Ariana

Damian’s first love, Lily, suddenly returned to the pack after six long years. But this time, she didn’t come alone; she brought her pup along with her, a child whom I suspected to be my mate’s because of how he dotes on the little boy.

For the past month, Damian had been finding reasons to stay away from home. Most times he’ll call me to say he had urgent pack business and needed to keep traveling from one territory to the other but I wasn’t stupid and I knew quite well he was avoiding me.

However, I still hoped that today would be different because tonight was our three year anniversary.

“Pheewww” I sighed, staring at the already set dinner table.

I couldn’t believe that it was already three years. I mean three whole years since my mating ceremony to the Alpha of my dreams, my mate. It’s been three years and a few months since we found out that the Moon Goddess had bound us as mates but tonight marks it officially three years since our mating ceremony.

I had prepared a candlelit dinner and a small gift, hoping maybe… just maybe he’d come home this time so we could at least celebrate.

But I was terribly wrong because by nine o’clock, I was still alone and the food I prepared had already gone cold.

I sniffled and quickly cleaned my eyes, trying to put myself together in case the moon goddess touched his heart and he decided to come home.

I was about to call him again when I received a mind link from Riley, Damian’s younger sister. Was she close to the house? And why was she mind linking me, I thought to myself.

“Hey,” I whispered.

“Ariana,” she called softly, “check your messages, I sent you something a few minutes ago,” she said, and then the mind link cut.

What was so urgent she had to mindlink me? I didn’t know what to think. Or did something bad happen to Damian and that was why he was yet to be home for the anniversary dinner? I thought to myself and quickly went to search for my phone.

I took a deep breath and then opened our chat expecting to see something harmless but a bile rose in my throat and I immediately dropped the plate in my hand letting it shatter to the floor immediately the image popped on my screen.

A shard scr aped my ankle, drawing a thin line of blood, but I could barely feel anything. I cleaned my eyes hoping that my eyes were deceiving me and I was mistaken but when I opened it again the image was staring back at me making me believe it was real.

Riley had sent me a screenshot of Damian’s public post on Instagram. It showed that he had booked out the entire Moonshore Bay, lit up the night sky with fireworks, and celebrated Lily’s birthday with her and their pup.

My hands were shaking as I swiped through the screenshots one by one with tears in my eyes. The beach, the yacht, the fireworks, the bouquets of roses, and finally Damian, smiling proudly, holding the boy in one arm and resting his other hand on Lily’s waist.

My eyes burned with hot tears as I lingered on the photo of him holding Lily’s waist. This damn mate of mine was holding another woman’s waist with our wedding ring still on his finger.

The caption read: “A blueberry cake made with my own hands, for the loves of my life.”

Was he really being serious right now? The loves of his life?? If they were the loves of his life then what does that make me his Luna and fated mate?

My chest tightened painfully and I went to his profile only to see that it was gone and that he had blocked me from it.

Still, I refused to give up because maybe he might have a good explanation so I tried calling him. Once. Twice. Three times.

He didn’t answer and kept hanging up on me.

Then a single message came through:

“Busy.”

One word, cold and detached like I was nothing to him.

Something inside me cracked. I couldn’t breathe. My heart pounded against my ribs like it wanted to escape. I clutched the dining table, my body trembling with helpless fury.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhh” I screamed, pushing the food and drinks on the table to the floor.

I didn’t care, I grabbed my own hair and broke down crying.

“Ariana, Ariana, Ariana. ... .open the door” I heard someone knocking but I didn’t need to open up to know it was Riley.

A few minutes later she was beside me patting my hair.