My Alpha Husband’s Other Family Broke Me

Start Reading

My alpha husband Michael suddenly brought home a she-wolf nanny with a five-year-old child in tow.

He said they were a struggling mother-son duo and he wanted to give her a job.

But late that night, in the basement, I saw Michael roughly taking that woman, Emma:

Sweetheart, thank you for giving me a child.

Emma shuddered, whimpering softly, "Then when will you finally Mark me?"

Five years ago, I nearly burned to death because of Michael's enemies, losing my ability to become a mother forever.

Back then he held me and cried his heart out, saying over and over that it didn't matter if we had children or nothaving me was enough.

Turns out it was all lies.

I stood in the shadows, a cold smile twisting my lips.

A man this filthy? I don't want him anymore.

Victoria POV

Michael and I had been married for nine years. We were the power couple everyone admired in our social circle.

I was the daughter of the chairman of Vanguard Group, one of the top financial conglomerates.

He was the alpha of Silver Crest Pack, one of the most powerful werewolf packs in North America.

Though ours was an arranged marriage, our relationship was the envy of everyone.

That belief shattered completely the moment I saw Michael holding a five-year-old boy.

The reason was simple: that child wasn't mine.

Michael, always so cold and aloof in front of others, was now using the most indulgent tone to coax the child: "Alex, listen to your mother."

My brain buzzed. I couldn't hear anything anymore.

Five years ago, in a fire targeting Michael, I was accidentally burned.

Michael slashed open his palm and used his blood to heal my burns.

But he couldn't save my baby. After that, I completely lost the possibility of becoming a mother.

I remembered Michael gripping my hand tightly by my hospital bed, eyes red as he swore: "I don't need children, Victoria. I only need you."

Those vows still seemed to echo in my ears, but the scene before me shattered everything.

He was holding a child he had with another woman, tenderly calling his name.

I pressed my hand hard over my mouth to keep from crying out, then turned and ran.

At the entrance, my friend Jennifer was startled by my ashen face.

I grabbed her, my fingertips ice cold, my voice hoarse: "Jennifer, help me investigate Michael. He might have a son."

Only now did I understand. All these years he'd cherished me like a treasure, but it was just sugar-coating a bullet.

When I got home, I received a message from Michael: "Three more days on this business trip. Miss me?"

The message was followed by a kissing emoji.

I stared at the text as tears fell.

For the past five years, he went on business trips to Europe every autumn for a month.

I'd always thought he was working hard for his career. Now I understoodthat month was reserved for his other family.

Snow had started falling at some point, covering the oak tree outside the window.

I scrolled through the information Jennifer sent me.

The woman's name was Emma, a Delta's daughter who grew up with Michael.

He'd gotten into fights at football games for her, and bought her rare vintage watches at auction.

When they were eighteen, they discovered they were fated mates.

I'd heard that a werewolf's fated mate is arranged by the Moon Goddess. For werewolves, it means their soul has found its other half and become complete.

But some people try to gain higher positions of power through alliances, agreements, or even forcing arranged marriages on their children.

So Michael ultimately didn't choose Emma. Instead, he chose to marry me through an arranged alliance to gain Vanguard Group's support.

But he didn't reject her. Instead, he sent her to Europe.

They'd secretly built a little family there, hiding it from everyone.

My phone rang. Michael's name flashed on the screen.

I bit my lip hard, letting it ring over and over, before finally answering with trembling hands.

"Why did it take you so long to pick up?" His voice was warm as always. "Were you being bad again? Not eating properly?"

My fingers curled into fists.

He used to hold me like this too, laughing softly as he asked: "Not eating properly again? If you get too thin, it'll break my heart."

I would shake my head: "No."

Then he'd kiss my earlobe, laughing low by my ear: "So disobedient? Victoria, do I need to watch you every second?"

I'd thought we'd be like that forever.

This was the first time I lied to him, my voice muffled like I was actually sick: "I have a bit of a cold. I was already asleep."

"A cold?" His tone immediately turned anxious. "Is it serious? I'll fly back right now."

"No need." I quickly stopped him, my voice carrying a distance I didn't even notice. "I took medicine. I'll be fine after some sleep."

I was about to hang up when I heard a woman's lazy, intimate voice through the phone.

"Michael, Alex is asleep, we can..."

Michael hurriedly hung up the call.

He was with that woman right now.

Looking at my silent phone, I couldn't hold back anymore. I broke down crying.

Jennifer rushed into the room and held me with heartache.

"Sweetheart, it's okay. I'm here."

Victoria POV

When I opened my eyes again, the view outside was blindingly white.

"Victoria, how are you? Do you feel sick anywhere else?"

I heard a familiar voice. Opening my eyes, I saw Jennifer's worried face.

Jennifer sat by the bed, her eyes bloodshot. She must have stayed up all night watching over me.

"...I'm fine." Memories from before I passed out flooded back. I forced myself to sit up. "Sorry for worrying you."

Jennifer nodded, her voice trembling with lingering fear: "You scared me to death yesterday. I was so afraid you'd do something..."

Halfway through her sentence, my phone rang.

I answered, my voice already calm: "Dad."

"Victoria, why does your voice sound hoarse? Were you up all night again?"

"I'm fine, Dad. Isn't the Zurich branch short-staffed? I'd like to go handle it."

My father paused. "Why do you suddenly want to go to Switzerland?"

"I want a change of scenery." I glanced out the window. "Jennifer's going back next month too. I want to go with her."

My father was silent for a long time before finally sighing. "Alright. Whatever you want."

I hung up. Jennifer looked at me with concern: "Are you sure about this?"

I nodded.

The lawyer sent the drafted divorce agreement to my email.

I stared at the screen. Every word hurt to look at.

I hadn't figured out how to bring it up to Michael yet.

We were entangled in too muchdecades of friendship between our two families, extensive business dealings.

As I left Jennifer's apartment and got in my car, I saw a familiar figure.

Michael.

What was he doing here? He wasn't supposed to be back for three more days.

The man wore a well-tailored custom suit, his figure tall and lean, though his eyes showed fatigue.

He walked over quickly and pulled open the car door.

"You sounded off on the phone. I was worried, so I flew back overnight." He pulled me into his embrace.

This embrace once made me feel so safe. Now it only made me tremble uncontrollably.

My head was full of Emma's voice and images of that child calling him "Dad."

I clenched my hands, forcing myself not to push him away.

He used to hold me like this too, laughing softly as he asked: "What are you overthinking now? Hmm?"

I'd shake my head: "Nothing."

Then he'd hold me tighter, laughing low by my ear: "Little liar. You're not allowed to leave me. Wherever you go, I'll find you. Understand?"

I used to think I could never escape. But this time, I was the one choosing to leave.

"You seem thinner." He stroked my cheek with his thumb, his eyes full of concern. "When I'm not home, you don't eat properly again, do you?"

I couldn't understand how he could say these things so calmly to me when just the night before he'd been with his "true love" he was supposedly forced to leave.

I didn't want to explain. I just shook my head: "No, I'm just a bit tired."

I saw he wanted to say something more, but from the corner of my eye I caught sight of a slender figure standing not far away.

Emma.

She wore a white dress, her long hair flowing over her shoulders, looking pitiful and delicate.

Almost simultaneously, Michael's phone rang.

He glanced at the screen. So did I. The caller ID showed Emma.

Michael's expression became conflicted.

He quickly hung up the call and kissed my forehead apologetically.

"There's something urgent at the pack. I have to go. Be good and wait for me at home. Tonight I'll take you to that Italian restaurant you love." With that, he hurried to his car.

After his car drove away, Emma walked over to me in her high heels.

"Miss Victoria." She smiled as she introduced herself, her gaze full of assessment and provocation.

She wouldn't even call me Luna or Mrs. Whatever.

When Emma saw me, she knew I'd figured everything out. Her smile deepened.

"I see Miss Victoria already knows about Alex and me." She paused, unable to hide her smugness. "Miss Victoria, the Luna position will only ever be mine."

Victoria POV

I took a taxi and followed them to the Silver Crest Pack's packhouse. Emma's car had just stopped at the entrance.

I paid and walked in after her.

Honestly, I rarely came here.

I had my own work to handle.

And Michael's company was doing well.

Most of Silver Crest Pack's young wolves chose to work at the company and live in the city.

Those who stayed at the pack were mostly Omegas and some young children.

Plus some warriors necessary to protect the pack.

Michael and I were too busy to touch the ground, so all these people were managed and cared for by the Elder Luna.

I followed her to a building that looked like a clinic.

Walking in, I saw a boy lying in one of the hospital rooms. It was Alex.

His face was pale, his leg covered with some kind of medicinal paste.

Michael was yelling at a healer.

"Why did he suddenly run to the forest and step in a trap? Is this how you watch him?!"

I recognized the healer too. He was the one who healed my burns.

"Michael, calm down! His injury is fine." He tried to reason with him. "Besides, what's the point of yelling at me?!"

I hid behind the wall, my heart growing colder the more I listened.

"I told you from the startif you only want a child, you shouldn't have kept Emma around! And now? The kid runs out looking for her every time she leaves, and you don't have the heart to be firm. What kind of situation is this?"

"Victoria is my Luna, but the pack can't be without an heir." Michael's voice was weary. "Besides, Emma is my fated mate. My wolf can't lose her."

So this was the whole truth.

He couldn't lose my business support, and he didn't want to reject his fated mate.

Perhaps that would mean losing something.

I knew that when werewolves Mark their fated mates, they become stronger.

So conversely, maybe rejecting one's fated mate would weaken him?

Just then, the hospital room door opened.

Emma walked in carrying a cup of water, her eyes red. The moment she saw the child in the bed, tears fell.

"It's all my fault... it's all my fault for not taking good care of Alex..." She cried with her shoulders shaking, looking especially pitiful.

Michael softened. He stepped forward and pulled her into his arms, comforting her gently: "It's not your fault. Alex is our child. I'll heal him."

Those five words"our child"hit my heart like a sledgehammer.

Emma leaned against him, sobbing: "Michael, I know I shouldn't expect anything. As long as I can stay with Alex while he grows up, I'll be content..."

Michael was moved by her words. He lifted his hand and wiped away her tears with his thumb.

The gesture was intimately painful to watch.

I clenched my palms, nails digging into my flesh, but I felt no pain.

The pain in my heart had already overwhelmed everything else.

I turned and left, my footsteps numb.

Outside, it had started snowing again at some point.

Snowflakes landed on my face and melted, ice cold. I couldn't tell if it was snow or tears.

I returned to the company soaking wet.

The receptionist stood up in alarm when she saw my disheveled state.

"Miss Victoria, what happened? Should I call Mr. Michael? He'll be heartbroken seeing you like this."

To others, this would sound perfectly normal. To me, it was the ultimate irony.

Heartbroken?

He was heartbroken over another woman right now.

I didn't say anything. I walked straight into the conference room and locked the door.

I leaned against the door, my body slowly sliding down.

I couldn't hold it in anymore. I buried my face in my knees and cried out loud.

I thought I'd already gone numb, but seeing that family of three with my own eyes, I completely broke down anyway.

Nine years of feelings, all those moments of life and death together... none of it was his true heart.

He didn't want to lose anything, so he kept two women on the side.

I don't know how long I cried. Only after my tears ran dry did I support myself against the wall and stand up.

I walked into the restroom in the break room. Looking at myself in the mirroreyes swollen red, face deathly paleI suddenly laughed.

What was the point of crying?

I changed into a spare business suit and transformed back into that lofty business elite.

The dozens of messages and missed calls from Michael on my phoneI didn't even look at them.

In the evening, I dragged my exhausted body back to that gorgeous manor villa.

I'd already decided. Tonight I would pack my things and leave.

But when I pushed open the door, I saw Emma and Alex sitting in my living room.

Victoria POV

The crystal chandelier in the living room shone brilliantly, but my eyes were ice cold.

Emma wore a brand new maid's uniform. Seeing me, she immediately stood up and bowed respectfully: "You're home."

And that boy named Alex was taking a limited edition model car and smashing it on the floor.

It was from my favorite collection series. I'd put in so much effort to complete the set.

"What is going on here?" My voice was cold as ice.

Michael hurried down from upstairs, forcing an unnatural smile: "Victoria, you're back. This is... a nanny Mother sent over. She said we're too busy and need someone to take care of us."

He pointed at Alex, telling a clumsy lie.

"This child's... father passed away. It's been very hard for them..."

I was shaking with anger.

"His father passed away? Michael, do you think I'm an idiot?" I pointed at the child who looked almost exactly like him, my voice trembling. "Do you think it's fun to carve out my heart piece by piece like this?"

Seeing I was truly angry, Michael panicked and grabbed my hand.

"Victoria, don't be angry," he said urgently, making his position clear. "If you don't like it, I'll have someone take him away immediately!"

His false show of love only made me sick.

"Waaah"

Alex seemed frightened and suddenly burst into tears, pointing at me and screaming: "Bad lady! You're bullying my mom!"

"Alex!" Michael scolded sharply.

Emma immediately rushed over and held her son, saying to Michael with red eyes: "Alpha, please don't blame him. He's just... just shy around strangers."

Michael's tone softened as expected.

Watching this painfully glaring scene, I felt cold all over.

I shook off Michael's hand forcefully and walked upstairs without a word. The bedroom door slammed shut, cutting everything off.

Michael stood outside the door for a while, murmuring a few soothing words. Hearing no response, he turned and left.

Soon after, my phone received a message.

It was from Emma: [Miss Victoria, if you keep Michael locked outside, don't blame him for coming to me for comfort.]

I deleted the message and got up to leave the bedroom.

The villa was very quiet. Somehow I ended up at the door to the basement wine cellar.

The door was ajar, warm yellow light spilling out.

I walked closer and clearly heard a woman's panting and a man's muffled groans from inside.

"Michael... slower... it hurts..."

"Isn't this what you wanted? Afraid of pain but you still dared to seduce me here?" Michael's voice was husky, tinged with impatience, but his movements didn't stop.

"I'm warning you, Emma, don't provoke Victoria anymore, or else..."

The woman's moans drowned out the rest of his words.

I stood frozen in place, my whole body ice cold.

By dawn I was lying back in bed, staring at the ceiling with empty eyes.

Nine years of passionate love, his grand pursuit of me.

All of it shattered in this moment.

This time, I was the one who didn't want him anymore.

Victoria POV

The next morning when I came downstairs, Emma had already taken off that offensive maid's uniform.

She'd changed into a water-green silk dress that outlined her shapely figure perfectly.

Only then did I realize Emma's features were somewhat similar to mine.

No wonder.

No wonder Michael chose her.

Or rather, no wonder he chose to marry me through an arranged alliance.

"You're up? Come have breakfast." Emma greeted me warmly, like she was the lady of the house.

As she spoke, she deliberately turned to the side, revealing the scattered red marks on her neckintimate and glaring.

But what really made my pupils contract was the brooch pinned to her chest.

A vintage brooch set with a pigeon blood ruby, dazzling and brilliant.

I recognized it. That was the pack's heirloom, passed down only to the Luna.

I remembered that years ago, Michael had asked his mother for this brooch for me, but his mother coldly refused, using my inability to have children as the reason.

"A human woman who can't even bear childrendoes she deserve to be called the pack's Luna?"

The Elder Luna's harsh words still echoed in my ears.

And now, this brooch symbolizing status and recognition was brazenly worn by a mistress.

In this moment, I completely understood.

How laughable was my earlier thought of maintaining the decades of goodwill between our families, not wanting to make things too ugly.

It turned out that in the eyes of the Elder Luna and even the entire pack, Emmathe woman who could bear an heirhad long been recognized as their Luna.

And I was just a clown kept in the dark, occupying a position I wouldn't give up.

A human they never respected but had no choice but to curry favor with.

Michael came downstairs wearing a casual loungewear set.

He first exchanged a knowing look with Emma, then quickly walked over to me, reaching out to feel my forehead, looking worried.

"Why are you so pale? Did you catch cold last night? Don't go to the company today. I'll stay home with you."

Watching his masterful performance, I only felt my stomach churning.

Every second I stayed with him made me feel suffocated. I found him dirty.

"No need." I coldly pushed away his hand. "I have a lot to handle at the company."

Just then, Emma came over with a cup of coffee, saying softly: "Michael, your coffee."

She naturally reached out to straighten his slightly messy collar.

And Michael actually lowered his head instinctively, cooperating with her movements.

It was an incredibly familiar, habitual gesture.

More hurtful than any deliberate showing off.

The servants around us gasped.

Michael seemed to realize something was wrong and immediately stepped back, creating distance from Emma.

He picked up his coat, walked to my side, and pressed a light kiss to my forehead.

"Wait for me to come home."

He used the exact same indulgent tone he'd used in the wine cellar last night when speaking to another woman.

Victoria POV

After Michael left, I calmly finished breakfast.

I didn't look at Emma again. I went straight upstairs and started packing.

Those things Michael had given me, filling the entire walk-in closetI packed them one by one and called my assistant to have them all sent to auction.

"Donate the proceeds to charity in my name."

If I was going to make a clean break, I'd do it thoroughly.

"Is Miss Victoria planning to run away from home?"

Emma appeared behind me at some point, leaning against the doorframe with a smug smile.

"Makes sense. A woman who can't have children, occupying the position beside Michael all these yearsit's time to step aside."

Her words struck precisely at the most painful places in my heart.

If this were before, I might have gotten angry, might have lost control.

But now, I just looked at her calmly.

"The Luna position? If you like it so much, take it."

I pulled out the divorce agreement I'd already signed from my bag and handed it to Emma.

"Here."

Emma's smile froze. She looked at the document in shock.

Then she looked at me and told me something I never knew.

"Do you know? In the werewolf world, only a formal mate ceremony is recognized by the Moon Goddess as a true mating. But human marriage..."

She waved the document in her hand. "We've never recognized it."

So this was the fundamental reason those werewolves didn't recognize me as Luna.

In their eyes, their alpha had never truly chosen me.

But I laughed, looking down at her with a hint of amusement in my tone.

"But I and my business partners all recognize this arranged marriage. However, since you think I'm unimportant, then have Michael sign this agreement."

I was like a queen bestowing grace upon a jumping clown.

"If you don't have that ability, even if you shout a million times that you're the one he chose, you'll only ever be a mistress who can't see the light of day! You can throw your weight around in your pack all you want, but you have no place in this city."

Emma's expression changed several times before she finally snatched the divorce agreement, her eyes flashing with greed and wild joy.

Though she was suspicious of how readily I was letting go, she believed more that I was just being stubborn.

How could a woman who'd been pampered by Michael for so many years really be willing to let go?

Watching Emma hurry away with the document, a hint of mockery flashed in my eyes.

After packing the last piece of luggage, I sat in the living room quietly waiting for Jennifer to pick me up.

My gaze swept over the empty living room, and I suddenly realized I hadn't seen Alex, that child, from morning until now.

An inexplicable doubt rose in my heart.

Just then, the villa's door was violently pushed open from outside.

Michael rushed in frantically, followed by the Elder Luna with an ashen face, and... Emma crying piteously.

"Victoria!"

Emma rushed at me like a madwoman and shoved me hard toward the table edge.

"Where did you hide my Alex?! What did you do to him?!"

I was hit so hard my vision went black, and a sharp pain shot through my elbow.

I steadied myself and looked coldly at the crazed woman before me: "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You still dare to lie!" Emma suddenly grabbed a fruit knife from the fruit bowl, the sharp tip pointed straight at my throat.

"You can't even tolerate an innocent child?! Victoria, how can your heart be so vicious!"