Eloide

“I agree.”

My voice came out steady, resolute, but soft. On the other end of the line, the woman exhaled in relief.

“I’ll come pick you up one week from now, Éloide,” she said gently. “I have something for you to wear. It’s tradition.”

“All right. Thank you… for accepting me.”

I ended the call and tilted my head up, watching the Vancouver sky shimmer in the summer heat. I questioned my sanity—for the ninety-third time—wondering why I kept forgiving a mate who only knew how to make promises and break them.

Just one more week.

I’d finally be free of Gavin Manuel—the golden boy of Canadian swimming and the future Alpha of the Frost Mountain Pack.

But titles didn’t mean anything anymore. Not after he shattered every ounce of trust I gave him.

I still remember standing in front of the Frost Mountain Elders, heart pounding, hope flickering inside me. That was the day I received the photo: Gavin, with Catherine—his “just like a sister” Catherine—pressed up against him in a pose far too cozy to explain away.

He claimed she got excited and kissed him by accident.

I wanted to believe him, but not a chance.

Then came the video—three unbearable minutes of them slow-dancing, her body molded to his like she belonged there. That same night, I had planned our matebond anniversary dinner. I ended up smashing the Tissot watch I’d bought him, right there in the middle of the restaurant.

And it wasn’t the last time.

Every betrayal? It always circled back to Catherine.

The final blow came during the pack’s official mating ceremony. I stood in the grand hall, dressed in a ceremonial gown, proud and ready to bind myself to my mate.

Then Gavin bolted.

Beta Kane had whispered something to him—Catherine had just gone through her first shift.

He left. Just like that. Cut our mind-link.

I ran out of the hall, pulling up my gown as whispers chased after me like knives. Beta Kane later told the room that the future Alpha had left due to a personal emergency.

I hid behind the cabin, dirt beneath my knees, tears carving hot lines down my face. That’s when Catherine sent me a video—of her and Gavin toasting, wine glasses clinking in triumph. Her sabotage had worked.

I ripped off the emerald pendant Gavin gave me years ago and threw it into the river. My fingers dug into the earth as I cried—not just from heartbreak, but from the humiliation. The betrayal. The loneliness of being abandoned by the one who was supposed to choose me—every time.

The end came when his mistress killed me. Everyone thought I was dead—but I wasn’t. I came back.

Gavin came running, begging me to take him back—right when I was already bound to an arranged bond.

But he wasn’t getting that chance again. It was way too late. He didn’t even deserve the regret.

I shut him down—cold and clear—after the 99 times he chose someone else over me.

**

He came home that night with softness in his eyes, the kind he used to save just for me. He kissed me like he still loved me. And for a moment, I almost let myself believe it.

Then his phone buzzed.

He answered without hesitation.

Of course, it was Catherine.

“Gavin,” she purred dramatically, “my mature age party’s starting. I’m not doing a thing until you show up. Don’t let me down.”

Same old song. If I spoke up, he’d accuse me of being paranoid. Say Catherine was just family. Then I’d be left crying into my pillow while he ran to her side.

Catherine had moved from Winnipeg, claiming the cold made her anxious. Now she lived on our floor, just one hallway away, with a balcony that overlooked the woods. Gavin insisted it helped her sleep.

One time, she barged into our room after seeing an injured omega in the hallway—while Gavin and I were mating.

That day, everything inside me cracked.

He promised to set boundaries. Promised to talk to her.

But like always, those promises vanished.

She seeped into every part of us. Quiet and constant like poison in water.

Now here we were again. Her voice through the phone, sugary and manipulative, and Gavin—once again—rushing off like he owed her everything.

I was pregnant. I’d think that would mean something. That he'd put us first.

But all I got were five weeks of silence and emotional abandonment.

I wanted to scream. To burn her world to ash. To leave vile comments on every flirtatious post she uploaded.

Instead, I sat there and watched her party video go viral. Ten thousand likes. Smug emojis. Comments praising Gavin’s “sweetness.”

She even replied to one:

[#Gavin always takes care of me. Don’t be jealous!]

I threw my phone on the bed.

I should’ve known better.

By the ninety-sixth betrayal, my heart was just… numb.

I fantasized about slashing his tires, poisoning her shampoo. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. Some part of me was still waiting. Waiting for what, I didn’t even know.

Gavin came in at 3 a.m with Black Orchid perfume-Catherine’s aroma still lingered on him.

Slipped into bed, pressed his warm hands against me, kissed my skin like he still had a right to.

“Éloide,” he whispered. “I’m here now. I’m not leaving you again.”

But I didn’t feel anything.

“I’m tired, Gavin. Let me sleep.”

He stilled, then backed away. “Okay. Rest, babe.”

When I woke at nine, the space beside me was empty again.

I checked my phone. New notification.

A video.

Steam hissed. Water splashed. Catherine’s breathy voice laughed in the background as she called Gavin “babe.”

He was in the hot tub. I didn’t even need to see his face to know. I recognized the tattoo on his side—my name. The one he said would prove his devotion.

“You’ll always know it’s me with this, Éloide.”

What a joke.

My check-up was today. He promised to come. Just like he promised the last time—and instead left to pick her up from a nightclub.

I didn’t expect anything anymore.

I still called him, already guessing Catherine would be the one to pick up.

"Hi, Eloide. Gavin’s getting dressed right now.” Catherine said with false sweetness,”You know, I really should thank you for disappointing him last night. It gave me the perfect chance to make him happy."

I ended the call.

She thought she won.

My grip tightened around the arms of the clinic chair. Dr. Brielle Calder glanced at me with concern.

I drew a breath. My voice didn’t shake.

“I don’t want this baby, Doctor.”

Eloide

“Yes.”

“Can I ask why? I thought Gavin was excited about the pup’s arrival. Is the therapist having a personal crisis too?” Dr. Calder laced his fingers together on the desk.

“I just... I don’t want to be a mother who can’t take care of her child properly.”

My voice was barely a whisper, weighed down by the doubt that clung to my heart like fog.

Dr. Calder looked at me for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. I’ll schedule the procedure.”

Yes, I was full of doubt. All these pent-up emotions, this constant mental and physical exhaustion—it was wearing me down. And Dad, insisting I carry the Alpha’s child like it was a holy mission, wasn’t helping.

I returned to the pack house with thoughts swirling in my mind. At the stairs that separated the east and west wings of the building, I saw Dad—Gamma of the Frost Mountain pack—watching me with his usual cold stare.

“Why are you wandering around?” I lowered my head, unable to meet his eyes.

“I just got back from a checkup at the clinic.”

“Why wasn’t Gavin with you? You two are supposed to go together.”

“He’s busy, Dad. He canceled our Mating Ceremony for something he said was more important. I don’t want to burden him.”

The image of Gavin and Catherine tangled together in that steaming hot spring flashed in my mind. Their bodies pressed together, her moans, his groans as he reached his climax—it all played on a loop, stabbing at my heart. Something more important meant satisfying the needs I couldn’t fulfill. He chose his pretend little sister for that. There would never be a place for me in his heart again.

“Pathetic girl. Come on, I’ll talk to him.”

Dad dragged me to the warrior barracks. There, I saw Gavin wiping sweat from his face with a towel. I used to admire those broad muscles, the sheen of sweat from training—back when I was naive, hopelessly drawn to him. But now, this was what I had: wasted love and shattered illusions.

“Gavin, got a moment? Eloide’s too shy to talk to you, so I’m speaking for her.”

“Yes, Gamma Holden. Go ahead.”

“Considering what happened yesterday, Eloide didn’t want to ask you to go with her to the clinic. She was afraid you were busy, so she went alone. Could you go with her next time? I mean, this pup is an Alpha’s heir. I’m sure you both want everything to go smoothly.”

“Oh, of course.” Gavin’s gaze finally turned to me. “When’s the next checkup, Eloide?”

“Next week. Dr. Calder said he’d give me some vitamins,” I lied.

“You should’ve just told me. You don’t have to carry everything on your own, Eloide. Gavin loves you,” Dad added, glancing between us.

Gavin let Dad return to training the warriors. Then he pulled me behind the barracks and wrapped his arms around me like we hadn’t seen each other in ten years. He brushed his hand across my cheek and kissed my lips.

I didn’t kiss him back. When he pulled away, I saw the hickey on his neck. He could play pretend and say he loved me, but he let another she-wolf touch what used to be mine.

“Listen, Eloide. I promise I’ll go with you next week. After that, we’ll start documenting every moment of our pup’s growth, okay?”

I nodded lazily. He tilted my chin and kissed me again, but it was pointless. That fire he once lit in me had burned out.

“Close your eyes. I have a surprise for you.”

“What is it?”

Honestly, I wasn’t in the mood for any of this. I knew Dad was watching us from a distance, probably making sure I didn’t walk away. If he wasn’t there, I would’ve left without a word.

Gavin led me forward in the dark like an excited kid with candy. When I opened my eyes, we were in our room.

“I got you something.”

He picked up a medium-sized box from the bed and handed it to me. “Go on, open it. You’ll love it.”

Inside was a pair of turquoise high heels. The heels were engraved with the YSL logo. Gavin had never bought me shoes before. This had to mean something.

“Do you like them?”

I nodded, just so he wouldn’t keep asking. He waited for me to try them on, so I did—half-heartedly. I’ve never liked high heels.

Catherine, the party queen, was the one who loved flashy designer heels like these.

I placed the shoes back in the box and noticed Gavin’s confused expression. I explained that pregnant women aren’t supposed to wear heels. He made me promise I’d wear them after I gave birth.

Then his phone rang. Catherine’s voice rang loud and clear through the speaker.

“Every woman loves fancy shoes! I can help her pick out more stylish things if she wants.”

The call ended, and Gavin looked at me intensely. I turned away, refusing to fall under his spell again.

He walked over and crouched in front of me, kissed my belly, and spoke softly.

“Your mom loved my gift. If you’re a girl like her, I’ll spoil you with everything you want. I love you both.”

His words were sweet poison. I stepped back, pulling his hands off my stomach. Gavin was just a biological father—and a man who satisfied his biological urges with someone else.

I was so done with his lies.

He excused himself to return to training. The moment the door shut, my phone buzzed.

Two new pictures.

Same number as yesterday.

In the photo, Catherine stood on her balcony, hand touching the moonstone pendant at her neck. One leg lifted, clearly showing off the same exact heels Gavin gave me.

Damn it.

I stepped out onto our balcony and looked across at hers. There she was—Catherine, smiling like the devil who just sealed a deal with her next victim.

I held back tears and whispered to myself, “Hang in there, Eloide. Just a few more days, and you’ll be free from this poison.”

My phone rang again, but it wasn’t Catherine’s number. I answered, and a soft voice came through on the other end.

“I’m going to send you a photo of your chosen mate, Eloide.”

Eloide

Two days later, Gavin asked me to join him for swim practice at the training center. Once the pool cleared out, he pulled me into the water to teach me how to swim. I had to admit—this side of him, the attentive one, still had a place in my heart.

I’d always hated the water ever since I nearly drowned in the Lynn River as a child. But Gavin knew that. He made it his mission to help me overcome that fear. He even bought me a pair of sleek swim goggles to cheer me on.

That moment of peace shattered when Catherine showed up, decked out in a designer swimsuit, and made a beeline straight for me. Her eyes zeroed in on the goggles I was wearing like they were her next trophy.

“Gavin,” she said sweetly, “I want those goggles. I looked them up online, but they’ve been discontinued. Can I have them? You can always get Eloide a newer, fancier pair.”

She knew exactly what she was doing—those goggles were a gift from him. She pouted just enough to look cute, her voice syrupy sweet. I shook my head slightly, silently begging him not to give in.

But Gavin hesitated. And that was all she needed.

He gently took the goggles off my face without saying a word. No protest escaped my lips. What would be the point? His heart had already been enchanted by that manipulative she-wolf.

“I’ll get you a brand-new pair,” he said, brushing a hand down my arm like it meant something. “Let’s not make a big deal. Catherine gets anxious if she doesn’t get what she wants.”

Doesn’t get what she wants?

How ridiculous. She's always sickly, always needy, and still acts like the center of the damn universe.

Gavin cupped my face—something that used to bring me comfort. Now it just felt like second-rate acting.

“Thanks, Eloide. You’re such a good sister-in-law,” Catherine chirped. “Gavin, teach me to swim like you taught her!”

She wedged herself between us, gripping my shoulder playfully. I was afraid if I resisted, I’d lose my balance and slip. So I quietly stepped away, distancing myself.

Just as I reached the pool’s edge, Gavin called after me, “That’s enough training for today. You should get some rest, babe.”

I didn’t respond. Why bother? A second later, they were laughing together. I already knew what would follow: another disgusting, soul-crushing scene I refused to witness. I’d had enough poison for one day.

**

The next day, I sat waiting at the human hospital where Dr. Calder practiced. I had asked her to keep my abortion procedure secret from Gavin.

Then came the message—another blow. A fifteen-minute video clip landed in my inbox, showing Gavin and Catherine swimming... then having sex in the pool.

My chest tightened, my heart clenched painfully in my ribcage. I struggled to breathe, willing myself to stay calm among the oblivious humans around me.

Then, out of nowhere, I heard a name being called from the pharmacy counter.

Catherine LeBlanc.

I sank lower into my seat, hoping she wouldn’t notice me. No such luck. She strolled to the counter, collected a slip of paper, then turned and walked right up to me.

“You finally understand where you stand, huh, Eloide?” she said with a victorious smirk. “Gavin Jr. doesn’t need to be born just to realize his daddy loves another she-wolf. Gavin will only take pride in his real heir.”

“You’re pregnant?” I asked, stunned.

“Yup. We were going to wait.” She looked around casually. “But I figured I’d speed things up. Just to watch you break a little faster.”

“You manipulative bitch.”

My hand flew up, ready to slap her, but she caught it easily.

“Shh, keep your voice down. We’re in a hospital.” She leaned in close, her whisper cold and sharp. “I plan to destroy you slowly, Eloide.”

“Why are you doing this to me?”

“I thought your therapist brain would be smarter than this. You’re just like my old rehab friend in Winnipeg.” She inched closer to my ear. “She died after I set her hair on fire.”

A chill ran through me. I scrambled to my feet and left the waiting area, my heart pounding in my chest. I headed toward the elevator, but the numbers were crawling. Impatient, I pushed through the door to the emergency stairwell.

That’s when I heard footsteps echoing behind me.

I looked up. Catherine was coming down the stairs—fast. Her smaller body moved easily. She caught up, grabbed me, and shoved me hard against the wall. I stumbled down a few steps, clutching my belly.

She kicked me hard. I hit the floor.

“Please—stop! It hurts,” I cried out.

“You think Gavin cares about you?” she hissed. “You’re just a pawn. He needs you to get the Alpha title.”

“Please… Catherine…”

She yanked my hair, forcing our faces inches apart. Her eyes burned with malice. There wasn’t a shred of mercy in them. In that moment, I begged the Moon Goddess to end this nightmare.

[Gavin, help me!]

I called to him through our mind link. He had to be nearby. He had to feel it—my pain, my desperation. I was sure he was in the hospital too, probably here to “support” Catherine.

Then Gavin showed up.

But not for me.

Catherine dropped to the floor beside me, feigning a panic attack. The performance was flawless.

“Gavin! I-I can’t breathe!” she gasped. “Eloide fell on the stairs. There’s blood… I—I didn’t know what to do!”

Gavin rushed to her side. “Hang on, I’ve got you. Don’t worry, Catherine.”

Then, finally, he looked at me. “I’ll call someone to help you, Eloide. Just hold on.”

“But I’m bleeding,” I whimpered, pain surging through my stomach.

“I’ll send the medical staff right away. You’re strong—you’ll be okay,” he said.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as the pain tore through me. He didn’t choose me—not even now. Not even when his child was at risk.

He chose her, 99 times.

I waited for help that never came. The blood kept coming. The pain became unbearable.

Then everything went black.

And Gavin… never came back.