Chapter 1: Just Three Days
Sheila’s heart skipped a beat when she heard the sound of the Rolls Royce pulling into the car park of the packhouse.
The Dark Moon Pack had one of the most luxurious pack houses, requiring the services of omegas all the time. The Alpha had been away on an important journey and no one knew how long it was going to take.
His sudden arrival caused the omegas to hasten about their duties as if walking on eggshells as Sheila spoke to her most trusted friend with a heavy heart.
“You have to go. Alpha Nick is back. Please use the back door so he doesn’t see you. He is quite sensitive so don’t let him catch your scent.”
Seated on the curvy kitchen stool, her most trusted friend, Goldie, felt an inexplicable pain in her chest. “Why should you be afraid of your husband? You even call him by his title.”
Sneaking in and out to see her best friend as if she were some kind of ex-convict. This was too much for her to take, and she was tired of it.
“Sherry, you have suffered for too long. If things continue like this, I will drop a hint of your whereabouts to the Alpha King.”
Sheila froze with a start at the mention of her papa. He was the most powerful Alpha that ever lived, ruling the south, east, north, and western America. Even her seven brothers were still struggling to match his strength and capability.
Moreover, nob*dy could take the Kingship title until he gave up the ghost. All this while, Sheila had lived away, keeping her marriage from him after being disowned because she wanted nothing to do with the pack business.
Giving up everything just to be by the side of the only man she ever loved, her father would still send his strongest warriors after her if he found out about how she lived like a soulless creature.
Sheila was always full of life. Though having schooled in the human world, she also practiced martial arts secretly.
She studied fashion design and ethical hacking but after just six months of marriage, she became like an old housewife, losing her sense of fashion and making herself a doormat for her husband’s pack and family.
“No, please don’t. Things will soon change, and I will let Papa know about it. Nick will love me. He just needs time.” She ensured not to address him by his title this time around, though her tone was loaded with sorrow, as if afraid.
She knew that her father would take her back at any time, but he just wouldn’t approve of her marriage to a man who never valued her.
“I hope so,” Goldie said dismissively before rising from the kitchen stool she sat on. Sheila opened the door to the back for her.
“Quick. Please don’t let his warriors see you.”
Goldie was unhappy but obeyed. It was easy escaping the warriors because they were infatuated with her.
Most of them thought she was a friend of one of the omegas.
As soon as she left through the open back door, an elegant man walked in through the front door, and Sheila rushed to meet him in the living room, ensuring to maintain a good distance between them.
His aura was intimidating, his movements graceful like the sunrise, as he ogled at her with cold eyes. “Sheila, we need to talk.”
As usual, there was no emotion in his voice. It carried the chill of the winter breeze.
Sheila panicked, as she already heard rumors among the omegas that his mate had returned. Most probably, it was the reason for his recent impromptu travel.
One of the warriors hurled his luggage up the stairs.
“Alpha Nick, you just came back from a long journey. Please eat first, or your food will get cold.” Sheila dared not address him without a title like she casually did to please Goldie in his absence.
Trying to avoid the conversation, which she guessed would not be good, she quickly turned around to go get the food, but his cold and yet mellow voice caused her foot to halt.
“This is more important. Sit and let’s talk.” Sheila obeyed like a frightened deer. She has always been obedient to him, so he would care about her, but that hadn’t worked so far.
Alpha Nick dropped his briefcase on the center table, and Sheila dared not touch it. Throughout their marriage, they lived in separate rooms, and he treated her like a stranger. He was completely oblivious to her dedication to the pack.
To him, she was just there at the time of convenience while he waited for his mate.
“You have to understand that I have tried. It’s been six months, but I still don’t feel anything for you. Our contract ends today. I haven’t mated with you, and I haven’t marked you. I hope that you find your fated mate one day.”
He barely looked at her when he spoke. He never put in the effort to make it work and yet claimed he tried. Sheridan’s heart stopped; her eyes turned teary. She had been in love with Alpha Nick all her life, but he had no idea.
Six months ago, he was getting married to his mate, Charlotte. Having schooled in the human world with Sheila, she requested a wedding, which Alpha Nick agreed to but she disappeared on the day of the event.
Sheila, who was seeking vengeance on Charlotte because of how the latter had laced her drink with scorpion venom, took advantage and proposed to marry him to save him from the shame.
Alpha Nick was very cold-hearted, and the strongest in North America. Having invited all the Alphas from across America, he could not allow himself to be ridiculed.
He gave it six months, using the opportunity to search for his mate, Charlotte, until he found her. Fortunately, his six-month contract with Sheila had also ended.
“Can it be delayed for three days?” Sheila pleaded. “Could you pretend we are in love and go with me to the gala awards?”
She didn’t care that she sounded desperate but was certain that the gala awards would change everything.
Once in three years, all packs in America had this function to celebrate extraordinary pack members.
This time, the event was going to be held in a grand hotel since none of the packs had the facility to host it.
Alpha Nick’s expression darkened, finding her request comical. As a man who never laughed much, it was interesting to see him smile, except that it wasn’t genuine.
“You are so ridiculous, Sheila. What will you do at the gala awards? You don’t have anything to contribute there. Besides, I’m going with Charlotte.”
Disdain laced his final words as he glowered at the plain white dress she wore. There was nothing appealing about her.
Sheila’s heart stopped. She only heard rumors, but it was confirmed that her former best friend slash now archenemy was back, and the words slipped from her mouth.
“Charlotte? My best friend?”
Alpha Nick was unfazed by her reaction. He believed that someone must have kidnapped Charlotte and never stopped searching for her.
It happened to be the case by the investigation report he received, which showed that Charlotte had been through a lot, including losing some part of her memory.
Alpha Nick had to be there for her to help her regain her memory and the love they once shared. He regretted not mating and marking her as soon as he found out they were mates.
The mark would have brought them together sooner. “I don’t know about that, but she’s the one I’m going with. To make it easy on you, I want you to sign the divorce papers. Place your demand. I will give you anything including half of my pack to compensate you for the six months we’ve been together.”
“No!” Sheila suddenly yelled, and Alpha Nick’s brows raised despicably. This woman was calm and never raised her voice before but was suddenly yelling.
The sight only made her look crazy. “Alpha Nick, please don’t do this. I can go to the gala awards alone, and you can be with Charlotte. I promise not to bother you.”
Sheila was a crying mess, believing that if given more time, things could work out between them.
Besides, Charlotte had wanted to kill her. If not for the waiter who knocked the drink from her hand and showed her a video of what Charlotte had done, Sheila would have been dead by now.
Charlotte loved Alpha Nick’s best friend, Beta Thomas Addy, from the Lotus pack who eloped with her during the wedding.
“Sheila, I want to marry Charlotte. How is that possible if I’m still legally married to you? She is my fated mate.”
Sheila’s fragile heart broke into pieces and she cried so much, one of the omegas brought her some handkerchiefs.
It was embarrassing, but she couldn’t care less. She was just happy that Alpha Nick’s mom had gone on her long walk with his father and sister. His father and sister never liked Sheila but his mother doted on her a lot.
She was the reason why Sheila was able to endure so much in the pack. The man before her remained expressionless, nothing tickling in his heart for her. He cared more about the mate bond than whatever Sheila was feeling for him.
“So, this is it?” Sheila facepalmed, wiping a tear and feeling like a loser. Charlotte had the man she loved but still came back to her mate.
What possibly could be going on with her? Perhaps, the mate bond was too strong and Sheila was just being punished for not respecting it.
How could she know how it feels when she never found her fated mate at 23? He was either dead or she never had one.
Sheila wanted to investigate the matter, but this man never felt anything for her, making it all an unworthy battle to fight.
The pain in her heart was just too much to bear.
“No. You will have half of everything I own including the pack. That is your reward for being a good Luna, but it’s rather unfortunate that things didn’t work out between us. I already signed my part of the divorce agreement. Add yours, and it’s legal.”
Alpha Nick was hasty, though anxious. More tears brimmed in the back of Sheila’s eyes. Alpha Nick has always been on the move. They never had time to work on this marriage.
She believed that if he gave her three days in pretense of being in love, he would develop feelings for her.
“Alpha Nick, please, just three days.”
