When it all began

(IVORY’S POV)

Disappointment gnawed at my chest as I listened to Alaric’s infuriating voicemail message—again.

"Hi, you’ve reached Alaric’s voicemail. I can’t take this call right now, but please leave a..." The robotic tone fueled my rage.

Cutting the call for the umpteenth time, I threw the phone onto the nearest couch as my chest tightened with frustration. Damn it!

I paced our large, exquisitely furnished room, my mind racing with thoughts of my husband, Alaric. His scent, usually a comforting mix of sandalwood and musk, lingered in the room as usual, reminding me of his disappointing absence.

It was our third anniversary, a day that should be filled with his love and warmth. Yet, here I was, alone and waiting. A few hours left, and the day will be over. How could he possibly choose tonight to come home late?

I sneered.

I glanced at my outfit, the Catwoman costume I thought he’d find playful. Now it felt silly, desperate. I touched my stomach absentmindedly, a gesture that had become second nature, hoping that soon it would swell with life.

Yesterday marked the end of my rigorous infertility treatment with the mystical blue land’s most powerful doctor, and tonight was meant to break our abstinence from sex. I was eager to quench my urge, but his absence was blowing out the fire already.

I checked the clock again, the seconds ticking by painfully slowly. My heart sank; there was still no sign of him. My wolf, Lilly, grew restless under my skin.

Maybe he’s just busy, so I pacified myself.

He promised me an unforgettable night, and I’ve held onto it like a leech. Please, let tonight be the night I’ve longed for—the night I’ll conceive his heir.

But who am I kidding? I’ve noticed the changes in his body language—he doesn’t look at me the way he used to, he snaps at the littlest things, and he rarely has time for me.

My mind drifted away. I wondered if his sudden change had to do with his ex, Valerie. She is now back as a professor at his Shifter’s College—Dolphin. She was always around him as a co-professor , making me wonder if I was ever enough for him. If I ever would.

Valerie’s presence made me feel insecure; she was everything I was not: bold, charming, confident, strong, and a professor, while I was just plain Jane, weak, and a mere lab assistant, the lowest position at the Dolphin College.

I could feel Lilly pacing in my mind, her anticipation driving us both wild.

"I trust him," I chanted to myself, closing my eyes and inhaling deeply, hoping to steady my nerves.

He wasn’t over Valerie; I could feel it. He never truly had been.

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and his familiar scent flooded the room. Relief washed over me, but a seed of doubt still took root in my heart. He stepped in, his 6’4" frame illuminated by the dim candlelight. His amber eyes gleamed, but something felt off—different. There was hesitation in his movements.

"Sorry, I'm late,” he said, flashing a quick, un-genuine smile. “Work’s been insane.”

I forced a smile, but Lilly bristled; she sensed something was wrong. “I’ve been waiting," I said, my voice barely hiding my hurt.

“I said I was busy, damn it!” This time he raised his voice at me, something he has taken to doing lately whenever he’s having a bad day.

No one in the pack has ever respected me as the Luna except him. Heck, no one in my life ever had—except for him and my best girl, Evans.

Sure, he had been cold lately, but this... this felt different. He had never raised his voice on a day that should be a happy one.

“And how do you expect me to believe that, Alaric? You know how much this meant to me, to us. The least you could do was to leave your damn phone open to calls,” I said, my voice rising slightly in frustration. I was tired.

“Gosh! Just shut up. You make my head hurt with your nagging, Ivory. Can't I have a moment of peace?” He yelled, throwing a vase to the ground.

I flinched as it shattered, tears stinging my eyes. Is this what it has come to? Unbelievable.

“Is it a crime to be worried about my husband?” I asked with a trembling voice.

“You know what, Alaric? I can’t keep up with this talk. Happy anniversary,” I said, turning away as the tears I had been holding back began to fall. I walked out of the room, straight to its balcony.

He didn’t answer. Instead, he walked over and sat on the couch, as if my feelings meant nothing. What happened to us? Where did we go wrong?

Sitting on the balcony, I wondered when this his attitude would end. Or was I cursed by the moon goddess? Was I so unlovable that those around me always grew tired of me?

I had been planning tonight for weeks. I wanted it to be perfect—a rekindling of what we once had. But it felt like I had been holding onto a rope that was slowly slipping from my grip.

I had gone all out—new silk sheets on the bed, vanilla-scented candles placed around the room, soft furs laid out. The setting was perfect, but it suddenly felt like we were undeserving of it.

I sighed in disappointment, leaning back and closing my eyes to stop tears. I tried to push away the gnawing sense of rejection. But deep down, I knew better. Lately, he’d been distant, absent even when he was here.

“Hey, baby.” Alaric walked over, sitting close to me, with a sigh. “I’m really sorry; I’ve had a lot on my plate. I hope you can forgive me.” But his voice lacked sincerity.

I nodded, the hollow feeling in my chest not easing. I wanted to believe him, wanted to trust that the man I loved was still there.

He handed me a gift bag and said, “Happy Anniversary, my lover, the Luna of my pack, and the soon-to-be mother of my pups.”

My heart warmed.

He wrapped his hands around my waist, kissing me deeply and exploring every inch of my mouth. His hand trailed over my breasts, and he nipped at my neck, drawing a soft moan from my lips. Waves of ecstasy washed over me as tension built, longing to feel him inside me again. I could sense the outline of his hardness, and I rolled my hips against him, craving for more.

Before we proceeded to the bed, he playfully spanked my ass, teasing me to open the gift bag he had given me first.

I took it, my hands trembling as I opened the box inside. My breath got caught in my throat as I pulled out a delicate gold necklace, shimmering under the soft moonlight. I raised it to read the calligraphic engraving. But then I saw it—the name engraved on the pendant.

Not mine.

Valerie’s.

A sharp pain pierced through my chest, and Lilly let out a snarl, the sound rumbling in the back of my throat. I felt like my world was frozen, and never had I imagined this to happen. My worst nightmare: I couldn't breathe, couldn't move, and I felt the sudden urge to throw up. “Wh…what is... this?”

He froze, eyes widening with panic as he fixed his gaze at the necklace. “I… I can explain,” he stammered, stepping closer but saying nothing that made sense.

Each word only deepened my anger; I couldn't even look at him. “It..it’s a mistake, I swear. She… urhm… She was just helping me pick out your gift, and she got one for herself as well... and the jeweler must have... you know, swapped them.”

I stared at him in disbelief, my heart pounding in my ears. Lies! All bloody lies! Lilly’s instinct screamed that it wasn't just an honest mistake. The bond between us quivered, weakening with every word that left his mouth. “You went to the jeweler with HER?”

“She was just helping—“

“Helping?” I choked on the word, my voice rising every minute. “She was helping you choose a gift for me?" Lilly was growling now, her fury mirroring mine. I could feel her pressing against my skin, begging to surface and confront his wolf. My vision blurred with angry tears.

“I swear it wasn't like that. I—” His voice faltered. He knew he had messed up, but he didn't understand the gravity of it. He didn't understand what his betrayal was doing to me. To us.

He pleaded for me to listen and trust him just this once, and the naive, stupid me believed him, eager for his touch and seeds in me. As he kissed me urgently, we moved to the bedroom, and soon our clothes were scattered. With hungry desperation, he tore my lingerie, rushing into the moment with his tip just at my entrance.

Suddenly, the fire alarm blared, startling us both. The loud noise pierced the air, and he quickly put on his clothes, moving in a hurry. “I’ll check it out. Stay here,” he said.

In a panic, I scrambled to grab my phone and important files—anything that mattered in case we had to leave. I covered my nakedness and reached for my phone to call the fire service, but instead, I spotted his phone on the floor. It lit up with a message, and I hesitated only for a moment before picking it up.

And then my world shattered. I wish I hadn't looked.

My breath hitched as I stared at the screen. There, in full view were pictures. Of Valerie. Naked. In various explicit positions. In one of them, her hand was playing with her tits; in others, I'd rather not say. Messages popped one after another: I’m waiting here for you, I'm horny again...

My eyes fell on the mirror right in front of me. Staring at the reflection of a trembling Luna, who should've been glowing with joy, but all I could see was my hazel eyes, staring back at me, filled with disappointment and fear. A pit settled in my stomach, and it churned. The one who claimed me and gave me hope when the world deemed me unworthy has let me down.

I felt sick. I could hear him coming closer, but I was frozen in place. His voice called out casually, “It’s nothing, just the new chef—“

His words got stuck in his mouth. He must have seen my mirror image. I turned to face him, his phone clenched in my hand as messages dinged continuously. I watched the color drain from his face.

“What have you done to us?” I choked out.