Chapter 1: My Worst Day Yet

~Lillian’s POV~

Today, more than ever, I wished I could crawl out of my own skin. Honestly, I’d wished that for a long time.

The sales assistant grabbed the waistband of the skirt with both hands and yanked hard.

“Lower it,” Jake said, voice flat.

“I’m trying,” she muttered, tugging again. The fabric dug into my hips and refused to budge.

“Harder,” he ordered.

The material pinched my skin. I sucked in a sharp breath, stomach pulled in so tight I felt dizzy.

“It won’t go past my hips,” I whispered, cheeks burning.

Jake let out an irritated sigh. “For God’s sake, Lillian, suck your stomach in.”

“I am,” I breathed. My voice came out small.

The assistant braced one foot against the floor and pulled with everything she had. Nothing. The skirt stayed stuck.

“It won’t fit,” I said quietly, shame twisting in my chest.

“Seriously?” Jake laughed under his breath, like he couldn’t believe it.

The assistant glanced back at him. “I can grab the next size up—”

“The next size?” His lip curled. “How many sizes are we talking here?”

My face went hot. I wanted to disappear.

She hesitated. “Different brands run small sometimes…”

“No.” Jake’s eyes dragged over me, full of disgust. “The brand isn’t the problem.” He folded his arms. “Look at yourself, Lillian. Every single outfit I’ve picked today looks terrible on you. Nothing fits anymore.” His jaw flexed. “You’ve gotten so fucking fat.”

The words hit like a slap. Tears stung my eyes, but he kept going.

“I have to stand next to you at the mating ceremony. Do you have any idea how embarrassing that is for me?”

The whole fitting area went quiet. People were staring. Jake shook his head, his face twisted with pure revulsion.

“You look like a cow, Lillian. A fucking cow!”

I couldn’t even look at my reflection. Every word felt like another knife. I swallowed hard, blinked back the tears, and forced myself to meet his eyes.

“J-Jake… I’ll find something else—”

“What?” he snapped. “Nothing is going to look good on that body! How the hell did I get myself into this?”

“Please don’t say that,” I sobbed, lips trembling. “I need you. Please don’t leave me again…”

“I just wish you could lose some damn weight!” His voice rose. “If only I could swap your body for one of those mannequins!”

My breath hitched, I couldn't breathe properly.

“Jake… don't leave me please,” I whispered through tears. “I… I promise I'll hit the gym again… I'll do anything to look exactly as you want!”

He stepped closer to me, his face tightened with disdain. “How many times will you say that! You're such a fat failure! Nothing works to get you in shape!”

"Jake... please."

The plea barely left my lips before he dismissed it. He didn't look back. He didn't slow his pace. He simply walked out of the fitting area as though I wasn't worth another second of his time.

I stood frozen, my vision blurring as the skirt clung tightly to my hips and the weight of a dozen silent stares settled over me.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and took a careful step forward.

Riiip!

The sound broke through the boutique.

I froze. A cool rush of air brushed against the back of my thigh. The skirt had split right down the seam.

A few snickers broke the silence. Then someone laughed. Another joined in, pointing at the torn skirt.

Within seconds, they started whispering.

"Did you hear that?"

"It ripped!"

"Oh my God..."

“She's so big!”

I squeezed my eyes shut, wishing the floor would swallow me whole.

The sales assistant looked at the torn skirt before letting out a small sigh. "I'm sorry, miss," she said softly. "But since the skirt is damaged... that'll be twenty dollars."

Twenty dollars?

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed someone reaching for their phone. Then another lady pulled hers out of her purse.

My heart skipped a beat. They were going to record me. Before anyone could lift a camera, I turned and ran. I pushed through the crowd, ignoring the laughter chasing after me, and locked myself inside the nearest restroom.

The silence hit me all at once. My chest rose and fell with ragged breaths as I gripped the edge of the sink. Then I looked up at the mirror. The woman staring back at me in the mirror looked nothing like the person I used to be.

My swollen face was streaked with tears. My hair was a mess. The torn skirt still clung to my body, mocking me.

A broken laugh escaped my lips before another sob followed. "When did I become... this?”

I wasn't always plus-sized.

Once upon a time, I was the awkward girl with freckles on my face, thick glasses, and a wardrobe that made me look like an intern on a budget. I never fit in.

I admired other girls from afar, wishing I had their beauty, their confidence, their effortless smiles.

I met Jake when I was interning at Denzel Industries, when he walked into the conference room one afternoon. We ended up talking after the meeting, and before I knew it, he was asking if I'd like to grab a cup of coffee with him.

I thought he was joking. Why would a man like Jake Brandon ask someone like me out?

But he wasn't joking.

He was charming, attentive, and unbelievably kind during the first few months of our relationship. He remembered the little things about me. He listened when I spoke. He made me laugh.

More importantly, he never made me feel ugly.

He didn't care about my glasses, my outdated clothes, or the fact that I looked more like a bookworm than the glamorous women who usually surrounded him.

For the first time in my life… I felt seen.

My family couldn't have been happier. Their quiet, awkward daughter had found someone who loved her. Not just any man. Jake Brandon. One of the youngest CEOs under the Denzel Industries umbrella and the heir to Sharp Edge Pack.

I used to think I was the luckiest woman alive.

Then, two years ago, everything changed. The weight came. I exercised. I dieted. I skipped desserts. I counted calories until I could recite them in my sleep. But Nothing worked. The numbers on the scale kept climbing.

And with every pound I gained, Jake grew colder. The sweet texts stopped. He stopped complimenting me. The warmth in his eyes faded into disappointment... then irritation... and finally, disgust.

Now…Tomorrow is the mating ceremony of the Wildermore Kingdom. The one day every unmated wolf waits for. Our second chance to discover whether the Moon Goddess truly destined us for each other.

I should have been excited. Instead, I was terrified because if Jake already looked at me with disgust before the ceremony...

What then would happen if the Moon Goddess gave him someone else?