Chapter 90: I bear his mark too

Right after the woman stepped inside, Dom hurried in after her. He stopped at the entrance, breathing heavily.

"Forgive me, Alpha. I tried to stop her."

"Leave us, Dom." Kieran ordered.

He sighed in relief and raced out, extremely glad to be out of there because he knew who that woman was, and he knew a lot of things were about to be revealed.

The woman stepped further into the sitting room and lowered slowly into the couch. She smiled up at Kieran, then totally ignoring Gwendolyn, she looked over at Cae.

"Crazy Cae, gosh you haven't changed one bit." She chuckled. "You're still the pack's crazy healer."

Cae looked like she wanted to say something. But she held it back and turned to Kieran.

"Leave us." Kieran murmured, answering her unasked question.

She nodded, then cast a pitiful look at Gwendolyn before leaving. With her absence, the sitting room was plunged into an uncomfortable silence.

Gwendolyn stood motionless, staring unbelievably at the redhead.

The woman had a strange aura, the kind that filled a room, that required everyone to look at her no matter what.

She wore a long grey dress with a high slit at the side, and when she crossed her legs and leaned back on the couch, the slit parted, revealing one creamy thigh.

"Why do you look so shocked to see me, Kieran?" She purred.

"Why are you back, Medea?"

"I told you I would be back." Medea retorted. "I had to leave, and you know why. But I'm back and ready to be your Luna."

Gwendolyn felt her heart constrict. Blood roared in her ears, and the room tilted for a moment.

She swayed as a rush of dizziness hit her. When Kieran tried to hold her, she pushed his hands away.

He panicked instantly. She had never rejected his touch, not since he marked her. He could feel a familiar ball of fear crawling into his mind.

"Gwen..."

"No. Don't touch me." She pushed his hand away and stepped back.

Medea stared scornfully at her, her lips twisted in distaste.

"Who is this? Your new mistress?"

Kieran shot her a glare, but she just shrugged and looked away.

"Honestly, I don't care who she is. Now that I'm back, you can send her away."

"Enough, Medea!" Kieran snapped suddenly. He turned back to Gwendolyn, but she was shaking her head already.

"Kieran what aren't you telling me?" She asked softly. "Who is she?"

Kieran fell silent, unable to speak. How could he? How could he tell her when he knew it would break her heart?

He thought Medea would never return. He had erased her from his memories, forgotten all about her. Which was why he didn't mention her when Gwendolyn told him not to keep secrets from her. He felt he would never cross paths with her.

But she was back. And it just made everything complicated. He would have to break the bond between them.

Gwendolyn got annoyed when he didn't answer her. She bit her lips hard to stop her tears, but they spilled down her eyes.

"Who is she, Kieran?!" Her voice turned louder. "Who is this woman?"

Medea got up suddenly and walked towards Kieran. Then she paused and frowned. She sniffed the air and took a step back in shock.

"A lycan." She uttered. "What the fuck are you doing with a lycan, Kieran?"

Gwendolyn's eyes flashed. She pushed past Kieran and stood toe to toe with Medea. Then she whipped her hair away from her neck, revealing his mark on her.

"This lycan is his mate and his future luna." She muttered coldly. "I bear his mark."

Medea was speechless for a moment. Then she laughed, clapping her palms mockingly.

"Don't delude yourself, Sugar. There's no way you're Kieran's mate."

"Why?" Gwendolyn shot back. "Because a lycan and a hybrid can't be mated?"

Medea pulled her hair away and turned her face to the side. "Because I bear his mark too."

Gwendolyn let out a sharp gasp. Kieran's mark sat boldly on her neck, an exact copy of hers. Her mind started to spin.

She looked over at Kieran who hadn't spoken a word ever since. He looked like he was in pain, and he couldn't meet her eyes.

"Kieran, say something." She whispered. "Who is this woman?"

"Moon of my heart, I promise, I will explain everything." Kieran said finally. "I just need you to calm down and trust me."

But she shook her head. "The only thing I want to hear from you right now is the truth. Just tell me who she is."

Kieran took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"She's my mate." He broke the news. "My chosen mate."

Gwendolyn's heart caved in. A persistent ringing sounded in her ears as his words echoed repeatedly.

"What?" She whispered.

Kieran tried to touch her, but she snatched her hand away.

"You've had a mate all this time?"

"She was chosen by the Triad." Kieran rushed on to explain. "She isn't my fated mate. Just... just let me explain."

Behind him, Medea scoffed. "Stop lying to her, Kieran. Tell her the entire truth." She turned to Gwendolyn and smiled icily. "I'm not just Kieran's chosen mate. We bonded, we mated, he marked me, and we even had a child together. He was going to crown me his Luna..."

She shrieked suddenly when Kieran whirled around and slapped her. She fell back on the couch, holding her face, her eyes round with shock.

"You hit me?" She hissed.

"And I will fucking do it again if you don't keep your mouth shut!"

"YOU HIT ME, KIERAN!" Medea screamed. "HOW DARE YOU?"

While she raged on with Kieran, Gwendolyn held her head and turned away. Her mind was spinning, her thoughts jumbled and erratic. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't think.

She staggered towards the door, her vision blurring rapidly. Bile rose to her throat, making her nauseous.

Somewhere behind her, Kieran yelled her name. He tried to follow her, but she pushed him away, shaking her head.

"Stay away from me." She barely whispered the words before the dizziness intensified and she fell unconscious.

...

When she opened her eyes again, she was lying on a soft bed. She knew instantly that this wasn't the pack house. She had been here before.

It was Cae's cottage.

She slowly sat up, wincing from the ache in her head. A quick look outside the window told her night had fallen. How long was she unconscious?

"All day." Cae answered her unasked question. "You were unconscious all through the day."

Gwendolyn sat up further and swung her feet over the bed.

"Who brought me here?" She whispered.

"Kieran. He knew you wouldn't want to be in the same space with... with Medea."

So Medea was still at the pack house. Kieran didn't kick her out. Instead, he brought her here. The betrayal!

"Cae, I need a favour from you."

Cae leaned forward on her seat. "What is it, child?"

"I need something to get rid of this baby. I'm rejecting Kieran. For good this time."