3.

The door to Harper’s house opened, and a mop of brown hair crashed into me. I laughed out loud as I held my daughter close to my chest.

“How are you doing, my darling?” I asked, beaming. Harper leaned lazily on the counter, a piece of pancake between her fingers as she chewed, staring at us, her hair in total disarray.

“I've missed you, Mum,” Noelle said with a wide smile. I ruffled her hair and pinched her cheeks playfully.

“I've missed you more, my darling,” I cooed.

“She has only been gone for three days,” Harper pointed out and reached for another pancake. Noelle turned and stuck out her tongue at her. Harper stuck out her tongue too, and half-chewed pancake fell out of her mouth.

“Gross,” Noelle said with a laugh and ran off.

“Your daughter bullies me, Zoe,” Harper grumbled as she cleaned up the mess.

“Well, she learnt from the best,” I said with a shrug as I flopped down on her couch. Harper brought forth the plate of pancakes and sat down beside me on the couch.

“You went only for three days, and you already look different,” Harper pointed out as I reached out for a pancake too.

I smiled sheepishly as I took a bite.

“Something happened, right?” Harper said, beaming with excitement.

“So yeah… I met someone…”

Harper dropped her half-eaten pancake onto the plate and wiped her hands on her trousers. She grabbed my shoulder again and shook it vigorously.

“Tell me… And I need details, girl”

I looked at Noelle. She had run back to her iPad, watching one of her many princesses she liked. I could never keep up. She had no interest in us. I turned back to Harper.

“So… his name is Hugh…”

Many gasps and giggles and intermissions later, mostly from Harper, I was done.

“Oh, my days, Zoe. That dude likes you,” she punched my shoulder as if it was the most obvious thing I failed to notice.

“I don't think he does, Harp.” I picked up another pancake to eat.

“You're trying to tell me this guy, Hugh, did all of that for you because he was just being a gentleman? The guy got you a Pucci bikini!! C’mon girl, a gentleman could have picked any random one. But Pucci?”

“He seemed really well off. It might have been random to him,” I tried.

“He's totally head over heels for you,” she said matter-of-factly, waving me off. “So did you exchange contact after that or something?” She asked again, excited to hear my next reply.

“No. When I woke up the next morning, he was gone. Didn’t even leave a note. Poor guy probably saw Noelle’s picture on my phone and decided he doesn't want to have anything to do with a single mom,” I said with a sigh.

“Don’t say that?” Harper worried.

“Men like Hugh don't end up with single mothers like me…it's just a one-night thing, and it's actually fine,” I said, wiping my hands on a tissue.

Harper tried to talk, but I interrupted her.

“Can we just drop this, please?” I asked. She nodded, but I could see the pity in her eyes.

*****

The night of the banquet drew nearer and nearer until it finally came. I had invited Harper over to help me watch Noelle. Harper jumped at the opportunity.

She came earlier than we’d discussed just so she could ‘dress and doll me up’, she’d said. She was overly enthusiastic about the banquet; way more than I was. She practically pushed me out of my own house.

“Go have fun, babe. You look hot; make Lane regret his decision when he sees you,” she winked and slammed the door shut. I knew there was something extra added to the fact that she was overly excited for me to go to a banquet with my ex-husband, whom she hated so much. It was mainly because she wanted to help me dress up for the banquet.

I was adjusting my clothes when I looked up and saw Lane walking in. He still looked very handsome. I wasn't even going to lie about that, but it wasn't in a way that made my heart race anymore.

“You look pretty, Zee,” he said, smiling as we got into the car together

“I know,” I said curtly as he drove us. The ride was very quiet. We arrived soon, and with our arms linked, we walked into the banquet.

It was a whirlwind of familiar faces. Pack friends, family friends, even Lane’s parents- I saw tons of familiar faces who beamed at the sight of us.

I felt terrible about putting on an act, but I knew it would hurt them if they discovered we were no longer together.

Lane’s parents greeted me with such love and warmth, asking me if my ‘husband’, Lane, wasn’t bothering me. Family friends asked how married life was going, and I smiled politely, unable to bring myself to correct them. Sipping champagne from time to time, each time it seemed hard to swallow.

I was still hooked onto Lane's arms, and he dragged me around after him with a proud look on his face as though we were actually a couple. After a few minutes, he seemed to notice the tiredness on my face, and said he needed to do something really quick.

I didn't ask questions, nor did I try to stop him. I watched him walk away, grateful for the space. I walked towards a table, desperately wanting another drink. I picked up a glass again when my nostrils caught the sharp whiff of a strong perfume. I almost gagged on my drink.

I turned and saw Lena, staring daggers at me. Lena Cox, the secretary my ex-husband had chosen over me during our marriage.

I smirked, trying to ignore the choking, nauseous urge that accompanied the smell of her cheap perfume.

“Still clinging to Lane, I see,” she slurred, her wine-colored V-neck dress clinging to her body like a second skin.

“I'm not interested in this, Lena. Just leave,” I said, pushing back the urge to puke.

“You're a liar. You don't want to stay off La…”

“Look, he's all yours, okay? Since you're so crazy about my leftovers, you can have him all to yourself for all I care. Stop bothering me.” I slammed the glass down on the table and walked off.

Her perfume was making me dizzy, and if I spent a moment there, I was likely to pass out. I turned and walked towards the exit, not bothering to wait for Lane anymore.

My heels clicked against the marble floor as I held my temples, heading for the exit. My head was pounding. I just needed fresh air.

I was halfway through the hall when I suddenly saw him.

Hugh.

He stood by the grand doors, dressed in a tailored black suit, looking even more breathtaking than I remembered. His eyes found mine, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop moving.

Before I could flee, Lane appeared beside me, beaming.

“Zoe, there you are! I’d like you to meet someone.” He gestured toward Hugh with a proud smile. “This is Hugh Sterling, the Alpha of my pack.”

No. No, no, no.