Chapter 3 CHAPTER 3

POISON IN MY VEINS

TIANA'S POV

I didn’t even know what I wanted, needed, or if I even cared anymore. If I’m being honest, the only thing I actually need right now is someone... anyone to grab my arm and stop me from toppling over. My legs had suddenly gone wobbly, and the door frame became my lifeline.

Lucas’s eyes found me the second I walked in, and I hated every damn look in his eyes. Was it guilt... regret? Hell if I cared.

To be honest, I was expecting him to say something.

Anything.

Maybe even rush toward me, grab my hand, fight for me the way he once swore he would.

But he didn’t.

He just stood there.

Silent. Cold. His eyes flat and unrecognizable, like I was a stranger trespassing in his life.

"Lucas…” My voice cracked. Then it got sharper, angrier, and louder. “Lucas, what the actual fuck are you doing?!”

I didn't wait for there response... I just began pacing the room. His mate he said. How fucking ironic.

Before either of them could speak, I hurled the lamp by the nightstand against the wall. Boom. It shattered into a million shards, just like my heart.

Lucas scrambled, dragging the sheets higher, his face pale with panic. It was then I noticed they weren't only kissing... they were just fucking.

Merlyn didn’t look panicked at all. She smirked. Smirked, like she’d been waiting for me to catch them.

“What the fuck, you crazy bitch?” she spat, sliding off the bed with smug confidence. She had on bra and panties on.

“Crazy bitch?” I laughed, though it sounded broken, and hollow. My hand shot for the champagne glass in the nightstand, and before she could blink, I emptied it over her perfect blonde hair.

Can you fucking imagine... they even had champagne. What me and Lucas hasn't done in forever. The liquid dripped down her face, soaking her purple bra.

“You’re calling me crazy? You’re the one fucking my husband!”

But she didn’t even flinch. She smirked wider. Her hand slid to her stomach.

“I’m not just fucking him,” she said slowly, eyes gleaming like poison. “I’m carrying his baby.”

The words slammed into me harder than any slap could.

“What… what did you just say?” My voice broke, trembling.

Lucas's silence was deafening, and then finally, he met my eyes. And God, it was worse than him looking away. His eyes were hollow, stripped of everything I once knew.

“It’s true, Tiana.” His voice was steady, cruel.

"But you said..."

"Stop being so blind, Tiana. I only stayed quiet because I didn’t want to look like the villain. I figured you’d be smart enough to put the pieces together yourself… but clearly, I gave you too much credit.” Lucas said, moving a hand across his hair. Merlyn just purred like the daughter of a bitch she was. And me? The floor literally vanished beneath me. My knees nearly buckled. My lungs forgot how to breathe.

"What..." That was all I could manage to say.

“She’s my fated mate. The Moon Goddess herself gave her to me. And now that she’s here, you… you can go to hell.”

“But… Lucas, we were trying to start a family. You said once you're Alpha you'd—”

He cut me off with a laugh. He actually had the audacity to laugh at me.

“You actually thought you... a wolfless omega... would be my Luna? You’re so gullible, Tiana.”

At that moment, I knew what I was supposed to do... fight Merlyn, curse Lucas, storm out in a blaze of fury, maybe even scream loud enough to rattle the walls. But instead? I just stood there, choking on silence, tears burned hot in my eyes, and my breaths were now shallow and uneven.

“You think Lucas wants a family with you?” Merlyn chimed in.  “He doesn’t love you, Tiana. He never did. Tell her, Lucas. Tell her the truth.”

My head snapped toward him. “What is she talking about?”

His jaw locked, and his eyes did this little dance... floor, wall, window, basically anywhere but me. Like the very act of looking at me would burn. Hello? Did I suddenly turn into Medusa?

Merlyn grinned wider, like she was enjoying every moment. “Come on, baby. Don’t hold back now. She deserves the truth.”

Lucas’s silence screamed louder than any words.

“Tell me what?” I demanded, stepping closer, my voice trembling but still fierce. “Lucas. Tell me.”

Finally, he looked at me coldly before he began.

“I’ve been putting birth control in your vitamins.”

For a moment, I didn’t even understand.

“What? What did you just say?”

He swallowed. “I didn’t want… your baby. I didn’t want that life with you.”

The tears I’d been fighting fell, hot and relentless.

“You…” My voice cracked. “You knew how much motherhood means to me. You knew I blamed myself every single month it didn’t happen. And all this time… all this fucking time, you were poisoning me?”

He didn’t answer. He didn’t deny it. Didn’t even flinch.

I shook my head, backing away, as my hands trembled. No.... no this can't be happen.

“How could you do this to me, Lucas? After everything I gave up for you? After everything I did for you?”

The two fools before me just stood there, quiet like they suddenly discovered how to behave.

I wanted him to shake his head, to tell me I was wrong, to laugh and pull me close. But he just stood there beside her, saying nothing... his silence cutting deeper than anything he could’ve said.

And then Merlyn, with her venom-coated smirk, leaned into him like she was his trophy. “Face it, Tiana. He chose me. He chose us. And now, I’m giving him the one thing you never could.”

Her manicured hand slid to her stomach... and oh moon goddess... the sight stabbed straight through my chest like a thousand daggers.

I gasped for breath, my chest tightening more and more like the walls were closing in.

“I hate you both.”

No one stopped me as I stumbled out. Tears blinded me, but I didn’t care. I made it down the hall, down the stairs, and out of the house.

I didn’t look back... Eleanor said something...or was it laughter? I didn't know. And I didn't care.

The moment I reached the car, I pulled out my phone and dialed without a second thought.

The phone barely rang once before someone answered.

"Constance..." I called in a shaky tone.

“Tiana, are you okay?”

“No,” I whispered, my voice breaking but strong enough to say what I needed.

“What's wrong?" Constance asked.

"Where are you? "

" Tell me what... "

"Where the fuck are you, " I said in between sniffles.

She hesitated.

"I'm at the club."

"I'm coming now.”