Ooh

The crowd starts a countdown to midnight like New Year’s Eve. I close my eyes and smile, holding Liam’s hand tightly. Everyone yells “ONE!” and cheers. I open my eyes and see the iridescent liquid light of the full moon pouring out of the giant orb flowing down over us. People around us ooh and ahh at the beautiful sight.  When the first rays of moonlight cascade over my skin, I feel a heat inside me turn into a burning fire. I gasp and look up at Liam. He looks at me with wide, surprised eyes. “Mate,” he murmurs and squeezes my hand tighter. It isn’t a comforting feeling. There are no sparks like people describe when they touch their mate. Maybe it takes a few minutes to develop. I smile and try to admire Liam, but I don't want to say it back. Nothing feels different. I still love him, but he’s not the one. Liam is looking at me, but it isn’t a look of true love. It’s lustful and carnal. I feel a pit in my stomach. Liam isn’t my mate. How can this be? And how was he able to call me his mate if he’s not mine? “Zara,” a woman’s voice says in my head, “My name is Lavender. I’m your wolf and you’re in grave danger, my dear. You need to run. You need to run now. Your life depends on it.” “My… wolf?” With everything that happened the past couple of hours, I forgot she was waking up. “L-Lavender, what’s happening? What do you know?” Lavender repeats her order. “Zara, you need to run. I can explain later. I’m so sorry this is happening to you, sweet girl.”

On Valentine's Day, I set up a candlelit dinner and waited. At 9 PM, my husband, Alfred Johnston, finally texted. [Something came up at work. Don't wait for me.] Then I saw her post. [On a business trip with the CEO for Valentine's Day. Every hotel is fully booked—awkward...] Vivian Bianca, his secretary. Attached was a photo of a guy in a bathrobe, standing by a floor-to-ceiling window. The comments were all 'ooh, CEO's so hot and girl, you're in for a night.' Vivian? Just dropped a smug emoji. So that's what "something came up" meant—a romantic getaway with his secretary. I screenshotted it, posted it on my own feed, and added a smiling emoji. A second later, Alfred called, fuming. "Vivian was joking! Why are you so petty? She's young, not as calculating as you!" I didn't let him finish. "Then let's get a divorce. That way, I won't have to care when you screw around and catch something."

"Mas, aku sangat mencintaimu, tapi aku juga tak ingin melepasnya." Dita berteriak ketika Mas Arman menyentakkan tangannya melepaskan diri dari cengkraman Dita di lengannya. "Ak--aku-- Mas, mengertilah." Aku masih bisa mendengar Dita memelas di balik dinding ini. Sungguh luar biasa wanita itu, batinku. "Kamu, Gila!" Mas Arman balik meneriaki perempuan yang aku tahu sangat dicintainya itu. "Aku tahu. Aku gila, Mas. Aku juga tidak memintamu untuk memaafkanku, tapi aku hanya meminta kamu mengerti perasaanku karena awal dari semua kesalahan ini adalah kamu, Mas. Kamu yang membiarkanku untuk jatuh hati pada lelaki lain, saat harusnya aku memilikimu." Apa maksud Dita? Aku mencoba mendengar dengan seksama dan menempelkan kupingku lebih rapat ke dinding kamar yang menghubungkan kamarku dan Mas Arman. "Aap--pa?" Suara Mas Arman terdengar parau dan menahan kemarahannya. Ooh ... Tuhan, perempuan macam apa yang tega menyakiti lelaki baik hati itu. Lelaki yang sanggup mengorbankan seluruh kehidupannya demi membahagiakan wanita-wanita yang dicintainya. Aku mengurut dadaku yang sesak, mungkinkah aku penyebab keretakan hati mereka? Air mataku menganak sungai di pelupuk mata. Takpernah kubayangkan kehidupan keduanya akan sekacau ini.

"Tuan, please bantu aku. pria tua bau tanah itu terus menggangguku!" Ucap seorang wanita sexy yang tiba-tiba duduk dipangkuan seorang lelaki bermata biru dan dominan itu. "Hei dude, dia milikku." suara berat dan dominan itu menginterupsi lelaki tua yang terlihat kesal namun tak berani membantah ucapan lawan yang sangat kuat, sebab dia tahu laki-laki yang sedang memeluk pinggang wanita incarannya adalah penguasa Amerika setelah presiden. -------------------------------------- "Jadi, apa imbalan yang aku dapatkan setelah membantu kucing kecil ini?" "Ooh, aku akan mentraktirmu vodka?" "Bagaimana kalau satu ciuman di lehermu yang menggoda itu, hmm?" "What?!!!"