[TWO DAYS LATER...]

There was a knock on my cabin which disrupted me.Looking up,I sighed at Jared.He held a box with food in his left hand.

"I visited mom.She made crackers for you because you like them."Jared said.

"Hmm.I'm busy."I said plainly.

"But I texted you.I need your time.We need to discuss about our wedding."Jared was too stupid to take hints.Slamming my pencil to the table,I replied.

"That won't be necessary,"I said coldly.

"Why?"He was confused,which was expected.

"Because the guest list is incomplete.We were too busy for that."I sarcastically said.

"That's fine.We will discuss it over lunch then.Come."Taking my wrist,he dragged me out to an expensive restaurant.

"Give us five oysters,chicken soup with chilli oil and some vanilla ice cream for the lady and an 8oz steak for me.That's it."I sipped on expensive wine as I raised my eyebrow.

"Just steak?For that alpha appetite?"

"I had lunch."He replied,and that shushed me efficiently because I knew who kept him company.

I was scrolling on the phone mindlessly."Who are you talking to?"Jared asked.

"My mom,"I replied monotonously."Okay.Well,I'm going to the bathroom."

"You're not a toddler to inform me."I retorted.He just sighed and went away to do his business.Fifteen minutes turned into half an hour and that turned into an hour.Jared didn't come back.

After paying the bill for our half-eaten food,I got a text from Jared saying,

<Jared:Meet me at the Greenhouse Amusement Park.Right now.Bring tomato-flavoured chips on your way too.>

Jared texted in a commanding tone but I let it go.He must've booked for the evening,forgetting that I had tons of work to do as the chief designer.

"There's your order."I wasn't surprised to see Aurora clinging onto his arm ever so tightly as I got there.Aurora snatched the bag of chips from me and squealed,"Thank you so much!I was out here with my work-husband and thought I'd let you in on the fun too!You've been working your ass off and it pains me to see you—"

"I just came to give the chips.I'm going back to work."Cutting her off abruptly,I turned around to leave.

"If you leave,I'll cut the amount from your paycheck,Amelia."The warning from Jared made me stop in my tracks and I turned around.I knew I was wheeled into a boatload of their drama now.

"Do whatever you want."Giving up never felt so easy.

Jared said he would come back to'teach me a lesson'at my studio apartment.But he will be in for a surprise.Leaving the note and the set of keys on the table,I left the apartment with whatever I could call mine.My luggage fit half of the car trunk and I sped off.

I hope Jared would love his birthday gift the next day.

Hours of drive later,I saw my mom on the porch and ran to her.She embraced me,saying things like,"Oh you've grown so old!I can see you lost weight,my baby!"And so on.She asked me about Jared and I neatly brushed his topic off.

Around late in the night,I was bombarded with texts from the one I'd been expecting.

<Jared:Where the hell are you?Where are all your items?>

<Jared:Don't be a pipsqueak.So what if I gave priority to Aurora,huh?Stop being petty just because she's prettier than you.>

<Jared:Fine.Do whatever you want.But if you're not coming back within two hours I'll track you down.You know me.>

I rolled my eyes.His warning was long in the past.I deleted his contact,switched my phone off and let the slumber take over me.At last,I would sleep peacefully with my tummy full of my mother's homemade food.

The next day was tightly packed in my schedule as I had to look for an apartment and hail a job.My mom sat me down at breakfast and explained,

"Baby,you're my everything.If you need that 47,000$for a down payment,you're taking it from me."

"But that's a lot of money..."I said with tears twirling in my eyes.

"You're my priceless child.My one and old who gave me hope and home after your father left us."She reasoned and I hugged her tightly.

"I'll be the best fashion designer in the country,ma.I love you."I promised her mindfully.

In the evening,I was drained out of life after five interviews and looking at six estates around my neighbourhood.But the smell of cinnamon buns greeted me like a warm hug to the soul.

"Hello,baby!"My mother gently took the bags off of me and hugged me tightly."You're such a big girl now.I'm so proud of...you..."

Her words were fading when she noticed the tears rolling down my cheeks.How long has it been since I've been appreciated?Just told that I'm someone to be proud of...?

Just then,an unexpected message popped up on my screen.

Was it him or her? It was neither of the two I expected.Instead,the stream of messages was from different social media platforms.I clicked on one to get startled at the idiotic collage pictures of Jared and me.

"Ridiculous..."I said under my breath.I excused myself to walk into my bedroom.

I rolled my eyes.It's more like a nightmare than a fantasy in my case.

All the messages were about them extending greetings.I knew who was doing this.This man has stooped so low and messaged everyone personally,inviting them to'our wedding'.However,I kept my cool and quickly went to all these social media platforms.

My status was rather a blow than a gentle breeze to everyone.

Putting the words as my status on all of them,I switched my phone off and made sure Mom didn't view her phone for a day either.

Monday rolled into the calendar sooner than expected.I was called in for three jobs,and I picked the one at my convenience.It was great,they told me to start from the next day and to meanwhile make acquaintances.

My hands were shivering when I opened the door to our CEO's cabin.The manager who stood behind me recalled himself and disappeared.

"G-Good afternoon,sir.I'm the new employee."I introduced myself.I've never seen a man more handsome and well-maintained as Mr.Nicholas Frost.He chuckled my way,"I don't bite,Ms.Amelia.Come and have a seat.Keep me company until your manager remembers about you and comes to pick you up."

His silky voice blew my mind,but I toughened myself up.No more men or dating after what happened with the twisted alpha who was my mate.

Evening came by and the office was closing.Mr Frost was insisting on giving me a ride back home.I politely refused and took the bus home.

As I was entering the apartment,my phone rang and shook me out of my dream world.It was an unknown number.I didn't want to pick it up,but it could be another company trying to offer me a higher stake.

"Hello?"

"Why did you announce to everyone you're single?Bullshit.Take that down.Now."I rolled my eyes.The voice was way too familiar to even contemplate.And no one else dared talk to me like that.

"We're not having the wedding,and I'm saving people's pockets.Get out of my face before I put a restraining order on you.I have enough evidence against you,too."I said,feeling the imaginary sting in my arm.Although it wasn't Jared who did it.

"I don't care,Amelia!You're my mate!You're mine...mine..."he was growling towards the end.I was scared shitless.

"No,Jared.I'm not your mate anymore.I need some time to...to..."The words weren't coming out of my mouth.I was lost in thoughts...

Three years ago,Jared and I were under the stars,just lying on the rooftop.He cupped my fist in the air with his large palm and promised,'You'll always and forever be my mate,Amelia.Any man would be lucky to have you.But I am the luckiest of them all.I can't wait to marry you,traditionally.'

He fed me all those lies,for years.

"Say something,dammit.Hello!?I said we can't break up,you hear me!?I'm coming to track you down and I'll rip the door to shreds-"

"I'm sorry,Jared.

...You hurt me enough.If you love me,please leave me alone."I said and cut the call abruptly.

I took a diversion and ran into an alleyway,wedging myself in the dirty space between two buildings.I've been so strong for my relationship and for myself,but I broke down crying anyway.I felt vulnerable,like a little child without her mother.

That night,I hugged my mother and slept peacefully.

At midnight,the unknown number started bugging me again as the texts read:

Minutes after that text was sent,a picture of Aurora and Jared holding their boarding passes was sent for a one-time view.Aurora was almost sitting on his lap in that pose and she looked so happy.

"So perfect for each other.Losers."

Uttering under my breath,I switched my phone off and turned to cuddle with my mother.

The next morning, I was all prepared to go to my new workplace. Out of nowhere, I see a silhouette following me to the bus stop. I thought I was imagining things, so I left it there.

As I returned from the office and was on a work call, the silhouette appeared again. It wasn't human, that was for sure. My heart started pounding in my chest. It was known that Jared had way too many enemies ready to hurt me. Now that I'm not in his territory anymore, they're free to do whatever they like with me.

"S-Stay away!" I couldn't cut the call, held my phone out and warned the creature. Its glowing red eyes were taunting me to skip to the next life. I squeaked as I stumbled back.

The wolf then came out of the shadows and transformed into a human. The heartless man started laughing. Then I realized it was just Jared.

"This prank never gets old with you!" He jokes insensitively.

"Do you derive fun out of me when you clearly knew my aunt was attacked viciously by your kind?" My lips wobbled as I spoke.

"...what do you mean 'my kind'?" He asked, ignoring my words completely. I got back up, dusted myself off and walked the other way. The area was eerie and for the first time ever, I was scared of Jared. I shouldn't have been, but the way he was getting under my skin would eventually give me enough room for him to suffocate me to death.

"I'm going home. You can't come there. It's protected." I said without looking.

"Why are you treating me like a criminal now!?"

"Because you almost threatened my life, Jared! I have a condition! Don't you understand!?" I trembled at the thought of having a deadly seizure and him throwing keys at me, again. But that time, would I have survived if he pulled such a stunt again? He already calls me a 'nature's freak' for my condition. He might as well let me become 'one with nature' by ignoring my seizures.

"Amelia!" Growling hungrily, he watched me flinch when he abruptly turned me around.

"I'm...not a monster. Why are you treating me so indifferently? Is it still because I called you less pretty than Aurora? I'm sorry. I only love you." I looked at him dead in the eyes.

"No, Jared. You only want me to bear you 'pups'. Or whatever the children are called. We both know Aurora can't have children because she was born unfertile. She was a disgrace and was sent to the human city to fend for herself instead of turning her into a rogue—"

His low, warning growl echoed in the quietness of the eerie street. Leaves struck with a breeze began shedding the weak ones. I found myself being one among them.

"Don't...speak about Aurora like that. Understood?" Saying, he grabbed my arm. I didn't dare ask where he was taking me. A restaurant? An abandoned factory? I wouldn't know.

Turns out, he brought us to our old ice cream shop, where we met. A sudden rush of memories and emotions took over me.

I was seventeen when I was building a snowman with other kids in the forest so close behind that stall. I was told to go home, but I never had such fun in my life. My mother used to work three jobs just to keep a roof on our heads and stale food on the table. Out of nowhere, a bear revealed itself from the bushes and locked its eyes with me.

I was barely able to move. No one was around to help me either. My life should've ended then. But a big brown wolf jumped onto the bear, shredded its neck and fell to the ground. It had a deep gash on its stomach, a tattoo for its bravery. One month later, the same wolf showed up in my small hut and transformed into a man. Jared revealed himself as my mate and claimed me, then and there.

I always questioned if he only ever saw me as a babymaker and a nurturer to his babies. As time passed by, my fears turned into nightmares and he was expecting just that.

"Vanilla for you. I know you like it." Saying in a much softer voice, Jared handed me the cone. I stared at it hard.

"I know it's your fave. Why aren't you eating it?" He said and took a deep lick of his raspberry creme. Never have I ever told I liked vanilla or ice creams.

His hot and cold attitude was driving me to the edge. I felt trapped like a bird in a cage. I needed my freedom. And it started when I let go of the cone and it fell to the ground, cream side down.