Chapter 3

Ashina’s POV

Later that night, I was in my room when Nathan, my husband, walked in. Giving me a forehead kiss, he sat on my bed. Nathan has never kissed me on the lips despite I was now his wife. He explained to me that his girlfriend would be coming and that I should act well and not make his twin brother Daniel think he is cheating on me. He explained that his girlfriend left early this morning and she would be coming back in a few minutes, and that I should see her as a friend. He also explained that she would be staying with us for days due to the upcoming celebration party they were preparing to officially welcome Daniel back home.

Before I got married to Nathan, his girlfriend used to be close to me considering the fact that Nathan was my best friend before we got married. But after I saw them together after my marriage with Nathan, there was a sudden jealousy that appeared in me. Knowing that my husband sees me like a sister and was still together with his girlfriend felt like a constant ache in my heart.

As Nathan spoke, I tried to keep a calm expression on my face, hiding the sadness inside me. "I understand, Nathan," I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging within me. "I'll do my best to act natural and not give your brother any reason to suspect anything."

Nathan smiled gratefully. "Thank you, sweetheart. I appreciate your understanding," he said, his hand reaching out to gently caress my cheek."

I nodded, forcing a small smile in return. Deep down, I knew that this was a test of my love for Nathan. A test of my ability to accept his choices and respect his relationships, no matter how much it pained me inside. But the ache in my heart refused to subside. His actions are hurting me.

Just as Nathan finished speaking, there was a ringing sound coming from the doorbell.

Nathan stood up, his hand slipping away from my cheek as he moved towards the door. "That must be her," he said quietly.

I watched as Nathan opened the door. Her long flowing hair and a warm smile welcomed Nathan.

“Your brother, Daniel, told me you were in here." She said.

She stepped into the room, her eyes glancing around before finally settling on me. "Oh, there you are! How are you doing sweetheart," she said, her voice cheerful and friendly.

I forced a smile onto my face as I stood up to greet her. "Great. It's nice to see you again," I said, my voice betraying the anger inside me.

“Ashina, please help her take her luggages into the visitor’s room." He demanded and I nodded, wondering if it was my job to do so. What happened to the pack maids?

I watched as his girlfriend seemed genuinely happy to be here. Of course, she should. She's spending days here with her boyfriend after all, what do I expect?

Moments later, Nathan and his girlfriend excused themselves to talk privately, leaving me alone in the room. I sank back onto the bed, my eyes were already getting wet.

A single tear slipped down my cheek as I felt the ache in my heart, the longing for a love that could never be fully mine.

Trying to feel better, I undressed and made my way into the bathroom. The warm water poured over me and I felt a bit relieved. After my shower, I wrapped a towel around my body as I tried to push away the memories of Nathan and his girlfriend.

Just then, there was a knock on my door. “Come in,” I called out, assuming it was Nathan's girlfriend, Erica. But to my surprise, it was Nathan's twin brother, Daniel, standing in the doorway.

“What are you doing here?” I questioned, curiosity and wariness in my voice. “I'm afraid if Nathan finds us this way." I added.

“Calm down, we need to talk. No need to be afraid, Nathan and Erica have gone for a stroll,” Daniel said as he walked towards me, his expression serious.

I swallowed nervously, feeling exposed under his scrutinous gaze since I was on towel. “You mind telling me why a newly wedded virgin wife was in a club a few days ago? Drinking to stupor and ending up having a one-night stand with a stranger?” Daniel's words hit me like a slap to the face, harsh and unforgiving.

Stepping away and avoiding his piercing gaze, he caught my wrist and pulled me back gently but firmly. “Look, I do not want to judge you for your actions. I believe there must be a reason,” he said softly, his tone filled with a strange mix of compassion and accusation.

Struggling to hold back the tears threatening to spill over. How could I explain this to him? Nathan will not be happy with me if his brother finds out about the rules guiding our marriage.

But I couldn't find the words. The shame and guilt were like a heavy weight on my chest, making it hard to breathe, let alone speak. So, in a desperate attempt to avoid facing his questions, I simply asked him to leave my room.

“I don't want to talk about it. Please leave."

Daniel hesitated for a moment, his gaze searching mine for answers I couldn't provide. And then, with a sigh, he released my wrist and took a step back. “I'm sorry if I upset you. I just... I care about you, and I wanted to help. But I see now that you're not ready to talk,” he said quietly, his eyes filled with understanding and sadness.

As he turned to leave, I felt it. Daniel had shown me kindness and concern that I hadn't expected. And as the door closed behind him, I was left alone with my thoughts.

After having a shower, I stood in front of the full-length mirror in my dressing room, wore my comfortable nightwear, and then my wolf's voice echoed in my mind. "Did you see that?" she questioned. "He is so observant and he cares so much about you." She continued to speak, her words swirling around in my head as I tried to focus on my reflection.

I shook my head slightly, trying to push away the voice in my head. It was distracting, but I couldn't help but acknowledge the truth in her words. He did seem to care about me in a way that felt different from Nathan. But I wasn't ready to delve into those emotions just yet.

Instead, I turned my attention back to the mirror, studying myself carefully. The soft nightwear draped gently over my curves. I took a deep breath and tried to see myself through a different lens.

I took a step back and looked at my reflection once more. I saw the strength in my eyes, the curve of my waist, the way my smile lit up my face. I saw beauty in my body.

I smiled softly. My wolf's voice was right, he did care about me.