From Warm to Wrong

My mate-to-be, Ethan, said he had some urgent work come up right before our planned full moon trip. He bailed.

I was missing him like crazy, so I immediately drove for over ten hours to his city.

I hadn’t told Ethan I was coming. There I was, flowers in hand, standing outside his mansion, ready to give my destined mate a sweet surprise.

But then I caught the mixed scent of Ethan and another female werewolf.

The scent was sickeningly familiar.

Amber Collins. Ethan’s ex-mate.

I fought back the burn in my nose, my eyes already red, and pushed the door open.

And what did I see? Them, sharing a glass of red wine, cuddled up, practically on top of each other.

When Ethan finally noticed me, he jerked his arm away from Amber, walked stiffly over, his voice laced with panic.

"Scarlett, why didn't you tell me you were coming?"

…

Tears welled in my eyes. I struggled to keep my voice steady, trying to sound as calm as I could.

“I wanted to surprise you.”

Ironically, the surprise had turned into a shock.

Ethan’s brow suddenly furrowed, and he swallowed hard. “You… this is… so sudden.”

Amber, beside him, spoke up.

"Ethan, honey, Scarlett came all this way to see you. Why are we talking out here? Invite her in."

She pulled a key from her pocket and unlocked the door like she owned the place.

She really did act like she was the lady of this manor.

I’d almost forgotten: I was the one who’d bought this mansion for Ethan.

Just because he’d said, ‘The moonlight here is perfect for werewolves,’ I had to call in a ton of favors just to get the chance to buy this exclusive place, and I paid for it in full with the trust fund my parents left me.

I never thought I’d be the one feeling like an intruder.

Inside, Amber lounged on the sofa, lazily twirling a silver goblet – the kind reserved for mates.

And Ethan? He actually put on an apron and started making dinner.

I was floored. The Ethan I knew never wanted to do chores, let alone cook in front of me.

Soon, Ethan served up a feast of venison.

Every dish reeked of rich deer blood.

He enthusiastically piled meat onto Amber’s plate, complaining in an indulgent tone,

“Eat up while it’s hot. Our little princess can’t go a meal without her venison.”

Amber flashed a smug smile at him, licking her lips.

“You’re so good to me, baby.”

They flirted like I wasn’t even there, their wild pheromones thick in the air, all mixed up. After a while, they finally seemed to remember I existed.

Ethan noticed I hadn’t touched my food. “Scarlett, aren’t you hungry?”

I said flatly, “I’m allergic to venison.”

The room went quiet for a beat, the air freezing.

Amber quickly asked with concern, “Scarlett, why didn’t you say so? You haven’t touched any deer blood, have you? Venison can trigger a wolf's frenzy in those who are allergic.”

I shook my head. “No.”

She smiled again, her arm draped familiarly over Ethan’s shoulder, her pose seductive.

“See, Ethan? You were so focused on how much I love venison, you forgot to get any other prey for her.”

At that, Ethan chuckled, a flash of wolfish possession in his eyes.

“Alright, I get it, I take care of you. Now hurry up and eat while it’s hot.”

Amber giggled, a satisfied purr in her voice. “Yes, honey!”

When I decided to come here, I’d been so eager to see Ethan that I skipped the pack’s teleportation portal and drove for over ten hours straight.

But the thought of sharing the moonlight with my mate so soon had made me feel no tiredness at all.

I never imagined that actually seeing him would make my soul feel a tearing exhaustion.