ElaineThe spotlight remained focused on us as Tristan inched closer to me. Everyone in the crowd was clapping. In their eyes, you could see how much excitement they were feeling to see us together. Lily made quite an expression by her introduction yet I knew that those words were far from the truth. I kept a small, polite smile on my face, trying to look calm. But inside, I was a mess. I came here to this event to reconnect with my forgotten past. However, Tristan was not part of it. My hands were sweaty, and I clenched them into fists to hide how nervous I was. My nails dug into my palms, just enough to help me stay steady. Part of me wanted to walk off the stage. I wanted to run away from all the eyes watching us that I felt was suffocating me. But I couldn’t move. My whole body felt stiff, and I could feel a chill down my back as if I was stuck in place. I felt trapped.I took a deep breath, trying to push down the uncomfortable feeling in my stomach. Everything felt wrong. This
ElaineI froze. My fingers tightened on my purse. I turned around and glared at him. I didn’t hide my annoyance. “The party’s over, Tristan. I don’t have to pretend to like you anymore,” I scoffed. But instead of stepping back, he smiled. No, he smirked, making my blood boil. He didn’t seem to get what I was trying to say. Instead, his eyes glinted with the same arrogance he kept on showing to me. I stayed still as he stepped closer. I looked away and crossed my arms, determined not to let him pull me back in. I let him sense my irritation just by looking at him."You think this is over?" he said, his voice low and condescending. "You think you can just walk away like nothing happened? We’ve been through too much for you to act like this."I almost laughed. The audacity. "You’ve been through too much? What about me, huh? What about what you did to me?" I could feel the anger bubbling up, but I held it in, keeping my voice steady. "You don’t get to make this about you anymore. I am w
Tristan and I turned toward the direction of the voice. I instantly felt relieved when I saw Trevor standing just a few feet away. I could see the anger and worry that was written on his face. His eyes went straight to Tristan’s grip on my arm and I immediately saw his anger. No, he was furious and immediately showed his protective nature. I hadn’t realized how much I needed to see that in someone right now and I was so glad that it was Trevor who embodied that. Trevor strode forward fast. And before I could say anything, he shoved Tristan hard enough to make him stumble back. “What the fuck?!” Tristan cursed under his breath as he fell yet Trevor didn’t even glance at him. His attention was all on me, like I was the only she-wolf that mattered in his world. And that made my heart melt. “Are you okay?” he asked gently. He sounded so worried. He hovered his hands like he wanted to touch my arm but was afraid of hurting me.I felt the lump in my throat grow. For the nth time, Trevo
ElaineI froze. Suddenly, I felt the world came to a halt. I couldn't believe what just came out of his mouth. Tristan had always been a master manipulator. He was an expert in twisting truths to suit his own needs. But this? This was a different level. This was vile. This was plain evil. Judging by the crowd's frowns, his act was scarily convincing. He made himself look like the hurt husband, that he was a victim of a cheating wife and her lover. He made everyone believe he was the perfect husband who loved his wife but was betrayed in the worst possible way. He painted Trevor and me as the villain, and everyone took his bait. I could hear the murmurs in the crowd growing louder. Their judgmental eyes cut through me, like I was a lab rat they were experimenting on. Their comments about us were like sharp daggers piercing our souls. “Shameless! How could she cheat on her husband?”“She was pretending to be generous to hide her sins. Gross!”“What a lustful she-wolf. I hope karma w
ElaineMy mind went blank when I recognized the men stepping out of the car. My breath caught in my throat. And at that moment, I felt relieved. I felt a sliver of hope cutting through the chaos.They were peacekeepers from the grand jury. I could recognize them because of their uniforms. Trevor turned toward the head peacekeeper. “Sir, why don’t you tell everyone what he did to Elaine?”The head peacekeeper gave me a quick, reassuring glance before pulling a document from his bag. He held it up for the crowd to see.“This is a copy of the restraining order that Ms. Elaine Scott filed with the court against her soon-to-be ex-husband, Mr. Tristan Hale. It was issued after Mr. Hale trespassed in her apartment and threatened her safety. The court found sufficient probable cause to grant the request.”I could feel the energy in the crowd shift as silence fell over them. The accusations they had hurled at me earlier seemed to hang in the air. They looked regretful now.I looked at Tristan
Elaine“So, shall we go home? I think you need to rest,” Trevor asked.I nodded. I could still feel the exhaustion that the events tonight brought. But his presence was like a breath of fresh air and brought me comfort with every passing moment. He gestured for me to follow him as he led the way to where he had parked his car. As we walked, I couldn’t help but steal glances at him. He was wearing a casual shirt and was carrying a boy-next-door charm. His calm demeanor was the exact opposite of what I felt inside. It was like he was my “calm” in the middle of this storm hovering around me. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach and it caught me completely off guard. I pressed a hand to my chest as if to calm my racing heart. What is wrong with me? I scolded myself. This wasn’t the first time I’d been alone with Trevor, so why did I suddenly feel so nervous? When we reached his car, Trevor opened the door for me. His usual gentlemanly gesture somehow felt more significant now. “Tha
Tristan“Get off of me! Let me go!” I shouted as I struggled against the peacekeepers’ firm grip. My anger boiled as they held me. Their calm expressions only fueled my frustration. Ah, the nerve of them to treat me like this. Aren’t they afraid of retaliation from my highly respected pack? They were stupid to treat me like this, the Alpha of the mighty Wolfsilver Pack, so they would surely pay once I got out of here.“You’re nobodies! Nothing but slaves with no status or real power! Do you know who I am? I don’t appreciate any of this!”I yanked and twisted, but they didn’t loosen their hold. I sneered at them, spitting out insult after insult, degrading them for daring to treat me this way. “I’m an Alpha!” I shouted. I was expecting my words to intimidate them. But they didn’t flinch. Not even a little. “Can you just shut up? You are so annoying,” their leader uttered. This fueled my anger further. So, to show my annoyance, I spat at him. A glob landed squarely on his cheek,
Trevor"Would it be okay if I stayed at your place tonight?"Her words hit me like a thunderclap. My hands tightened on the steering wheel as I tried to process what Elaine had just said. I wasn’t even sure if I’d heard her correctly. I glanced at her. Her expression was so genuine. It was so open that it made my chest ache. “Sure,” I replied, doing my best to sound calm like her request hadn’t just sent my mind in chaos. I returned my focus to the road. But I could feel how fast my pulse was racing. I could feel the subtle sheen of sweat forming on my forehead and resisted the urge to wipe it away. I did not want Elaine to notice how much her words were affecting me.‘It’s no big deal. She’s just spending the night,’ I told myself. But my inner wolf, Dillon, had other ideas. “What’s wrong with you, boy? She wants to be in ‘your’ apartment! She’s giving you a signal. Don’t screw this up!” I clenched my jaw and ground my teeth. “Stop it, bud,” I snapped inwardly. My hand gri
ElaineLiz didn’t say anything. Her mouth opened a little, yet no words came out of it. The usual brightness in her hazel eyes turned into something uncertain She glanced down at the floor, then back at me. The pink color in her cheeks earlier was gone. Now, her face looked pale. The happy look she had when she arrived was replaced by sadness. Her lips pressed together tightly as if she was trying to hold back her feelings.“I’m sorry,” she finally said. “I didn’t mean to ruin the mood. I should have kept quiet instead of sharing—”“Stop,” I said gently as I cut her off. I reached out and took her hand. I held her warm hand firmly to let her know what I really felt inside. “You don’t have to say sorry, Liz. You were just telling me something about your life. And I’m happy you did. That’s what best friends are for.”Her brow furrowed. "Yeah. But I don’t want to make things harder for you. I didn't even know what you were going through. What kind of best friend am I?”"It's my fault a
ElaineTrevor and I were sitting on the sofa. We do not talk much but feel relaxed in each other’s presence. This was how we normally spent the rest of the night before going to bed. Then, we heard a knock at the door. Trevor gave me a quick nod before telling me to stay while he got up to check. My heart was pounding inside my chest. Eventually, I reminded myself to stay calm and don’t let my overthinking get the best of me. The door opened, and Liz rushed in before Trevor could say a word. She was so full of energy and was like she was bringing the sunshine into the room. In one hand, she held a paper bag that smelled amazing. In the other, she carried a pile of colorful board games that wobbled as she moved. Her smile was so big, it made me smile too. “Hope you’re both hungry!” Liz said, setting the bag on the coffee table. The smell of sesame chicken and fried rice filled the room right away. Expectedly, it made my stomach rumble.“I’m in the mood to play some games tonight. Wh
Elaine“Hmm…”The kitchen was filled with the warm aroma of coffee brewing and the faint sizzle of something cooking on the stove. Trevor stood at the counter with his sleeves rolled up. He was too focused on chopping vegetables with such precision that seemed almost out of place in such a casual setting. I leaned against the counter opposite him as I watched his hands move.“You’re really good at that,” I teased to break the silence. “Where did you learn to cook like this?”He glanced up at me. A playful smile appeared at the corners of his lips. “A man’s gotta eat, Elaine. Besides, you’d be surprised what a few cooking shows can teach you.”I laughed softly. And it sounded light and free. Something I hadn’t felt in days. It amazed me how easily Trevor could make me forget the heaviness that seemed to cling to me lately.“Do you want to help? Or are you just going to stand there admiring me?” he teased before tossing a piece of chopped carrot in my direction.I caught it mid-air and
MeganI was knee-deep in paperwork. My desk was full of piled files and documents demanding attention. The sound of the clock ticking faintly in the background was the only company I had in the silence of my office. I barely glanced up when Marie entered. But she sounded like something was urgent which made me pause.“Miss Megan, the peacekeepers are here. They said it’s about Elaine Scott,” she announced.Elaine Scott. My hand froze mid-signature. I looked up sharply and masked my unease with a calm smile. “Send them in.”Marie nodded. Then she stepped aside to let them enter. Two officers walked in. Their presence was shouting authority. I gestured toward the chairs opposite my desk. “Please, have a seat.""Thank you," They uttered before settling in. I put down the pen I was holding and smiled at them before asking, "How can I help you, officers?”One of the officers, a tall man with a stern expression, got straight to the point. “We’re investigating an incident involving Miss Ela
TristanI had not planned to follow them. It wasn’t something I’d intended to do, but the moment I saw them leaving Elaine’s apartment together, curiosity turned into an uncontrollable pull. Trevor’s car disappeared into the distance. And I found myself trailing them. I couldn't resist it. The mere sight of Elaine beside him stirred a storm within me. I noticed how she smiled at him so easily. My blood was boiling as I realized that it seemed to belong to that bastard now. It was hard to believe that she would easily give it to another wolf just like that. It felt like all the moments we shared had disappeared. It felt like those were replaced by something I couldn’t reach.“As if you shared something wonderful with Elaine. You’re not fooling anyone, Tristan,” My wolf uttered sarcastically inside my head which I chose to ignore.Even if I walked a few distances away from them, they didn’t seem to notice me. They were too engrossed in their world. Trevor’s hand guided Elaine protecti
ElaineThe drive to my apartment was quiet. Trevor was driving beside me, and his calm presence made me feel safer. That was something I was so grateful for.Earlier, Trevor said something that stuck in my mind. He told me I couldn’t let my fear control me. He was right. If I stayed afraid forever, I would lose who I was. I've come so far to claim my life back from my failed marriage and I couldn’t let all those efforts go to waste simply because I was afraid to die.As we arrived at the apartment complex, Trevor parked near the entrance. He looked at me and smiled. “I’ll wait here,” he said gently. “Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”His words made me feel a little braver. “Thank you,” I said softly before stepping out of the car.Walking into the building, I felt a mysterious chill. Everything looked the same, but it didn’t feel the same. My heart started beating faster as I opened the door to my apartment. Suddenly, the memory of that awful box flashed in my mind. I stood
ElaineI couldn’t shake the heavy feeling brewing inside me. It stayed like a shadow, always following me wherever I went. The thought just wouldn’t leave me alone.Someone wanted me dead, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it.Even when I tried to feel safe, my mind kept overthinking. I was even afraid to close my eyes, feeling that, at any moment, someone might barge through the door and kill me. Despite Trevor being here to accompany me, it did nothing to ease my fear. Not because I doubted his ability to protect me, but because I was afraid he would get hurt because of me again.My concerns were valid, right?Trevor must have noticed my distance. He always did. I heard his soft footsteps walking toward me and soon, he was sitting next to me. He didn’t have his usual smile. Instead, he looked worried.“You’ve been quiet all day,” he said gently, “I am not used to you being like this.”I let out a shaky breath and held the edge of the chair tightly. “How can I not be? Someone out t
TristanMy room felt like a prison. The walls were cold and suffocating. I was a free wolf, but I obviously didn’t feel like one.I smirked at my own thoughts. As an Alpha, I shouldn’t have felt this way. Mom and Dad had given me a little kingdom of my own to rule. I had money to spend on anything and servants willing to do all my bidding.But none of that mattered. My mind wouldn’t stop racing. No matter how much I tried to distract myself, every thought dragged me back to the same place.After the council meeting earlier, I felt like even my birthright as Alpha could be taken away from me at any moment, just because they weren’t satisfied with my rule anymore.Pathetic, wasn’t it?I felt alone. Truly alone. I had no one to turn to. Nothing to quiet my thoughts or provide comfort when I needed it. For the first time in years, I felt the burden of being alone.My parents were long gone.My best friend, Shawn, had died years ago.Aunt Melina had lost her mind to the point where I could
Elaine“Yes, Mr. Smith. It’s been… a challenging few days. I appreciate your understanding.”Mr. Smith’s voice echoed through the receiver. “Elaine, you don’t have to explain. Take the time you need. You’ve earned it. In fact, take as long as necessary.”I sighed. I was touched by his generosity but shook my head instinctively. Even though he couldn’t see me, I knew that the message would be clear. “A week will be enough,” I replied. “I just need a little time to clear my head and settle things. If I need more, I promise I’ll call.”“Good,” he replied after a pause. “But remember, the offer stands. Call me if you need an extension. We’ll manage, Don’t worry.”“Thank you,” I murmured, feeling a swell of gratitude. “I’ll keep you updated.” With that, I ended the call and set my phone down on the coffee table.A quiet moment passed before Trevor appeared. A steaming cup of tea was in his hands. He offered it to me with a small and warm smile. “Here. I thought you could use this.”I too