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
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
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
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
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
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
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
ElaineI never thought i would be in this situation but at that point, I waited for death to knock on my door.My breath hitched and my body tensed as I braced for the inevitable explosion. Every nerve in my body screamed for it to happen for I no longer want to stress about it. I just want to get it over and done with. But the seconds ticked by, and nothing came. No loud explosion that was supposed to shake the earthNo burning heat that was supposed to toast my flesh. Nothing. I dared to open my eyes as confusion swirled with my lingering fear. Trevor was suddenly there. He dropped to his knees beside me. Then he gripped my shoulders.“Oh, god! I thought I lost you," he uttered while still feeling extremely worried. I could also see the desperation in his eyes as he held me. "Are you okay?" “I…” My voice faltered because my mind was still catching up to what had happened. Slowly, I pushed myself up. My gaze fell on the grenade that had landed inches away from where I stood. It
ElaineI spent the whole day happily with Trevor. There was nothing more fulfilling than having him by my side. His presence brought me so much joy and a reason to fight. His love became a new hope for me. How could I let anything destroy us? We spent our time watching a movie, being cozy under a thick blanket and snacks he personally made. I feel like the world belongs to us.But there was one thing that I couldn’t get rid of my head.That was the reality of me being fated to another and I couldn't seem to do anything about it.At least, for now.“Are you okay?” Trevor asked as he wrapped his other arm around my shoulders. “Yeah. Why do you ask?” I responded calmly, not hinting that something was off with me. “You’re more quiet than usual.” Trevor worriedly stated. He paused the movie we were watching and focused his attention on me. I tried to let him know what happened at the mating ritual. But seeing his sweet smile made me unable to express my words. How could I let myself br
TristanEver since the mating ritual, Elaine had taken over my thoughts like a parasite.Each day, my instincts became stronger. I couldn’t stop thinking about her, no matter how hard I tried not to. I couldn’t think of anything else except for her. It felt impossible to live my life while holding back these feelings. I never knew being away from my mate could be this difficult.Every second that passed made me want her even more.“What is she doing now? Is she with Trevor? Does she think about me the way I think about her?” I whispered to myself in the office.After the ritual, I could never feel calm again. Sitting still without her near me was impossible. Whenever I thought of Elaine, my mind felt broken. I couldn’t focus. I couldn’t act right. The bond between us was so strong it controlled everything I did.I wanted to be with Elaine so badly that I would do anything to make it happen. I gritted my teeth as frustration filled me. I had no ideas left to win her over. And the thou
Elaine“You must be starving now. I made you breakfast,” Trevor said as he placed the tray on the empty nightstand.I greeted him with a smile and warmed by his kind gesture. He sat on the bedside and revealed the food he had prepared. The tray held freshly made pancakes drizzled with honey syrup, a pile of crispy bacon, and two sunny-side-up eggs. To pair with the meal, Trevor had included a glass of orange juice and water.“That’s too much, Trevor,” I said with a smile as I looked at the spread he had made.Trevor shook his head lightly.“Looks just right to me,” he replied with a playful tone. “Anyway… how are you feeling?” His warm hand covered mine as he gently stroked it, waiting for my response.“I feel better now,” I replied, though my mind was still preoccupied with a strange dream I had earlier. Suddenly, panic shot through my body as a thought hit me.“What time is it?”Trevor glanced at his wristwatch. “It’s 9:30,” he answered.I leaped out of bed in a flurry of panic and
ElaineWalking down the aisle toward the man of my dreams, I couldn’t imagine this day being any more perfect. The eyes of the lovely guests were all on me. Their bright smiles lit up their faces. The joy of this day radiated through everyone in the garden.I still couldn’t fully grasp the reality. I was finally going to marry the man of my dreams. As they say, things are sweeter the second time around. It would be my second marriage but this time, I would be married out of love.Happiness enveloped me as I reached the end of the red carpet. At that moment, I knew all the sacrifices had been worth it. I had finally reached the peak of life. I could hardly wait.But then, something strange caught my attention and made me restless. Trevor wasn’t facing me. Perhaps he was crying and didn’t want to show it to everyone. The thought made me smile.I was about to call out his name when he turned around. My jaw dropped, and my lips trembled as I saw a different face. My body’s immediate react
TrevorTwo hours had passed, but still, there were no signs of Elaine and Liz. The mating ritual didn’t usually take this long. It was just a matter of moments to see who your fated mate was. Two hours had been more than enough time for a lot to happen. Deep down, I couldn’t help but feel anxious about the outcome.My body couldn’t stay still. I paced back and forth inside our apartment, waiting for them to tell me I could fetch them. I constantly glanced and hoped to see a message from Elaine or Liz coming out of the screen.But as the seconds passed, there was still none. I pulled out my phone and checked for missed calls or messages, but the empty inbox only added to my frustration. I heaved a deep sigh. I had waited long enough to expect at least an update, but I heard nothing from either.“Should I follow her?” I asked my wolf, almost ready to drive into the place myself.“Don’t be impatient. Relax, Trevor,” he responded calmly.My heart raced, my instincts screaming that someth
Elaine“What do you mean?” Holding my tightened chest, I could barely manage to ask. Neeya’s words made no sense. My head spun as I tried to understand her. But when I looked down, I saw blood dripping from my mouth and pooling on the floor. I coughed hard, more blood coming out, and fear filled my mind.This couldn’t be real. My chest hurt more, and my breathing became faster. I needed answers, and I needed them now.“How can a simple rejection spiel kill?” I added. Neeya took a deep breath before answering. “It will, if your wolf power is like mine.”Her words were calm and sounded convincing. Yet still, it was still hard to process. Wolf power like hers? What did she mean?My head spun as none of her words made sense. I placed my fingers on the side of my head and massaged it. I wanted to ask more questions, but the tightening in my chest and the stabbing pain that came out of nowhere held me back. Perhaps sensing my weakened state, Neeya continued to shed some light.“I am not a
ElaineWhat I thought was the end between Tristan and me turned out to be the start of my own misery. Seeing Tristan standing right in front of me made me believe that the moon goddess was treating me unfairly. It felt like she was playing favorites, and I was the one she cared for the least.Why else would she make me cross paths with him again? Why would she tie us together for the rest of our lives? It was as if she wanted to see me suffer, to remind me that no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t escape his grasp. My heart felt heavy, and the pain was impossible to ignore.Tristan was silently watching me cry. No words could express how furious I was at every living creature. Life hadn’t been kind, and now they had dealt me the final blow. I was falling apart in front of Tristan. Perhaps that was enough to make him stay rooted in place.“I can never accept this, Neeya. Not now, not in the future, not any day of my life.”I wiped the tears that kept pouring down like a stream. Sinc
TristanI despised myself for setting foot in this boring place. Why had I let my foolish inner thoughts take over? And wouldn’t it have been insane if someone caught me there, knowing I had a wife?Until now, I didn’t even know what I was doing here. In fact, I had my means not to participate. Everyone knew I wasn’t a bachelor Alpha. That means my body wouldn’t be as receptive to the effects of the mate bond as long us I would keep the council informed. And yet, here I was. It was like I was put in a trance that convinced me that something good would happen tonight.As if I cared. I didn’t understand why I allowed this part of me to win and dragged me to a place I knee I didn’t even enjoy. The polished floor reflected my image at me, and I couldn’t believe how much effort I’d put into witnessing such nonsense. My plain black suit and red necktie mocked me in the reflection. It did nothing but remind me how low I had sunk tonight.“SHALL WE START?” a loud voice rose above the murmurs
Elaine"How could this be possible?” I whispered to myself. My hand trembled as it covered my mouth. “It can’t be.”Tears spilled from my eyes and streamed relentlessly down my cheeks. I took a shaky step closer and my hand fell away from my lips.Is this real? I asked myself. Another step forward would confirm my fear. As I looked again, my lips quivered uncontrollably.“Why does it have to be you!?”My mind resisted the truth. I already rejected the idea of someone’s soul being tied to mine. Let alone, to be tied with him. I forced myself to take another step. I inhaled deeply and closed my eyes. I pulled the air around me into my lungs. My instincts confirmed it. I couldn’t lie to myself any longer.Seeing the wolf in front of me, there was no denying it anymore.I broke down, collapsing to my knees as sobs wracked my body. I didn’t understand. I refused to understand. Of all the werewolves on this continent, why did it have to be him? Why did destiny insist on binding us like an i