Chapter Two

Emily's POV

A dream was what I thought it was. Scratch that. A nightmare would have been more suitable.

But it was neither of them. It was real. Real!

I could tell it was real because of the pain I felt when Lyla slapped me on the cheek. It pushed my head sideways and I hit my temple against the door’s glass. It hurt. My head spun.

The next thing I could remember was seeing her crawl towards the back and open the door. But I still had my weight resting on it, so I fell immediately when it opened.

I struck my body against the concrete floor of the car park. I could have sworn to hear a few bone cracks.

Then the jeep roared to life and drove out of the car park, feeding me with dust and smoke from its exhaust pipe.

I was left battered and bruised, both physically, emotionally, and psychologically. It was probably still a couple of minutes to six that morning because the sun was barely out. The surroundings were still dark and bleak.

I heaved a relieved sigh that it was still early. It would have been very embarrassing if people were around to see me being tossed out of my mate’s car. Well, ex-mate.

I sat there for a while, sobbing profusely and hating myself for being so stupid and naive. I should have known that something was up when Jacob and Lyla stared at each other last night at the bar.

Or even before that. Jacob was usually so cold to me, even when we became mates. He only smiled when he wanted us to get intimate, but I wasn't ready; I was scared as a virgin. I should have known that he only wanted to have a taste of my body.

Jacob's betrayal was understandable. It was almost obvious, to be honest.

But Lyla betrayed me? My own best friend? I didn't see that coming. I would never suspect her to stab me in the back. No one in my shoes would have suspected her.

We met in college and bonded on first contact. We were so close, that people started to call us sisters. And maybe we were. We did everything together, parties, traveled, turned down guys, and all that.

And, I mean, she didn't even believe that Jacob was real, not until last night. Or… Maybe, just maybe, the reason for her teasing me about Jacob’s existence was so that she could meet him and rekindle their long-lost love.

God, I'm such a fool!

I kept sobbing till I lost my voice. Tears stopped pouring out of my eyes. I decided to comport myself as a drop of blood trickled down my cheek and fell on my gown.

Then I managed to stand up and dust my dress. But the pain from the fall still lingered, and the bruises on my open skin still remained.

I found it odd at first, since I normally heal pretty fast as a werewolf. But then I shrugged it off. Maybe my abilities were tied to my emotions?

Albeit, days passed and I still remained the same. More so, I was no longer affected by the moon. There was even a full moon on one of those days and I didn't turn. I felt… powerless.

It was after more days of thinking and worrying that I found out that I'd lost my wolf-self. I was now an ordinary lady.

It was probably due to the pain, and the psychological turmoil I've been going through since Jacob betrayed me and Lyla threw me out. She had also thrown my luggage out that same day.

I'd been jumping from one hotel to the other for almost a week. But currently, I have no money on me again.

I didn't know what to do or where to go. I quietly remained in the hotel I currently was, in until they asked me to pay for the three days and nights I'd spent there.

My debit card showed insufficient balance and they'd have harassed me if this tall and charming guy hadn't saved me. Not only did he clear my debt, he took me into his car and drove me away from the hotel.

“I’m really sorry,” I apologized once again as we drove out of the city.

Swaying his thick brown hair with his free hand and scoffing, he said, “Seriously, it's fine. Anyone would have done the same.”

Though, at that moment, I despised men with every nerve, being with him made me see hope in giving them a chance again.

I nodded and said with a low voice, “Uh… I'm Emily.”

He replied with a nod, “Nice to meet you, Emily. The name's Tyler. Tyler Donovan.”

My eyes suddenly lit up, “Donovan? As in from the Donovan pack?”

He chuckled, “Yeah. My dad's the Alpha. I'm kinda like his predecessor… I guess. He doesn't like me very much.”

I looked at him in melancholy, “Who wouldn't like a guy like you?”

“Um, probably a man that isn't my real father?” He sighed.

He took me to his house and I stayed there for almost two weeks. We got really close, as in lover’s close. I felt loved again and would do anything to spend the rest of my life with him.

However, when he introduced me to his father, the Alpha, things didn't go as planned. The Alpha resented our relationship. Apparently, we weren't compatible and they already had a mate for him.

Tyler told me to give him some space while he settled things with the Alpha.

My heart shattered and I just ran away.

The next five years were hectic as hell. Calling what I went through tribulations, was more or less an understatement. But I persevered and I survived.

After regaining my psych from those five years, I returned to Tyler's house. I'm pretty sure five years was more than enough space for him to convince the Alpha.

But I entered the house to see a strange lady, holding and petting a two-year-old baby. I could easily tell she was a wolf and the baby was Tyler's cub, because the two of them had the Donovan's pack symbol on their necks.

I remained at the entrance like a statue, even after Tyler showed up. He eventually told me that he had no choice but to marry his original mate.

And once again, at that very moment, my heart shattered and I slumped.