Chapter Four

POV Azalea

     Axel and I sat and talked for hours as we sipped on our coffee and talked about the old times. We had once been so in love and then one day out of the blue he just left the pack with not so much as a goodbye. I was hurt and confused and shortly after because of our split, was forced to marry Thorne, as we were true mates and in order for him to assume duties as Alpha he had to marry his mate, which was me. 

Axel and I never discussed his reasons for leaving nor did we discuss Thorne and it was refreshing to be in the company of someone who I could talk to without it being an act. Hours went by and soon I reluctantly returned home.

As I entered through the door he was there waiting for me. His eyes were fixed on me and they were glowing. I knew he was upset. 

“ Where were you?” He demanded that I answer.

I just kept walking around. I remembered that he never gave me a direct answer when I asked him the same question. Now he has the audacity to demand I answer? Incredulous.

“ I ASKED YOU A QUESTION, AZALEA LEANDRA!” He growled in his Alpha authoritative voice. I stopped in my tracks and looked straight at him.

“ I see now. I must answer to you but you can keep secrets.” 

“ What?” Thorne said, looking surprised.

“ Don’t you dare play innocent with me. You know damn well what I’m talking about!  If you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to fear.” I spat at him.

I knew he was trying to make me jealous. He was trying to make me feel insecure about myself, and for what? To make me doubt myself? Him?

“ I have nothing to hide.” He replied, crossing his arms and looking at me in a way that he knew would piss me off.

I rolled my eyes, “Did you or did you not have a sleepover with Vanessa?” I asked him.

“ Yes, I did. But that’s it.” He said,

" Bullshit!" I screamed.

" “You are my wife. You leave me to go running around with your ex. It’s inexcusable.” He said, cutting me off.

" Oh but it's perfectly all right for you to go out with your ex but when I decide to, you have the audacity to tell me it’s wrong to.” 

" I don't want you to see him again. I mean it, Leah." He got in my face, his eyes narrowed and he peered down at me. " You will never see Axel Rivers again." He commanded and I just stood there in awe of how he could tell me one thing while he was doing worse than having coffee.

“I won't be a puppet on your strings,” I spat. He forced his lips upon mine, but fury replaced my weakened state when I remembered Vanessa. I bit down hard and he cursed before letting me go. He touched his lip in shock as I smiled mockingly and walked out of the room.

Lying in bed, I touched my lips. My wolf was wild over the kiss from Thorne, a man who'd never expressed any affection towards me--until now. It made me feel like there was hope for our marriage, though I'd soon be proven wrong.

****

I awoke and hurriedly dressed before going downstairs to get my coffee. When I got downstairs I was shocked to see Thorne at the table waiting for me, a look of regret on his face. When I entered the room he looked up from his paper, his eyes following my every move.

“ Leah, I’m sorry about last night…I just don’t want people to start rumors about seeing their Luna with another man.” 

“ Well, Thorne, what about them seeing their Alpha with another woman…”

Thorne insisted nothing was happening with Vanessa, but a text from her on his phone proved otherwise. Crushed, I ran to the car, tears streaming down my face as I realized he had lied. Inside the coffee shop, Axel looked handsome in his suit getting his morning coffee when he saw me he smiled, walking towards me.

As I walked closer his smile faded and he reached out and grabbed my hand.

“ What’s going on? You look like you’ve been crying.” He said.

“ I know it’s true now, Axel. Thorne has been having an affair and I have evidence. He got a text message this morning and they’re planning on going out of town to a bed and breakfast.” I sobbed and he pulled me into a hug. 

“ Oh, Azalea, I’m so sorry.” He said sympathetically.

Axel's face expressed sympathy and anger, his blue eyes filled with compassion as I spoke about Thorne's affair. His gaze was supportive as we discussed the final nail in my marriage’s coffin; the text message from that morning.

"Thank you for being here, Axel," I said, my voice hoarse from crying.

"Always," he replied, his thumb rubbing circles on the back of my hand.

“I just can't do it anymore, Axel,” I said. "I don’t know how much more of this I can take.” 

“ You don’t have to do it alone. I’ll be here if you need me, Azalea.” He said reassuringly.

“ Thank you but I need some time alone to think.” I told him and I got up from the stool and walked towards the door. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do yet but I needed time. Time to think things over. 

When I got home and saw that Thorne wasn’t there my heart sank. Even though his letter said, ‘Out of town business meeting’ I knew he was with her.

Just then my phone pinged and it was a text from Vanessa of them together at a ball. His arm was around her. “ Miss him yet, bitch? ‘V’ “