“Hey, what’s up?” Mia answered, her voice bright and cheerful.

“Mia, I need you,” I said, my voice shaking as I tried to keep my emotions in check. “Can you come pick me up?”

“What’s wrong?” she asked, instantly sensing the urgency in my tone.

“Just... just come. I’ll explain when you get here,” I replied, my throat tightening as I fought back another wave of tears.

“On my way,” she said, and I hung up, my heart racing. I couldn't stay there a minute longer.

I paced around the living room, my mind racing. I felt like I was on the edge of a cliff, teetering between anger and despair. I couldn't believe Derek had the audacity to cheat on me, especially after everything we’d been through. I thought he loved me, that we were in this together. But clearly, I was just a convenience for him, something to be tossed aside when things got tough.

Finally, I heard the familiar sound of Mia’s car pulling up outside. Relief flooded through me as I grabbed my bag and bolted for the door, ready to leave that nightmare behind.

Mia was waiting on the porch, her brow furrowed with concern. “What happened? Are you okay?”

I shook my head, unable to form the words as the reality of the situation crashed down on me again. “Just drive,” I said, climbing into the passenger seat and shutting the door behind me as if it could block out everything I had just witnessed.

As we drove away, I glanced back at the house, my heart heavy. I didn’t know where to go from here or how I would ever heal from this. But I knew one thing: I wouldn’t let Derek’s betrayal define me. I was done playing the role of the abandoned wife. I was ready to reclaim my life, no matter how painful the journey ahead might be.

“Where to?” Mia asked, breaking the heavy silence.

“Anywhere but here,” I replied, my voice firm. I needed to put distance between myself and the heartbreak waiting for me at home.

“Got it,” she said, turning down a side street. “We’ll find a place where you can clear your head.”

***

Mia drove through the quiet streets, letting me sit in silence while my thoughts swirled around the mess that had become my life.

After what felt like an eternity, we pulled up to her house. It was cozy, warm lights glowing from the windows, and I could already feel some of the weight lifting off my chest just by being away from the nightmare I had left behind.

“You can crash here for as long as you need,” Mia said, giving me a soft smile as she parked the car. “We’ll figure this out, okay?”

“Thanks,” I muttered, still trying to piece together everything that had happened.

We headed inside, and Mia led me to the guest room where I could drop my things. I barely paid attention to my surroundings, exhaustion starting to creep in, but Mia’s place was a far cry from the empty, cold house I had just left.

“Get some rest,” Mia said, giving me a hug before heading to her own room. “We’ll talk in the morning.”

I nodded, grateful but still numb. I collapsed onto the bed and fell into a restless sleep.

***

The next morning, I woke to the smell of something delicious wafting through the house. For a moment, I had forgotten everything that had happened, the scent luring me out of bed and toward the kitchen. As I rounded the corner, I saw a tall, muscular guy standing at the stove, casually flipping pancakes.

“Oh, hey,” he said, turning to look at me with a warm smile. His dark hair was messy in that effortless way, and his eyes sparkled with mischief. “You must be Lila. I’m Ethan, Mia’s cousin.”

He was... well, undeniably handsome. Like, *alpha wolf* level handsome. My mind was still half-asleep, and I couldn’t help but stare for a second before I snapped myself back to reality.

“Uh, yeah,” I mumbled, suddenly feeling self-conscious. “Lila.”

“Nice to meet you,” Ethan said, his smile never fading. “Pancakes? I made a ton, and Mia’s still dead to the world.”

“Sure, thanks,” I replied, sliding into a chair at the kitchen table. I felt awkward, sitting there in my crumpled clothes from the night before, but Ethan seemed completely unfazed, whistling softly as he plated the pancakes and set them in front of me.

“Hope you like them,” he said, pouring himself a cup of coffee. “I figured I’d cook while I’m spending the week here.”

“Oh, you’re staying here?” I asked, trying to make small talk despite the fog in my brain.

“Yeah, I needed a little break from pack duties. Figured Mia’s place would be the perfect hideout.”

Of course, he was part of a pack. That explained the alpha energy I was getting from him. As I took a bite of the pancakes, I couldn’t help but think about how different he was from Derek. Where Derek had become cold and distant, Ethan seemed warm and easygoing.

“You look like you could use a break too,” Ethan said, leaning against the counter and eyeing me with a curious smile.

I shrugged, not ready to dive into my sob story. “Yeah, something like that.”

“Well, whatever’s going on, you’re in good hands here,” he said, his voice full of calm assurance. “Mia’s got your back, and so do I.”

I managed a small smile. Mia finally stumbled into the kitchen, hair a mess and yawning like she hadn’t slept in days. “Morning,” she mumbled, rubbing her eyes before flopping into the chair across from me.

“Morning, sunshine,” Ethan teased, sliding a plate of pancakes in front of her. “I made breakfast.”

Mia grinned, clearly not the least bit surprised. “Of course you did. You’re too good to be true.”

I stayed quiet, picking at my pancakes. Ethan was being so kind and gentle, and I didn’t know how to handle it. It was weird how uncomfortable it made me, especially after everything with Derek. I wasn’t used to this... warmth.

Mia, noticing the weird tension between us, quickly jumped into conversation. “So, Ethan’s been trying to find a secretary for his office,” she said, glancing between us with a sly smile. “But apparently, no one can handle the job.”

I raised an eyebrow, looking over at him. “Really?”

Ethan laughed softly, shaking his head. “It’s not that bad, honestly. They just get spooked, I guess. Maybe I don’t seem approachable or something.”

“*Something*?” Mia scoffed. “More like they’re scared of you. You do have that whole ‘serious alpha’ thing going on.”

He rolled his eyes, clearly used to Mia’s teasing. “Or maybe they’re just not up for the work.”

“I dunno, seems like they’re intimidated,” Mia said, biting into her pancake. “You should see them when they meet him—eyes all wide, like he’s about to snap at them or something.”

I couldn’t help but smile a little, picturing it. Ethan didn’t seem intimidating at all, not when he was standing there cooking breakfast with that easygoing smile. But then again, I didn’t know him outside of this kitchen.

Ethan caught my smile and gave me a curious look. “What about you, Lila? Looking for a job?”

I blinked, caught off guard. “Uh, no, not really.” My cheeks warmed under his gaze, and I quickly focused on my plate again.

“I bet you’d be great,” Mia chimed in, clearly trying to lighten the mood. “And I mean, Ethan could really use someone who’s not afraid of him.”

I let out a soft laugh, trying to shake off the awkwardness. “I don’t think I’d be very good at handling someone like you.”

Ethan chuckled, but his expression softened. “I’m really not that scary. Promise.”

His voice was so gentle, and I felt my guard slipping just a little. But after what happened with Derek, I wasn’t sure how much kindness I could trust. Still, I nodded, giving him a small smile. “Maybe.”

Mia grinned between us, clearly loving whatever dynamic was brewing here. “You should give it a shot, Lila. It could be fun.”

I didn’t say anything, just kept my head down. I sat there, pushing my food around my plate, thinking about Mia’s suggestion. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. I needed something—*anything*—to distract me from Derek, the betrayal, and... everything else I didn’t want to think about. The pain of losing the baby, Derek’s affair, it all felt like too much. Maybe working would give me something to focus on, and besides, I needed money. If I was going to divorce Derek, I had to at least be able to afford it.

“I... I guess I could try,” I said quietly, finally looking up at Ethan.

Mia’s face lit up. “See? I told you, Ethan! Lila’s perfect for the job.”

Ethan smiled, but there was something a little softer in his eyes. “Are you sure, Lila? I don’t want you to feel pressured.”

I shook my head. “No, it’s okay. Honestly, it might be what I need right now. I... I need to move on. And I need the money to file for divorce.” The words came out more bluntly than I expected, but it felt good to say them out loud.

Ethan’s smile faded slightly, replaced with a look of understanding. “I see,” he said quietly. “If that’s what you need, then I’m happy to help.”

“Thanks,” I muttered, feeling a bit embarrassed for admitting how broke I was. “Honestly, I’m not in a great place right now, financially.”

Mia reached over and squeezed my hand. “You don’t have to explain, Lila. We’ve got your back.”

Ethan nodded in agreement. “We’ll figure it out together. You can start whenever you’re ready. No rush.”

I took a deep breath, feeling a little lighter. “I’ll start tomorrow.”

Mia clapped her hands together. “Perfect! You’ll love it. Ethan’s office is actually really nice. And you’ll get to boss him around a bit.”

Ethan rolled his eyes, but there was a teasing smile on his face. “Yeah, yeah. I’m sure Lila’s looking forward to that.”

I managed a small laugh. Maybe this job wouldn’t be so bad after all. It was a fresh start—something I desperately needed. And maybe, just maybe, it would help me forget about Derek and the mess he’d left behind.