Chapter 1


    Carol’s POV


    My life was perfectly ordinary until today. I thought today was no different.


    I woke up on time, drove to work with little traffic, and even dressed in my normal attire. Even now, I’m making my coffee in the breakroom like I always do. It’s all part of my perfectlyfortable routine.


    “Hey, babe.” The sound of a familiar voice brings a smile to my face. I turn and I am greeted by the sight of my boyfriend, Zack, entering the break room<b>.</b>


    No one else is here, I think with a mischievous <b>grin</b>. Closing the small distance between Zack and I, I lean in to give him a gentle but passionate .


    “Someone’s having a good day.” Zack smirks. Iugh.


    “Maybe. I’m just… Thankful, I guess.” Thankful for some stability atst, I think, but I don’t say it out loud. Zack never likes it when I get too sappy.


    I start up a typical conversation with Zack as we prepare our coffee. I hope the quick moment of PDA isn’t too obvious. I straighten out my blouse and pencil skirt and nce over his clothes, as well he looks the same <b>as </b>always with his button down and gray cks. Looking at him, you might not even realize that he’s a werewolf.


    but once he let


    Standing in the break room, I can’t help but fondly remember the moment almost two years ago when he boldly announced he wanted to court me. I’ve always been <b>nervous </b><b>about </b>office romances, since the breakups can be awkward me know that I’m his fated mate, I became curious.


    I already knew about werewolves. Still, they always <b>seemed </b>so separate from the life I live. Many werewolves keep within their packs and don’t have much need to branch out.


    As a human, of course, I didn’t realize Zack was my fated mate- but <b>as </b>an Omega werewolf, Zack says he instantly knew. That bond can’t be broken. For werewolves, fated mates are forever.


    But why not start forever today? A voice in the back of my head grumbles. I try to ignore it like usual. With our two year anniversary approaching, it does feel strange we’ve never seriously discussed marriage or even moving in together.


    I force down the negative thoughts as I sweeten my coffee. Who knows, I think, maybe he’s waiting for our anniversary to propose!


    Zack and I make our way out of the <b>break </b>room. We’re greeted by the sight of our boss, Daniel, approaching with an unfamiliar woman beside him.


    “Carol, Zack, just the two I was looking for!” Daniel says. “I wanted to introduce you two to Sophia, the newest member of o team. Please wee her with open arms.


    our


    For some reason, I feel uneasy as <b>soon </b>as I look at her. I try to shake off the feeling. What has gotten into me? I think. I am in the middle of scolding myself when Sophia and <b>Zack’s </b>eyes lock. Zack breaths in deeply and his eyes widen.


    “<b>Mate</b>,” Zack says suddenly.


    I turn to him, thinking he’s calling to me. Instead, he rushes toward Sophia and pulls her into a passionate .


    My world immediately crashes down around me. Too many emotions rush through my body for me to do anything other than stare in shock. My boss Daniel is watching, too, looking just as baffled as I am


    It isn’t until they finally separate that I am able to collect myself. “What’s going on?” I demand. The question is pointless. really. I saw exactly what happened.


    “Huh?” Zack says dryly. Sophia leans up against his chest with a fawning expression as he speaks casually. “Sophia is my fated mate. Good thing you’re here now we can just break up. That makes things easy.


    <b>12:28 </b>FM


    Chapter 1


    This can’t be happening, I think. “But I’m your fated mate,” I say.


    <b>Zack </bughs, and the sound cuts to my core.


    “Are you serious?” He jeers. Sophia isughing, too. “No human is worthy enough to be chosen by the moon goddess as a werewolf’s fated mate. Besides what werewolf would love a lowly human, anyway?”


    This is a nightmare. I think numbly. That’s the only possible exnation. “You but you told me,” I manage weakly. Zack


    sneers.


    “You’re so naive. You actually fell for that?”


    Zack’s words feel like a p to the face. That might be the reason my arm is winding back without thinking. I strike him across the cheek, hard. He stumbles a few steps and lets out a cry of pain. I hear a chorus of gasps erupt behind me. Oh great, I think dryly, we’ve drawn a crowd.


    I turn to Sophia with what little sense I have left. “And you’re just going to ept this?” I exim. “He was dating me minutes ago. We’ve been together for almost two years!”


    Sophia shrugs nonchntly, not even looking bothered by Zack whining over his bruised cheek. “So what? Plenty of werewolves have rtionships before they meet their fated mate.” She bats her eyshes at him. “But now he has me.”


    I can feel the tears stinging the backs of my eyes. Everywhere I look there are people staring. I need to leave, I think desperately. I turn to face my boss.


    “I need the day off,” I force out. Daniel coughs awkwardly into his fist and nods. I don’t stick around to see if he says anything else. I run toward the door without a backward nce.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    I slump into the front seat of my car and choke back a sob. I pull up my phone. My fingers are trembling as I type out a message to my best friend Fiona: “Zack cheated. Drinks?”


    The surge of emotions bes more violent as I drive home. I thought he was my fated mate, I think numbly. Two years of my life, wasted.


    I step out of


    my car on autopilot and my feet carry me to my apartment. I notice that there’s a pile of boxes outside of the apartment next to mine. That apartment had been vacant for some time, but it looks like my privacy is over. If my new neighbor can’t handle hearing me cry myself to sleep tonight, they cane andfort me themself, I think dryly.


    As soon as my door shuts behind me, I burst into tears and copse onto my couch. The rest of the day passes by in a blur. I’m not sure how long I spend crying my eyes out, but I can’t help it. I thought I finally had what I was looking for. Stability – love. But it was all a lie.


    I’m shaken from my self pity by a knock. I know who it is before I even open the door.


    “That ! I knew he wasn’t right for you,” Fiona deres, She pulls me into a tight hug


    “He said he was your fated mate!” She exims. I lift my head from Fiona’s shoulder just long enough to mumble “He lied. He met the real one today.”


    “Who was it?” Fiona demands.


    “Sophia. New hire. Werewolf. He her right in front of me.” I know I’m speaking in fragments, but I’m afraid that if <b>I </b>keep talking, I’ll start crying again. “I just wish…”


    “No wishing right now.” Fiona cuts me off. “Tonight, we’re going to get wasted and look at cute boys. We’ll sort everything else outter.” She wipes away my tears and smiles confidently.


    I’m not sure if I believe Fiona, but I know I need to get out of the house. I smile. “Thanks, Fiona. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”


    Fiona smirks. “Probably drink a lot less.”


    “God forbid,” Iugh.


    12.28 PM


    Clupter <b>1</b>


    Fiona tries her best to distract me as we get ready to go out. Fiona insists I wear my new ck mini–dress to try and boost my confidence. We wipe away the rest of my tears and head out the door.


    As Fiona and I <b>head </b>down the hallway, I notice <b>my </b>new neighbor’s apartment door is open. I spare <b>a </b>nce <b>as </b>we pass by. I freeze in ce.


    Standing <b>tall </b>and broad just on the other side of the door frame stands the most drop–dead gorgeous man I’ve ever seen in my


    life<b>.</b>


    He’s tall and lean with a mop of light brown hair. Even from the other side of the doorway, it’s obvious he’s ripped. All he wears is a simple ck t–shirt and grey sweatpants — somehow, that only makes him hotter.


    However, something bizarre catches my attention.


    The stranger <b>is </b>glowing a faint, sparkling pink.