Chapter 2
1131 Words
Daniel and I first met in a restaurant.
It was packed, and when I noticed him sitting alone, I walked over and asked if I could share his table.
The moment our eyes met, we both knew. We were fated mates.
It was love at first sight. We fell for each other almost immediately, and before long, we were officially together.
Daniel treated me wonderfully. He was generous, funny, and thoughtful, and I fell completely in love with him.
Then came the Moonlight Ball. Daniel invited me to dance.
When the music ended, he took out an engagement ring. His eyes stayed fixed on mine as he spoke gently.
"Amelia, marry me. I'll love you forever, and I'll spend the rest of my life making you happy."
Of course, I said yes.
Back then, I believed I was the happiest woman in the world. I thought that kind of happiness would last forever. That illusion shattered while we were planning our wedding. The day I went to Daniel's house, I met Mia for the first time.
She came running over barefoot, climbed straight onto Daniel's lap, wrapped her arms around him, and acted spoiled, then flashed me a smug, provocative smile.
Later, I spoke to Daniel about it. I told him that he and Mia were far too intimate and that an engaged man shouldn't behave that way with another woman.
Daniel simply rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed.
"Amelia, you have to understand. Mia's father was the Beta of the Dubois Pack. He died protecting me when Rogues attacked the pack. Her mother died giving birth to her. After her father passed away, she had no one left."
"She grew up without any sense of security. Ever since my family adopted her, she's depended on me. Whether it's because her father saved my life or because she's family now, you can understand, can't you?"
I was left speechless.
After that, they became even more brazen. Every time I questioned their behavior, Daniel gave me the exact same explanation.
Eventually, I realized I should have walked away long ago. They belonged together.
*****
An i********: notification from Mia pulled me out of those memories.
Just like always, she was showing off her relationship with Daniel.
The photo showed the two of them sitting across from each other in a trendy restaurant. A huge bouquet of red roses sat between them. Daniel was feeding her with his fork, and both of them were smiling happily.
The caption read: The moment I say I want something, you're always there with me. You've always put me first, ever since we were kids. I'll always be your number one. Thank you for all these years of love and companionship.
I tapped the Like button.
It wasn't the first time.
For the past five years, Mia had uploaded one post after another showing off her relationship with Daniel.
She had posted 2,098 of them. I had liked every single one.
She constantly found new ways to flaunt what she believed was the perfect relationship.
Daniel gave her a supplementary credit card, so she never had to work and could spend as much as she pleased.
She stayed in the house that had once been our home whenever she wanted.
She used whatever belongings I had left behind and threw away everything she didn't like.
Over those five years, they had done everything a couple would normally do.
I knew she posted those pictures to provoke me.
Every Like I left was nothing more than a silent expression of contempt.
But Mia believed I was jealous, heartbroken, and desperate for Daniel's attention.
The next time I saw Daniel, he walked into my flower shop holding Mia's hand.
The man who had always hated public displays of affection was now walking through the streets with their fingers tightly intertwined.
When we had been together, I had often asked him to hold my hand. Every time, he refused. He always said an Alpha should carry himself with dignity and shouldn't act overly affectionate in public.
Mia slowly looked around my flower shop.
Surprise flashed across her face.
Daniel frowned in confusion.
"I gave you so much money. Why are you working in a place like this?"
When we divorced, I demanded half of our assets.
He transferred everything without hesitation.
I paused while wrapping a bouquet, looked up at him, and answered calmly.
"Because I want to. It's none of your business."
Daniel didn't seem bothered. He still assumed I was angry over what had happened.
Just then, his phone rang. He stepped outside to answer it.
The moment he was gone, Mia dropped her innocent act.
Her sweet smile disappeared, replaced by a smug sneer.
"Stop pretending to play hard to get. And don't get your hopes up."
She looked at me with open contempt.
"So what if you marry Daniel again? What difference will it make? Did you forget? Daniel's mother, Jenny, never liked you. She always thought you were just an ordinary werewolf. The only reason Daniel wanted to remarry you was because he felt responsible. If I hadn't given him permission, he never would've come looking for you."
"And before the wedding, you'll have to sign an agreement. I wrote it myself."
She pulled a thick stack of papers from her bag and tossed it onto the counter.
I lowered my eyes and skimmed through it, unable to hide my disdain.
The terms were exactly as insulting as I expected.
The first clause stated that I would have no claim whatsoever to any assets or resources belonging to the Dubois Pack.
The second required me to never call Daniel's mother Jenny "Mom" after the wedding.
The third forbade me from publicly acknowledging myself as the pack's Luna. To everyone outside the family, I had to introduce myself only as Daniel's ex-wife.
The conditions were so ridiculous that I couldn't help laughing.
I shoved the agreement back toward her.
"If Daniel spoils you this much, why haven't the two of you become mates? It's been five years, and he still won't form a mate bond with you. That's pretty pathetic, isn't it?"
Mia's face turned crimson. She raised her hand, ready to slap me.
At that moment, Daniel's footsteps approached from outside.
Mia changed expressions in an instant.
Tears streamed down her face, and she looked pitiful and innocent.
"Amelia, I really want you and Daniel to get back together. As his sister, all I want is for him to be happy. This agreement is only a formality. Please don't be angry with me."
She hadn't changed at all.
She was still the same manipulative liar she'd always been.
And whenever Daniel saw her cry, he lost all ability to tell right from wrong.
- Writer
