2. Return Of His Ex

LILIANNA SPENCER……

I stood frozen — watching the woman draped around Zade like she was born for that place on his arm.

Gianna Carstairs.

She was indeed looking very innocent and beautiful. While dressed in a white and gold evening gown, her beautiful long black hair cascading like silk down her back. Minimal makeup, soft eyes, innocent smile. She looked like a fairy dropped from the heavens.

But all I could see… was a threat.

But when did she come back? Why was she here now, of all time — just when I'd dared to hope I finally bridge the gap between Zade and Me?

Luna Athena muttered beside me, “Look, Luna Liliana. Now your marriage is also at stake. Better you tighten your rope before he slips away from your clutch. It is not too late yet. Don't let others take what is yours. Be careful.” Saying that Luna Athena walked away toward the bar. But her words echoed bitterly in my heart.

‘How am I supposed to hold him back when I could never make him mine even after four years of our marriage? Let alone make him mine. I was not able to bring a smile to his lips. Now look how happy he is with his love. His long lost love.’

Before I could gather my thoughts, Zade’s eyes met mine. And he froze, too.

Gianna followed his line of sight, spotted me, and smiled sweetly as if she hadn't just shattered my world with her return.

She left his embrace and walked gracefully towards me. I was confused about how to react.

“Hey, Liliana!” She said brightly, pulling me into a hug before I could react. “Nice meeting you dear. I have heard a lot about you from Dad.” I stiffly returned the hug. Her lips were near my ear when her tone suddenly shifted from syrupy sweet to venomously soft.

“You dared to steal my man, Liliana. Now I'm back. And I will take back what belongs to me. He only loves me. You weren't able to make him yours even though you were fated mates. Do you understand how strong our love and bond are? You are nothing in front of me. I will throw you out of our life just with the snap of my fingers. And you can't do anything.” I was taken aback by her words.

She pulled away and smiled — sweet, innocent for the crowd. But her eyes glinted with cruelty only I could see.

“Come,” she said cheerfully, looping her arm through mine as if we were best friends. My feet moved on their own as she dragged me back towards Zade.

“So it’s true, she's indeed very beautiful and elegant. You are lucky to have a mate like her, Zade.” I just scoffed at her in my mind.

What a performance. What a snake wrapped in silk and gold.

My wolf, Angela, snarled. ‘What does she think of herself? What a scheme she is. She is acting as if there is no more innocent person in the whole world other than her.’

‘She has always been like this. What's new in this? But I'm amazed to see our Mate. Who just forgot about us after finding his long-lost love?’ I remarked bitterly, eyeing my so-called mate.

Gianna sighed dreamily. “I'm very happy for you, Zade. You finally decided to move on. Though it won't be easy for me to move on from you, I will try. I hope I find my fated mate soon, who will pamper me the way you do to Liliana.” I wanted to throw up hearing her words. I wish I could kill her.

“I still remember how you used to pamper me and dote on me back then,” Gianna said dreamily and I gritted my teeth.

“I'm sure, you must pamper your mate more than you did for me.” I looked at Zade who was looking at me but the moment our eyes met he looked away which hurt me badly.

“You like little firecrackers right? Why don't we go out and enjoy ourselves? Everyone is enjoying themselves.” I was stunned by his words, how swiftly he just changed the topic.

“Yes, of course. Let's go.” Gianna cheered and clung to Zade’s arm as if she was his wife.

They started walking away, leaving me behind… like discarded trash.

Suddenly Gianna stopped and looked back at me. “Liliana, come join us. It will be fun. Please.” She said in an extra sweet way and I felt like my sugar level was going to shoot up because of her over-sweetness.

Before I could answer, Zade said flatly, “Liliana, come. Gianna is requesting you so lovingly.”

He didn't invite me. He commanded me. Not as his wife. But as a formality.

He could have asked me to join them. I would have gone with them happily. But he chose the wrong words to ask me out. I have never disobeyed him. Then how could I do that now?

“Sure,” I whispered, forcing my steps to move. I walked beside them like a shadow no one wanted. They laughed. Talked. Reminisced.

I felt like an extra there. I was his legally wedded wife and his Luna. But the way they were enjoying each other’s company it felt like I was a third wheel between them.

I heard how people had started murmuring about them. “Poor Luna Liliana…”

“I felt bad for Luna Liliana. How Alpha Zade just put her into a corner like useless trash and enjoyed the festival with his ex-lover. Such a pity.”

“Yeah, you are right. But what happened, has happened for the good. She has come to know her place now. How proud she was to have a Mate like Zade. It was always her who used to love him crazily and was always over-possessive of him. He never gave her that much importance.”

Every word was a dagger. Their words were very hard to take. Each word pierced my soul, making my heart bleed. I kept quiet as those words were the bitter truth of my life that I never wanted people to know. But there was a saying, no matter how much effort you put into hiding the truth it will come out eventually one day.

Zade did mark me to show others that we are a loving couple but other than marking me he had never even kissed me let alone made love to me. I felt so low at that moment seeing my man with another girl. In these years it seemed his happiness was lost without her. Now as she was returned she brought happiness in his life.

That mark was for reputation. Not devotion.

In four years of marriage, I was a symbol. Not a wife.

Zade handed me a firecracker. “Stay with Gianna. The Alpha King is calling me.” Saying that he walked away.

I turned around and suddenly someone bumped into me from behind and the firecracker flew from my hand, landing on Gianna’s floor-length gown.

WHOOSH!

Within the blink of an eye, her dress caught on fire in front of my eyes.

“LILIANA!” Gianna screamed my name like a curse.

Panic jolted through me. Before rushing to her I looked for water but there was nothing. So taking a piece of cloth I rushed to her to smother the fire.

“Zade! Help me!” Gianna was still screaming in fear when I was trying to put out the fire.

Some people reached there with water and poured water on her and finally, the fire was extinguished.

“Zade,” Gianna cried out — not a burn in sight yet she collapsed into Zade's arms, burying her face into his chest.

My heart clenched in pain seeing another woman in my man’s arms. Zade put his coat around her as her dress clung to her body because of the water.

“Are you okay?” Zade asked her, panicked and concerned. But she kept crying all the time.

My hands — burnt from putting out the flames stung. But he didn't look at me once.

My heart ached with extreme pain seeing my mate's concern for his ex who didn't even get burned a little but he didn't care about who burned her hands in order to save his ex.

Clearly, my love and patience failed in front of his love. I think his love is much stronger than mine. That's why in these four years of our marriage being his fated mate I could not make a place for myself in his heart.

“Luna Liliana, how could you do this to Gianna? You are so jealous that you set fire to her dress?” I was stunned to hear the accusation. I snapped my head to find Gianna’s cousin's sister who just labelled me with a false accusation.

“Yes, Liliana. Why did you do this to me? I was happy for both of you. I had accepted fate and decided to move on from Zade then why did you try to harm me?” The shock was an understatement, I felt like the sky fell apart on me when Gianna also put all the blame on me.

I instantly turned to Zade to defend myself.

“Zade, trust me. It was an accide…..”

SLAP!

The sound of it rings out across the yard, I felt my cheek sting with burning pain. I stared at him with utter disbelief, holding my cheek.

I still could not believe that Zade just slapped me for that bitch. He believed her words over mine. He didn't even let me explain.

“What are you doing, Alpha? Have you lost your mind?” I heard Beta Killian’s voice who stood beside me.

“I did what was needed.” Zade snapped. And I stared at him with my blazing eyes.

“Take her home. Now.” His voice echoed in the yard.

“I don't want to see her anywhere near me. Take her away from my sight.” My body shook not from fear but rage. It was too much. I have never been humiliated this much. I can't take it anymore.

“You don't want to hear my explanation. Fine. I'm leaving. But before leaving let me clear one thing to you that I didn't set her dress on fire. If you don't believe me then check the surveillance camera. Everything will be clear as water.” Saying that I turned on my heels and walked away. Beta Killan followed behind me.