Chapter 6

Nat's POV

My hand quietly forms a clench beside me, nails digging into my palm as I listen to the confession of his 'pure' friend.

Noelle's disgust couldn’t be any more obvious. [What a shameless worm.]

Ivan's soft voice echoes from the other side, the harshness he has when he speaks to me? Gone. Like it never exists.

Instead, all that is left is a tinge of surprise as he calls out to her. “Thalie...”

There is rustling on the other side, a groan, the sound of skin touching, then Thalie continues. “I love him, Nat. And I wouldn’t be a coward who hides her feeling. He treats me well. When I am sick, he is by my side. When things are dark for me, he doesn’t hesitate to lit it up with his presence. He… is the light that's shining in my heart. I’m being sincere right now. I love him as a person. And as a friend.”

The audacity to spit all this and then add the friendship label catches my tongue for several seconds. And when my voice recovers, all that slips past my lips is a hoarse word.

“And?”

She chuckles briefly. “So I want you to know that your jealousy is unnecessary and misplaced. He’s just looking after me. If I want him, you know I’d have him already. Also, before you guys get together, he hugs me to sleep when I’m cold, sharing the warmth of his body with me while we have the blanket over us. To us, this is normal, as normal as breathing. At the end of the day, nothing changes even when he has you, and nothing will change if you leave. You should understand that, Natasha.”

The double meaning in her words is obvious. My chest races with anger, and my hand tightens against the toothbrush with disbelief.

I’ve met many people; being the heiress to the Beta’s position simply means I have to deal with nobles’ atrocities with a straight face.

Yet, nothing could ever prepare me for someone saying so confidently how she has an engaged man wrapped around her fingers.

But could I blame her?

No.

Everything that is happening is thanks to the man who swears loyalty to me, and me only. Yet he permits this.

“Are you done?” I ask quietly, ready to end the call. I know now when it comes to these two, I will just be wasting my saliva. Their hypocrisy is ridiculous and tiring to dedicate my time to.

Ivan speaks before my finger can move to the red button. “Nat, Thalie is right. You’re the one making our relationship look bad. We’re innocent. Thalie… is my girl,” he says with conviction and firmness.

I shake my head, setting the phone aside and then splash some tepid water on my face. “You know what?” I begin, squeezing out the words I never think I would say. “Do whatever you want. Both of you. I could care less. And…” I stare at the screen, where his name lies along with several heart emojis.

It still feels unreal that someone could really change so swiftly. I feel like a failure, unable to see through the facade of this man, blinded by love and attraction. No matter how much he hides this side of him, he definitely leaves a whiff that I never take seriously.

I let it fester, and now, I become the one in the wrong.

“What do you mean?” Ivan questions, his voice already rising with rage.

I add, “And… you shouldn’t care what I’m up to either. Have a nice time with your Mistress.” I curtly say, tapping the red button, severing the connection before his yell can follow.

I grab the moisturiser, focusing on cleaning my face.

Noelle’s voice echoes in my ears, tinged with appreciation. [You’re doing well, Nat. You’re handling this well.]

My lips lift slightly. It’s quite rare for her to speak to me in such a soft voice. “Thank you,” I mutter in return.

I have no choice but to be strong.

Crying or breaking down or doing anything remotely similar in the face of the two will only make me look pathetic. And I wouldn’t let that happen.

My phon ring again just as I am ready to move on to the next task.

I subconsciously want to swipe and decline the call, thinking it was the loser, but pause at the sight of the unknown number.

Maybe it is a patient…

Who knows.

I swipe to answer, and all I am met with is silence.

“Hey…?”

No response, but I can hear their breathing loud and clear.

“Hello?” I mutter, and for some reason, their breathing grows even more… louder.

Weird.

“If you don’t respond, I’m going to hang up.”

“Don’t—” comes the voice, like a murmur, but I catch it. It is rough, shaky, and cut short.

The voice… is strangely familiar. Really familiar.

It is the voice of a man I can recognize even though I haven’t heard it in years.

“Je-Jermaine?”

Silence.

You could almost hear a pin drop.

He doesn’t have to respond—I know it is him.

His voice comes through seconds later, before I can muster anything, smooth and imbued with that natural authority.

“I’ll be coming to that pack. As you’re my pack member, are you up to making time to tour me around?”

The indifference…

The nonchalance…

I can’t.

I have multiple questions to ask. So many of them, yet none come out when he speaks again.

“Not available?”

How can he still speak so casually when we haven’t talked for years?

“It’s okay if you’re—”

“I am.” I respond immediately, my voice coming out louder. “I will make time. Just let me know when you will come.”

He hums, the sound buzzing, igniting nerves that send my heart racing. “Take care, Nat. I’m bringing you back with me. Whether you like it or not. So be prepared."

Beep beep~

The line goes dead.

My lips part, then close.

That’s him.

Jermaine Honnold.

My Alpha.