001

Evelyn's POV

In my lingerie, I sat despite knowing Tyler wouldn't be coming home today, but still, I waited beside the decorated room, resisting the urge to call him again as I had so many times before.

The evening breeze flew into the room as the clock struck at midnight causing me to shiver.

“Luna Evelyn, should we come clear the room since the Alpha isn’t back now?” I heard the voice of my head maid after her subtle knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts.

“Let’s wait for thirty more minutes…maybe he’ll come” I replied, trying myself more than I was trying to convince her.

For a moment I thought she had left until she whispered, “Do you need me now?”.

“Go to bed, Elsie” I replied, and I sensed her wait for a while almost as though listening in before sighing and leaving me to my drowning thoughts.

For the past three years, this has happened. I set up preparations, dolled myself up waiting for my husband and after waiting for a while, Elsie would come clear the decorations before consoling me to bed.

I felt tonight was going to be different.

It was no news that my husband and Alpha hated me, but every opportunity I had, I spent it trying to atone for the sins of my father, but all he saw when he looked at me was my father lying unconscious on the lifeless body of his sister.

Tyler desperately believed that I helped my father escape, but the anger of not giving his sister justice and his suspicion without any evidence grew his hatred to a point where I was not permitted to be wherever he could sense me.

It’s been three years, and my husband has never looked at me the same way. I wasn’t even allowed outside the doors of the place because I didn't deserve to live when my father ended his sister's life.

The thought of leaving every so often flashed in my mind a few times, but I couldn’t imagine leaving an already broken man, so I held on to the image of the man who looked past my status to marry me and the memories we created together.

I didn’t know how long I had sat down sipping the wine when I heard a voice that caused the wine glass to drop.

“Where's that murderer's daughter?” I heard him slur before crashing into something.

Unconcerned about the glass, I hurried to where he had fallen flat due to the impact, ignoring the pain I felt as the broken glass pierced through my skin.

“Tyler….” I moved to help him up, but he slapped off my hand before struggling to stand and tripping over a few other objects.

“Why are you still here?” He asked, and I didn’t really know if he was talking to me, so without uttering a word, I continued to assist him, and thankfully, he remained silent this time, letting me help him.

As he lay down in the bed, he stopped me when I was about to move away and pulled me down to sit.

For a while Tyler stared at me; his eyes seemed to be searching, and I hoped he saw me, the woman he had fallen in love with… and saw that I still loved him and understood his pain, but it’s been three years.

I was so tired of this life… this wasn’t the forever we promised ourselves at the altar.

If only he’d give me a chance to say how sorry I was for being unable to do anything about his hurting heart.

“I loved you,” he finally said softly, still holding my gaze, and I felt a tear slip from my eyes; it’s been three years since I heard him say that.

“I can’t believe I’m just seeing you clearly after all this while… you look tired…” he continued in slurs.

Holding back my sobs, my hands found his cheek, and caressing it softly, I replied, “I am fine; I love you and badly miss you.”

“If you ever did, then why did you do it?” He then added almost immediately before pulling me closer to lay beside him, his arms around mine.

His gray eyes still held mine, and even though he smelled like a drunk, his underlying choco musk scent filled my nostrils, slightly comforting me.

I had wished for the day I would be this close to him for years… three years!

My mind flew with so many questions: Did he want to reconcile? Or was this alcohol speaking?

Or perhaps his wolf? Maybe he felt like I was on the verge of leaving without looking back?

“You betrayed me for a man who threw you out on the streets after raping you, I let him stay because you asked me, but he killed Stacy, Eve!”.

This was the first time he was talking about this in three years. My hope of a reconciliation was crushed by an underlying bad feeling which clouded my mind.

Something was wrong.

“What did Stacy ever do to you?” he drowsily asked.

For the umpteenth time, I wanted to tell him that I didn't do it.

To reassure him that I could never have chosen a man who had created the scars on my body over him, especially after he had saved me from the same man.

“Evelyn, what did you gain from doing it? Every day I ask myself why?” I saw a tear fall from his eyes, down to my palm and I leaned in to kiss it…

He let me, and it took all in me not to burst into tears.

This was the closest I had been to him, and I didn’t know how I felt…

“Just like I had tolerated your presence, I hope you forgive me,” he whispered, and I watched slowly go to sleep.

I love you too and I forgive you.

When I tried leaving his tight hold, he didn’t budge, and right there with my head on his chest, I cried.

Lying in his arms just felt so right, and I didn’t want to leave even though I knew this would be over tomorrow; I was just greedy for wanting this from a man that couldn’t stand my sight… I was aware that I would have to bear the cost as well, but I didn't care.

I closed my eyes, and listening to his soft snoring, I felt myself slip into a fantasy island…

This was the only place where my husband didn't hate me.

My illusion was short-lived as I felt a jerk causing me to fall before he thundered, “How dare this bitch touch me?!” I landed hard on the ground.