Howl For My Heart

Chapter 3-Gaslighted

Ember's POV

(Griffin House)

I could hear my heart beating faster and faster. Damian was mean to me no doubt but I couldn't condone a cheating husband too.That would be the straw that breaks the camels back. He said the night was perfect, for who? My fingers tightened around the receipt crumpling it.My feets moved before my mind could catch up,I was already by the door of the office but my hand hovered around the door knob.I could walk away pretending I didn't hear him,I could pretend this was all a misunderstanding but no, not tonight. I pushed the door open and Damian looked up from his laptop as his eyebrows knitted together

"Ember?"

"Who where you with tonight? I demand to know." My voice cracked already from holding back tears.He blinked his eyes as though he was caught off guard.

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't act as though you don't know what I am talking about." I said holding up the piece of paper like a damned evidence.His gaze turned to the receipt and then back to me. 'This dinner for two tonight' so you weren't working late and you didn't have any meeting.

"That's not what you think it is."

"Then tell me what it is" I watched him closeup his laptop in frustration as he stood in front of the huge office table placing one hand in his pocket and racking his hair with the other hand.

"Ember! didn't you see,I am in the middle of a meeting."

"I won't take no for an answer Damian,I need answers."

"It was a business dinner for the pack.That is all."

"A business dinner?" My laughter came out broken

"On our anniversary? While I prepared food, got dressed and sat at home waiting for you like a fool."

"You know how important these meetings are,why are you making this a big deal?" My jaws dropped,did he just say I was making it a big deal.

"Damian! no calls,no texts and I am the one overreacting? you lied to me." He sighed fixing his gaze on me like I was a problem that needed to be fixed.

"I didn't lie and you have no right to question my everymove.I am pack alpha and you are just my wife."

"You said you were working and you weren't." I yelled on top of my voice, I became the one at fault for caring about our anniversary celebration.

"Lower your voice and stop being so hysterical." He muttered.

I was being hysterical,that word hit me like a physical slap to my face and tears stunged my eyes.

"Don't you tell me that,I have every right..." He cut me short as he growled impatiently.

"You are blowing this out of proportion,it was just a business dinner Ember,you always overthink things." My heart cracked like my feelings were a burden and my pain an inconvenience to him.

"I heard you Damian,you said the night was perfect with her and you told someone to keep things between you two."

"That was just a business negotiation for the pack. I've made it clear,you have no right to question me."

"No,I know what I heard and if you cared about us at all, you wouldn't have chosen the pack over me tonight.I am not overreacting right now." I said as hot tears rolled down my cheeks,I felt pained.His face turned red as he fixed his sharp gaze on me.

"The pack is my responsibility,you knew what you were signing up for." My stomach twisted in pain as I blurted out

"I didn't sign up to be invincible or to be replaced by the pack."

"Stop acting like a neglected house wife Ember,do you think running a pack is easy?Oh! because you are a lawyer you think it is as easy as walking into a courtroom.I do not have the luxury to drop everything I am doing for a meaningless anniversary dinner." He stepped closer to me yelling as his sturdy six feet height covered my frame.

"You are too sensitive, always making things about you.Do you know what I've had to deal with tonight? pack members questioning my leadership,dozens of threats from my rivals and yet you have the guts to whine about a missed dinner." His voice was sharp as a blade piercing through my heart.I took a step back from him.

"I just wanted one night,Damian.One night where I actually mattered to you."

I saw something like a flash of emotion crossed his green eyes, and then in one instance he grabbed my wrist too hard and I winced in pain

"You matter when I say you do." His voice became dangerously calm as I tried to pull away from him but his hold tightened on my waist.

"Damian,let go!" I muttered but he didn't, instead he closed every gap between us as his breath was hot against my skin.

"You are my wife Ember,do you know what that means?" My ears widened as he spoke

"It means you support me and do exactly as I say." I felt every breath of his as his free hands trailed down my arms and then lower down my back,his lips on my neck and his fingers grazing under the thin fabric of my red dress.His touch was possessive and not affectionate in any way, my stomach tightened as cold shivers ran down my spine.

"Damian stop!" I pushed against his chest swiftly finding my voice.He bridged the gap and his grip tightened around my waist again.

"Why should I stop? you are my wife Ember." he murmured.His breath was faster now as his lips grazed behind my ear.

"I said stop!" I yelled with my sharp voice cutting through the moment.He let out a huge breath of frustration shoving me aside with all his might like a piece of trash.I knew I had ruined his night.I stumbled, catching my self against the table.He hissed as he walked out of the office room.

"You always do this,you always make things difficult for me." He turned his back to me as he headed up the stairs to our bedroom as if nothing had happened.He stopped in his tracks calling out to me over his shoulder with his voice now so low and sounding like he was bored.

"Oh! cancel your work for tomorrow,call in sick,I don't care.You'll be too busy preparing for the annual pack gathering .I want everything to be perfect with everyone praising me for hosting them as pack Alpha."

And with that he disappeared up the stairs leaving me to wallow in the now completely silent living room with the shattered remnants of our anniversary celebration The night started with my hopes up that my husband would appreciate my efforts but sadly it ended with me realizing that I was his property and I was still so completely invincible to him.I stood there utterly alone with my hands clenched in a fist as I stared at the closed doors, something in me was breaking or was it shattering.As I looked at the untouched anniversary dinner another sad feeling engulfed me.

"No,this couldn't be my life,it shouldn't be my life,I shouldn't have to suffer like this,not forever."