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."

I stared at him. Hard.

"Who do you think you are, Jared? Someone I can trust? You've lost the trust I had in you a long time ago." I said, rubbing the truth in his face. In my moments of anguish and doubt, I didn't need Jared - out of all people - to help me out with financial aid.

"Mind your words, Amelia." He warned, still seated. I remained unfazed and gave him an ultimatum.

"If you plan on helping me out in your own sick ways, forget it. I'm never marrying a man like you. You should get over me and start a new life. I am sparing you the heartache of rejection because I know it hurts you physically. Now get off my back, or I will have to call the police. You know how police are towards werewolves, right?" I warned him.

And that was the last I ever heard from him.

I dedicated my time and energy to taking care of my mother. The tranquillity and serenity I once lost were restored. Even if it was for less than a month, it helped me heal and stay in the present.

Three weeks passed by in a jiffy. Thankfully, my boss, who had become my friend, helped me pay the medical bills for my mother's surgery. She will be alright, the doctor said. They put a pacemaker in her heart and gave her a second chance at life.

At work, Mr James requested me to work on a personal project and said it would mean a lot to him. I didn't know many details about it, but it was for a male customer. A custom design that kind of suits...him.

I didn't say anything about it and have been working on the project for a week.

Nina, who became a close friend of mine at my new workplace invited me to a small house party. It was for her baby's gender reveal. I clad myself in a warm sundress and attended the party in the afternoon at her apartment.

"Whoa, you are killing that look, Amelia. You look good." Nina complimented me as I gave her a hug.

"Thank you. And congratulations on having a baby boy." Nina smiled wholeheartedly. It made me wonder...does motherhood make me feel that happy too? Maybe. But not with Jared.

"Whoa, look at that." Nina suddenly held my hand and pointed to a man,

"He doesn't come by even if we invite him. Look at him playing with all the children. If I wasn't married to my husband, I would definitely hit on boss." I widened my eyes and hushed Nina before anyone could hear us!

Everyone had their partners or children to take care of, but I was single and so was Mr James. Eventually, we bumped into each other - even if I prayed we didn't - and spent the whole evening together at the party, together.

"So, do you finally remember me from high school?" Mr James asked casually. We were riding the lift to exit the apartment after winding everything up at the gender reveal party. I shrugged my shoulders,

"I thought you looked familiar, but now I think I have an idea," I said and heard him chuckle.

"We both know you're pretending to forget about me. I was your best tennis match, after all." I gave in and chuckled as well.

"I love tennis, I still do. But things got in the way and I ended up having to give up on sports. But I'd love to get back to tennis. Someday." I said, my tone reminiscing.

"And we will." Mr James nodded assertively and I found myself being drawn closer to him.

"Let me give you a ride back home, Amelia. You look pretty tired." Mr James offered. Even though we were friends by then, I still saw him as a boss.

"Mr James wants to be my chauffeur?" I asked jokingly.

"Why not? If I have the means, you just have to say yes to my offer." Mr James insisted politely. The smile was dancing on his lips all so softly.

"Then 'yes' it is." I finally gave in. It wouldn't hurt to let my boss drive me back to my house, right?

"Jared...what are you doing here?"

Ignoring my question completely, Jared barged into the lift and pulled me out forcefully. His rage and aura filled the air with darkness. It sent a cold shiver down my spine. He let go of my wrist when he pulled me to stand in front.

"Okay, I admit that you won! Enough with these tactics and stop giving me the cold shoulder! You made me suffer enough. I'll give you whatever you want. Just get married to me." The madman entered back into my life.

"No, Jared. Don't you understand the words that came out of my mouth? I don't love you anymore. I don't want anything to do with you! Stop being such an illiterate and go back to your pack."

"Fine. You leave me no choice..." He muttered under his breath but I heard him. I shuddered, flinching at his grasp on my wrist yet again. His car was parked not too far away in the shadows.

"Leave me!" I protested, but it fell on deaf ears. Suddenly, there was a tug on my other hand.

"She doesn't want to go with you, buddy. She's not someone you can just steal and put in your car." Mr James stepped in and held my other wrist firmly. Not as harsh as Jared, but firmly.

Mr James's voice was cold and commanding. I was stuck between the two men glaring at each other.