Leaving My Cheating Mate to Find Love Again

I never thought losing a baby could feel like losing a piece of myself. The attack by the rival pack was brutal. I still replay the sounds in my mind—the howls, the chaos, and then, nothing. I held my baby in my arms, so small and innocent, and then I was left with emptiness. My heart felt like it shattered into a million pieces.

In the days following the attack, I expected Derek to be my rock. I needed him to hold me tight, to tell me everything would be okay. But instead, he seemed to disappear into thin air. He spent more time away from home, buried in pack business that I didn’t understand. He’d come home late, often smelling of sweat and other she-wolves. I tried to talk to him, to express my pain, but he brushed me off like it was nothing.

“Lila, I’m busy. I’ll be back later,” he’d say, and I’d feel like I was talking to a wall. It was as if he’d completely forgotten what we’d just been through. I was drowning in my grief, and he was just... gone. I was alone, and it hurt like hell.

One afternoon, I decided to clean our master bedroom. I thought maybe if I made the space feel fresh, it would lift my spirits. I dusted off the shelves, straightened up the bed, and then my hand brushed against something soft and silky. Confused, I pulled it out from under the bed. It was a thong.

My heart dropped. I could smell the distinct scent of Cassie, the ambitious young she-wolf in our pack. I felt sick to my stomach. Why was this here? I threw the thong across the room, my hands shaking. It was undeniable proof that Derek was cheating on me.

Anger washed over me. I wanted to scream, to break something. I couldn’t believe he’d do this to me, especially now, when I needed him the most. I felt betrayed, angry, and more alone than ever. How could he betray me like this? In our home?

That night, Derek came home later than usual. I was sitting on the couch, staring at the wall, trying to calm the storm inside me. I heard the door click open, and I didn’t even look up. He walked in, all swagger and charm, and I could smell the scent of her on him—Cassie. My stomach twisted at the thought.

“Hey, babe,” he said casually, as if everything was fine. “You okay?”

I turned to him, my voice low and steady. “You need to explain something to me.”

He raised an eyebrow, looking surprised. “What’s up?”

I took a deep breath, my heart racing. “I found something in our bedroom today.”

Derek’s expression shifted slightly, a flicker of worry passing over his face. “What do you mean?”

“The thong,” I spat out, the words tasting bitter in my mouth. “Cassie’s thong.”

He froze, and for a moment, I thought I saw guilt flash in his eyes. But just as quickly, it disappeared. “Lila, it doesn’t mean anything. You know how pack dynamics are. It’s just a fling. It’s not like that.”

My blood boiled. “Not like that? You think finding your girlfriend's thong in our bedroom is nothing? You’ve been lying to me, Derek. I needed you after the attack, and you were too busy chasing her!”

He rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed. “You’re overreacting. I’m still here. I love you. Cassie was just a distraction.”

A part of me broke. “A distraction? That’s all I am to you now? I lost our baby, Derek! And instead of being here for me, you were out with her!”

He stepped closer, trying to close the distance between us. “Look, I’m sorry. But it wasn’t supposed to happen like this. You know the pack needs me.”

“Do you even hear yourself?” I shouted. “I’m your mate! I’m the one who needs you! But you’re more concerned about being a pack leader than being a husband!”

Derek looked taken aback, but instead of remorse, I saw anger in his eyes. “You’re being dramatic. It’s not all about you, Lila.”

I felt a surge of rage. “Dramatic? You think I’m being dramatic? I’m heartbroken, Derek. I can’t do this anymore. You’ve betrayed me in the worst way possible. I can’t live in a home filled with your lies.”

He stepped back, surprise etched on his face. “What do you mean? Are you saying you want to leave?”

“I’m saying I’m done. I deserve better than this. Better than you,” I said, my voice steady even though I felt like I was falling apart inside.

But instead of reacting the way I expected, Derek just laughed at my words, a dismissive chuckle that made my blood boil even hotter. “You think you can just walk away? It’s not that easy, Lila.”

I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to lash out. But before I could respond, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and glanced at the screen, his eyes lighting up. “I’ve got to take this,” he said, stepping away from me and answering the call.