After finishing the IV, I felt more dizzy than before. The cool, sterile air of the pack’s medical center wasn’t doing much to help, and I swayed slightly as I took a step forward, my head spinning.
Asher still hadn’t come back. No calls, no messages. He’d said he’d check on me after the healer, but nothing.
I pulled out my phone, feeling the weight of the situation press on me. I had to call him, even though I didn’t want to.
When he picked up, I could hear the faint sounds of laughter and the soft hum of an Italian ballad in the background.
"Lois, I’m sorry," he said, his voice distracted. "I was going to come back, but Celeste... she had some trouble shifting back into her wolf form. I had to help her out."
I froze at the mention of her. “Asher, I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about me.”
A waitress’s voice cut through the call. “Your pizza is ready, sir. Please enjoy your meal.”
I clenched my jaw. It was clear he was with her, not me! He quickly covered the phone, but I heard it all.
“It’s okay. I’ll manage on my own,” I said, trying to sound convincing, though I knew he could hear the crack in my voice.
Just as I was about to hang up, Asher called out. “Lois, head home. I’ll explain everything later.”
Explain? What was there to explain? Another round of lies?
Wow.
Without a word, I ended the call and arranged for a ride back to the pack house. That night, Asher didn’t come home.
I lay awake, the faint sound of wind rustling through the trees outside rattling my thoughts. I picked up my tablet, trying to distract myself by sketching designs for a client.
But then I accidentally brushed against the chat app, and a new post popped up from Celeste.
A picture of a candlelit dinner table adorned with roses, captioned with:
“After half a lifetime away, I return to you. And here, the world feels warm again, just as it should.”
My heart sank. Only when I tried to log out did I realize the chat app was still open on Asher’s account.
I should’ve been angry. I should’ve felt something. But instead, I just felt numb. I quickly logged out of the app, not wanting to dive into their little world of flirtations and secrets.
The next morning, I arrived at the pack’s office, feeling drained but functional. I handed my resignation to my manager. When she learned I was getting married, she smiled wistfully.
“You’re going to be missed, Lois. You’ve been one of the best members on the team.”
I smiled back, unsure what to say. “Thank you. I appreciate everything you’ve done.”
The office buzzed with talk about my upcoming wedding, and my colleagues insisted on throwing me a farewell lunch. I couldn’t say no, so I agreed and made a reservation at the small Italian restaurant Asher and I had always gone to.
It was one of the few places I could count on, and the food was good.
About halfway through the meal, I excused myself to go to the restroom. But as I turned the corner, I nearly ran into Celeste.
She looked surprised but greeted me with a friendly smile. “Lois! Didn’t expect to see you here.”
I gave her a polite smile, but I didn’t want to stick around. We weren’t close enough for small talk.
But she didn’t seem to feel the same way.
“Actually,” she said, stopping me before I could leave, “I noticed something last time we were here. Does Asher always scrape the cheese off your pizza before giving you a slice. Do you not eat dairy?”
The word ‘always’ made me pause. I swallowed hard, my throat tight. “I... I actually like cheese,” I admitted, feeling sick to my stomach.
Celeste smiled, but there was no warmth in it. “I know. He’s always said you didn’t like it because I’m lactose intolerant. It’s a habit he has... for ME.”
It was like a punch to the gut.
I had always thought Asher did it because he was looking out for me. I didn’t mind it—it was his little habit. But now, I realized the truth. He never did it for me. He did it for *her.*
