Chapter 1

    NICOLETTE'S POV

    As an Omega, being married to the alpha of a well revered pack would be considered a privilege to anyone else but to me, it would be termed more like a consolation prize. No one actually was willing to acknowledge me as Luna save my husband's best friend and Beta, Allen.

    This marriage of convenience had erupted moons ago after I had been ultimately embarrassed by my supposed mate, an alpha who had been embarrassed by the fact that an Omega was his destined mate. I could remember that day as the back of my paws when I had felt the pull and traveled all the way to that ceremony where I had been rejected. The shame was still all over me when he said clearly that he could not claim an Omega. That was the stepping stone to my marriage of convenience to the heart shattered Alexander Auger of the Red moon pack. His mate too had abandoned him and he had promised me a place by his side in a marriage with no strings attached. Perhaps he wanted to send a message across but what do I care, I was at least accepted somewhere.

    The least I could do since I could not perform my duties as a real Luna would was to play the housewife and make my dear husband's meal. Tonight Xander, for that was what he was being called by everyone, had returned from his trip to a clan nearby with his Beta unexpectedly. I knew nothing of his whereabouts as no one told me anything actually. He had returned suddenly and I decided to fix him a meal. There was something really strange in his behavior but I would rather think that his meeting with the neighboring pack did not go as planned. So while the duo waited in study, I put my best effort into getting their meal ready.

    In a couple minutes and I was done and ready to deliver it to them. I set the food before them on the table and waited a little. Xander would not even look at me as I entered as he fixed his gaze on the paperwork before him. Allen, noticing the awkwardness of the situation, smiled at me as he grabbed his dish and had a taste.

    "Trust me Nicolette, you have outdone yourself as always. This tastes amazing." Allen had said , full of smiles.

    I thanked him for his compliments but waited still hoping perhaps my husband dearest would have words for me but he still would not look my way. Although Allen tried to hide it but I saw him kick Xander under the table and he looked up quickly, seeming now to have only noticed my presence in the room. He brought on his face a smile that seemed really hard to be there and I knew he was not angry but troubled. I have been with Xander long enough to discern from his troubled and angry countenance. I sincerely hoped that whatever it was that might have been bothering him would pass away. Xander was speaking to me now.

    "Thank you for the meal wife but I think you should retire and get some rest now." he said to me

    "Oh but the dishes..." I began

    "Would be taken care of by the maids. You just go to bed. Allen and I have so much to talk about." he said to me.

    There was no point arguing before it would begin to seem like I was crossing the boundaries of our agreement so I decided to give in. I bid him goodnight and to Allen as well who was rather too focused on his meal like it was the only thing that mattered. I made my way to my room immediately. Like I said, ours was a marriage of convenience so we did not share bedrooms. We had our way of respecting each other's personal space.

    But tonight, I really could not sleep at all as there was so much on my mind. In my time of being married to Xander, regardless of how troubled he was he always found a way to make me feel comfortable but tonight,.it seemed he was trying hard to make eye contact with me. I needed someone to share this with and tell me that everything was alright so I decided to call on my best friend with whom I was supposed to go shopping with. She picked on the second ring.

    "Come on Nicolette, it's late you know." she whined over the phone but I knew it was all a prank. She was one who would always listen to me

    "Should I hang up?" I asked her sounding really stressed.

    Actually I wanted her to notice my mood.

    "Do not dare. What's up? Don't tell me you're having second thoughts about the spree tomorrow. Think of all the goodies we would get this time." she said

    "Actually that's why I called Zibelle, I cannot make it." I said

    "Why?" she asked

    "Xander just returned and you know how it usually is." I said

    "Yes. You play the devoted housewife but seriously, wasn't he supposed to be back much later like way after our shopping spree?" she asked

    "Well you know how these things go. Anyways Zibs I got to go now." I said to her rather disappointed she could not pick up on the signs I was giving her that I was rather upset.

    Well like I said she was my best friend and the moment I said I was about to hang up, she already took notice and asked what the problem was. I told her I was scared and worried over Xander. After explaining what had happened that night, Zibelle reassured me that I probably was overthinking it and just needed to sleep it off. I agreed with her and bid her goodnight.

    It was all words because I found it pretty much hard to get any form of sleep that night. I was troubled and so was my wolf. I usually get certain hunches when something wrong is about to happen and I could tell that this was one of those times when things I feared happened. The only question now in my mind was about what was happening exactly as my fears were actually beginning to develop. This happened to go down as my most troubled night since my marriage to Xander and by the morning I hoped for my sake that everything would be alright.