chapter 1: Samantha

SAMANTHA'S POV

THERE is a point you come across in life when all you want is just a blissful happily ever after and nothing more.

A moment that came with silent heartbeats, racing nerves and adrenaline rushing through your bloodstream. A moment you fall in love.

For me there had been nothing like love and it had left my heart too plain, still red but at the same time plain.

The mere thought of it left a puddle of dread in my

stomach almost like I had butterflies flapping around my stomach in anxiety. However, they had the opposite effect— as I could feel every bit of them sinking into my skin and sending a breathless shiver all the way to my heart again …

I heaved deeply unable to continue my thoughts, I was a nudist painter right in the heart of Oakwood.

It was a profession that came with so much controversy but it paid the bills of living in the city without having to depend on my family that lived back home.

My family was quite influential and finding a job wouldn't have been a problem, in fact my line of business had been the main reason why I had stayed away from home for quite awhile as I could feel the pressure from them every now and then to get a " suitable" mate in there. Yet here I was after twenty five years of my wolf life, still unmarried and yet to find a mate.

I would be lying to myself if I say I wasn't bothered about the whole mate and marriage issue on ground, in fact it has been part of my resolution going into every new year.

I have tried using various dating apps hoping I could find a mate, but apparently technology was controlled by fate as well. It was either that or I was just unlucky.

For a moment I thought about the last date I went on with a Client, of course clients were off the charts for me as I was professional but the particular one was just too persistent till I gave in partly due to my desperation.

It turned out to be that the man was rude, arrogant, and slightly insane or I could say psychotic.

Logically I got all hints that he might be that way right from onset as a part of me wants to go for the fate but eventually I have got into the desperate part of me.

He had been a jackass right from the moment I had walked in, he was gentlemanly enough to pull out my chair but his curtness ended there.

The height of his irritating attitude reached its climax when he had groped the waitress ass right in my presence.

I ended up throwing my drink in his face and storming out of the date using cuss x-rated words in him after just fifteen minutes into the date and that In Fact had a record of being the longest date I've had in quite a while

The light from the shimmering afternoon sun framed my shadow against the wall as I paced the room deep in thought.

Just then I heard a knock on the door, it was subtle and feminine like.

I walked toward the door peering through to see who it was before opening.

Camila walked in all smiles, stopping to peck my cheeks before walking to the table where I kept drinks.

She grabbed a bottle and walked back to the sofa where I had gone to sit, placing the drink on the table with her hands still at her back.

"What was she hiding?" I thought to myself.

Camila ignored my questioning look but poured two glasses of champagne.

"What is the occasion?" I asked . "You know I don't drink unless it is important."

"Well this is ." Camila said, sipping a few from her glass. She sets it down on the table.

"What are you talking about?" I asked again m

Camila was all smiles as she flashed her fingers at me, I could see the clear cut diamond right on the ring on her engagement finger.

"Theo asked me to be his mate." She said excitedly.

I didn't know whether to feel excited or not – I was happy for her and gave her a hug with my face basking with a smile that changed quickly to a worried look when my face was still over her shoulders.

My heart appeared to be running on some kind of innate feeling that pulsated in my chest and I guess she felt it as well.

"Are you fine Sam?" Camila asked.

I heaved deeply about answering her question when my phone buzzed beside where I was.

I thought about ignoring it but the phone rang for the second time.

I muttered an apology to Camila and picked the call.

Me : "Hello, this is Samantha Edgerton."

The caller didn't speak for almost a few seconds and I checked my phone screen to be sure the call was still connected. I repeated my question.

I spoke with the caller for more than ten minutes as I kept signaling to Camila, pacifying her to wait while I was in the call.

I walked toward her after I dropped the call.

"Who was that?" Camila asked.

"That was a client he wants a painting done by tomorrow, we were just negotiating on price."

"Hope it was good enough ?" She asked .

I nodded my head slowly.

Just then her phone notification buzzed as a message popped in.

"Guess we would have to have this conversation later, Theo is downstairs."

Camila leaned in for a hug before standing up to leave the room.

"Camila!" I called after her as soon as she reached the door.

"I am happy for you." I Whispered to her.

She blew me a kiss before slipping out of the room leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I stood up and walked toward the table where I kept my items for work.

"Leonard Darkwood." I muttered to myself.

I took my phone and set a reminder.