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.

His controlling behaviour took a toll on my hunger. I stared at the plate of schezwan chicken and noodles sitting in the middle of the table. He brought me yet to another restaurant. To 'spend more time with me'. Meanwhile, my mother had been blowing away at my phone with texts and missed calls.

If only Jared would let me go...

"Look. Whatever it is between us, we will fix it. We have always been adults about this." Jared said without lifting his gaze.

"Adults? You're just forcing me to comply with you. You're the child, and I'm the adult." I retorted.

"Fine, if you want it that way. I know what I want, and I NEED you, Amelia. I've dreamt so many dreams with you. Having children, watching them having fun..." I raised an eyebrow and he seemed to get my warning.

"That's not the point. My only point is that I love you and I can't afford to lose you. Come to the pack right now. Let's get wedded under the moonlight. You're just thinking about getting my pack's artefact and my grandmother's ruby set, right?" I tilted my head to the side.

"I didn't even know your grandma had a ruby set to pass down. Did you mistake me for Aurora again?" I asked, now pissed as ever. He gulped his words and tried to swerve away from the topic.

"Aurora would never ask for the pack's artefact..." his voice faded.

"Whatever it is, I'm going home now. My mother has been calling." I said and left the table. I was feeling uneasy the entire ride back home. This feeling...I couldn't shake it off.

My lovely mother would have embraced me again when I came home. That was what I expected of her. But...the hug never came.

"Ma...? Mom, where are you?" I called for my mother.

"Mommy...please answer me. Where are you?" I grew uneasy and dialled her number. Her phone was on the kitchen table. I walked towards it, worried if she forgot her phone before going out.

However, I stopped in my footsteps when I saw a foot peeking out behind the island kitchen ledge.

"Mom?" Tears were starting to dance in my eyes and I rushed to the darker side, behind the counter.

"Mom!"

There was foam around her mouth. Her eyes looked devoid! She had a pulse, thankfully. I called 911 and they put her in the ambulance. I prayed nothing happened to my lovely Mom...or I'd be orphaned forever.

Three hours later, the doctor walks out of the theatre.

"Doctor... I'm her daughter."

"Mrs. Dover is alright. She is out of danger. She had a stroke and was brought in at the right time, dear. Mrs. Dover needs to take care of herself after being discharged - she's been under stress which initiated a heart attack." The doctor explained in simple terms to me. I was thankful for his help and walked into the room after I was given the green flag.

"Mom... I'm so sorry." I begged her for forgiveness. If it wasn't for Jared, who kept insisting on wasting my time, I would have helped my mom even better. The distress was too much for me, and I broke down crying.

"Baby...? Something tells me that you're crying not because of me. What is going on, Amelia...?" My eyes widened.

"N-Nothing else, mom. I was just scared to lose you..." I said, her smile returned.

"I have such a wonderful daughter." She praised, and I gently held her hand in mine for god knows how long.

The next day, I discovered I had fallen into a debt of medical expenses. I didn't want to tell Mom about it; the doctor told me not to give her any surprising news.

I went back to our house, searched for the cheque envelope she gave me for the house down payment and held it in my hands. I know what I must do.

The medical expenses crossed 56,000$. I have just a little over 41,000$ at the moment. What should I do?

I was sitting in the cafeteria of the hospital, contemplating what to do about the money. Out of nowhere, Jared sat beside me and I flinched.

"Jesus— what are you doing here? Are you following me?" Jared raised an eyebrow.

"What do you take me as? Also, I heard about your mom. I'm sorry."  He said in a rather soft voice.

"I don't have the bandwidth to accommodate your bullshit, Jared. Please leave me alone, will you?" I say and try to get up. But the next words that came out of his mouth surprised me.

"If you agree to marry me, I will provide you with everything and cover your and your mother's expenses forever."