Chapter 1

1.

Vera woke up in a hospital ward. She froze in shock as she took in her surroundings.

"H-hospital? What am I doing here? I was at my son's sports day event in school. How did I land here?" Vera's forehead creased as she attempted to recall anything about how she ended here.  

She moved the white thin sheet away from her body and prepared to get up. 

"Aahh!" 

A pang of pain shot through her belly when she pulled her knees up to sit up. She froze and squeezed her eyes shut. Tears formed and she held back a sob. 

She might have screamed a little too loud because just then the door swung open and an old nurse rushed in. 

"Mrs. Clinton, you're awake! Is it paining anywhere?" The nurse asked as she caught her shoulders and helped her lay back. 

"M-my belly, it hurts. I was trying to get up and..." Vera trailed off as she pressed her lips together to tame the pain. 

"Oh, I see. Let me check the wound on your belly. Please be calm." The nurse said and lifted the hem of the peach colored shirt Vera was wearing. "Ah, your wound is bleeding. You shouldn't have hastened, Mrs. Clifton. I'll clean it for you." 

"Wound?" Vera reiterated, her eyes staring in shock. 

The nurse looked up, and the pitiful look she gave made Vera's heart bang. She wondered what had happened to her? 

"I guess you don't have the memory of that afternoon from five days ago, Mrs. Clifton. I'll help you recall it." The nurse said as she fetched a tray of medicines and gauze from the steel table beside Vera's bed. 

She picked some cotton from a roll and gently dabbed it around the blood-soaked bandage on Vera's belly. 

"During your son's sports event a stampede broke out, Mrs. Clifton. A panther was sighted around the ground and everyone was disoriented. They started a stampede during which you hurt yourself." 

"Hurt myself? I don't remember anything as such— Wait, I think I do!" Vera gasped as the happenings from that day began to spill in her mind. 

She remembered getting a call from Tory, his husband's secretary. Tory had been getting on her nerves for four months. She was seen with her husband, Alpha Fred Clinton, in romantic places, and the rumors had it that they were dating. But Fred proclaimed they were only bound by professionalism.

Vera loved Fred. She coaxed herself to believe him because marriages don't survive without trust. 

Vera and Fred have been married for seven years and they had a lovely five year old son, Alex. He was the Alpha of Silver Claw Pack. Their life was perfect. Despite being a human for a Luna, she did her duties well; and that's what Fred liked about her. 

They never had a banter like other couples, let alone a misunderstanding. They never had any trouble in their lives. Both of them knew each other's boundaries, and gave each other sufficient space. 

That's why Vera avoided rumors surrounding her husband and his secretary. However, Tory sent her a picture a night before Alex's sports day event— one where Fred was súcking on her nipples and Tory was enjoying it. 

The message that came with the photo also returned to Vera's mind. It was:

'You're such a boring doormat wife, Vera. I wonder how Fred spent seven years with you! He doesn't let me leave the bed even after we've done it several times. He always wants more. And you! When I spoke to him about you, you know what he said?! He said that you're a religious freak and sleeping with you feels like attending a Friday Mass. But don't worry, I'm taking care of your husband on behalf of you.'

Vera's teeth gritted as she tried not to scream. Tory's message and that photo she sent hadn't let her sleep that night. She was left wide awake and wondering all night. And yet when the morning appeared and Fred got up with a bright smile beside her and left the bed after giving her a morning kiss, Vera didn't confront him. It was their son's day. 

Alex had participated in several events and he was very excited about it. Vera didn't want to ruin his day or mood. Hence she kept quiet. She was going to talk to Fred about Tory after dinner. But to her dismay and to rub salt on her bleeding heart, Tory appeared on the sports ground. She claimed that she had come to support Alex. 

Vera remembered trembling in anger but she kept quiet for the sake of her son. After all, he liked her. He called her Aunt Tory, though she had been jealous when Alex ran to hug her knees. The affection he held for her seemed more than what he showed to Vera although she was his mother. 

Vera clenched her teeth as she felt the sting from the cleaning of her wound. She was too lost in her memories to react. She remembered sitting on Fred's left side in the stands and Tory on the right side. She had demanded that they sit away from her, but Fred eyed her. 

"Babe, she's here to support our son leaving her daughter at her friend's house. How will she feel if we leave her alone or ask her to sit elsewhere? Everyone knows that she's my PA." He had whispered to her, and no matter how badly she disagreed, she kept quiet. 

Vera was compelled to wonder how come a young girl like her became his secretary? Tory was 21 years old. Did she even have the degree or experience to work in Fred's PA's position? Not to mention, Fred was a rising Alpha and his business was becoming bigger every month as they signed new deals and treaties with other packs. 

Vera was trying not to react when Tory giggled like a school girl or when she jumped to cheer for her son when he was participating in the Long Jump event. It was annoying and sounded like a hornet buzzing right across from her ear. Everything was fine until Vera noticed how Tory was sitting. 

She couldn't avoid how Tory kept leaning into her husband. How she giggled across his ear and how she cheered for her son. What stripped Vera's patience thin was when she saw Tory place her hand on his lap. 

"Can you scoot away, woman!" She had snapped and almost all the eyes turned to them. 

Tbc…

A new book. Hope you enjoy reading it~