Esra
I waited outside Derek's workplace, eager to surprise him. Normally, he'd be the one to pick me up, but today I finished early from work and decided to take matters into my own hands.
The silver watch on my wrist ticked away, making time seem to pass at a glacial pace. I had been waiting outside for twenty minutes, and since the receptionist wouldn't let me in, I was forced to wait outside the imposing building. Derek was the CEO of Krystallo Jewels, a busy man who always made time for me.
After five more minutes, I saw him walking out of the main entrance. He smiled when he spotted me, and my heart skipped a beat.
"Took you long enough," I teased.
"Sorry, I had some personal documents to attend to," he replied, his hand snaking around my waist as he pecked my lips softly.
I pulled away, frowning. "Why can't you give it to your assistant?"
Derek's expression turned evasive. "It was... sensitive information."
I knew better than to press the issue. Derek wasn't just the CEO of Krystallo Jewels; he was also the alpha of our pack.
We decided to grab dinner at a nearby restaurant, ordering the same dishes we always did. But beneath the surface, I sensed a growing distance between us. Derek's distraction was palpable, and I couldn't shake the feeling that he was hiding something from me.
As the night drew to a close, I returned home, dreading the lecture that awaited me from Carroll and Carter. I tried to sneak in quietly, but the creaky door and floorboards betrayed me.
"Esra!" Carroll called out.
I turned to face them, trying to appear nonchalant. "Yeah?"
"Do you know what time it is?" Carter asked, his tone stern.
I glanced at my watch. "Seven."
Carroll's expression softened. "Esra, we're worried about you. You know Derek's going to find his mate soon, don't you?"
I forced a smile, trying to reassure them. "I'm fine, really. I know he will."
But deep down, I knew I wasn't fine. I was scared, and I didn't know what the future held. Derek and I were not destined mates yet, and I doubt we'd ever be. Soon, Derek would find someone, and I'd be left all alone.
As I retreated to my room, I couldn't shake the feeling that my world was about to be turned upside down.
The next day, I waited for Derek to pick me up from work, but he never showed. I tried calling him, but he didn't answer. A sense of unease settled in the pit of my stomach.
"Is something wrong, Esra?" Kathryn, my assistant, asked.
I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "Derek's been distant today."
Kathryn's expression turned sympathetic. "Maybe he's just busy."
But I knew better. Derek had found his mate.
I left the office, taking an Uber home. As I walked in the door, Carter informed me that Derek had called.
My heart skipped a beat. "Why couldn't he phone me?"
Carter's expression turned serious. "Esra, is there something you're not telling us?"
I brushed it off, trying to appear nonchalant. "Look, I know he's probably found his mate, and I don't mind."
But as I went to my room to call Derek back, my emotions began to unravel as reality sunk in.
He answered on the third ring.
"Esra, I'm sorry," Was the first thing he said, his voice laced with guilt.
"It's okay. I get it. You found your mate."
There was a pause on the other end of the line. "How did you know?"
I laughed, a bitter taste in my mouth. "You're bad at hiding things."
Derek's tone turned cautious. "Esra, please don't be upset. You'll find your mate soon too."
That was the final straw. My blood boiled at the mention of finding my mate.
"You don't know anything about my mate!" I exclaimed, my voice rising.
Derek's voice turned concerned, a hint of hurt in his voice. "What do you mean?" A pregnant pause. "Are you saying you have a mate and hid this from me?"
Anger and hurt simmered just below the surface. "It doesn't concern you!"
With that, I ended the call and blocked Derek's number on my phone and social media. It was a rash decision, but at the moment, I didn't really care.
As I collapsed onto my bed, I couldn't help but wonder what I had done to deserve this.
Derek and I had done a lot together, and I didn't regret any of it. I didn't regret not telling him about my mate because it wasn't something he should know.
My mate and I were no longer together, god, I didn't think we were ever really together since he always had a new girl in his bed every week.
Calling him my mate always tasted bitter on my tongue.
My phone buzzed, but I ignored it. I didn't want to talk to anyone right now.
I tried to drift of to sleep, but I couldn't shake the feeling that my life was about to change forever.
I hurled another pillow at the wall, my frustration boiling over. "Urgh!"
The door creaked open, and Carroll's concerned face appeared. "Esra, is everything okay?"
I sighed, feeling a mix of emotions swirl inside me. "Honestly," A tear rolled down my face. "I don't know anymore. Five years ago, I was proud of being a lone wolf, but now...now I'm a mate-less she-wolf, and it's hard to be proud of that."
Carroll's expression softened, and she enveloped me in a warm hug. "I'm sorry, Esra."
I pulled back, searching her face. "Sorry for what?"
Carroll's eyes evaded mine. "Nothing, don't worry. I just want you to live your life the way you want to. I don't want to force you into anything you're not comfortable with. No one should."
Her words were laced with an undercurrent of concern, and I sensed there was more to her statement than met the eye. She held my hands in hers, her touch gentle.
"You're starting to scare me, Esra," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
I locked gazes with her, trying to read between the lines. "What's wrong, Carroll? You're not saying something."
Carroll's expression turned enigmatic. "Nothing, I mean it. Life is unpredictable, and you never know what's around the corner, right?"
I nodded slowly, suspicious of what she had going on in her mind. She was hiding something, but I chose not to pry.
Carroll smiled and squeezed my hands before releasing them. "I should go."
I watched as she left my room, feeling a sense of unease settle in the pit of my stomach. I locked the door behind her and leaned against it, wiping the tears off my face.
"What on earth am I going to do?" I whispered to myself, running my fingers through my dark brown hair.
I strode over to the balcony, needing some air, and flung the doors open, letting the cool breeze wash over me. I closed my eyes, inhaling the fresh scent carried on the wind.
But as I stood there, a foreign scent wafted up, making my eyes snap open. I scanned the bushes and trees below, my heart racing with a mix of fear and anticipation.
I couldn't see anyone, but the scent lingered, teasing my senses. I gulped, my mind racing with possibilities.
And then, a terrifying thought occurred to me: maybe I knew that scent from somewhere. Maybe I knew who it belonged to.
I hoped I was wrong, but deep down, I knew I wasn't.