Evelyn's dream of marrying Alexander, the city's youngest billionaire and her longtime crush, shatters when she discovers she's merely a replacement for his former lover, Isabella. Heartbroken, Evelyn disappears on their wedding day, only to find out later that she's carrying Alexander's twins. Five years later, fate brings them back together, forcing them to confront their past. As old wounds resurface and secrets unravel, Evelyn and Alexander navigate a complex web of emotions, trust, and redemption. Amidst passionate reunions and heartfelt confessions, they grapple with forgiveness and a newfound understanding, striving to rebuild their relationship for the sake of their family. "Whispers of Yesterday's Love" is a poignant tale of love lost and found, highlighting the enduring power of forgiveness, redemption, and second chances. As Evelyn and Alexander navigate their tangled past and present, will they be able to overcome their betrayals and rebuild a love that once seemed unbreakable, or will the shadows of their past continue to haunt their future?
View MoreOphelia
“Chin up, girl! Oh, and tuck that stomach of yours in. Honestly, try not to look so pathetic, Ophelia. You’re being mated to an Alpha.” Mother muttered quietly, “Goddess only knows how that one happened.”
I bit my tongue when she yanked the front of my simple cotton dress down, exposing a fair amount of cleavage. Speaking up would only make things worse. She might not be able to strike my face, but she knew how to punish without leaving marks.
“Yes, Lucille.”
She didn’t care for when I called her mother. Apparently, it made her feel old. That didn’t stop Astrid and Kimberly from calling her it, but they’d always been her favorites.
Mother snared a lock of my strawberry-blonde hair and tugged hard. Her flat, dark eyes scoured my face in search of a flinch or wince. “You should have let me dye this mess for you. Alas, it’s too late. Not that it matters in the slightest.” She said with the wave of her hand, “Soon enough, you’ll be someone else’s problem.”
A problem, that’s what I was.
I swallowed down my retort and focused on tonight’s ceremony. A flutter of excitement curled in my belly. It happened so suddenly, without rhyme or reason. One moment I’d been walking the halls of Aberdeen High, ready to empty out my locker after graduating, and the next there he was.
My mate.
Alpha Hunter West, the golden-eyed football player that every she-wolf within a hundred-mile radius wanted to be seen with.
The fact that the bond snapped into place on both sides was rare, and a good sign according to Hunter’s father. We’d been in school with one another for four years, passing in the halls without ever speaking a word.
It was like a fairytale. Even more so if you considered the hefty sum Hunter’s father was paying Lucille for my hand in marriage.
Were our customs a bit archaic? Yes. Were things moving a bit fast? Also yes, but this was my chance to escape Lucille and my sisters. The only other option I had was to wait three years until my twenty-first birthday. The inheritance my father had left for me would finally reach my hands, but I knew I wouldn’t last that long.
The sharp sting of nails digging into the back of my neck pulled me from my daydream. I made the mistake of hissing, the sound escaping without warning.
Mother’s lips curled. Her eyes, which could go from innocent to pits of writhing darkness within seconds, flashed dangerously. “Listen here, girl. You will not embarrass me tonight, understand? You’ll smile, keep that mouth of yours shut, and do as your told.”
Ignoring the angry snarl of my wolf, I averted my eyes and dropped my head in submission. It was becoming harder and harder to control her as of late.
“Yes, Lucille.”
With her hand still clasped over the back of my neck, she dragged me down the front steps of the manor and to the car parked out front. I quickened my pace to keep from toppling over. The driver, one of Alpha Hunter’s men, smiled politely and bobbed his head at the two of us.
We were driven into the forest surrounding the Sun Pack, also known as the “golden lands” due to the fields of swaying grass that looked like spun gold beneath the blistering summer sun.
There was still a slight breeze going, which kept me from becoming too sweaty during the walk down the trail. Up ahead, illuminated by a string of torches, was the hill of the Goddess. The small swell of land was perched directly beneath the moon itself.
A large crowd had already formed around the base, the majority made up of people my age. Standing at the top, his broad shoulders pulled back and head held high, was my mate. The sun kissed strands of his hair were pale beneath the moonlight, curling around his chiseled jaw.
The dark polo he wore was stretched taut across his muscular chest. It hugged the hard ridges of his toned stomach, right down to the jeans that sat low on his waist. Hunter West had the body of an athlete, and the instincts of an Alpha.
The moment I stepped into view, dragged up the hill by Lucille, his eyes widened. He drank me in, his gaze lingering on my flaming cheeks before running down my hair and over the little cotton dress I wore. His lips tipped up smugly.
I wasn’t surprised by his stunned reaction. I’d become an expert at making myself invisible. Blending into the background was one of my favorite hobbies after all.
Too bad the crowd didn’t feel the same way. The other she-wolves in the pack hadn’t taken the news well. As if they needed another reason to hate my guts.
Hunter’s father stepped forward and addressed the crowd of people. “Thank you everyone for gathering here to celebrate the mating of my son, your Alpha, and the pack’s future Luna! On this beautiful night, she will release her wolf and pledge her mind, body, and soul to Hunter. Without further ado, lets begin!”
The crowd cheered, and with the smile of a snake, Lucille pushed me forward.
Tripping over my own two feet, I careened towards the ground. Hunter’s hands shot out to catch me, grabbing my arms before I could hit the grass. Sparks raced up my shoulders and coaxed a gasp from between my lips.
Eyes of pure gold twinkled in the low torch light. “Woah, easy there. You look beautiful tonight, Opal.”
The smile melted from my face. Did he really not know my name? I stepped back as he released me, my cheeks once again burning, though this time with shame.
Was wanting him to know who I was too much to ask? No, I could handle this. Anything was better than being stuck with Lucille, Kimberly, and Astrid.
His father motioned to the crowd, “Ms. Hawkins, you may disrobe and shift into your wolf now.”
This was the part I was dreading.
It wasn’t that my body was ugly, or undesirable. Apart from the fact that my breasts were much larger than the rest of me, there was nothing wrong with it. What I hated was the softness of my curves. The distinct lack of muscle on my thighs, stomach, and rear. She-wolves were almost always physically fit. It was just another point of contention between Lucille and me.
I made quick work of slipping the straps over my shoulders, flinching when the cool breeze caressed my chest and raced between my legs. The pale fabric fell to the ground at my feet. A sea of murmurs kicked up. I gave into the roaring in my ears, allowing it to blot out the individual voices.
As Hunter’s eyes dipped below my collar bones, he snarled approvingly.
Goddess, could this get any more embarrassing? The urge to fold my arms over my chest was so strong that the shame alone coaxed my wolf to the surface.
Pain surged up my limbs, wrapping around my bones as my body began to change. Fur the same odd shade as my hair sprouted from my arms and legs. Seconds later, I fell to the ground. My four large paws sinking into the chilled grass.
The faces surrounding the base of the hill were now visible thanks to my enhanced vision, which only elevated the tension I could now taste in the air. It was stifling, clogging my lungs with notes of disdain, jealousy, and outright hatred.
These people didn’t want me here.
They didn’t want me to be their Luna.
A low growl rumbled in my chest. It was a clear warning to those watching that they needed to leave. Hunter’s father stepped towards us with furrowed brows and a stiff jaw.
“Control your wolf, girl. Submit to my son.”
Hearing his ultimatum, she craned her head his way and unleashed a menacing growl. Several gasps rang out amongst the crowd, Lucille’s included. Goddess, she was going to skin my hide for this.
‘Stop snarling. You’re making us look bad. This isn’t what we’re supposed to do, and you know it.’ I pleaded with my wolf.
Her refusal washed over me, resolute in its intensity, prompting me to freeze in horror.
She wasn’t going to submit.
Hunter’s father released a snarl of his own, which my wolf ignored. He turned to his son, “Use your Alpha command. Force her to submit to you.”
He wouldn’t, would he? My beast refused to believe our mate would do such a thing—refused to believe he’d break our trust before it was even built.
Hunter’s golden eyes seemed troubled, full of conflict that reached its peak when he puffed out his chest and growled, “Submit, Opal.”
Pain streaked up my chest as he once again called me by the wrong name. It’s Ophelia, I wanted to shriek. The force of his command rattled our bones, calling to the very essence of who we were.
As if things couldn’t get any worse, my wolf turned on him and pulled back her muzzle, revealing our pearly teeth in an act of pure dominance.
Not only did my wolf ignore his Alpha command, but she had just challenged him for his position.
“Submit! Do as I say, Opal.” Hunter’s voice hardened. Eyes that had once resembled two pools of liquid gold now reminded me of burnt bronze.
Again and again his command washed over me, sinking deep into my body. The tug to do his bidding was there, but it wasn’t this impenetrable force others had described it as. It didn’t steal away my free will.
Such a thing wasn’t possible, and yet my wolf refused to submit.
Hunter’s father began to redden with anger. Two meaty fists were clenched at his side, practically trembling. Without a word, he yanked a small canister out of his pocket and ripped off the cap.
A whine slid from my muzzle as my wolf realized what the object was. Just as we took a step back, his father sprayed the silver shavings into our face. My bare bottom hit the cold grass and I yelped.
Yanking my dress off the ground, I quickly slid it over my body and stumbled to my feet. The stares of our people pelted me at every angle, their whispers digging into my skin. Never in my life had I been so embarrassed, so ashamed of myself and my unruly wolf.
“You understand what you need to do, right? She issued a clear challenge and disrespected your authority as Alpha. There is no forgiveness for that.”
I closed my eyes and prayed that when I opened them I’d be somewhere else—anywhere else.
“Look at me, Opal.” Hunter’s stern voice coaxed them open.
“It’s Ophelia.”
The words slid from my mouth, so quiet that he craned his head and replied, “What?”
“My name is Ophelia.”
He flinched, a flurry of emotion warming those golden eyes. The only reason I wasn’t ashamed to admit I derived the smallest amount of pleasure from his reaction was because I knew what was coming next. Nothing could’ve prepared me for the agony that was hearing those words fall from his lips.
“I, Alpha Hunter West, reject you, Ophelia Hawkins, as my mate and Luna. I decline your challenge and banish you from this pack from now until the end of your days. Do you accept?”
A hollow ache took root in my chest, one I knew would haunt me for the rest of my life.
“I, Ophelia Hawkins, accept your rejection.”
With a whisper carried by the Goddess’s winds, the mate-bond snapped in two.
Chapter 16: Veiled ReckoningsAlexander's (POV)The following days unfolded like a delicate dance between anticipation and trepidation. As the city continued its relentless hustle, I found myself drawn to the places where our shared memories lingered—a cafe where whispered confessions had once resonated, a park where laughter had echoed against the backdrop of a setting sun.Evelyn remained an elusive figure, her presence felt in the echoes of our past and the unspoken questions that hung in the air. The twins, a testament to a timeline I had been absent from, became an enigma that fueled my desire for understanding.In my quest for answers, I embarked on a journey through the corridors of Evelyn's new life. The city, with its myriad secrets, revealed fragments of her story—traces of resilience, echoes of a woman who had forged her own path amidst the trials of abandonment.The first encounter transpired in a quaint bookstore, a space where words held the power to bridge the chasm bet
Amidst the ebb and flow of the city's pulse, unbeknownst to Evelyn, Alexander navigated the routines of his life. The passage of time had etched its mark on him—lines of experience and threads of solitude woven into the fabric of his existence. Yet, within the quiet corridors of his heart, the echoes of Evelyn lingered like an unplayed melody.One crisp morning, Alexander sat in his office, engrossed in the cadence of a bustling city beneath him. The hum of daily life reverberated through the glass walls, each heartbeat of the metropolis echoing the unspoken chapters of his history.As he sifted through a stack of paperwork, his phone buzzed with a notification—a message from a colleague. The words, seemingly innocuous at first, bore the weight of revelation."Did you hear? Evelyn is back in town."A jolt coursed through Alexander's veins, and for a moment, time stood still. Evelyn's name, a whisper carried by the winds of fate, rekindled dormant embers within him. His heart quickened
Chapter 14: The Unforeseen VentureLife had settled into a comfortable rhythm in the embrace of the new city. The laughter of Noah and Olivia, the bustling energy of my professional pursuits, and the friendships that had blossomed created a semblance of tranquility. Yet, destiny had a way of weaving unexpected threads into the tapestry of our existence.One day, as I navigated the demands of my career, an unforeseen business opportunity emerged—a venture that held the promise of both challenges and triumphs. The proposal, laced with the potential to elevate my professional standing, beckoned me to a city I had vowed to leave behind.Lydia, my confidante, sensed the weight of the decision that loomed before me. As we sat in my office, surrounded by the city's panoramic view, she voiced the unspoken dilemma that echoed in my mind."Evelyn, this opportunity is groundbreaking. It's a chance to redefine your career, to make a mark beyond what you've achieved here. But I also know the ties
Chapter 13 : Echoes Across TimeFive years had elapsed since the landscape of my life had been reshaped by Evelyn's mysterious disappearance. The once-vibrant cityscape, now familiar in its contours, bore the indelible marks of the passage of time. In the wake of her absence, the metropolis had become a silent witness to the ebb and flow of seasons, each change a reminder of the years that slipped through my fingers like grains of sand.The private investigators, once fervently navigating the labyrinth of leads, had gradually receded into the background, leaving me with a sense of resigned acceptance. The city held its secrets close, unwilling to yield the answers that eluded my relentless pursuit. Yet, the flame of hope continued to flicker within me—a quiet beacon that refused to be extinguished.The penthouse, once echoing with the laughter and shared dreams of a couple in love, had transformed into a museum of memories frozen in time. The furnishings remained untouched, preserving
Chapter 12: Shadows of DesolationMonths had elapsed since the enigmatic disappearance of Evelyn, leaving a void in Alexander's life that no amount of success or societal standing could fill. The city, once a canvas of vibrant stories, now mirrored the desolation that gripped his heart. In the wake of Evelyn's absence, Alexander's world had crumbled, the remnants of their shattered union casting long shadows on his once-prominent existence.The spacious penthouse that had once been a testament to their affluence now echoed with the haunting silence of solitude. The absence of Evelyn's laughter, her gentle presence, and the warmth of her love had turned the luxurious abode into a cavernous space, a mere shell of the life they had planned together.Days melted into nights as Alexander navigated the relentless storm of emotions. Sleepless nights became his companions, each moment punctuated by memories of Evelyn—the way her eyes sparkled in the moonlight, the lilt of her laughter, and th
Chapter 11: Echoes of a Past LoveIn the midst of Evelyn's newfound motherhood and the vibrant rhythm of the city outside, the narrative weaves through the corridors of time, unraveling the threads of Alexander's past. The tale of his relationship with Isabella emerges as a poignant flashback, casting shadows on the present.Alexander's memories unfurl like sepia-toned photographs, capturing moments of tenderness and shared laughter with Isabella. Their love story, once vibrant and consuming, unfolded against the backdrop of a different time, in a city that now held echoes of their shared history.Isabella, with her radiant smile and spirited demeanor, became the muse that colored Alexander's world. The flashback transports readers to the early stages of their relationship, a time when the promise of forever hung in the air, and the city witnessed the blossoming of a love that seemed destined to withstand the tests of time.As the chapters of the flashback unfold, readers bear witness
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