The Alpha's Exchanged Mate
The Alpha’s Exchanged Mate – Chapter 208

Edwina’s POV…

My eyes blurred as I tried to stop the tears from coming. I felt foolish for letting Xander trample on my trust, just like every other person in my life that was gone now. How he thought I would be dumb enough to believe his pity story surpassed me.

I had catered for his needs as inconvenient as it appeared due to the condition I thought he was in. Meanwhile, he had been lying through his teeth, all the while sleeping next to me.

I had placed Xander above all, thinking he was different from every other person that had played with my emotions.

How could he do that? How did he not deem it fit to tell it to me? A whole alpha who resulted in lying to not just his Luna but his entire pack as a whole. I feel disappointed being in acquittance with someone as selfish as that, who appears to be more concerned about guarding his heart than the numerous ones that would be pained.

Every member of the night howlers had stayed back rather than run off when war seemed like the only thing they would indulge in to save their pack. I won’t be surprised at how disappointed they would be, too, for having an alpha who thinks it’s okay to lie to his members.

Tears flowed without restriction as I tried to think of my life and the situations I always find myself in. Fate really has me keyed into messy situations. I am beginning to feel like the moon goddess holds a grudge against me.

“Need some company?” Becca sat next to me, her face looking all swollen as mine.

I tried to keep my voice neutral, but it came out scruffy. “Sure, what’s up with you?”

Becca chuckled lightly. She sounded like she had been crying. “You try really hard, but it’s too obvious. Did the alpha insist on throwing me out for hiding his mother’s identity?”

Throwing my head back in laughter, I leaned on my hands, stretching out my legs. “Then the both of us would surely be out on the streets by morning.”

“What happened?” She pressed further.

“I don’t know how to put this, but Xander can actually walk.” I tried not to delve into too many details to avoid breaking into another bout of tears.

Becca squinted her eyes, trying to adjust her sitting position. “can you be clearer, please.”

“He has been healed for nearly two years and clearly has been living under the disguise to protect his heart. That’s what he said, though.” I snorted in annoyance.

Gasping loudly, “are you being serious right now?” Becca scoffed in irritation. “I can assure you Caleb knows about this. The two-faced lying a*****e!”

“Hold your breath and catch it back, sis. What just happened?” I inquired.

Not saying anything, Becca fished for her phone from her pocket. She tapped on it quickly and handed the phone to me. My eyes rounded like saucers when I saw the content of the message. A video and document.

“Ramona sent this to you?” I asked, surprised.

“It’s obvious she did it just to spite me for practically snatching Caleb from her.”

“Should this bother you?”

“It wouldn’t have if Caleb had told me the truth when I asked him, but he still had the guts to lie to my face.”

“That hurts more than being cheated on.”

“Very true.”

We both stayed quiet, staring into the dark nights, our hearts heavy. Who would have thought that as responsible as Caleb appeared, he would stoop so low to act so distastefully? This might sound like trying to play the victim, but I feel Becca and I are too much of good people at heart to be experiencing these sorts of things.

All Becca ever wanted was his affection and commitment, but it still seems like he is hung up on Ramona. My case is quite different from hers, but the bottom line is they both lied to us without thinking of what it might do to us.

“How are you feeling?” I asked Becca

She sighed, mirroring my sitting posture, “I don’t know how I feel exactly. You know love isn’t something that comes easy for me. It takes me time to build my interest in a person and to keep up with it. The love I have nurtured for Caleb went through a growth process, and I know it will never be easy to let go on my part. I don’t want to be loved with pity. I don’t want a love that comes with force. I want to be loved naturally and truly without ever having a cause to doubt such love. But it appears I might be forcing things with Caleb. So, I’m guessing it’s due time.”

I rubbed my palm against my arm, trying to keep the cold out. “I envy your courage and truth, Becca. I had lived the exact opposite of your thoughts, craving love in whatever form it was presented. All I wanted was to have something tagged love. But then, I deserve better. I deserve to be loved right and appropriately. Not being lied to or trampled upon and, most importantly, given the respect and regard I deserve.”

I rubbed my palm against my arm, trying to keep the cold out. “I envy your courage and truth, Becca. I had lived the exact opposite of your thoughts, craving love in whatever form it was presented. All I wanted was to have something tagged love. But then, I deserve better. I deserve to be loved right and appropriately. Not being lied to or trampled upon and, most importantly, given the respect and regard I deserve.”

“And we would get it. Because it’s due time.”

I gritted my teeth, hugging myself tightly as I bobbed my head in response.

“You are cold,” Becca noted.

I chuckled, “I came out in quite a hurry and forgot to get my jacket.”

Becca smiled, “you must have left the room in such a fit of anger to have forgotten your jacket, knowing it’s no longer just yourself you need to cater for.”

I stood up, using her hand for support, “sometimes I forget I’m pregnant.” I rubbed at my tiny bump.

Laughing, “you haven’t gotten to the point where the pubs would show you how strong they really are.”

My eyes light up in excitement, “do you think I would have pubs and not just one?”

“Depends. You might and you might not.”

“Aww.” I pouted. “Would like for it to be about three to four pubs.”

“Why?” She chuckled

I wiggled my brow, “so I won’t have to visit the labour room again.”

We both laughed at my silly joke, and it felt quite relieving.

“I would like to sleep in a separate room tonight,” I informed Becca.

“Noted!” She replied with a head nod. “Let’s make you some hot choco then, and you have a good night’s sleep.”

I rubbed my palms together, “sounds heavenly.”