The Shattering Moment

Rashel's POV

The gala's loud music floated through our room's high walls, but it was unable to cover the piercing, caustic comments of my mother-in-law.

"You, barren witch. Mrs. Charlotte's voice pierced through the noise, her tone as frigid as ever. It fascinates me how you really believe that success in business defines life.

Her contemptful eyes met me as she went, "You intend to let me die without seeing my grandchildren? I'll make sure to toss you out of my son's life sooner than you would believe!

Her immaculate finger pointed anis grily at me, but I stayed there, my face a mask of indifference. By now I was used to her nasty remarks. But today was different—today I was determined to disprove her.

I wasn't infertile. Pregnant, I had been waiting for the appropriate opportunity to tell Seth, my three-year mate and husband, the news. Mrs. Charlotte, though, had no notion. I was only a failure, someone undeserving of her son, to her.

I inhaled deeply and forced a smile that fell short of my eyes. "Mum, I would like to go back to the party. I said, walking past her without waiting for a reply, "I only came to use the toilet."

Outside, the party was running full tilt. Over two years, the Nightwish Pack had planned one of the largest corporate events. There were dignitaries and powerful people from all around for this great event. Many revered the fourth biggest pack in the nation, the Nightwish Pack. And today Seth and I were the focal point of it all.

My mind traveled to Alpha Jethro as soon as I entered the ballroom. Though he was scheduled to be here, the Lycan King himself missed it. I had only known him through his Beta or Gamma; I had never actually met him. Rarely seen in public, he was a strange man. But I had expected today would be different. I intended to demonstrate to him the Fortis Security Network project—a n********k security system. It would help not only our pack but others as well. Additionally the ideal person to talk about it with was Alpha Jethro, the CEO of the largest tech business in the nation.

But a familiar voice startled my wishful thinking. " Hello, lovely. Allow me to have this dance."

Turning to find Seth, my spouse, grinning at me, I started to grin back, encircling his neck with my arms. Seth, the man I had loved with every last heart for the past four years. Though the Moon Goddess hadn't matched us, we had dated for a year before knowing we were suited for each other.

"Come here, baby," I said, gently drawing him in and kissing him fiercely.

My eyes went to Fiona, Seth's sister, seated with her group of friends as I kissed him. Their eyes glowed with resentment as they pointed at me. Still, I didn't give a damn. Except for his late father, Alpha Kingsley, who had loved me like a daughter, Seth's family had always opposed my marriage to him. I could overlook the rest as long as Seth loved and supported me.

But then things started to shift. Under my hand, Seth's body stiffened. He turned away slowly, his eyes narrowing as he sniffed the air. His hold on my waist relaxed, and I watched as his face darkened.

Seth, what's wrong? I questioned, worried tumbling through my voice. But he didn't respond. His eyes riveted on the ballroom's entry, he was somewhere.

My heart thumping, I followed his look. Then it struck me. Seth had discovered his mate.

A young, sophisticated woman walking into the ballroom caught my incredulity. She looked around and her brilliant green eyes glistened while her long, dark hair fell down her back. Realizing who she was, my tummy turned over.

Viola. The sister of the Beta, who had been studying overseas since her adolescent years. The lady poised to destroy my existence.

"No. Seth. Visit back here!” Desperate, I muttered as he started to approach her, as though pulled by some unseen power.

Though I hardly noticed, the audience around us grumbled. Seth was leaving me behind and headed toward another woman. a woman absent from my life.

Looking at Charlotte and Fiona, tears threatened to pour from my eyes. They seemed content, happy as if they had been waiting for this very moment all along.

I ran out of breaths. As I watched Seth shrink the distance between them, my chest got constricted. She grinned at him when he at last arrived, and he... grinned back. Then he pulled her into a cozy hug.

It was as though a knife had been pushed right into my heart. I could not halt the terrible suffering. I couldn't stop any of it.

"Seth!", What... are you working on?" I called out and chased after him. I ignored the whispers and the throng. I just gave him importance. Nothing else bothered me. My husband, my life, my everything was him. I had to go to battle for him.

But when I got to him, his words sliced me more precisely than any knife could.

"Stop it, Rachel." You're creating a scene," he said angrily, his eyes darting across the room at the inquisitively peering faces toward us.

I stopped, my heart splintering a million bits. "Who is she?" Viola questioned sweetly in her voice, turning to smile at Seth.

Seth hesitated then cast icy eyes at me. "Uh... She is nothing we cannot handle. You should not worry about her."

Not one thing. To him, I was absolutely nothing.

The world slanted around me and my legs twisted. My eyesight darkened to a black tunnel, I could scarcely stand. Before the darkness swallowed me, Seth was embracing Viola tight and I was left alone in the middle of the ballroom, broken and defeated.

Everything then darkened.

First thing I heard as I opened my eyes was monitors beeping steadily. The hospital room's brilliant lights strung, causing me to blink a few times before I could see my surroundings. The white walls, the IV drip, and the harsh smell of antiseptic filled the air—everything seemed so clean.