1: Fearless

CAROLYN

I wasn't prepared for the sight I just witnessed.

Moana was straddling my husband, and he was moaning her name like prayer while dressed like a cheap bartender.

Her smirk hit me before her words did. “Guess you should have come home earlier or later.”

My chest tightened as I watched the shameless Flynn scramble off the bed and tug up his pants with shaky hands.

“Caro...wait, this isn't...." Flynn began, stammering. "I don't know how she seduced..." He paused as my hard, stoic glare pierced his lies.

"Seduced, huh?" Moana crossed her legs like the queen of the sea. "He begged for this, Carolyn. Asked me to wear your things and everything."

"Moana shut...." Flynn hissed.

For a split moment, his eyes met mine, and I saw it— shame, regret, and that tenderly innocent look that made me fall in love with him.

But it only lasted for a second. The cheater mask slipped back.

A sad smile tugged at my lips. I should have known — players don't change, they just get better at hiding it. Flynn was nothing more than a playboy when I met him four years ago. I fell in love with him first, and I fell hardest when he promised to change for me. But I was a fool. “Don't bother lying," I said quietly. "I've suspected for a week. Part of me hoped I was wrong. But here we are.”

He opened his mouth, but I lifted a hand."I'm not finished," I breathed out and turned to my bag and pulled out the folder I'd brought. "You've been stealing money from our joint account to fund a company abroad."

"Caro, I..."

“I knew everything all along; stop lying to me.” I snapped, slamming the folder to the bed angrily.

His pupils shrank. "Since when did you know this?"

"Perhaps since you ordered a Christmas gift for her with our joint credit card, you idiot," I charged, shoving the evidence for that on my phone.

Today is December 25th, which I should be spending with my husband. I left home to run more research with a banker friend who had hinted at his fraud earlier, and from there I went to church, only to come back and meet this horrible scene that made me want to throw up.

Moana was wearing my Mrs Santa sexy thongs and bra, to fuck my husband while I was still in the long church dress.

Flynn looked at me with distaste, and the guilt on his face dissipated. "You know what your problem is? You're boring, Carolyn."

My heartbeat stopped, but I held my ground as he continued. "I married you because I felt pity for you. I tried to make it work, but you can't even let me have one good Christmas?"

"You're a dog!" I cursed. "No. You're pathetic! A shameless animal, that's what you are."

"Let's have an open marriage then," He proposed without blinking

I blinked quickly. “Excuse me?”

“Moana and I are together now. Let's just be adults with it, you know..”

"You’re mad,” I spat as he concluded his words. “I gave you every damn thing I have, Flynn, Everything! But this is what I get in return?”

Moana stepped forward. "The ring doesn't make you special, honey. He came to me because I ride him more than you do. I gave him what you can't." She turned around and twerked shortly. "So either accept it, or watch me lube his cock with your tears.”

“Moana!” I slapped her without thinking twice. “I took you in! Paid you, gave you a place to stay, and you repay me by fucking my husband??”

"And so what?" She held her cheek in pain. “Flynn, see what she’s doing!”

“Carolyn, are you out of your senses?” Flynn yelled in defence. “Just look at yourself, you’re being stupid! Moana is one who actually knows how to treat a man”

“Flynn..."My voice cracked. Tears flowed from my eyes and ran down my cheeks. "You're really going to choose her?"

"Get out. I’ve had enough of you; Get out!!” he suddenly commanded without warning. I looked at him with shock.

“Leave the house we brought together?”

He pulled Moana to himself. “My name's on the house deed. What proof do you have?

My heart sank with a heavy feeling of sorrow.

“I'd been a fool,” I told myself as I walked out of the bedroom with more hot tears. “But this is the end of it. Flynn wanted fire? I'll show him to hell."

In the next minute, I was before the house, staring blankly.

The December and festive air hit me like a heavy slap. I was still in the church dress, outside the house, I brought 70% of my earnings with not even with a coat— it doesn't matter anymore.

I hailed a cab and took off to nowhere.

“Where are you going, Miss?” the driver asked, looking at me through the rearview mirror.

I stared out of the window without answering the driver.

Flynn had shattered my spirit, and Moana had killed something humane inside of me.

I replayed how stupid I'd been that day when I walked into the restaurant where she worked. "Save me, ma'am. My boss abuses me, and now he's planning to make me please other men."

Only if her fake tears hadn't moved me, perhaps I would be celebrating Christmas with my husband now.

“Miss?”

"Oh,” I blinked to push my tears back. "Take me anywhere. Somewhere loud. Crowded and mad. I don't care where."

"Like a bar? or a club?"

"Anywhere away from these disgusting humans," I vented. "I'm done with them, take me to somewhere hot!"

I'm sure he must have thought I'm mad, and I don't care. I'm now literally homeless despite all my efforts to be better for him.

He wanted an open marriage... I shall give him!

Tears rushed down my face, finally, unable to keep it in anymore. I'm really done. Even if it's just for tonight, I want to get lost.

"Here, take this," the driver offered as the car rolled into a very colorful and vibrant area.

I sniffed hard but embarrassingly took the handkerchief. "Thank you."

"We're here," He announced, and I wound the window down to check if this was what I wanted.

Yes, it's really a perfect place to get lost in. Christmas lights, fireworks, crazy dressing, bars, tennis courts, joints all made the environment lively, and seriously, this is enough.

"Where's this?"

“Jericho street. The most dangerous hood in this city," he paused. " Different kinds of people thrive here, and not all are human."

"Not human?”

He met my eyes in the rearview mirror. When he smiled, I saw some long, elongated teeth that I quickly realized to be fangs. "Wolves and shifters," He said simply. "This is a pack territory".

I sniffed into the handkerchief, suddenly interested in what he was saying.

I laughed bitterly, "Wolf, Shifters... Are you messing with me right now?"

But his fangs gleamed in the mirror, too real to be fake. My stomach dropped.

"You're...serious." I should've been terrified. Should've demanded he let me out. But after what my eyes saw with Flynn and Moana?

"Trust me!" he exclaimed, putting the car into park. "This is the perfect place..."

"FEARLESS?" I read the plate name aloud. "Is this a bar?"

"Yes. A bar with guestrooms in the backyard. One of our kings is the owner. you can..."

“Perfect,” I interrupted him. “How much is the fare?” I pulled out a few bills and gave them to him before opening the door and stepping out.

He'd talked enough. I needed noise and chaos to escape my reality. Since he'd brought me here, there's no going back. Perhaps... Non-humans are the best idea. Even though I haven't believed that shapeshifters are real.

The bar exuded a dangerous aura indeed. A part of me pulled away, while a part of me smirked and gave me a nudge. ‘Get going. It’s gonna be fun.’

Chuckling, I advanced toward the entrance. The moment I pushed through the heavy doors, heat and noise slammed into me. The bass vibrated through my chest, and I suddenly felt alive as if I had been dead all along.

For the first time today, I smiled. "Fuck humans," I muttered to myself. "Let's see what wolves can do."