Erick didn't return after that day. Days passed by and I received no call or messages from him. I didn't know where he went and I didn't bother calling him to ask where he was. After a few days, my phone beeped with a message from him. He told me he got some Pack’s chore to handle and had to go out of town on short notice. He even shared his location with me.

[Okay, stay safe and take care of yourself.] I texted him, a sad sigh escaped through my lips.

I had just put my phone back after sending him the reply that I got notification from my social media account. It was again from ‘Sweet Angel'. Christine made a post with a caption that read [ Seeing the sunset with your loved one is the best scene in the world! I have been feeling bored for the past few days. Someone insisted on taking me out for a holiday to refresh my mind.]

The location she shared matched with Erick’s location. They were in the same town at the same time. There was a picture with the post. Christine’s hands were wrapped around a man’s shoulder. His neck and the part below it was visible. There was a heart-shaped pendant hanging on his neck. The letter ‘L’ written on the heart pierced through my eyes. It teased my eyes with a burning sensation.

On our first wedding anniversary, I bought two heart shaped pendants with each other's initials. I wore one with ‘E’ written on it and gifted the other heart with ‘L’ to Erick. He didn't like the wedding gift. He didn't want to wear it at first. According to him it was cringe. After my continuous insistence, he wore it. However, he always hid it with his shirt’s collar or muffler. He didn't want anybody to see it.

I looked at the heart pendant hanging on my neck. It felt like a heavy weight was on me and I couldn't carry it anymore. I pulled out the pendant and threw it on my desk’s drawer. I didn't want to even look at it.

After that office work became the excuse to divert my mind. I busied myself in team building to not think about Erick or Christine. It was the easiest way of pushing aside my emotions. From that day, I stopped thinking where Erick was and when he would be returned.

One day I was coming out of my office. Unexpectedly, he showed himself at the main door. A wave of surprise passed through me. I hadn't heard from him for a long time and his sudden arrival at my office was something I would never have expected. Not too far, his long car was parked.

“When did you arrive?” I blurted out.

“What are you doing here?” I asked in a tired voice. The day was very exhausting today. I had been taking interviews from morning to evening, and hadn't left my seat except for meals and natural calls.

“Lizzy, do you know what day today is?” he asked, looking surprised with my question.

“Monday?” I replied innocently which left him in a daze.

“Lizzy, How can you forget our wedding anniversary? It's our wedding anniversary today.” He blurted out. I pursed my lips. I indeed forgot about it. It was surprising to me as well.

“Ah… I have been really busy these days. It slipped through my mind. I’m sorry.” I replied casually. Erick was stunned for a moment. He asked in an excited voice, “ Lizzy, you used to care about these things more than anyone. How could you forget it?”

He was right. In the past, I used to be excited for his birthday and our wedding anniversary. I used to start preparing everything a month earlier. From arranging food and decoration to inviting all his friends, family and colleagues. They were all done by me. I would spend a lot of time selecting meaningful gifts for him which he would always complain about before accepting. He didn't even like the idea of celebrating these days. According to him, it was childish and didn't suit his ‘Alpha’ image.

I remember on our first wedding anniversary, I threw a surprise party for him. I prepared everything and invited his friends over. But, he went mad on me. He didn't even care about my reputation in front of his pack members and shouted at me before everyone. According to him I should have informed him before gathering the ‘crowd’ at his home. This way, ‘surprise parties’ changed into ‘informed parties’, then only ‘small celebration’ until the spak finally died and I no longer craved his presence. However, I had always arranged something for our special day. Even if it's just a special dinner prepared by me at home. But this time, I simply forgot about it.

“Come, let's go. I have prepared a dinner date for us. Let's celebrate our anniversary together.” said Erick, pulling me back from my thoughts.

“Erick! I’m very tired today. How about we go home and rest.” I said in a low voice. He chuckled before replying, “ What are you saying? I have arranged everything for you. You can't cancel our plan.”

His plan was ‘our’ and my plans always needed permission from him. I smiled sarcastically as he led me to his car. Without waiting for my response, he opened the front door of his car and asked me to sit there. I sat inside the car.

Erick began driving while I remained silent. A few times, he glanced at the rearview mirror to see my reflection. He was looking for the slightest expression of joy or surprise in my face. However, I remained indifferent throughout the journey. He couldn't stay silent anymore and asked, “ Lizzy, is everything alright?”

“ What do you think is wrong?” I asked while raising my eyebrows.

“ Are you upset with me?” He asked, still observing my expression through the rear view mirror.

“ No, I’m fine.” I denied flatly.

“Then why are you pulling the long face?” His voice was filled with annoyance as he continued, “I’m putting so much effort here. I came back to celebrate our anniversary, arranged a dinner date for us. Can't you just pretend to be happy about it?”

I pursed my lips as I turned to him, saying ironically, “Thank you very much for the surprise, Erick. I’m glad you planned everything for me.”

My appreciation was as flat as his several promises. I could see him getting irritated as he let out a sigh, saying, “Fine! I’ll not see Christine from now on. Can you stop being angry at me?”

So, he knew what the problem was.

“I'm not angry, Erick.” I replied bluntly. I no longer trusted him blindly on his promises. He had promised me many things before that he failed to fulfill.

He once promised topromised me to take me out on my birthday. I kept waiting for him till the evening. It turned out he drank too much with his colleagues and forgot about my birthday, let alone his promise of taking me out.

The first time we had an argument after Christine’s arrival, was about his coming late at night because he went to drop Christine at her home and her child forced him to play with them. He promised me he would never be late again. But, the very next day he disappeared for the whole night. He returned home early in the morning, telling me how sick Christine’s child was. He had no choice but to take him to the infirmary and accompany him the whole night so that he would not be afraid.

Likewise, he promised me he would take good care of me and our child when I first told him I was pregnant with his child. Had he fulfilled his promise, my child would still be inside my womb.

That day, I got late in the office. The day was very exhausting. I was feeling tired. My car got punctured. I called Erick and asked him to pick me up. He said he would be there in a few minutes. However, I waited for two long hours. He didn't show up. In the end, I shifted to my wolf and decided to walk through the woods so that I don't get seen by humans. As a result, I got attacked by rogue wolves and having been tired the whole day, I couldn't protect my child.

Later, I found out Christine was being bullied by a few jealous she-wolves of our pack and instead of coming to pick me up, Erick went to solve Christine’s matter. He stayed two hours at her home to calm her down before coming to pick me up.

Having seen his promises being broken countless times, how could I believe him?

However, I didn't want to argue with him. I remained silent throughout our journey. He drove the car to the five star restaurant in the human world. He remembered I liked the human world’s services more than any pack’s. He opened the door for me and raised his hand to help me out like a gentleman.

We went inside, Erick holding my hand. We looked like a romantic couple who were deeply in love with each other. Erick went all out to even book a whole restaurant for our privacy. Our table was decorated with candles and red petals of rose. I once told him I wanted a candle light dinner from my husband in childhood. I didn't know if he really remembered it all these years or if it was just a coincidence. He led me to our table and pulled a seat for me. We sat there and he clapped. A waiter came by, holding a trolley. It had a huge cake, our names written on it.

He was doing everything very cautiously. I could see the efforts he was putting in for the time. However, I couldn't feel the joy. My heart was blank as if I knew it was just a dream that was going to break anytime soon.

After checking everything out, he smiled. He excused himself for a few minutes and returned with flowers and gifts in his hands. He handed the flowers and gifts to me.

“Open it, Lizzy.” He said in a gentle voice. However, before I could open the gift, his phone rang loudly. Like always, it was Christine’s call.

He seemed anxious for a while. He ignored the call as he said, “Open it.”

However, his voice wasn't as charming as earlier. His phone kept ringing. He bit his lips and finally picked the phone up.

“What? How did he find you? Where are the knights I arranged for your safety? They can't handle it?” Erick looked anxious, his face turned gloomy. “ How about

I send my beta to handle the situation? Jimmy is scared? Okay, wait for me. I’ll be there right away.”

He hung up the phone and turned to me, saying in a worried voice, “ Lizzy, Christine’s Ex husband’s rivals, reached our pack and are causing trouble for Christine. Jimmy is so scared of them that he doesn't stop crying. She is afraid that he would be traumatized after this incident. If I don't go now…”

His eyes showed complicated emotions. It was a mixture of awkwardness and guilt or something that I couldn't read. He didn't ask me anything but he was anxiously waiting for my permission.

I swallowed my saliva as I smiled gently, without a hint of sarcasm. I said, “ It's okay. I understand.” I was surprised at my calmness as I continued, “ You should leave before the situation gets worse.”

He stood still for a while. He hesitated for a moment before he smiled nervously, saying, “ Thanks for understanding me, Lizzy.”

He picked up his coat from the chair and said in a hurry, “Wait for me to come back. I’ll be back to pick you up after handling the situation. I’ll not be late this time.”

After throwing out these words he left while talking long steps, leaving me all alone in the restaurant. I glanced at the gift that remained packed and the cake. It was my anniversary’s celebration. I had a cake and a gift but no one to celebrate with.

I continued sitting there staring at the cake with no other thoughts until a waiter came to me and said in an awkward voice, “Mam, it's time to close the restaurant. Could you please…”

He didn't finish his words. I could read the sympathy in his eyes for me.

“Can you please give me a few minutes?” I asked in a low voice.

“Sure” He replied before asking, “Are you going to call your husband?”

I didn't reply to him. I just picked up a knife and cut the cake harshly, separating our names written on it. The waiter was stunned to watch this scene. I ate the half portion with my name and then turned towards the waiter. While pointing at the half eaten cake that had ‘ Erick' written on it, I said, “ You can throw it in the dustbin.”

After making my statement, I picked up my purse and was walking out. The waiter called me from behind, saying, “ Mam, you forgot the gift.”

“ I don't need it. You can dump it with the cake. It's as useless as its giver’s promises.”

I came out of the restaurant and stood outside for a while. The road was very busy with vehicles. Few taxi drivers stopped by me asking if I wanted to go somewhere. I didn't hire any and chose to walk home. I thought walking in fresh air might refresh my mind. However, It seemed like luck was never on my side. As soon as I crossed the busiest road, it started raining. My clothes got soaked in water as if teasing me for my bad choices.

Just when I reached our pack, the rain became heavy, making it difficult for me to walk. I decided to take shelter near any house and wait for the rain to slow down. I stopped by a house that had a verandah outside. But, as I said I was never good with luck. The house I took shelter at turned out to be Christine’s home. Erick never told me where Christine’s home was, nor did I bother myself in looking for it. Now I was wishing that if I knew it earlier, I wouldn't have stopped by it. I would rather be soaked to death in cold water than taking shelter at Christine's house.

I was about to leave. However, my legs paused after hearing a familiar voice.

“ You go to sleep, Christine. I’ll stay outside to protect you.” It was Erick's voice. I couldn't help staying a little longer.

“Thanks, Erick. You are really my true mate. Had my father not separated us and forced me to marry someone else, I wouldn't be facing all these troubles in my life.” Christine was saying in such pitiful eyes, even I couldn't help feeling pity for her.

“ If Jimmy wasn't traumatized by the incident and continued crying in his sleep, I wouldn't have asked you to stay.” She added.

“You don't need to feel this way, Christine. Jimmy is like my own child. If he feels scared again, just call me. I’ll come to console him or I'll just stay in the room tonight.”

My knuckles were clenched. I didn't want to hear anything anymore. My husband was asking another she-wolf to stay the whole night in her room on her wedding anniversary. How pathetic my life could be?

I took long steps and came home. After being soaked in water for too long, I caught a cold and a fever. I couldn't sleep the whole night in pain and felt too lazy to prepare herbs or potions.

When I woke up the next day, my whole body was burning with high fever. Erick hadn't come home the whole night which I already knew. I prepared the potion for fever and took it with breakfast. I was about to leave for my office and Erick barged in. He looked tired and messy. Our eyes met each other's and his eyes instantly filled with guilt. He walked up to me with heavy steps and started explaining, “Lizzy, things just went too hectic. There were many knights who were causing trouble for Christine. They wanted to take Jimmy with them. The child was so traumatized that he couldn't sleep the whole night. I just couldn't leave him in that condition.”

“Is everything okay now? Why did you return so early? Shouldn't you stay a little longer with him? Christine wouldn't be able to take care of her traumatized child.” I said in an indifferent voice.

Erick, who was going to take a glass of water, paused in mid way. He raised his eyebrows, asking, “Lizzy, are you being sarcastic again?”

“I’m just worried for your Christine’s child.”

Addressing Christine as his annoyed him as he sighed, saying in a tired voice, “Look, I haven't slept the whole night. I’m really tired. Don't make things difficult for me.”

“Then you take a rest. I’m getting late for work. So, I'm leaving. Take care.”

After throwing out these words, I turned to leave. However, he held my hands and pulled me in an embrace. He called me in a hoarse voice, “Lizzy…”

“What is it?” I asked in a low voice.

“I know you are mad about yesterday. I’ll make up for our anniversary celebration next time, okay?”

I broke our hug as I said in a stern voice, “I’m not mad.”

He showed a guilty expression before holding my hands gently, a gesture as empty as his words. He then said in a soft voice, “ Our Pack’s Candle Festival is coming next weekend.”

He then gently stroked my hair before adding, “ Let's go there together and have fun.”

Even though I have lived in Alpha House since childhood, I wasn't welcomed by the pack members. They didn't think much of me. I was always bullied by other wolves. Most of them were Erick's friends. He never took initiative in stopping them. After I got married to Erick, they had to show some respect to me. But, I knew it was all fake. I didn't involve myself in Pack’s event as I didn't like to meet these people. However, I always wanted to celebrate the Candle Festival. It was my childhood dream.

Our pack celebrates the Candle Festival every year. Couples from all over the pack would be invited. There would be several couple activities and competitions to bring the couples together and enjoy the night. The only drawback of this festival was that you could only visit in pairs. I always wanted to celebrate the festival with Erick. However, he was always busy. I could never celebrate the festival like other couples in our pack.

I shook his hands away as I said, “ No, I might have to work overtime next weekend. I’m not free, Erick. I can't go with you.”

My flat refusal infuriated him. He knitted his brows before saying in a loud voice, “Fine, Just do as you wish.”

After throwing out these words, he went inside his room and shut the door. I sighed. He left me alone in the restaurant on our wedding anniversary and the person who got angry the next day is him, not me. I shook my head. Dismissing all the thoughts that make me unhappy, I walked out of my office.