Sneaking out of the room.

(ARIELLE'S POV)

I knew what I was about to do was wrong, going against the principles of the Luna I was raised to be, but I couldn’t stop myself. My hands moved on their own as I typed in his password. Nicholas, had once mentioned in the car that his password was my name,  right?. Well, now was the time to find out.

I typed my name, and to my amazement, his phone unlocked. My fingers hovered over the screen for a moment before I clicked onto the message box specifically Sofia’s thread.

The words on the screen made my blood run cold immediately.

"Hey, are you done bathing?"

“Will you come keep me company after you're done? The forest is beautiful under the moonlight tonight.”

"Why aren't you responding? Is Renna awake?"

"Are you ignoring me?"

"Nicholas!!!"

“I can’t sleep. Come down, and let’s go outside to watch the moon rise like we did when we were pups.”

"You promised me at the pack infirmary's garden that we would stargaze, remember?"

Angrily, I muted the phone and dropped it back on the couch. How shameless can Sofia be? She should be asleep, and not texting a man who has a mate to go out at night to stargaze with her.

I returned to the bed, disturbed. Sleep had fled my eyes at this point, and all I craved was to march to Sofia's room and warn her to know her boundaries. But I thought against it, trying to gain control over my anger.

Nicholas returned to the room a few minutes later, and I quickly pretended to be asleep. I watched him beneath my lashes, as he walked over to his phone and picked it up. He tapped on it, and glanced at the screen for a moment. His jaw tightened briefly as he read something on the screen.

Swiftly, he turned to face me, but I still lay in pretence of being asleep.

He dropped the phone and walked to the closet. He hurriedly got dressed in his pajamas and returned to the couch to pick up his phone. He glanced at it, and back at me. And then he called my name softly. " Renna?"

I didn't respond.

He called again, but this time louder than before, but I didn't stir.

Then he turned and tiptoed to the door. I watched him pause to glance at me, and after confirming I was indeed asleep, he opened the door, and slipped out, gently closing the door behind him.

My eyes snapped open, the moment he left. I threw off the covers, and got off the bed. I felt tricked and angry. How could a feared Alpha? Sneaking out at night to be with Sofia, his supposed "best friend." Now, I was convinced that their friendship was anything but platonic. They might not necessarily be having an affair, but there was nothing Platonic about their closeness, either.

If that wasn't the case, Nicholas wouldn't be okay with sneaking out at night to be with another woman. Or better yet still, he should have informed him if nothing was wrong with that.

I was seething with rage, and wanted to confront them. To seek answers because I was tired of being played and looking like a fool. But then, I couldn't. Not yet. I needed to calm down, to think things through.

Still, the temptation to hurry out, and spy on them was strong. I shook my head, I won't stoop to such a level. And then, an idea struck me -the balcony. I could see anything from there. If Nicholas and Sofia were truly headed outside to stargaze, then I should be able to see them from there.

Hurriedly, I opened the door that led to the front balcony, stepping out into the cool night view. The beautiful sight of the neighborhood at night took my breath away, but I reminded myself that I was not there to admire the scenery.

I scanned the grounds, and just then, Sofia and Nicholas walked out. Sofia looked radiant under the moonlight, her pale nightgown fluttering around her like a second skin, her hand protectively cradling her growing belly. The sight made my heart ache

I even felt a jolt of jealousy at the sight. That should be me and Nicholas, and not the other way around.

As they walked, I watched in horror as Sofia slipped her hand into Nicholas's. He didn't pull away. Instead, he looked at her with a tenderness that made my heart shatter. They were supposed to be friends, right? So what was that look in his eyes?

They soon stopped at the flower lawn, and I could barely make out their figures in the dim light. But I saw them sit on the trimmed grasses, and Sofia pointed to the sky, while Nicholas nodded his head.

A few minutes later, Sofia rested her head on his shoulder, and yet again, he didn't refute the gesture. I felt like I'd been stabbed in the chest, looking at them so attached and fond of each other.

That was enough for me, I decided. I backed away from the balcony, my mind fogged with images of Nicholas and Sofia stargazing like lovers. I returned to the room, feeling bitter and alone, the images refusing to leave my head.

I sat on the bed, trying to process what I'd just seen, but my mind was a mess of emotions. Anger, hurt, confusion-they all mixed, making it difficult to think straight.

Going back to sleep in that state seemed impossible, so I just sat on the bed, staring into space. I didn't know how long I was in that position, but I was that way, when the door creaked open, and Nicholas came into view.

Nicholas's eyes widened in surprise, as he saw me seated on the bed, eyes pinned on him. The expression quickly left his face, and he flashed me a charming smile.

"Hey, you're awake." He said casually. 

 "Yes, I woke up craving your warmth, but you weren't in bed. So, Where did you go?", I retorted with my arms crossed over my chest. 

"I thought I heard a noise downstairs and went down to check."

I raised a brow. "Is that so? And did you see what made the noise?"

Nicholas shrugged. "Unfortunately, No. Maybe I just assumed I heard something. But it was good I checked, just in case."

I nodded again, sickened by how easily he lied to me."

That's right." 

Nicholas approached me, a mischievous glint now in his eyes eyes. "Did you say you were missing my warmth, my mate?"

I forced a smile. "Yes, I did."

"Well, I'm here now, and it's all yours." He held out his arms, inviting me to snuggle back into bed.

I didn't make a move, and he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close. "Come on, let's go back to bed."

He gently pulled me into bed, and got in beside me. He drew me closer to himself, and threw his arm around me, but they didn't feel like the arms of the mate I had known and loved for three years.

As Nicholas drifted off to sleep, his arm draped more tighter  over me, and I felt disgusted immediately.  I couldn’t stop myself and I blurted out. 

"You smell of another wolf, Nicholas.”

His breathing hitched, but he didn’t reply