1. The Blindfold

Elise

"He's here!" my wolf, Leah, squealed inside me.

My heart pounded in anticipation and excitement. I'd sent all the staff away because this moment had to be special and intimate for us.

I cross-checked everything, the lights, the food, the champagne brand, the music. It was exactly how he liked it.

His woody, masculine scent washed over me, familiar and intoxicating. Then I saw him.

Tall, chiseled, gorgeous. I'd seen him countless times, but I could never get used to it.

He still had the same effect on me.

He took in the decorations and the elaborate dinner, and a slow smile spread across his face.

"My daisy," he said, spreading his arms, and I immediately rushed into them. He lifted me like I weighed nothing.

"I wanted to do a little something for your birthday," I said, smiling shyly as I gestured toward the dining room.

There was a dark glint in his gaze as he looked at the table.

"Looking at all this food makes my stomach rumble," he drawled. "But I'm hungry for something else."

Before I could register what he meant, my feet were no longer on the ground.

"What are you doing?" I laughed as he carried me to the bedroom.

His lips found mine in an instant. Slow, drugging. I arched into him, my nerves wired on every end.

I broke the kiss and reached for his shirt frantically, wanting to unbutton it, but his hands stilled my movements.

He opened the drawer and took out a black piece of clothing.

Of course, I sighed.

The blindfold.

He could never sleep with me if I didn't wear it.

"Put it on," he said, his voice lowering to a hoarse whisper.

I immediately did as he said. The questions could come later.

"Sure," I whispered as I slipped it over my eyes.

Then his lips crashed down on mine.

The kiss was a storm unleashed. His mouth claimed mine with bruising intensity, his teeth grazing my lower lip until I gasped into him. Blindfolded, I surrendered to the darkness, my hands fisting his shirt as he backed me toward the tall glass window.

It was then, mid-thrust, that the blindfold slipped.

My eyes adjusted, and the sight hit me like ice water.

Inches from my face, his phone rested on the windowsill and Lucia's photo glowed on the screen.

He stared at it hungrily while pounding into me, his lips brushing my shoulder, but his eyes... his eyes were locked on that image.

Nausea twisted in my gut.

Everything blurred.

My heart beat thundered in my ears. My stomach churned.

What...what just happened? I kept asking myself as tears filled my eyes.

Leah curled into a ball and retreated into a darker, farther corner of my mind, a shell of herself. 

I didn't remember how the next few minutes passed. My body moved on instinct while my mind shattered into a thousand pieces.

The next thing I knew, we were lying in bed, his arms came around me as he let out sated breaths.

"Thank you so much, my daisy..." He began to say but I couldn't hear everything.

My mind was drifting, heart pounding in agony.

"...with a stressful day I've had, I needed that..." He murmured, oblivious to my absentmindedness

"...pack elders called for a meeting..." He continued, I listened to bits and pieces.

"...border defenses... to mobilize more gamma wolves..."

My head spun. It was all too much to handle. The nausea rose in my throat and I bolted off the bed.

"Where...you going?" He drawled after me, his voice thick with sleep.

Seconds later, I was bent over the toilet, vomiting up the contents of my stomach.

I turned on the faucet and I began to rinse my mouth. A shaky sob escaped me, and moments later, I was crying uncontrollably as the water continued to run.

The heartbreak was too overwhelming.

For three years, I thought that he got off on blindfolding me before sex. I thought it was his kink and I was ready to indulge in whatever curiosities or kinks he had.

I never imagined he did it so he could stare at Lucia's picture while he was with me.

I pressed my lips together to stop the sobs that tore through me. It hurt so much.

Alpha Elliott was my mate. My first love. He was the one who I'd devoted my love, my drugs—my life's work to.

How could he do this to me?

For three years, he had Lucia at the back of his mind while he was with me?

I slumped on the ground with my back to the door as I pondered on what to do next.

I loved Elliott so much. Even after he postponed our mating ceremony, which should have taken place seven weeks ago, simply because Lucia had a stomachache.

I loved him even though he sometimes spoke to me as if I were beneath him, just because I was wolfless.

I ignored all his flaws and poured my energy into keeping him alive because I loved him.

But now...

I didn't know what to do.

I slowly got up from the ground when it became too cold and walked to the bed.

I tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.

I had noticed the signs.

Elliott spending so much time with Lucia and doting on her.

Whenever he hurt me by prioritizing Lucia over me, he'd apologize and I'd forgive him  easily.

But not this time.

Before I knew it, the first light of dawn had crept in.

I felt Elliott's arms wrap around me and his lips press on my forehead. He was an early riser.

"Good morning, daisy," he mumbled against my skin. "I hope you slept well"

I stifled a scoff. The hell I did!

I didn't reply him.

"Daisy?" He called as he got up from bed and came to face me. "Are you okay?"

Was that a rhetorical question?

I'd been crying all night so my eyes were probably bloodshot and swollen. My face was pale.

Couldn't he figure out that I wasn't okay?

I remained silent as I looked away, my body stiffening under his touch.

He let out a grunt and stood up.

I watched him strip, wrap a towel around his waist, and head into the shower.

He just carried on with his day, oblivious to the hurt he'd put me through.

He carried on as though he wasn't a cheater and a liar.

A sob threatened to break out but I stopped it.

If not for the fact that I didn't want him to face public humiliation at his party today due to my absence, I'd have packed my stuff and left this morning.

Minutes later, he came out from the shower and began dressing.

"My daisy..." He bagan with the pet name that always made my heart skip a beat whenever he called me that, except from now. Hearing it just made me sick.

"I wish I could spend some more time with you but pack duties await me..."

"I also have to stop by the company for an impromptu board meeting" he added.

Still no reply from me.

When he was done, he walked to me and I flinched,  then he paused for a second and cupped my face.

"Are you okay, daisy?" He asked again, softly.

Still asking the obvious?

"I'm fine...I just woke up feeling tired" I lied.

He smiled at me but I could see the hint of disdain in his gaze.

"Then ask the moon goddess for strength because there's alot to be done today" he said.

"The Lycan King of the North Moon is coming to the party today, along with every Alpha from the packs across North Moon. So everything has to be perfect"

I winced. He sounded so insensitive. He didn't even care about how I felt. He only cared about me making sure his birthday party was perfect.

He placed a small kiss on my cheek and was gone in an instant.

"Don't worry, Elliott" My voice came out in a broken whisper. "After your party today, I'll let you go be with Lucia"