ValerieI could barely think under the shock. Why on earth was he here?As soon as the shock faded, my instincts kicked in.“No.” I replied, ready to close the door until his hand lunged to the doorframe, making me stop.“Valerie,” he called out, but I had enough.Why in Goddess's name was he here? Composing myself, I glared at him.“You ought to be celebrating with your fiancée,” I said coldly,“I just want to talk,” “Talk about what? We've said all we had to say last time we met Alpha Tristan.” I retorted, watching him rear back from my words. I was already exhausted and tired of pretending. The last thing I could do was to be cordial to him at this moment. I wanted him gone.A sigh left my lips. Shutting my eyes against the faint ache of our bond I forced a smile.“Please leave and return to the celebrations before anybody notices your absence. You're the host after all and I don't want anyone getting the wrong idea.” I said, preparing to shut the door, his hand blocking it be d
ValerieMy mind went blank for the second time.I thought I'd already received enough shocks for today, first with his arrival and apology and now this?He didn't sleep with Alyn or he believed he didn't? If so, what was the whole point of the wedding? Alys' pregnancy being announced?There were no words I could think to say. The silence went on for seconds until he spoke again,“I …I think, I know so, even if there's no proof.” he rushed out, his expression fell, looking the opposite of ‘sure’.‘The latter then,’ I thought to myself. He had answered my own question without knowing it.“Whatever that happened between you two is none of my business as far as I'm concerned,” I said, trying to revive the distance between us. “But simply as an observer, I think it's be if you settle it within yourself. Id never wished this kind of union on you, but if you're making ideas to justify all this-”“Is that what you think of me as?” He bit out, taking me aback.His face was still open, but t
ValerieI was awake by dawn, far too early in the morning than i was used to. I knew there was no way I was getting any more sleep. I picked up my phone immediately after, calling Mina to check on her and the shop. She was no doubt opening as the early bird. For a moment, even speaking with her brought me back to a relaxed state, reminding me of where my home now was.‘Thats right,’ I sighed to myself as I listened to my only friend’s voice through the phone. Staying here was only temporary.Last night lingered in my mind but I didn't tell her. There was no use burdening her with things that didn't matter. We finished talking by the time the sun was up, leaving me to bask in the day. The tension lingered, the instinct to leave the room or anticipate an entrance was there.‘No longer Luna,’ I reminded myself. I was no longer in the pack house and heavy with responsibilities I was free to do as I wished. I could stay in for as long as I wanted.In a rebellion I’d rarely shown before,
Valerie It took several more minutes of thinking before I left the bathroom. “You were gone a while,” Alistair commented as I sat down, “is something wrong?” “Something about the food here perhaps,” I said, barely keeping the acidity in my voice to dismiss him. It took a millisecond after to regret my harshness. He was just worried for me.That pushed me to offer a gentle apologetic smile his way. As I kept on eating my gaze flew to the empty seat beside Alyn.The luncheon was nearing its end and I had no idea where to start looking for him. Even then, it would be impossible for me to approach him without gaining attention from the others.I had to find a way to contact him without letting anybody else notice.My eyes narrowed on Alyn for one last time before I averted my gaze to focus on the food.After we were done, all of us as guests were free to do as we liked and roam the pack. After leaving the hall, I retired straight to my guest room to think.Id come here set on not in
ValerieThe next day, just as the pack city was waking up, I was already there. My gaze was fixed on the window, watching the dawn break.In the note I had given him were three details, my number and an address to this place alongside a time that was nearing with every second now. His text was enough to tell me that he would be here. I'd picked this place specifically for two reasons, with it being closer to the pack border and because it was the one place I knew opened incredibly early. There was nobody else in sight aside from the one attendant for now but he didn't spare a glance at me and rightfully so. I had taken measures to hide my identity with a hoodie covering my hair and a mask for my face to avoid any spare pack member lurking in this time of the day from noticing. The last thing I wanted was any attention, especially when meeting him. The longer the seconds the more anxious I felt. At the sound of the cafe door ringing open, I whipped my head and all my anxieties fa
Valerie“Goddess, I've been standing for too long. My hips hurt.” “Let's do this quickly then so we can go home.”I stiffened as the two voices moved through. It belonged to my mother and father respectively. Why were they here?There were some rustling sounds I couldn't piece together despite being near the door. Tristan's breathing was thin, but I still couldn't tell what was going on with his being so CLOSE.‘Get your head straight,’ I warned myself, forcing myself to focus on whatever was going on outside.The sound only lasted seconds before footsteps thumped.“Do you think she'll be happy with this? Perhaps we should have bought her something new.” my mother asked, sounding unsure about whatever it was.“Why not? It was formerly your necklace. It's only right that she received this as her wedding gift.” my father said, shocking me to the bone.I knew the exact necklace she was talking about, gifted by my father as a courting gift. Now she was passing on her heirloom to Alyn.M
TristanThe glass of whiskey in my hand looked amber in the dim light of my study.Every single time I was brought here because of her.“Nobody cared about me, not even you,” Her words burned more than the whiskey ever could. It burned hot and lashed out in anger aimed at her parents. For their harsh unforgiving ignorant anf insulting words. But most of all, for myself. A part of me longed for my past life's memories to the point of desperation but the other side of me feared what I would see. If I was going to be just as horrible if not worse. It didn't really matter considering how I was fully aware of how I treated her. Her death was reversed but it didn't change everything leading up to it. Our mate bond was severed and she was free. Yet , despite all of that, she was here, helping me. The pack constantly spoke in my favor, but they were all wrong. It was I who didn't deserve her. I didn't deserve her kindness, this second chance she was giving me. I didn't deserve her help,
ValerieOn waking up, I didn't know how to feel in seeing new texts from Tristan.Immediately I returned to the hotel—thankfully still alone— I forced my tears and emotions back, pushing them away in the same way my parents didn't hesitate to push me away. It was the reminder of the treasure in my belly that helped me calm down along with the assurance that there was an end to seeing them. That I would be different and would treat my children with the love they hadn't given me in a long time.Now, waking up in the early morning, I saw this.It was a simple message, asking to meet in the same cafe. The sky was still dark and there was still a chance to go. The only question was: did I want to see him?I'd lost control and he'd seen me in my visceral vulnerable state. And after…“You were my mate, but I barely knew you. And after I did, I realized how much I wished I did.”I shut my eyes tightly at those words played again and again.His words haunted my turmoil far more than the apolog
Valerie“Oh good, everyone's here.” Alyn giggled in a near hysterical tone, “Let them all see this if they came for a show.”The hollowness in my gut grew even further. She acted like there was nothing to lose. And that? That truly scared me.Her other hand aimed my way still hadn't wavered despite her flailing. “Alyn!” I heard Tristan shout amongst the clamouring. Before I could think she had moved closer, the metallic head of the gun inches away.“If anyone moves any closer, I'll shoot now.” Alyn announced. The place stilled immediately and everyone present at the entrance remained there.“Alyn, stop what you're doing now. What on earth had gotten into you.” my father's voice barked.“Dad, mom.” Alyn smiled, “You two always supported me. Never questioned anything I said. You were always freaking fools.” She sneered. I swore I heard my parents gasp through the noises and the blood rushing through my ears. “You couldn't tell whenever I lied about something about Valerie. You alw
Valerie“And then…and then one of them fell into the pool.” Sophia giggled against me and a smile reached my lips.“That sounds horrendous.”“Absolutely horrendous.” She snorted before devolving anymore laughter.We hadn't gone far this time, spending time in the garden at the backyard where I'd rested for several minutes. Sophia had kept me company, regaling me with tales of some of her entertaining moments. Another week passed in the blink of an eye. Yet unlike the first, things felt peaceful. “Are you looking forward to dinner?” She giggled. I smacked her playfully in response.Ever since that day I no longer took my food in my room. It felt like deja Vu to go down the stairs yet meeting Tristan alone at the other end. We would speak through those times with him either talking about whatever pack matters and I sometimes sharing my advice or talking about the flower shop over the past few months.Everytime, he would look at me in a certain way. A look that seemed to spell adoratio
Alyn I could hear them.The blue colors of the room surrounded me. Always there. Always taunting. Bitterness swelled inside me. I hadn't gone outside for days. All the stares, were too much.Once they would look at me with smiles, hanging on to my words. They supported me. I hated it.And it was all her fault.Their muffled voices rang through the room as they arrived. A few moments ago, they had come to my door assuring me to resolve things, to talk to Tristan.Now that they were back, they had to have some good news.It was night, so they no doubt thought I was asleep. Good. I leaned against the door, waiting for what they would say. It was quiet at first. Too quiet.It shouldn't be quiet.“Alyn made a mistake. It…it had to be a mistake.”Hope filled my chest. They were always so good to me. So easy.Always jumping to my defense. But that didn't matter. They were still on my side. If I could talk to them, shed a few more tears, they would make sure I spoke to Tristan. Then I
PRESENT DAY Tristan I swallowed thickly at the reminder. Facing her now, that memory felt like nothing.I still had no idea what she knew or remembered from that night, or the version of events Alistair had told her. Yet as she came to me in my office the next day, guilt swelled in me. I'd pushed her away as I'd promised myself, leaving no room for contact. There was a reason she'd left in the first place after all, and with me on the backseat of her mind alongside the trouble she went through she'd be happier off.The moment the door slammed in my office that day, I repeated those thoughts as if to convince myself but the regret had already set in.Her striking doe eyes pierced mine. I had been silent for a while now. Swallowing thickly, my mind raced. But else was there to say but the truth?“I was afraid,” I finally admitted,With three words, her brows scrunched in a look of confusion I couldn't help but find pretty.“Afraid of what?” She asked. “Afraid that by getting closer
FLASHBACK: THE NIGHT OF THE MATING CEREMONY AFTER-PARTY TristanThe celebrations had dwindled outside, but it was still ongoing. I sighed, resting against the couch from the bedroom. After everything that happened this evening, it was a better result than nothing.Many of the Pack representatives that spoke to me offered sympathies during the after party. Glad for what took place before I'd fallen into a sham marriage and even praised my ‘magnanimity’. To that I said something all across the same lines.“Valerie is the one that deserves all the praise”“If it wasn't for Valerie, I wouldn't be like this.”“Valerie helped me a lot.”At some point I was sure that they'd caught on that it was more than appreciation I felt. Every one from the different packs were more than aware of our firmer bond, her exit and how she was now staying by Alistair's side. It sent frissons of embarrassment through me on how obvious it seemed. Even glancing at her slightly from the distance made me melt. M
TristanI searched her gaze for anything that would tell me she was okay but her silence was enough to tell me she wasn't. Was she even listening?I forget the sudden glaze in her eyes right before I'd rushed in or the way she was near hyperventilating. Now, the haze was gone, yet she looked at me with a gaze I couldn't decipher. It took everything in me to not shake her if I wasn't afraid that it would do more harm than good.I didn't know what was more unbelievable, the things I'd heard or how fast I'd come here. I'd arrived only less than a minute ago after dealing with business at the border when the nearby guards told me that they had come here. I'd rushed here in the nick of time to know enough of why they came…and her.I swallowed thickly, trying to control my emotions.I'd thought I knew what it was like to be angry, but I'd never felt more enraged and repelled until hearing what her parents, the people who raised me, told her.And then her words, just before I stepped in?
Valerie ‘I should have expected this.’ was my first thought as I met the two of them. There were so many questions that came up in my head, one of them being how did they know i was here? That wasn't hard to answer even though my engagement with the outside world was limited , it would have gotten out in some way whether through the pack or the servants. Not to mention that my fainting had been public as well. There came the other question. Why did they want to see me? Any words I could say were choked up in my stunned state. My mother and father came closer. Close up, my mother's eyes glistened with tears. It looked like she had been in tears before. Had she been crying? Something in my chest tightened at the sight. A long borne feeling filled me to reach out to her and hold her, comfort her in s way I'd always wished to. And then she spoke. “Valerie, why did you do this to Alyn?” My mother cried out. Like an icy bath, I was drawn rudely back to reality. ‘Of course,’
ValerieStepping out felt like a breath of fresh air. Despite only recently being discharged, I couldn't care at the moment.So long I didn't strain myself, everything would be fine. Strolling around the pack city, several stares fell my way that I tried to ignore, yet the few that I noticed felt…different.I was used to the scrutiny and mockery the pack members gave me and could recognize it from a mile away. This? This wasn't it.“Excuse me.” I said after bumping into someone I recognized as but she only shook her head.“I should be the one apologizing, Miss Valerie.” The woman smiled softly before leaving. I couldn't help but gape as she walked away.Bewildered wasn't enough to say the least. After strolling for a while I found myself in a nearby garden area where I remained on a sole bench. Closing my eyes I let myself relax under the nightly breeze.I wasn't sure why, if it was after weeks of staying here and adjusting to the pack once more or this newfound freedom without any
ValerieI opened my eyes to a familiar mahogany ceiling and soft sheets I never thought I'd be in again. Here, there was no scent of antiseptic in the air. Gone was the faint hum of sterile walls.I wasn't in the pack hospital anymore but the pack house. In my old room.Only a few hours after daybreak I was discharged by the pack doctor who advised me to rest. Stepping out, Tristan was there leading me towards the pack house and spoke of how he'd moved my belongings there. I'd ignored him throughout, never saying a word.I shouldn't have been surprised that they moved my things here on such short notice. Yet waking up for the third time in a completely different yet familiar place made a strange feeling crawl up in me.There was no clear time before the drug would pass according to the pack doctor. It could take a week or weeks at best, all while I had to be careful to not move or be under stress to avoid exacerbating the symptoms.I sighed, feeling my stomach growl. I was hungry, yet