ElaineMr. Everett chuckled, clearly proud of himself, and even Mr. Smith glanced at me with an awkward grin, aware of the tension that was brewing inside me. This reunion was far from anything romantic as Mr. Everett had been thinking. Rather, it was nothing but suffocating. I felt breathless as the room felt heavy with silence. I was speechless and was caught completely off guard. My mind raced and I tried to make sense of what was happening. Looking at Nancy’s serious expression, there's no denying what was happening. Her face confirmed that this wasn't just a regular meeting. It was far more. Mr. Smith, on the other hand, looked anything but pleased. His frown deepened as he glanced at Tristan, who sat there looking far too comfortable for my liking.Mr. Everett Everett’s smile, however, remained as warm as ever. He greeted me with a nod as if nothing unusual had just transpired.I swallowed hard, forcing myself to regain some composure. Tristan's familiar voice cut through the t
Elaine“If there’s no problem, then I guess it’s settled. We can now proceed to the contract signing—"Before I could even react, Mr. Smith stepped in. “I think we can postpone that thought for a moment. While we’re excited to get into this new project, I need to consult with my team first just to make sure we can deliver what’s expected of us. The last thing we want is another failure. Can you give us a few days to study the proposal? We’ll be sure to update you before the end of the week.”I breathed a sigh of relief as Mr. Smith spoke. His words were a saving grace from the pressure I felt inside my chest. Mr. Everett seemed momentarily taken aback but quickly, he recovered with a reassuring smile.“Well, of course. I apologize for being too eager. I was just excited to get started.”“No need to apologize,” Mr. Smith replied with that professional smile of his. “We’re grateful for the opportunity. I’m confident we’ll find the best way forward.”I made myself sit still, trying to kee
Tristan"See? What did I tell you? One heroic act and Elaine would come crawling back to you."I watched the light catch on the glass edges as I swirled the alcohol inside. Seeing my phone on the table and remembering my previous call with Elaine made me smirk. As much as it pained me to admit, Megan was right with her words. I drank the whiskey and felt the warmth slide down my throat. I hated sharing the spotlight, but this victory was partly hers. Megan deserved credit for her counsel, whether I liked it or not. I wouldn’t be in this situation if I hadn't listened to her. As much as I thrived on being the sole architect of my success, Megan had played a huge part in this.It had been too easy. I still couldn’t believe it was this easy. All it took was being her "hero," and Elaine’s defenses crumbled. It was a smart move to involve Mr. Everett after finding out how close Elaine was to his grandson. I had seen her interact with that twerp the night of the presentation and knew they h
ElaineI kept checking my wristwatch. Thirty minutes had passed, and Tristan was still nowhere to be seen. I couldn’t help but feel frustrated. He was never late on anything yet here I was waiting for him to come. Where the hell is that jerk?The thought bounced around my mind, only making my frustration grow. Every time I looked at my watch, I felt like I was being slapped. It was another reminder of how Tristan treated me in his life, how he was constantly making me feel I was nothing but a dirty doormat he could step on anytime. Then, the waiter came over again, his polite smile starting to add pressure on me. He had checked on me many times, and I could tell he was becoming impatient with me.Worried that I might get kicked out, I decided to order. “I’ll have the Salade Niçoise and sparkling water,” I said with a smile. The waiter nodded and left, but I could still feel his eyes on me. He probably wondered why I was still sitting here after waiting too long. I tapped my fingers
ElaineTristan stared at the paper in front of him. His brows furrowed as he scanned the details. "Is this for real?" His jaw clenched as he caught on to something. “Wait a minute. You’re saying I can’t come within a hundred feet of you? And you’ve specified that I can’t contact you or be with you at the same place? That’s absurd! I’m your fucking husband, Elaine. You can’t just lock me out of my own life.”I smirked, leaning back in my chair. “After what happened when you barged into my apartment without consent, I figured this was the best way to go.”His expression darkened, fury brewing in his eyes. “Do you really think the pack will allow this? They won’t stand by while their Alpha is treated like this.” He leaned closer, voice low and menacing. “This order undermines my authority. As your husband, I have every right to be with you. This is just plain stupid.”“Oh, did you miss the part where I’m filing for divorce? The moment I walked away from your beloved Silverwolf Pack and y
ElaineThe mall buzzed with noise. The mixture of voices and footsteps echoed around me and yet, I felt I was all alone. It was like I was there in that place yet my mind was wandering elsewhere. “Hey! Watch where you’re going!”The frown expression of the woman I bumped returned me to my senses. Quickly, I bowed at her and apologized. The woman sneered and rolled her eyes before going on her way. I heaved a sigh as soon as she passed by. I continued strolling the busy hallway. Wolves rushed by around me. I tried to slip between groups of mall goers and dodged their strollers. I almost regretted going out of the apartment as today is the weekend and the mall was filled with werewolves but it’s too late to get back to my apartment now. It had only been two days since I slapped Tristan with the restraining order but I already felt lighter. Since the incident inside the French bistro, Tristan hadn’t shown up his face to me. He hadn’t trespassed my apartment again nor appeared at Roma
ElaineI pointed to myself hesitantly. “Are you talking to me?”The woman’s smile widened. “Of course, I am, you silly girl!”I was caught off guard. I tried to think hard about how could she possibly know me but all I could do was to show an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry… but I don’t recognize you.”She nodded. Instead of saying she could have made some honest mistake, I saw acknowledgment and understanding in her eyes. “Liz mentioned about your selective amnesia after your accident. I’m so sorry to hear about what happened.”Silence hovered in the air. I was sure she genuinely knew me judging by how she knew about my best friend Liz but I was still embarrassed from the inevitable awkwardness of not remembering her. The woman broke the quietness between us. “Would you mind if I joined you?”“O-Of course,” I replied hesitantly, then gestured to the empty seat across from me.As she settled in, I couldn’t help but feel an odd familiarity in her presence. The woman reached her hand aft
TrevorI stared down at Elaine’s previous messages. [Hi! How are you?][You seemed busy these days. I hope you are well, though.][I’ve got a lot of things to update you about. I hope to see you when you’re available.]The messages were so straightforward yet it made my chest tighten. I knew I should’ve replied the moment I saw them but instead, I just sat there with my phone in my hand unable to type a single word back. What the fuck was wrong with me?My wolf, Dillon, spoke up inside my mind. “How long are you planning to keep ignoring her?”His voice only added to my frustration. In the end, I chose not to answer him. I just picked up my wine glass and took a long drink, hoping it would dull my pent-up emotions. But Dillon wasn’t about to let this go. He’d been at me ever that night… pushing… trying to get me to forget about what happened that night.“You’re making a mistake, Trevor,” Dillon added. “You should go to Elaine. I have a feeling that Elaine needs us. She’s reaching ou
TristanAfter everything I had witnessed, I knew I had to do something. My mind was filled with countless thoughts about the conflict within my own territory. I knew I had to act, or I would lose my head in front of everyone.I had no idea how long I had been staring blankly at the empty seats inside the council room. But soon, I decided to head back to my office. I didn’t want to go home. As much as possible, I wanted to learn more about the welfare of the pack. I had been left behind, so I needed to adapt and make everyone realize I was still someone they could rely on as a leader.On my way to my office, I felt the urge to go to the bathroom. I stepped inside one of the cubicles, relieving myself after holding it in since the meeting. Until I heard a group of wolves enter the bathroom.“I admire your patience, Gamma Jeff.” From the deep pitch of his voice, I knew right away that Gamma Ben was the one speaking.“If I were in your shoes, I would have totally lost it. It’s impossible
TristanOnce the final decision was made, the council members quickly moved on. They gathered their notes and folders and stacked them on the table without a second thought. Their focus was elsewhere. Their movements were smooth and natural. Again, they acted as if I wasn’t even there.Not one of them looked my way. Not one of them showed the slightest hint of interest or even acknowledgment after the meeting ended. It was as if I was just another wolf sitting among them. That I was present only out of formality and nothing more.As they got ready to leave, a tight feeling settled in my chest. I couldn’t ignore it. My pride as Alpha wouldn’t let me sit there in silence. I couldn’t hold back anymore. So, I raised my hand and tried to get their attention.“I don’t appreciate being made to feel like I’m no longer needed here.”My voice was calm enough but I am sure they all realized the firmness and authority I wrapped beneath those words. I might be disregarded but I am still the one
TristanThe morning air was crisp as I woke before dawn. The faint glow of early light barely crept through my window. I stretched, running a hand through my tousled hair My mind was already set. Today, I had made a decision, one I hadn’t made in a long time.Pushing back the covers, I rose from the bed and moved through the familiar routine of getting ready. The mirror showed a face I hardly knew. I saw a wolf with tired eyes, a hard jaw, and a shadow of the Alpha I once was. For too long, I had stayed away and neglected my duty. My mind had been full of thoughts of Elaine and all the mistakes I made and the things I could no longer fix. I forgot my responsibilities while drowning in my past.But now, the divorce was final. The last connection was broken, and nothing could hold me back anymore. Today, I decided to pick up the pieces and focus on the work I had neglected for so long. For today, it was time to get back that Alpha side of me. My shoes tapped against the wooden floor a
ElaineSpending time with Trevor always made me happy. Dinner was wonderful. We decided to go to a nice French restaurant for a change. While we both loved Chinese food, we agreed to try something different this time.I twirled the last bite of pasta around my fork and enjoyed the creamy sauce. Across from me, Trevor leaned back in his chair. He was looking happy and relaxed. The soft light from the restaurant’s chandelier made his eyes shine.I felt my cheeks warm. He looked so handsome in my eyes! "You always do that," he said with a small smile, looking at my plate.I tilted my head. "Do what?""Save the best bite for last."I laughed. "Of course! The last bite should be the best one, right?"Trevor chuckled. "That makes sense. Maybe I should start doing that too.""Or maybe you should stop eating so fast," I teased.He laughed louder this time, shaking his head. "Hey, it’s not my fault. The steak was really good."I smiled and felt warm inside. Everything about this night felt ri
Trevor"Good morning, Sir Trevor!" A she-wolf from the distant desk enthusiastically greeted me.As usual, these she-wolves never let me have a peaceful morning at work. One of them approached."Are you free later for lunch? A new store just opened right in front of our building. Wanna check it out?"She leaned her body against my arm. I slowly pulled away and freed myself from her grip."Well… I already told you, I have a girlfriend. And she wouldn't be impressed with the attention you're giving me." I chuckled playfully.“Aww…But it’s just lunch—”"Sorry, ladies, you came too late. Someone already owns my heart."The she-wolves surrounding me pouted."Come on… saying yes just once wouldn’t hurt her feelings."Awkwardly, I tried to change the topic."If you want, I can set up a date with some guys I know from our sister company. I’m sure they’d love every single one of you.""But no one will ever beat you.""YEAH!" another one exclaimed. "I mean, who wouldn’t want a guy like you? YOU
TristanMy hands shook as I held the piece of paper I had received on my desk.“This can’t be real.”I checked every corner of the paper to verify the legitimacy of the signature and the mail. Seeing the real signature and stamp made it even more convincing. At that moment, reality hit me like a slap.“It’s over…” My soul whispered to me.Yes, Elaine was gone. She was no longer tied to my life, and this divorce paper served as proof. I had lost this battle, despite doing everything to win. My hands slowly pulled the paper into my palms and crumpled it with all my might.How had I let myself lose my wife? The thought alone was unbearable. Maybe it really was too late. Maybe, at some point, Elaine’s decision had been right. My anger crawled through my veins, surfacing in my office. I growled before slamming my arms onto the desk, which seemed fragile under the force of my rage. I shoved everything in front of me…pens, papers, even the glass of water and sent them crashing to the floor.
ElaineThanks to Trevor, my normal routine was back on track. Those little things that always warmed me inside were finally back. His presence made everything brighter. Trevor was finally home. And this home finally felt complete.“Let’s eat,” I said, smiling at Trevor.Trevor’s smile suddenly faded. I looked at him, wanting to ask what was wrong.“Umm… you know…” he said hesitantly. “About what happened.”“Shhh.” I stepped closer and hugged him. “It’s alright now, my love. Let’s leave that in the past.”I saw the relief in his eyes as he hugged me back.“I’ll try to be better… for us,” Trevor assured me.“You’re always doing your best, my love.”Trevor pressed a sweet kiss to my forehead and thanked me.“Did you order the usual?”I nodded and carefully laid out the food on the table. He went to the kitchen cabinet and grabbed some plates for both of us. As he carefully served the food, I noticed a change in his smile. And I knew mine had changed too. Our happiness was intertwined. Wi
ElaineFinally, after a long week, Sunday came. No office papers, no work, no pressure. Nothing beats the morning sun with nothing ahead in my time. It’s 8 o’clock. My body is already used to waking up early even during the weekend. A quiet and peaceful day. I played some soft music and decided to start my day doing some chores. During my work days, I didn't have plenty of time to clean. So usually, Sunday is a cleaning day. The soft music calmed my brain activity. Every worry left in me. For the first time in a week, I feel lighter and stress free. I started cleaning the living room. It didn’t have much mess since I was here all alone. The 2 rooms were also almost nothing to clean aside from the dust remaining in desks and shelves. Since I haven't been preparing food much lately. I only ordered food outside and was expecting a Chinese food delivery around lunch time. “A good day isn’t it?” I suddenly told my spirit wolf. “Hmmm. I’ll say a better day compared to what you had late
Elaine I didn’t know why I let myself mindlessly follow him. Tristan was walking in front of me all quiet. Even I didn't even dare to speak to him. Though my head has a lot of thoughts running tirelessly. “This clearly is not a good option either.” I told myself while staring at his back. But anyone with their right mind would do the same thing. Compared to those perverts from that bar, Tristan was a lesser jerk. Still, I couldn’t even imagine where I have to deal with him again. The truth annoys me too. No matter how badly I think of him, Tristan saved me tonight. Unfortunately, I knew saying my gratitude would be like swallowing a whole piece of watermelon. “What if Tristan did that so he could do something to me?” This question that randomly popped in my head sending shivers into my spine. My heart pounded like crazy. It was possible for this jerk to do that. He was basically the same as the perverts if I would give it a deep thought. I grabbed my purse so hard from nervousn