3 - Five Years Ago: My Sister’s Secrets

Ava’s POV - 5 Years Ago

It’s not every day you find your boyfriend cheating with your sister. I feel like I have fallen into a pit. And I don’t know how to get out. I’m trapped here. At her wedding. My sister, Bella, tore my heart out of my chest, and I have to act like everything is just perfect.

I’m watching the world from a distance. Lost in a crowd of familiar and unfamiliar faces. I don’t want to be here. I want to run. I want to throw up. To cry and scream and let out all the torrent of emotion that’s building inside. But I can’t. Instead I smile when someone talks to me. I respond, automatically. I stood beside the river and watched Bella marry Ryan. I watched their bonding ceremony and I held my tongue. When all I wanted to do was shout out. To scream that it’s all a pretty little lie.

My boyfriend, Josh, stood beside me, his arm around my shoulders. Like nothing had happened, like nothing was wrong. Five years we’ve been together. My first, my only boyfriend. The love of my life. At least I thought he was. He kept his arm on me and I want to scratch my skin off from wherever his body touched mine. We’re over. We’re officially ex, but I’m keeping up this facade for the pack.

We’re sat within our crowd of friends, everyone I went to high school with, skinned a knee or climbed a tree with. We got our wolves at the same time and they’re laughing and joking and I'm surrounded by them. They’ve known me all my life and they’re all I’ve ever known. My family, my friends, my support and my pack. And in the middle of this ridiculous wedding, and they can’t see that I’m dying inside.

I extend my hand to a glass of champagne. How many now? Two? Three? I’m not a big drinker and my head feels fuzzy. But that’s better than the overwhelming sense of heartbreak. If no one can see that all the world is wrong, then I must be a damn good actress. Maybe I should give up my dream of becoming a Doctor, and go to LA instead. Maybe Daddy, the Alpha of Silver Stream will have a friend in a pack in Hollywood. I’m lost in my thoughts, sipping my drink. Clinging onto anything that could be a distraction.

Your father would want to know why you’re turning down med school. My wolf whispers. She’s young and kind of sweet, Seren. I feel in tune with her, relaxed after our three years together. But she’s not reacting the way I thought she would. She’s not lashing out or howling at the betrayal I feel. She’s calm, and I kind of hate that. I want someone to share in my pain, why can’t it be my wolf. The other part of me?

Stop being sensible. I tell her and peer into my glass. Is it getting empty? I’m usually the sensible one. She’s more wild, more reckless.

It’s true, she scolds. And then you’ll have to tell him what you found.

I’m going to be sick.

‘Excuse me,’ I mutter and stand up. No one pays any attention as I push away from the table. My heels sink into the grass and I curse beneath my breath. Empty glass in hand I bend, unfastening the straps so that I can slide my feet out of the strappy sandals. Leaving them abandoned by a tree that borders the dance floor. I skirt the crowds, head down.

I’m not going to tell anyone, I tell her, voice firm. No one. Nor are you. She whines at that, she doesn’t like keeping secrets from the Alpha. Nor do I, but I promised Bella. I promised Josh. I lean against the bar, twisting the empty glass in my hand. I can’t even look at my Sister. Of all the things I expected to happen today; a bit of social anxiety. Some casual nerves about being surrounded by so many strangers and wolves from different packs. I was looking forward to dancing with my boyfriend. Looking forward to sneaking back to his room in the packhouse where the official bachelors lived. I’ve got a few weeks left of my final semester of college, and between assignments it’s been hard to come home to see him. But, I never…never expected to come home and find him in bed with my sister. Not Josh and Bella. Not the morning of her wedding, her bonding ceremony to Ryan.

I look up at the server who is busy with the line of guests. I hold my breath, fingers pressed against my waist. It’s a dress that’s not usually my style. Whimsical. It’s a light sage green with an inbuilt corset. It fits nicely, skimming my curves before falling over my hips to brush the grass. Dragging on the floor now I’m not wearing my shoes. I smirk, finding pleasure in my act of defiance. Bella would be really annoyed to realise I’ve abandoned my shoes. I set the empty glass down on the bar. I want to run. I want to be away. Anywhere but here, surrounded by everyone wishing Bella and Ryan congratulations and a happy life together. Fucking lies.

How could she do this to Ryan? Doesn’t she think he’ll find out? He’s a smart guy! He’s a good man and he deserves better than this.

You promised not to tell, Seren reminds me and I close my eyes. Tapping my hands on the smooth wooden surface of the bar. I promised not to tell. I repeat and feel the sting of tears build again. I can’t stay here. I can’t stay here and keep pretending that everything’s okay.

‘It looks like you want to get away?’ A low voice interrupts my thoughts and I jump. Startled, I turn. Heart skipping a beat. Someone moved beside me at the bar, and lost in my own misery, I hadn’t even noticed. My senses prickle, Seren sitting upright as I look up at the man, and then up again. He’s impossibly tall and I take a careful step back in my bare feet to look up at him. Goddess, he’s handsome. He’s wearing a dark blue suit, not grey or black like most of the other guests. His shirt is crisp, clean and pressed. Everything about him seems neat, apart from the tie around his neck that has been tugged loose, hanging at a slight angle. He smells amazing. Like a fresh morning in Spring, all power and energy, coiled and sprung, ready for release.

Can I breathe? I can’t breathe as I follow the line of his clean shaven jaw and take in the chiselled features of his face. Softened by a faint smile tilting a curve of full lips. But it’s his eyes that hold me pinned in place. The colour of a pine tree in summer, dark green and inviting. They’re kind eyes, warm and intense and just looking at him is making my wolf pant with heat. I feel the flush of desire move through my body and wet my lips. Did he say something?

He tilts his head to the side, and extends a hand. Oh Goddess, my thoughts are racing. Is he going to touch me? He does, warm fingers gently resting against the exposed skin of my bare arm.

‘Do you want to get away?’ He asks, his voice a low rumble.

I blink. I look back, glancing over my shoulder at the group of friends, at Josh who's laughing and joking with the rest of the pack. None of my friends could see that I was dying. Am I that good an actress, or maybe they just don’t care…

‘Yes…’ it’s a whisper, but it’s the truth. I want to get away. I want to get away from this place and these people and all their sordid secrets.

His hand is in mine and he nods, still smiling the same quiet, confident smile. As though we’re sharing a secret. My fingers fit between his and he leads me away from the bar, away from the dancefloor towards the trees and away from the crowd.