Chapter 13: Chill

Cecilia turned quickly, her breath hitching when her gaze locked with the man who had trailed her through the crowded mall. His stare locked onto hers with a force that halted her completely. He stood tall, his sharp features partly obscured by shadows, exuding a presence that drew attention. The atmosphere surrounding him appeared to vibrate with a silent power, one that awakened a deep-rooted fear inside her.

"You left this behind," he remarked, extending her ID card. His voice was silky, but laced with an indescribable quality, similar to a soft growl that he could barely suppress.

Cecilia paused, her heart pounding, before she moved forward and grabbed the card. “Thanks,” she was able to say, her voice shaking a little.

The man nodded once, his intense gaze holding onto hers for a moment longer than required, before he turned and vanished into the crowd of people. Cecilia remained motionless, her thoughts racing. There was something about him that seemed... recognizably familiar. Shaking her head, she swiftly left the mall, anxious to move on from the encounter.

The moment she emerged into the refreshing night air, she flagged down a taxi. The driver glanced at her with curiosity as she made herself comfortable in the back seat, pressing her bag firmly to her chest.

"I just need to go home, please,"she murmured, her voice barely audible over the growl of the engine as it roared to life.

The journey to her apartment seemed more extended than normal. Her mind was a storm of discomfort, recollections from a past she had attempted to escape looming to reemerge. She rested her head on the cool glass of the window, observing the city lights turn into streaks. A slight feeling of regret pulled at her. Regret for thinking she could escape her past.

By the time she arrived at her humble apartment, night had completely enveloped the area. The faint light over her entrance wavered as she opened it, entering and closing off the outside world behind her.She dropped her bag onto the couch and sank down beside it.,burying her face in her hands.

The pendant hanging from her neck felt more burdensome than normal. She encircled it with her fingers, the chill of the metal sharply contrasting with her warm skin. It was Andrew’s gift to her. A symbol of a connection that once seemed indestructible. However, at that moment, it served as a reminder of all she had lost.

Andrew.

Even at this time, his name still gives her cold feet. He was her husband, her Alpha, her all. Their marriage had been a storm of desire and hope, a bond embraced by the whole pack. She could still recall how he looking at her on their wedding day, his deep eyes filled with a flame that appeared unextinguishable.

"You are mine, Cecilia," he had declared that day, his tone quiet and strong. “I will protect you with all that I possess.”

However, those words were mere hollow assurances.

Being the Luna began as if it were a dream. Andrew had been caring and affectionate, a leader who sparked devotion and respect. Yet with time, the flaws in his exterior started to become apparent. His anger, previously uncommon and brief, turned into a perpetual presence in their lives. He insisted on perfection from her, from the pack, from himself. And when perfection was not attained, his fury was quick and ruthless.

When it occurred for the first time, Cecilia was too stunned to react. A slight difference of opinion had evolved into a fierce quarrel, Andrew’s fist had collided with the wall, dangerously close to her head.

"Do you know the impact of what you've done?"He had growled, his voice rough and threatening. “Your actions impacts how I am seen in this pack."

She had expressed regret, attempting to soothe him, yet the event had made an impact. Not on her skin, but upon her heart. As time passed, those instances of anger increased in frequency and intensity. The man she once adored was fading away, substituted by a person she hardly knew.

However, it was not merely his anger that shattered her. It was his betrayal.

She clutched the locket harder, her eyes aching with unshed tears. Divorcing him was the most challenging decision she had ever faced, yet it remained the sole option available to her. She needed to protect herself, in order to be safe.

A loud knock at the door jolted her from her reverie. She quickly dried her eyes, stood up, and straightened her clothes before opening the door. There stood Annie, her dearest friend and trusted confidant.

“Hi,” Annie murmured gently, her gaze filled with worry. "Are you alright?"

Cecilia agreed, managing a smile. “Sure, I’m okay.” Just...thinking.”

Annie entered, shutting the door after her. "Do you want to discuss it?"

Cecilia paused briefly before she shook her head. “Not this evening.” "I simply... need a little time."

Annie offered her a compassionate glance but chose not to push further. Instead, she took a seat on the couch, providing her silent company as solace.

Their silent moment was broken by a sudden loud crash outside the door. The two women startled, their gazes locking in fright.

“What was that about?” Annie murmured.

Cecilia approached the door carefully, opening it slightly to glance outside. The corridor was deserted, with the sole noise being the soft buzz of the building’s lights. Cecilia entered, holding the door after her.

"It's likely just the wind," she remarked, although her tone was unconvincing.

Annie appeared uncertain as well, but she refrained from pressing the matter. Instead, she rested a hand on Cecilia's arm. “If you’re feeling uncomfortable, I can spend the night.” "Just for you to feel safe."

Cecilia paused for a moment before she nodded. "Thanks a lot."

As they prepared to sleep for the night, the discomfort remained palpable, thick and suffocating. Cecilia’s mind wandered back to the unfamiliar man at the mall, his intense stare and authoritative demeanor. There was something about him that seemed... recognizable. However, she was unable to identify it.

And then came the noise of the crash outside her door. What’s that? Or perhaps something else?

She remained awake well past the time Annie had drifted off, fixing her gaze on the ceiling and clutching her locket firmly. Her past, filled with suffering and problem. And deep inside, she understood that she couldn’t escape it forever.

Out there, Andrew remained a part of her life. Regardless of her needs, her connection with him was indestructible.

The idea sparked a blend of dread and excitement running through her. Regardless of it all, a tiny piece of her still longed for the man she had once cherished. The man who had been her Alpha and her guardian.

Cecilia had once believed that marrying Andrew would give her a sense of belonging. Her family had cast her aside the moment they learned she was diagnosed with cancer. Believing she was cursed, as no one in their lineage had ever had cancer., Cecilia is unwilling to bear the burden of her care or the societal stain of her condition. Left with no family and a rapidly declining future, she had accepted Andrew’s proposal out of desperation.

For Alpha Andrew, it was a marriage of convenience to secure his inheritance, a vital part of his family’s legacy. For her, it was a final lifeline to escape total isolation.

Andrew had always been her secret infatuation, a charming figure with his golden-brown eyes and rugged, handsome looks. His confidence had a way of drawing people in, and his warm laughter and easy charm had captivated her since her teenage years. But he had never shown the slightest interest in her then, and even now, after two years of marriage, his heart was elsewhere. She saw it every day in his distant eyes. He barely acknowledged her existence.

Few months later, after their wedding, their life together started becoming cold. Andrew rarely came home, and when he did, his presence was as hollow as his words. The Blackwood mansion, with its grand halls and luxurious rooms, echoed with emptiness. Cecilia had once hoped that perhaps, with time, he might soften, that they could find something real between them. But it was a foolish hope, and she knew it now before she finally took a bold step to divorce him. Andrew had never intended to build a life with her. She was just a placeholder, a means to an end.

Now they are divorced, entirely due to his ex-girlfriend, Vivian, who was expecting his baby and whom Andrew appeared to value more than anything else.

"Why does this even irritate or troubled me?" Cecilia pondered, annoyance rising inside her. "My marriage with Andrew was merely a contract marriage," she added.