AVA
As I was getting ready to make love with my mate, a lace panty suddenly fell out of his suit pocket. It clearly wasn’t mine.
Just a few hours ago—
We had attended Blake’s father’s mating ceremony to his second mate, Isabella. Isabella was a lovely she-wolf, and I genuinely liked her. She had a quiet strength that reminded me of my own mother, who had passed away years ago. At the altar, as Isabella was about to toss her bouquet, she walked straight toward me amidst the eager gazes of all the she-wolves in the pack.
I started feeling nervous. My wolf,Maeve stirred uneasily, sensing the weight of the moment. I looked at Blake, and he was gazing at me tenderly, his golden eyes soft with affection, as if this was what he had been hoping for all along.
“Ava, dear,” Isabella said as she handed me a bouquet of white roses and lilies. “I can’t wait to see your mating ceremony with Blake.”
As I received the bouquet, a flush of warmth rose to my cheeks. My gaze turned back to Blake, and he leaned in, his lips brushing my ear as he murmured, “Looks like I’d better hurry to the nearest jeweler and get you a ring before someone else beats me to it.” He winked, his tone both teasing and tender.
“Shut up,” I joked, giving him a playful slap, though Maeve preened at his words. This was actually quite amusing because after being together for eight years, Blake and I had never been in a rush to formalize our bond. We always said we would mate when the time was right. But standing here, holding Isabella’s bouquet, it felt different. This was the first time I had caught—I mean, received—the bride’s bouquet. So it felt like a promise of a beautiful future.
My name is Ava Wilder. As the daughter of Alpha Wilder of the Silver Moon Pack, I used to think I had everything, but a rogue attack took the lives of my parents four years ago. In my most desperate and helpless moment, my boyfriend, the mate Blake I chose, helped me. We saved the Silver Moon Company together. I decided to hold the mating ceremony at the right time. Yes, I have always been very nervous about this. Although I know we love each other so much, there is always a strange thought that stops me.
Blake knew about my hesitation, but he didn't neglect me because of it. Instead, he cared for me even more. He was the perfect mate.
A few minutes later, I told Blake, “My feet are killing me.”
“Want to go upstairs?” he said, his hand caressing my lower back, then giving me a wink that sent a shiver down my spine.
I knew what he meant—he wanted to claim me, to reaffirm our bond, and I desired him just as much. Especially after accepting his proposal, I really wanted him to take me, to remind me that we were still one.
“But the celebration isn’t over yet. What if Isabella needs help?” I hesitated.
“Darling, there are indeed a hundred pack members here now,” Blake said directly, sweeping me up into his arms, his voice thick with lust as he continued, “And right now, the person who needs attending to is me. Grey is restless, and I need to feel you beneath me.”
Grey was Blake's wolf, a powerful and mysterious presence. He was obsessed with Maeve, but Maeve didn’t seem very interested in him.
“Relax, my girl, go enjoy a steamy night.”Maeve said.
Maeve always put my thoughts first, and she believed in the significant other I chose for us.
My fingers brushed against the hardness beneath his pants, and I could feel my core was already soaked! I couldn’t help but moan.
“Don’t worry, the suite is soundproof. You can be as loud as you want later,” he teased.
He spoke as he forcefully kicked open the door, then swiftly pinned me against it, ripping open my blouse so my breasts bounced free. He grabbed them, licking and sucking on my nipples with his tongue.
I moaned uncontrollably as his hands went to my skirt, bunching it up forcefully. The sound of ripping panties soon filled the air.
“Damn! You’re soaked!” Blake growled, plunging his fingers inside me.
I moaned again, wanting more, tearing at his suit jacket. Suddenly, Blake’s phone started ringing.
He was inclined to ignore it, but it persisted. “Shit!” Blake cursed, grabbing the phone. When he noticed the screen, his expression instantly darkened.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, Maeve bristling at the interruption.
“Honey, there’s an emergency at the pack’s territory. I have to deal with it,” Blake said with a frown after hanging up.
I knew how important the pack was to us, so I nodded, retrieving a fresh set of clothes for him as our earlier actions had left his crumpled.
Without asking, Blake swiftly dressed and hurried out.
But the very next second after he left, I noticed something on the floor.
As I stared at the piece of fabric on the floor, a crease immediately appeared on my forehead. My brain refused to process what I was seeing. I picked it up gingerly between just my thumb and forefinger.
A black lace thong dangled in front of my face.
“What the hell?” I muttered a curse. There were familiar stains on it, my face flushing hot—not from embarrassment or excitement, but from the anger boiling inside.
How could my mate have another she-wolf’s panties in his pocket? I clenched my teeth, furious, about to charge after Blake’s retreating back.
Eight years. Eight fucking years. Blake couldn’t possibly be what I was suspecting. Was I really going to waste all those years over a misunderstanding? My chest felt tight, but I forced myself to take deep breaths. We were talking about Blake here. Cheating? That was too ludicrous.
I immediately thought of that phone call earlier. I grabbed a navy blue cocktail dress from my luggage so I would look more presentable if I ran into pack members. I quickly brushed my hair and then rushed out.
When I reached the adjacent balcony, the entrance door was half open, so I peeked inside. The sight that greeted me made me dizzy. Blake was entangled with another she-wolf, their scents mingling in a way that made my stomach churn.
How could he do this? Just moments ago, his fingers had been inside me, and I felt sick instantly.
“I bet fucking next door to your mate makes it even more exciting,” the she-wolf said, her voice making me freeze again.
And the she-wolf was none other than his married ex-mate, Chloe! She was Blake's destined mate, but she had rejected him and chosen to marry a wealthier werewolf instead. This was the same Chloe who had left him when his family lost their standing in the pack, while I had picked up the remaining pieces of his life.
My knees nearly gave out, and I had to lean against the wall to stay upright. A cold numbness spread through my chest, replacing the burning anger from before. How could Blake even do this to me?
When I met Blake at the Michigan University eight years ago, I was the alpha’s daughter, the heiress to one of the strongest packs in the region, while he was the brilliant but disgraced son of a fallen alpha. His pack’s downfall had left them scraping by, but Blake never let it dim his ambition. When my parents died in a rogue attack, he was my rock. He helped me through the grief and the complicated pack politics that followed. I gave him everything—my trust, my love, my family’s resources to restore his pack’s standing. I even stepped back from leading my father’s pack so Blake could take control.
All these years, I thought we were building something together….
“I can’t actually believe my eyes right now,” I scoffed, my voice trembling with rage.
Both of them froze when I walked in, but I didn’t see any hint of shock in their eyes.
“So this is what you’ve been doing?” I shook my head at Blake. “I can’t believe I’ve been making a joke of myself all along. Eight years of fucking lies! You’ve been fucking your ex this whole time, huh?!”
I saw Chloe’s mocking expression, but the one who betrayed me today was Blake. I glared at him furiously.
“Ava! Calm down—” Blake approached me, naked.
“You stay the hell away from me!” I snarled at him, Maeve rising to the surface, my claws extending.
He raised his hands, then shrugged and said, “Come on, Ava, it’s not that big a deal. You’re not unfamiliar with the concept of an open relationship, right?”
Open relationship? My stomach felt like it had been punched with nausea. “You disgust me,” I said with revulsion.
“Hey...” He reached out to me again. “You’re overreacting.”
“Don’t you even dare,” I snarled.
Blake came closer to me, staring me down with a condescending smirk. “You know, you’re luckier than Chloe. I actually have a thing for you, and I’ll chose you to be my mate soon enough, so don’t fuss like a child now.”
My hands had been twitching the whole time he spoke, but shutting that disgusting mouth of his was the first thing I wanted to do.
I slapped him hard, my claws leaving faint marks on his cheek. “Asshole,” I spat before rushing out of there, my heart breaking with every step.