rearranged my hair and my face, and stepped out of the bathroom with a sigh. I braced myself to continue watching Jake and Zara all over each other.

“So Iris, are you done crying?” A familiar voice asked mockingly from beside me, and I froze.

I turned, and there she was, leaning against the wall with a mocking smirk on her face. Zara was obviously showing her true face here.

“I’m fine, thank you,” I replied, trying to walk away.

Zara laughed a loud mocking laugh that sent a shiver down my spine. “I’m just trying to check up on you, make sure you are alright. It’s not easy to see one’s mate all over another woman.”

Pain surged through me at her words, but she wasn’t done.

“Let me tell you something, Iris. As long as it concerns me, he will always prioritize it.”

I clenched my jaw at her words, but I decided to leave to avoid a confrontation.

“I’m really surprised,” she started, and I paused at her words, wondering where she was getting at.

“With your pitiful background, it’s quite funny to think you belong by the alpha’s side. You should know your place.” She taunted with a cruel smirk on her face.

My heart broke all over as I realized how deep Jake's betrayal had been. He had told her the personal details of my life—the things that I had told only him, in moments of vulnerability.

I bit my lips as I struggled to keep the tears in. I was not going to cry here. She took a step closer to me with a sneer on her face.

“Jake is mine. Has always been. I don't care that he's your mate or whatever, but it's me he wants, so you better back off.” She snarled.

I clenched my jaw as a fresh wave of pain surged through me as Jake's conversation in his office flashed through my mind. Zara had nothing to worry about. I thought bitterly to myself.

Zara snorted to herself in amusement. “Why am I even bothering? Jake has always made it clear to me how much he wants me.” Her eyes shone with glee. “Especially when we make love.” She added with a cruel smirk on her face.

I inhaled sharply at her words.

“Oh yes, don't be surprised, because it's very true. Do you remember that alphas’ conference that he went to a few months back?” She asked, tilting her head with delight in her eyes.

I remembered it vividly, as it was the first time Jake had been away for two weeks since we had gotten together. I had missed him terribly and had kept calling him, just to hear his voice to soothe the ache in my chest. I also remembered how distracted and distant he had been whenever I called him.

“Yes, Iris,” Zara said, smirking. “There was no conference. Jake spent those days with me, in my arms, in my bed. You were probably home, waiting like a good little Luna while your mate was in my bed.”

I clenched my fists as I struggled to maintain my composure. I refused to break down here.

“As if that wasn't enough, this afternoon, after he picked me from the airport, we spent hours together, just like old times. Jake couldn’t keep his hands off me. He kept telling me how much he missed me, how you have never satisfied him.”

“Why are you telling me this?” I whispered, my voice shook.

“Because you need to hear the truth,” Zara said with a wide grin. “Jake doesn't want you. He never did. You’re just... convenient.”

Her words were so hurtful. How had I been so blind? There were so many signs, but I had chosen to ignore them, because of my blind trust in him.

Zara laughed mockingly at the look on my face. “I think I'm done here. Let me leave before my Jake gets worried, and starts looking for me.”