Elaine
Then the golden light called upon me. “Elaine.”
"Who are you? How do you know my name?" I asked, as the light soothed my worries. Just hearing its voice made me feel better.
"I'm Neeya, and I'm your spirit wolf," came the reply.
"You're kidding.” I couldn't help but laugh. “I am wolfless, and I've come to terms with that already.”
“But it’s true,” the voice persisted. "Trying to explain why you can sense me now is difficult, so I won't delve into that. What’s important thing is that I'm here now, and I'll always be with you as your friend. You won't be alone anymore, Elaine. I will be your companion… forever."
Her last statement flattered my heart, and even though I couldn’t see her form, I could feel her smiling at me. A lone tear escaped my eyes.
Warmth and comfort like none I’d ever experienced flooded my senses.
#
“Bestie? Thank God, you’re awake!”I opened my eyes to see my best friend, Liz, with tears streaming down her face. She held my hand, looking agitated but relieved.
“Liz? W-What are you doing here? Where… am I?” I asked, scanning the room. With the white walls, a steel bed, and the smell of antiseptic, it was clear I was in the hospital.
The question is, what am I doing here?
“You scared the hell out of me!” Liz shouted as she threw herself at me. She clung to me as if I had been brought back from the dead, and the way her shoulders moved up and down indicated she was crying non-stop. Eventually, she lifted her head and peered at me. “Good thing your healing power was activated somehow. If not, you surely would have died.”
Healing power? How could I have that power if I didn’t have a wolf? Wait. Was the dream real? Did I really meet Neeya?
“That's right, Elaine. I'm as real as it gets,” Neeya confirmed inside my head, startling me. “But no one should know about me, though. Let’s keep it that way for now, for your protection. Can you do that, hmm?”
“Of course, Neeya, you can count on me,” I said without hesitation, assuring her that I would keep our little secret.
Just then, Liz pulled away from me and asked. "How's your head feeling? ” she asked casually.
I furrowed my brows in response. I felt great headache.
“Why am I in the hospital?” I exclaimed.
“You had a car accident!” Liz protested.
“Accident? I’ve been in an accident?” I put a hand to my head and felt bandages, and my body felt sore all over.
“A car accident, yes,” Liz confirmed. She then lightly caressed my shoulder, looking concerned.“I can’t believe Tristan Hale didn’t even bother to visit you here.”
“Tristan? Why would the Alpha heir of Wolfsilver Pack bother to visit me?” I said sarcastically, expecting Liz to tell me she’d said that as a joke.
Instead, her eyes widened, and she couldn’t seem to find the next words to say. “Tristan is now the Alpha. His father is dead.”
I gaped. "Alpha Roman is dead? Since when? How come I didn't know?"
Liz palmed her forehead, looking even more concerned. An awkward silence followed before she said, “You’re married to Alpha Tristan, Elaine.
”My ears twitched upon hearing her words. Me, married to Tristan Hale? Was this some kind of a joke?
Elaine "Come on, Liz. Quit playing." I chuckled while nudging her on her side. "I shouldn’t have not trusted you with my secret. Besides, I’m only eighteen. I haven't even found my destined mate yet."How could I attract someone like Tristan? He was out of my league, and the thought of me being married to him was absurd."You really don't remember anything, do you?" Liz uttered. I looked at her straight in the eyes before she slumped into the nearby chair next to my bed. Again, an awkward silence hovered. She took a deep breath, as if she was relieved about something. "Well, maybe it’s for the best. I mean, what good would it do you to remember that bastard anyway?"She pulled a compact mirror from her purse and handed it to me. "There. Look at yourself and tell me what you see."I looked the same, only a little older and stressed, with small lines formed on my forehead and bags under my eyes. It appeared I hadn't gotten a decent sleep, though I wasn't sure why not. I shifted my gaze
ElaineI gave Liz my full attention as she told me the highlights of the events that shaped my present life. "After you got married, you kept trying to please Alpha Tristan, bending over backward to gain his affection. But he always disregarded you and your feelings. He didn’t care if you were hurting, didn’t care if you were sick. In fact, he continually slighted and ignored you in favor of his mistress, Megan. It’s sad, but your husband has never loved you, Bestie, and he hasn’t treated you well, either."Liz continued as time slipped by. My heart twisted with every word, each revelation a fresh wound. "After you got married you kept trying to please Alpha Tristan, bending over backward to gain his affection. But he...He didn’t care whether you were hurting or not. Whenever you were sick, instead of taking care of you, Tristan would go out to meet Megan. Your Alpha husband never loved you, Bestie. It’s sad, but that’s how your life was in the past five years."I could barely believ
ElaineMy gaze fell upon Tristan, and I couldn't help but be struck by him. He had matured into a chiseled man who exuded confidence and allure. Well, he was an Alpha now, so this was pretty much expected.I looked at him and studied his features. He was chiseled, and hisHis neatly styled dark hair framed his face and enhanced his rugged charm. With a defined jawline and commanding stature, he was far from the boy next door image I remembered him to be. Yet, despite that five years had passed, he still retained the same magnetic presence that had captivated me during our younger days.However, his undeniable handsomeness struck me. Yet, cold and piercing blue eyes sent a shiver down my spine and hinted at a depth of intensity I hadn't fully comprehended before. Despite that, I still felt an inexplicable pull towards him. Sudden panic filled me; my infatuation with him was still present deep within me.“Don’t just sit there! Help me get changed!” he commanded, jolting me out of my delu
ElaineTristan clenched his fists, his anger filling the room. “Fine then. Don’t you dare come begging for attention,” he said, his face flushed with emotion, his eyes narrowed in disdain. “Even if you threaten to harm yourself, I won’t yield. I'll never lay a hand on you again!” His words cut through the air like knives, sharp and filled with resentment. He ran a hand through his hair, muttering curses under his breath. Then he turned on his heel and headed for the door. With his hand on the doorknob and a dagger filled look aimed my way, he said, “Now, make your way downstairs and join me for dinner!” Then he stormed out of the room. I couldn’t help but sigh after the confrontation. His words struck me with the force of a blow, each one carrying the weight of his anger and authority. Though it had been a demand, a surge of defiance rose within me. But I knew better than to challenge him further. I also couldn't ignore the underlying acknowledgment of our relationship, our marriag
Elaine If I were to ask, I wanted nothing from Tristan and couldn’t care less if he hosted a party without me. But I was also the Luna of Wolfsilver Pack, and I wasn’t that selfish to neglect my duty just because my husband and I didn’t get along. The Alpha Conference in Lycos was such a big event that hosting it would mean a lot of possible opportunities for our pack. Maybe that was the reason why Tristan chose me to accompany him at the party instead of Megan? And so, with no choice, I attended without any choice.When I entered the party hall, the atmosphere immediately shifted. Everyone stared at me with their judgment in their eyes, and several laughed and mocked me. "Can you believe the Alpha brought the Luna here? It's so unusual.”"I heard the Luna tried to end her own life. How embarrassing.”“Poor, Alpha. Imagine having a Luna as insecure and shameless as her!” Their gossip hurt me deeply, like a sharp knife slicing through my emotions. Even though some pretended to be p
I took the air from the deepest part of her lungs, but it felt like inhaling water instead of air.I began to choke and spit some water from my nose and mouth. My chest hurt, and my throat felt like something rough was being scraped from the inside. The sound of my forced coughing was the only sound I heard from the surroundings.Slowly, I opened my eyes to the twinkling starry night sky above me. “Are you alright?” Hearing that voice, I looked to my left instinctively and saw a man kneeling, staring at me with a worried face. Seeing his wet suit and pants, it dawned on me that he had been the one to rescue me. Then, Tristan’s frantic cries shattered the moment. “Wake up, Megan! Speak to me! MEGAN!!!” I turned to see Tristan beside Megan, shaking the unconscious girl, trying to wake her up. After a moment, Megan gained consciousness and started coughing the water she ingested from the pool. Seeing this, Tristan looked relieved and held Megan's hand, kissing it as if it were the
Elaine“Did you just remind me that you slapped me and wanted a divorce?”I took a moment to realize what I had done. Tristan’s face changed as his words registered with me. But surprisingly, his eyes no longer bore any hint of anger. Instead, expression softened, and now he looked at me with furrowed brows.My heart pounded in my chest as I instinctively took a step back away from Tristan. In the heat of the moment, what I truly desired to say came out suddenly. But unfortunately, I forgot that the wolf I insulted in front of everybody was now the Alpa of Wolfsilver Pack. Oh, shoot! What have I done? “Elaine…” the stranger uttered. His voice was filled with worry but I paid no attention to him. Tristan’s reaction mattered to me more and now waiting for his next move.I had just said some hurtful words, and on top of that, I had bravely hit him. The murmurs from the pack members reached my ears as they started gathering around. “Did we hear it right? Did she hit Alpha Tristan?”“A
ElaineTristan leaned in close, as if about to kiss me. But as his lips drew near, a surge of fear and anger overtook me. I pushed him away forcefully, desperate to get out under him. Scrambling off the bed, my instinct said I needed distance from him, fast.Tristan stumbled back, his face reflecting surprise and hurt. But I didn’t care what he was feeling. What he did was beyond acceptable. "What are you doing?!" I yelled, my voice shaking with emotion. Hugging myself tightly, I tried to protect myself from whatever he might do next.Tristan raised his hands in a calming gesture, but I couldn't trust him. With a quick glance around the room, I dashed for the safety of the far corner. I could see the hurt in Tristan's eyes when I tried to run away from him and yet, I couldn’t care less. All I wanted was to escape this nightmare, away from him.“Relax, Elaine. I never—”“Relax? You want me to relax after you try to force yourself into me?” Seeing that i-don’t-know-what-i-did-wrong e
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