One Time Too Many

Mason Wright slipped off his ring and picked up his phone to book a flight three hours later to Bhador."The marking ceremony will have to wait. We'll continue once Eira is feeling better."My heart sank.We had been together for five years. He claimed me. The marking ceremony? It got delayed–and so many times, at that.For werewolves, being marked was what truly made a bond official.At this point, I lost count of how many times Mason had chosen Eira Padmore over me.Just moments ago, I happily told my friend that I wanted her pup to be at the ceremony. After what Mason said, though, my eyes burned with tears.All because of Eira, the marking ceremony kept getting postponed. I had long become the punchline behind the pack's back."Don't worry," said Mason, still caught up in his own world. "Once Eira and I come back from Bhador, we'll hold the marking ceremony immediately."When he finally looked up and saw my red, swollen eyes, guilt filled his."You know she saved my life.

"Cassandra, are you okay?"The hospital room door burst open, and Mason rushed in, panic written all over his face.I quickly slipped the pregnancy report under my pillow."Why didn't you tell me you were sick? Do you know how dangerous it is to faint in the streets all on your own? Luckily, the doctor called me. I leave for two days, and you manage to get yourself hospitalized. What are you going to do without me?"He scanned me from head to toe, finally letting out a sigh of relief once he saw I was intact.As an Omega, my health had always been fragile. Every time I got sick, Mason would stay up through the night to watch over me.I did not expect him to come back this time.I took a sip of water to steady myself, hiding my nerves. I could not let him find out I was pregnant."Did you not see the call log? I called you more than ten times. You never answered. The last one was picked up by Eira. She said you–"Before I could finish, he cut me off."Cassandra, I know you don

For the sake of securing the order, I endured the discomfort, but the werewolf pushed his boundaries even more!"Ms. Holt, you're really beautiful. I wonder if you're free tonight? How about dinner, just the two of us?"As he spoke, his hand tried to slide around my waist, fingers inching downward with obvious bad intentions.Right then, Nathaniel suddenly stood up, blocking me behind him.His expression went cold, and his voice even colder."Move your filthy hand away. Ms. Holt is our designer, someone you have no right to touch. If you dare disrespect her again, I promise you'll pay for it."Nathaniel's authoritative aura scared the werewolf so badly that he practically ran off.…On the way back to the company, Nathaniel's voice softened. "Rest assured, Ms. Holt, that I'm here. I won't let anyone bully you."I glanced at him gratefully. "Thank you, Nathaniel. Really… I owe you one today."He scratched his cheek a little shyly. "It's nothing. It's just what I should do."E

Meanwhile in Ularia, I had no idea Mason was on his way.My due date was getting closer by the day, and Nathaniel even took time off just to accompany me to my prenatal checkup."The pup is very healthy and developing beautifully," spoke the doctor with a warm smile.Both of us let out a breath of relief. We exchanged a look, one filled with quiet joy.Walking out of the hospital, gratitude welled up in my chest."Nathaniel… Thank you. I don't know what I would've done without you these past few months."He smiled and lifted a hand like he wanted to ruffle my hair, but he stopped halfway, suddenly unsure.I lowered my gaze, uneasy.I did not know whether he was being good to me because he liked me…or because he was just genuinely kind.Moreover, I did not know whether I was ready or even able...to trust someone again.However, Nathaniel simply draped his coat over my shoulders and said softly, "Cassandra, you don't have to thank me. I do all this because I want to. You deserv