I'm not a Third Wheel anymore

My world crumbled after reading the text. At that moment, I realized over vows had become meaningless and my care and sacrifices meant nothing to him. He could easily break everything for a moment of pleasure with his childhood sweetheart. Ryan was still sleeping when I got ready for my office. Today, I walked into the office with a sense of determination. My personal life was crumbling, but I refused to let it affect my work. As I settled at my desk, my werewolf colleague, Rachel, approached me with an unexpected surprise l. "Jenna, remember what you told me a few days ago?" I was confused while she continued, “That you were brought to this pack from Los Angeles. I told you I have connections there and guess what? I have found your real family. You are not an orphan, Jenna. You have a family in the Blue Moon Pack.” “I know you didn't want to find your family but I kept looking for it. But, don’t you want to visit them once?” She added in an excited voice, “I have heard our company is opening a branch there. If you want I can recommend you working in that branch.” I nodded without hesitation. "I'd be grateful for the opportunity." Rachel was surprised with my quick response. It's because I was never interested in looking for my real family before. I was happy with my life with Ryan. Since they abandoned me in childhood, I no longer cared about them in my adulthood. But, at this moment I wanted to escape from the situation I was currently in no matter how. Rachel looked up at me suspiciously as she asked, “Jenna, is everything okay? How did your Anniversary celebration go? You worked over time for three days just to get leave early last night. I thought you would come late in the morning but you came earlier than usual. Did you fight with your husband?” Fight? For a fight, two people needed to be present at the same time. But, Ryan was never available for me to even have an argument with him. I forced a smile, saying," We are just fine. Don't worry about me." Just then my phone buzzed, breaking the moment. It was my husband, Ryan. "Hey, what's up?" he asked in a casual tone. "Just work," I replied in a flat voice. "Did you forget our anniversary dinner plans?" he asked, his voice tinged with guilt. I bit my lips to hold myself back. Ryan had forgotten our last three anniversaries. His mentioning of our anniversary was a surprise to me. "No, I didn't forget," I said flatly. "But I did see the photo of you and Emily on social media." Ryan didn't say anything for a while. He then replied, as if coming up with a good excuse, "That was just a client dinner, Jenna. Don't misinterpret it into something else." I sighed before speaking in a sarcastic voice, "I believe you, Ryan. The client teased you two as a couple and in the heat of a moment you two became too close to get clicked intimately with each other. But, it was only to impress the client. I know" The line went silent. Having nothing to say, he hung up. That was how he was. He never bothered explaining himself or seeking forgiveness. He would just walk off the conversation, leaving me stressed the whole day thinking about it. The same day, Ryan''s mother invited me to dinner. I was surprised with her sudden invitation. She never liked me because I was just an orphan. She always wanted to see Emily as her daughter-in-law because of her Alpha blood. But, it was a calculated move to ease tensions. As soon as I reached there my gaze fell on Emily who was standing in the kitchen, laughing with Ryan’s mother. Ryan was also there, laughing along with them, looking like a family of three. I stared at them from afar until Ryan noticed my presence. He walked up to me and said, "Hey, sorry about last night. I got you a gift." He handed me a small box. There was a beautiful ring shining brightly inside. The pattern and the color of the ring reminded me of the necklace Emily was wearing in the picture she shared on social media. It had the same design. The ring was probably a set with the necklace. Ryan gifted the necklace to his sweetheart and chose to coax me with the ring that came along with it for free. I smiled ironically before saying in a hollow voice, "Thanks. It's as beautiful as Emily’s necklace.” My words left Ryan in a daze. He immediately moved his eyes off me, trying to hide his deception. The dinner was ready and the guests were waiting in the dining hall. I excused myself to help Ryan's mother. But, she stopped me, saying,"Oh, Jenna, let Emily serve. She's practically a family." So, I was not? Emily began putting dishes on the dining table. Without saying anything, Ryan stood up and began helping Emily. His friends winked at them, teasing them for being too caring to each other. One of his friends even dared to say, “ I wish I had a husband like Ryan who helps his partner in household chores.” I smiled sarcastically at this before adding, “ Then you shouldn't wish your husband to be like Ryan because he never helped me in household chores.” My words shut everyone’s mouth, making them realize he was my husband, not Emily's.

Sensing the awkward tension among the guests and me, Ryan's mother turned to me She added with feigned innocence, "Oh, Jenna, I never introduced Emily to you, Have I? She's the daughter of the Pack's Alpha. She and Ryan have been close to each other since childhood. She is like his sister. You really shouldn’t worry about their closeness—it’s perfectly natural! In fact, there's no need to worry about Ryan when he goes out. Emily always takes care of him?" Just then Emily pulled a seat next to Ryan while saying with a faint smile. "Yes, Jenna, you always doubt my closeness with Ryan. It makes me feel uncomfortable, you know? I’m just one of his friends like others. None of us wants to see Ryan into trouble." Alan Walker, one of Ryan’s closest friends and the creator of office romance story between Ryan and Emily out of his imagination, jumped into the conversation. Adding to Emily's words he said,"Besides, we’re just working on a new project. It's exhausting. We have to work more than others. Emily even ended up in the hospital after working overtime for a week. And if those two ever had feelings for each other, they would’ve been together ages ago. You had no chance with Ryan considering your background. No need to worry, Jenna." My eyes narrowed. What background? What did he mean by saying I had no chance with Ryan? Ryan's friend just mocked me for being an orphan in front of everyone while Ryan remained silent on this, not uttering a single word to defend me. “Yeah, I was just Ryan's mate, not his childhood friend. I guess it's not enough to get married to someone.” I mumbled while stealing a glance with Ryan. Realizing he’d said too much, Alan instantly fell silent, exchanging uneasy glances with the others as the room went quiet. Dinner at Ryan's mother's house was a carefully crafted illusion. Emily's effortless charm and Ryan's family's warmth toward her made me feel like an outsider. As we began to eat, Ryan's mother placed a hand on Emily's shoulder. "Dear, you're too thin. Eat more." Emily smiled. She said while glancing at Ryan,"Thanks, Auntie. I've been busy with work." I forced a smile, feeling like a prop in their warm family scene. After dinner, Ryan's friends began discussing their new project. Alan's earlier slip-up hung in the air, but no one acknowledged it. After dinner, Emily voluntarily began doing dishes. I didn't offer her help as I was refused by Ryan's mother earlier. However, Ryan's mother didn't want her favorite girl doing manual work. She instantly remarked, “Emily is such a sweet girl. Even after being an Alpha blood, she has no shame in doing dishes. She is not like those girls who eat and do nothing.” Clearly her taunt was hinted at by me. I gazed at Ryan, hoping to say something to defend me. He was present there when his mother had stopped me from serving dinner. But, he forced a smile and then moved his eyes away to avoid me. I then pursed my lips and took my own stand by saying, “After being discarded by your family, teach many things to you. You don't mind doing things you haven't done before.” Ryan's mother was sharp enough to understand the meaning behind my words. If I was an orphan, Emily was also discarded by her family. How could she be any better than me? Maybe Ryan's friends and his mother didn't like me because I never took their shit and always paid them back. I didn't need Ryan's support and he never offered it either. I was all by myself. To ease the tension between me and his mother, Ryan stood up and said to his mother, “Emily is doing dishes alone. I’ll go and help her.” Ryan then walked up to the kitchen and began doing dishes along with Emily. I watched them from afar. I was surprised with my own realization. They indeed looked like a perfect match who were made for each other. Maybe I was a third wheel in their lives who should have never come between them.

After dinner, we were preparing to leave. Ryan walked up to me and he said in a hesitant voice, “Jenna, it's too late at night. It will not look good if we let Emily go all alone. I think I should drop her home." He added in a concerned voice,"It's getting late, and the roads can be tricky at night." I narrowed my eyes before asking, "You're leaving me here alone?" He held my hands and said politely, "Just for a little while, I promise. I'll be back soon. Wait for me." I looked straight into his eyes and asked,"Why can't she find someone else to take her home? Why didn't your friends drop her before leaving for their homes? Why only you?" Ryan's expression softened as he requested,"Please understand, Jenna. Emily's alone, and I want to make sure she's safe." I mumbled in a low voice,"And what about my safety? What about us?" He looked deeply into my eyes, saying, "You're my priority, Jenna. But this is just a favor for a friend.". "A friend?" I narrowed my eyes. "Don't be jealous, Jenna. I love you." He added, “Don't worry, I'll come back soon and pick you up.” “ No need. I’ll hire a ride and leave. I’m tired and want to sleep.” I replied flatly. He hesitated for a moment, maybe wanted to coax me with a few more words. But seeing Emily leaving alone, he left me without any words and went to drop Emily. I watched them sitting in Ryan's car from afar. They left. I hired a cab and came home. I took a shower first and came to bed. My gaze fell on the ring Ryan gifted me. I stared at it for a while and realized it was loose on my finger. I was slightly thinner than Emily. This realization of the ring not being bought for me in the first place hit me harder. Wearing it on my finger would only hurt me more. I stared at the ring for a while, then took it out and threw it aside. I recalled what my colleague told me in the office. I took a long sigh of relief and began packing my clothes. Maybe looking for my biological family was a better escape plan for me. After a few minutes, Ryan arrived. While walking inside the room, he complained, “I told you that I would go back to pick you up. But, you just don't listen to me.” I didn't reply to him. I noticed his cheeks being painted. He noticed my gaze on his cheeks and instantly replied, “Actually, Ned asked me to help him draw paintings. I couldn't refuse him.” He then put his phone on the side table of our bed and went to take a shower. Suddenly, his phone buzzed with a notification and the light flickered on his phone which showed his phone screen. I couldn't help picking up his phone and look into it. He had set his picture with Ned on the phone screen. They were painting each other's cheeks, looking like a duo of father and son. Ryan came out of the washroom and his gaze fell on me, holding his phone in my hands. He rushed up to me and immediately snatched the phone from my hands. He laughed nervously while saying, “Ned forced me to put his picture on the phone’s screen. I’ll delete it.” “No need of deleting it. You two are looking cute together,” I said flatly, ‘Like father and son’ remained inside me. While snatching the phone from my hands he noticed that I wasn't wearing the ring he gave me earlier. He couldn't help asking, “Why did you take off the ring?” “It didn't fit to my fingers. Maybe it was not made for me.” I replied flatly. He was startled and quickly protested with a forced smile, “Maybe you have lost weight. You should eat more.” I couldn't help smirking on his deceitful answer. I immediately added in a pretentious voice, “Why don't you gift it to Emily? I think it will fit on her. Besides, this ring will match perfectly with her necklace.”

His eyes turned dark. It was obvious he didn't like my remark. He turned to me and said, “Is it necessary to be sarcastic everytime? Didn't my Mom clear it to you that Emily and I are just friends? You know I don't like your over possessive attitude. You always make me lose face in front of my friends.” “Do I?” I narrowed my eyes, “You blame me for everything. Do you ever notice what your friends talk about me? Your friend was addressing you as Emily's husband. Was that right?” “They always do this, shipping you with her and making me feel like a third wheel.” He sighed defeatedly and said in a tone which looked like he was admitting defeat just to avoid the argument, “I’m sorry on behalf of my friends. But, they were only kidding. You shouldn't take them seriously. Don't be jealous of Emily. It will impact your child. You don't want him to born as a jealous kid, do you?” He then pulled me in a casual hug, placed a soft kiss on my cheeks and went to bed, saying, “Don't overthink. Just sleep.” I remained still in my place. His words ‘It will impact your child’ continued echoing in my mind. I just realized I hadn't told him about my miscarriage. He didn't notice it either. Was my four months baby bump too little that he didn't even notice it when it was suddenly gone? I swallowed the rage I had been feeling since the last day and went to bed. I maintained a certain distance from Ryan and curled myself on the edge of the bed. Just then my phone beeped with a notification. Someone had mentioned me in a post. It was Emily who did this. She had posted a picture in which she and Ryan were kissing Ned on his cheeks from both the sides. All three of them had dyed their cheeks with colors and were looking cute together. It was the same picture that Ryan used as his phone’s wallpaper. At least he had the decency of cropping her out of the picture before applying it on his phone’s wallpaper. There was also a caption on Emily’s post that read. [The guardian angel for me and my son. He loves Ned so much that he let him paint his whole face despite having an allergy to chemicals.] I smiled ironically and typed a comment [Such a cute family]. I placed a heart emoji along with my comment and liked her post. The post was then immediately deleted. A few days passed by. I was busy in my work while Ryan late night parties with clients and over time on their new project remained constant. He didn't have time for me but Emily continued posting their pictures of hanging out together. When I asked him about those pictures in which he seemed quite relaxed with his friends and Emily, chilling out together. He would reply it was just a small break between their long working hours. Day by day, his arrival time got delayed. There were also a few days when he didn't come home the whole night. If I asked him about it, he would only make excuses of overwork. Slowly, I stopped asking questions. One day I was picking his coat for laundry and I found a receipt in his pocket. A hotel bill, dated last night. Emily’s name was printed on it along with Ryan. I had seen his friends coupling them together. I disliked Ryan for never stopping it and continuing to give his childhood sweetheart more importance than me. However, I had never caught him cheating on me. At least, he had maintained the decency of our marriage. However, seeing that receipt my world crumbled. “Ryan, Can I talk to you?” I asked with trembling lips.

He followed me outside as he asked in a concerned voice,"What's wrong?" I handed him the receipt. "Last night you were with Emily? In a Hotel room?” Ryan's eyes widened in shock, “Were you checking my pocket?” “I was taking your coat for laundry. But, is it the only thing that comes to your mind? Don't you think you should explain anything?” I asked while narrowing my eyes. "Jenna, it's not what you think. We were working late and It started raining. I couldn't drive and—" "Save your excuses, Ryan. I’m fed up of listening to your overwork’s excuses again and again,” I cut him off, saying, “You should have thought of something else this time.” His face turned pale, but I turned away, leaving him to face the truth alone. As I walked away, I felt a strong force around my arm. He had hugged me from behind, saying, “Please don't spoil your mood. I’m sorry for the last night. I’ll make sure this thing never happens again. I’ll keep my distance from Emily. Are you happy now?” He was looking desperately into my eyes, as if he was in a hurry and was waiting for my response for formality. The smile on his lips seemed fake and his promise as hollow as earlier. I smiled back and gave him a nod. But, I did not forgive him or believe him. I had now learnt faking a smile and stop questioning. He placed a kiss on my cheeks and left. I kept watching him from afar and busied myself in laundry. To my surprise, I didn't feel hurt. The next day, I had been busy in my work. I was planning to wrap all my projects before leaving for Los Angeles to meet my family. The work was quite hectic these days. I was coming out of my supervisor’s cabin when my phone buzzed. It was Ryan's call. He seemed excited on phone as he said, “Jenna, my project finished today. Finally, I have time to take rest and celebrate. I heard there is a celebration in our pack. It's the birthday of Alpha’s younger son. I have invitation car for two people. Come with me.” I had too much work to finish on the same day. I sighed, “I can't, Ryan. I’m busy today. Have too much work to handle.” His tone immediately changed. His voice sounded annoyed and agitated as he said, “Is your work more important than me? I have been working hard for the past few weeks and have not had time for rest. Now that I’m free and want to spend time with you, you are choosing to spend this time in your office?” I felt the familiar ache of disappointment in his voice that he made me feel all this time. I remember once I prepared his favorite dishes and went to his office to surprise him only to find him working on his laptop while Emily was feeding him with her hands. Instead of explaining to me anything or coaxing me, he accused me of being over-possessive. According to him, I found excuses to go meet him in the office to keep an eye on him. He said I was jealous of his connections with his colleagues and told me that the work is more important to him and he did not care what I think about it. He made sure he was not going to change himself for me. I was surprised to see his audacity of blaming me for giving more importance to work. What was he doing all these days then? Didn't he gave more importance to work over our Anniversary?Then, why should I avoid my work for a mere birthday celebration in the pack? “You can think whatever you want. I don't care.” After throwing out these words, I hung up. Just then my colleague ran up to me. She said excitedly, “I received an email from your brother. He is eager to meet you. He is asking when are you leaving for Los Angeles?”

I busied myself at work, recalling my husband's deception and ignorance he laced me with. However, his words still echoed in my mind when he was inviting me to the party in excitement. I sighed, thinking I might not have rejected him so bluntly. To run a relationship, one should bend a little. After all, I had seen how hard he had been working for the past few days. Everyday he came late at night suffering from a headache. Recalling these incidents my heart softened a bit and I decided to join him in the Birthday Party. But, I didn't have enough time to go back home, get ready and then go to the party. I planned to leave for the party venue directly from the office. So, I texted Ryan [Hey, finished my work. I’ll be waiting for you at the door. Don’t let me wait too long. Remember, I don't have an invitation card.] After leaving a text to Ryan, I took a ride to the party’s venue, thinking he would be happy to see me there. I stood at the entrance, wearing a suit I wore for my office, scanning the crowded venue for Ryan. We were supposed to meet here, but he was nowhere to be found. The guards were scanning me with suspicious eyes. Before they could ask me for an invitation card, I picked up my phone to call Ryan. But, suddenly he walked past me with a cheerful smile on his lips. However, it wasn't directed at me. Emily was walking along with him. His hands were wrapped against her waist, looking like a perfect couple. Her slender figure was wrapped in a fitted silver dress, drawing admiring glances from the surrounding men. I recognised the dress at first glance. A few days ago, we went shopping. He insisted on buying me an anniversary gift since I returned his ring. He asked me to select a beautiful dress for myself and I chose a silver gown. When he asked a sales girl to pack the dress, she blurted out, “Sir, why are you buying the same dress again? Didn't you buy the same gown yesterday?” I could see the panic in his eyes when he immediately made an excuse, saying, “You must be mistaking me with someone else. I have never visited this shop before.” The sales girl didn't say anything but her suspicious gaze spoke the truth that I didn't see in Ryan's eyes. Seeing Emily in the same gown, standing beside my husband as his partner pierced my heart. My heart sank as they approached. "Ryan," I said, my voice trembling. He turned. His face instantly turned pale while looking at me.