Chapter 1
Ava's POV.
Ding!
My phone blared.
"Pick me up at Lucy's Bar at twenty." ~ M.
My face deflated as I looked away from the rack of perfume bottles that I was labeling to finalize my creation and dropped my pen.
It was time to go home.
"Put these away. I'll deal with them tomorrow." I told my assistant with a smile before shedding my lab coat and tossing it over my chair. Not an usual activity but I could deal with it.
"Yes, ma'am. Goodnight, ma'am, happy anniversary."
I forced a smile, tucking my shirt into my pencil skirt, adjusting my collar, and patted my hair, nodding in acceptance of her congratulations before leaving.
Worry gnawed at my heart, but I waved it off immediately. I had prepared a table filled with his favorite dishes at home only for him to call me to come pick him up at a Bar?
"At least he called you first. He was probably thinking of you." My wolf responded, dispelling any disarray I felt.
That wasn't a sufficient explanation but what could I do about it?
I sat in the car, making several calls, especially to Maya, to confirm that everything was swiftly prepared, I relaxed at the back of the seat of my car watching on, and going down memory lane.
I was the daughter of the Blauwald Pack and Alpha, and I had been in love with Mark, the heir of the DarkMoon Pack, since childhood. He was also my chosen mate.
After my father passed away, our packs merged during our marking ceremony. Together, we became the Dark Moon Pack, and I became its Luna.
I shook my head, jolting out of my thoughts. Truth be told Mark had only agreed to mark me, simply because his girlfriend Faye had just left him.
This was my cue to dance according to fate's tune. I got into the business of winning Mark over, pouring all my love into him over the years.
A ghost of a smile appeared on my lips when I remembered how the people of Stoneheart hated him initially and I had to go the extra mile of convincing them that he was worthy of being my man especially after he popped the question.
I worked so hard to restore balance between his pack and mine while lying that he was the mastermind.
Mark didn't care anyway. I mean he did warm up to me in the beginning but that was until tragedy struck.
Faye returned.
Then, a downward spiral began.
I could feel Mark's heart come alive again. My wolf and I believed that after all these years, he had developed some feelings for me, and he wouldn't abandon me.
He gave me bread crumbs of affection while dealing with her with more tenderness which I often brushed off as being and after effects of old flame.
The driver parked in front of Lucy's and I alighted, striding into the reception hoping to find him and bring him home. I hated it when he went about drinking without a care in the world.
The lobby was empty so I walked up to the receptionist with a small smile. Humans.
"Hi, my husband was here a few minutes ago."
She looked at me with something akin to jitters, before pointing to the left. I followed his scent which led me to a private room.
It was mixed with something that I couldn't quite place my finger on. Was someone here with him? A meeting perhaps? The perfume was feminine.
Refusing to think the worst yet I raised a hand to knock but lowered it slowly as soon as I heard my name.
"Ava? Pfft. She is absolutely nothing to me." Mark's commanding voice filtered into my ears.
My heart sank at the first statement until I heard a giggle, followed by kissing, "I always knew that she was a bitch, how did you ever end up with her?" More giggles erupted from my archnemesis.
Faye.
"She was just a tool for me to become the presiding alpha of both Packs. How else was I supposed to achieve that?" He continued.
How didn't he smell my presence?
"I have always hated that girl from the start. I sincerely thought you loved her." Faye said before making out with him again.
Mark never agreed to make out with me for this long. It was almost like a chore to get him to have sex with me and now he was kissing her as though she was the source of his life.
"Oh my goodness!" A louder squeal had my blood curling.
"Ssshh, she'll be here in five." Mark said, then I peeped through the tiny space in the door. "She's trash by the way. No one compares to hmm..." His words were swallowed by a grunt.
Color drained out of my face as I saw her legs part to receive his joystick. He damn well knew I was coming. I was cooked.
My heart suddenly began to pound at a speed that I feared was going to burst out of my chest the next minute.
The searing pain from the mate bond tore me apart.
How could Mark betray me this way? Even if anyone was going to do this to me I expected it not to be him! After everything that we had gone through together?
My legs grew wobbly as I leaned weakly against the wall, with tears blurring my vision.
My wolf, Cara, howled in my head at the betrayal. "No, no, no." She muttered in despair.
I clutched my chest, trying to stabilize my emotions. I was in agony. This was similar to him driving a knife into my back. At least I wouldn't have to witness it.
I exhaled slowly, shutting out the moans that threatened my sanity.
I wasn't going to confront them in the act. In that moment of agony, I gained clarity. I finally saw how pathetic I was. Despite all my efforts, I had never occupied a place in Mark's heart. He had always loved Faye.
Was I going to keep living in this misery?
Of course not.