THE CONTRACT WIFE OF THE DEMON WOLF

LENA

I still had my mourning dress on, my eyes swollen with tears as I stared at her grave which has been decorated with flowers.  

My fingers run through the pendant we both had as a gift but now, I wear hers.  

The silver chain pelted against my skin, like it always does when my wolf is angry.  

While everyone were under an umbrella, I stood in the rain, my black dress received the lashes of being irresponsible, of never hearing her out while she was in pain.  

Her last call to me was;  

"I hate you"  

I couldn't be there for my sister when she needed me the most, all I just wanted to do was impress my husband that I forgot about the people who were important to me.

Weak, my feet dragged me inside the family house were they were mourners too but their voices were blurry.   

No one recognizes me here, except that they just got to know that I was her sister.

My husband, Zain was meant to be here but work has kept him far away.  

He'd be playing for the nationals today, captain of the Ice Wolves, and can't leave behind all his dreams just to be here with me but it was okay.  

I sat on the floor twirling my wedding ring, my dull eyes observed the room.  

It turns out my little sister was a famous model.  

According to report, it was suicide, due to anxiety and depression, exactly what happened with mother who took her life right in front of me.  

She fell off the balcony, leaving behind a letter which I was scared to open.  

The guilt still eats me up as my chest tightened so hard that I couldn't breath.  

My claws prick against my palms and I had to hide my hands.  

Why do I have to lose another important person in my life?

I hugged my knees and kept staring at the TV an old man had switched on.  

I desperately needed a call from Zain, to tell me that it's fine and I'd come out of this trauma. 

When a familiar voice whispers, I turned and it was my husband, Zain on the screen in his Ice Wolves jersey, sweat dripping.  

I scurried to the screen, obstructing everyone that were watching, someone had to pull me aside.

Zain won, holding the cup, breathless as his glassy blue eyes sparks with delight.  

The Ice Wolves logo gleamed behind him.  

Tears streamed from my eyes as I placed my palms on my chest.

There were chants in the background, "Zain! Zain! Zain!"

But he wasn't alone... there was a woman standing beside him in a team jacket, holding his hand.  

Her cheeks flushes red. My heart flipped as it became difficult for me to swallow. 

I didn't like the way he was staring at her, like she's the only thing that matters.  

Possibly, she was his partner at work.

The loud roar behind me made my heart beat stop.  

"Finally, he's getting married to alpha Gary's daughter!"  

His fans cheered like it wasn't a funeral they were in.  

"I've always shipped them, she’s always in the VIP box whenever he plays" a young girl pats me on the shoulder.

I grew unnaturally still.  

"Married?" I muttered as the word seems heavy in my mouth.  

The scent of betrayal hit my nose and made me gag.

"So sir, who would you love to appreciate for your success today?"  

He shift his gaze from the camera and faced yera, smiling with those fangs I used to love.  

"I just want to say thank you to yera for always being there..."

"Awwn!" The crowd teased but my chest swells with grief.  

This was my sister's funeral and even now, Zain steals the spotlight.

"Guys, his wedding is in a week" a juvenile runs to show his phone yet I didn't react as my head burns with despair.

I found myself outside, my feet pound on the wet floor.  

The street was empty and I just stood in the middle of the road, broken yet no tear drops except the soft platter of rain on my face.  

The rain couldn’t wash away the smell of him and her on the screen.

A car honks but I couldn't move, it's like I'd want to be hit to wake me up from this nightmare.  

Just when the car was an inche to me, it halts and the headlights blinds my vision.

Adrenaline pumps inside me, as though it propelled me to just die.

"Do you have a death wish?" A cold tone questioned.  

"Please, take me home"  

That's the only line that could slip out.

The umbrella that he held over his head covers me.  

I caught his scent, cinnamon and lilies but it wasn't wolf.

"Are you alright Ms?" He asked, his voice more calmer.  

I paced to the front wheel of his car while he hurried with the umbrella.

Once I took my sit, he got inside and switched on the heater.  

I suddenly felt something warmer on me, a coat that smells like leather and cold air.  

His hands were mild on my shoulders as he wraps me up.  

I saw it then, his hazel eyes, his blonde hair, and the faint scar on his throat like he’d been bitten once.  

"This will keep you safe from the cold" he whispers, and then he starts the drive.  

As soon as he brought me home, I jumped out and ran to the front porch.  

I didn't look back.  

Nervously, I ran the doorbell, impatient. It took four attempts.  

The stranger's car was still there, engine idling, waiting.

The door spur open and I found Yera, smiling warmly at me in a team jersey.  

"Are you a hard-die fan too? Or the cleaner?"  

I scoffed unbelievably.  

"His wife"