"There is no agonizing pain a wolf could experience than that of being rejected by their mates."

This was what I thought until tonight.

The fire cackles around us in the wood, the pack's discordant tunes from cheering their Alpha up, and the heaviness on my chest - they all played in symphony.

My feet seems to be etched in the sand, the weight of my body too burdensome for me to carry through.

"So this was what pain was like?" a painful sob bursts out of my lips.

I just watched Jeremiah, the guy I'd been in love with, my mate, the pack's Alpha, proposed to my cousin!

The environment became hostile and I dragged my feet away from the place, going back home.

I didn't show up to work neither to my wolf's training.

I had just regained her after losing it before I clocked eighteen years old, which has made it difficult to find or even recognize my mate, if I eventually did!

But, Jeremiah and I have been dating way back, and in my nature state without my wolf, I felt a connection...

I thought we were meant to be together!

It took me a month to swallow my wallow - i thought it was time to live again.

But, as soon as I stepped into the world again, I got myself an obsessive Alpha!

Alpha Demetrius, the prominent leader of Owl's pack and an international company.

He was constantly in my tail every goddamned time!

In one of the general meeting for all packs around and outside the city, he proposed to me.

I'd refused, and scrambled out of the meeting as people looked at me wondering why I was letting such a once in a while opportunity slides off.

As if that was not enough embarrassment, he issued a letter to every packs;

"If you see her in trouble, save her. If you trouble her, you won't be safe.

She is the air i breathe, touching her would be cutting off my oxygen."

The letters became a hot topic all over.

Demetrius was one of the strongest...

Safe to say, he's the strongest of all packs, got great connections and records of defeating packs that went against him.

Three years later, my heart caved in for his love.

I accepted the proposal to be his mate "till death do us apart" upon which he'd placed a finger on my lips, correcting me, "till death usher in a new life for us to still be together"

I was delighted; my smiles were everywhere with my heartbeats picking them up.

I thought to myself that I had found the perfect husband, the perfect mate!

Our wedding draws nearer and I couldn't wait for that day.

Everything has been put in place by Demetrius.

"Just sit, Marie, and watch me create the best world for us. The only time you'll need to stand is on the wedding day, while exchanging the sacred vows with me." His voice had been so soft that I melted away like ice.

One day, I was in the kitchen, trying to prepare a tea for myself as it was too cold when the door bell rang.

I blew air in the tea as I walked to the door and opened it.

I found the place empty, only spotting few pack members afar.

Demetrius was insecure. He told me not to stay at my house any longer.

"Our wedding is near, Marie. What if an envious person kidnaps you and make me bride'less? I don't think I can live without you."

I sighed, giving a shrug and closed the door then turned.

About to walk away, when I noticed it didn't made the sound it would have made if it shut.

I threw my head back, my gaze going instantly to the floor.

There, I found a black envelope there, obstructing the door.

With furrowed brows, I went on a squat before grabbing it.

I looked around again before closing the door.

"It's probably for Demetrius." I muttered under my breath before opening it.

There was no secrets between us.

"Really?" Laila's voice boozed in my ears just as I opened the envelope.

A breath got stuck in my throat, confusion making my eyes run around and trying to make out the pictures.

"Can you really say there's no secret now?" Laila taunted and my breathings sapped.

The pictures were too bold and clear to be fake.

A circle of people I recognize. A club party. A betrayal!

Their grins shot through the photograph, almost taunting...no, murdering.

Demetrius and my cousin, whom was married to my ex boyfriend, Jeremiah!

Why the heck are they together?

"Why? The eyes are old now and can no longer recognize the truth?" Laila mocked me.

She had been so against Demetrius.

I had wondered what the problem was.

She was more like a mood swing, trying to indicate the times to be sad, happy, accept and reject but that wasn't a choice for her to make!

Demetrius was cool, that I know.

He loved me..that I know.

But, but..

The wailing of the alarm blared across the room and I looked around, seeing the blinking of red light!

"Exit, exit! Everyone in the pack house or near is required to exit!

A fire outbreak...exit!"

My eyes shot back to the picture.

I couldn't care about being consumed by the fire, but the painful wake of an heartbreak has proved to be more bitter.

His friends I recognized surround them, and I saw his secretary in a corner, at the tip of the picture, her two fingers on her glasses - she must have been adjusting them and they probably didn't know when their picture was taken!

My eyes felt on the tape I had found in the file.

In the chaos going on about a fire breaking out, I stumbled into the bedroom and inserted it in a computer.

It was an audio, and my world shattered after hearing the conversations between Demetrius and a lady's voice which I recognized to be Riley - my cousin's voice.

"It's sad to leave, Riley. Why not spend an extra hour here? I miss holding you every night." Demetrius whined.

My chest fastened together like seatbelt and I let's out a narrow sigh, facepalming my face in anger...no, maybe disappointment?

I couldn't pin down what exactly I was feeling !

"You have to go back to the pack and ensure you keep my sister sailing on the ship that never existed with you. We have to keep our relationship secret, uhm?"

"Why did you have to marry Jeremiah in the first place! It's hard pretending to love her because of you."

Riley's deep chuckle riled out of the audio.

"Come on, you didn't professed your love on time. It was when you proposed to Marie did i meet you again after years of attending highschool together."

The door to the room swung opened abruptly and my heart leapt in anxiety when Demetrius stormed in.

Afraid of him finding out that I had caught up to his scheme, I pulled the USB out and drop it in my pocket.

"There's fire, Marie! Do you want to get yourself killed!?" His voice sounded furious as he pulled me up and tried to take me out of the building.

At the same time, the alarm stops and an apology came in.

Demetrius hands went in his hair as he sat on the couch's arm, before they came back running down his face in frustration.

"Why didn't you run, Marie?! Why?! What..what

what if there was fire, what would have happened if I hadn't gotten here on time?!" His eyes held unmistakable sorrow that I wanted to doubt all I had heard and seen moments ago.

I am just a means to get close to Riley, am I not?

My teeth gummed together before water began flowing out my eyes.

I sobbed hard.

Not this betrayal again!

Demetrius was threw off guard as he watches me in disbelief.

He eventually stood up, coming to me.

"O..okay, okay, I am sorry.. I just didn't want to lose you. I'm sorry, okay? I promise, I will..I will..oh, I'm..

Alright, I'm the stupid one for scolding you. You're alive and that's all, hm?" He wiped my tears so tenderly with his thumb, pressing his lips together with a sorry look etched between his full brows.

He pulls me in a hug and pat my hair.

"I promise, I will never say or do what will break your heart again.

You probably knew there wasn't a fire so you didn't fret which is fine, as panicking could have led you to a great injury... Your senses were sharp, very wise..my dear." He coos in my ears.

No!

I am the dumbest person alive not to have noticed all these while with him!

Not going to allow myself to be unaware and stupid further, I made a decision to leave right there.

We slept together that night, with me nestled in his arms.

Seconds after getting in bed, I could hear his soft snore behind my ears.

I tried to think about my next move but my memory was too vague.

The scenario was unexpected.

It is just two days away to our wedding, for goddess' sake!

When I couldn't reach an end in my thinking, I accepted the night and just slept.

The next morning, I couldn't feel his presence behind me and I knew he'd left.

I stood up and browsed for the best place to move to base on my current financial status.

I settled with a small city in Australia.

I read that it was surrounded by nature and right now, I need time away from humans.

Their deceptions was killing me and I don't think I could ever trust a soul again.

I picked up the phone lying on his side of the bed.

"How could he be so forgetful?" I scoffed.

"Not as if it's your concern anymore" Laila huffed.

Right!

"Let's peek through it." Her curiousness coursed through my veins and I found the phone clamped in between my palms.

"Laila." I groaned and heard her giggle.

I strike a finger behind it at the round spot waiting for it to unlock but the phone kept vibrating with *mismatched fingerprint* written on its screen in red.

Surprised, I turned the phone around to examine it and saw it was different.

I scoffed. No wonder it wouldn't unlock.

Is..this his secret phone?

And he dared forget it?

I tried different dates - my birthday, the date of our first kiss, his birthday, when I accepted his love, but none worked !

"You might be stupid but he's the most lose - headed person ever!

Try something related to Riley! That bitch..." Laila's anger simmered.

I followed her advice, pretending not to have heard her insult me, and oh, I shouldn't even be shocked!

Riley's birthday was indeed the passcode!

I opened it and found it almost dry, having few apps on it - message box, call, documents holder, Instagram, camera and gallery and few others.

I went to the message box and Riley's profile popped up.

She is the only one he has been chatting with.

My breaths became snatched as I read through their messages, their promises to meet on fixed dates... The documents of the expensive things he was buying for her.

Recently, he bought a whole yacht for her and an estate!

My heart broke into pieces when I saw the next document where he made her his successor after his death - his properties, everything was going to go to her?

I didn't agree to marry him because he is rich, but the thought of this sent shivers down my spine.

I'd been busy looking forward to our marriage when he was meticulously planning a future together with her?

My hands clenched around the phone, my vision shook.

Hot blood rushed in my veins.

The sharp snap of my claws filled my ears as I struggled to stay under control.

I dropped the phone, too angry to continue looking.

"Have a business deal to seal, see ya in the evening!

I did my best to prepare toast bread for you, didn't want to wake you up!

Microwave if you wake up late! No, I'm not judging you for waking up late!" I found a note slapped on the room's door and a scoff left my lips.

Microwave bread?

Is that fvcking possible?!

That asshole!

"Is it not?" Laila's voice came through and I grunts.

"Please, I'd like to be left alone for now." I grimaced and she scoffed.

"I never agreed to this relationship in the first place!" She fired before withdrawing back.

I got dressed and went to work, after throwing the bread in the waste bin.

"Right on time! See me in my office please." The manager chimed when I entered.

I blinked, wondering what the sudden meeting could be about.

"There's a scholarship that wants to sponsor someone from our branch here to the one abroad and right now, you're the only employer I can think of. You work for about two years there and can decide to come back."

"No." My response was abrupt.

His eyes pulled up in surprise before a broken laughter left his lips.

"Do you know what you would be missing? If it's about your marriage, I'm sure Mr Demetrius would understand."

"He wouldn't." I replied, choking on my saliva.

"He won't allow me out of his sight. He is obsessed." I uttered, not having the strength to explain to him that I was going to leave him, and this country.

Definitely not convinced by my reply, he nodded then I excused myself.

I went back home and found Riley and Demetrius in the living room, laughing their stupid asses off.

"Oh! Hi, sister. Your fiancee is so funny!

I dropped by to greet you, how have you been?" I didn't missed the smirk behind her lips.

She raised her finger to remove the eye gunk that was never there, showing off the ring on her finger - the one I had wanted to pick the other day when Demetrius and I went for ring shopping.

He had said it was blank, not good enough for a princess like me and had picked one that looks too flashy which I accepted as a recognition of his true love.

"Poor, poor you with a pure soul, not knowing you're surrounded by evil people!" Laila's words played out in my ears like the Lyrica of a heartbreaking music, its melancholic melodies too strong for me to withstand.