NIYA'S POV:-
"Ughhrrrr," I groaned, frustration written all over my face.
Betty let out a long sigh, shaking her head in disbelief. "Will you stop groaning and just pick up that call?" she urged, pointing to my phone that lay buzzing on the table.
I glared at it, feeling a knot of anxiety form in my stomach. The flashing name on the screen made me feel sick. "Psycho!" I muttered under my breath.
Veronica, who had been listening intently to our conversation, leaned forward in her seat. "You've been here for a week and still haven't told me what's wrong?" she asked, her eyes full of concern.
I let out a heavy sigh, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. "I'm not sure why he's acting this way; it's as if he's been possessed by some good ghost," I said, running a hand through my hair.
"What exactly did he do?" Veronica probed, her eyes narrowing with curiosity.
As my phone pinged again, I couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. "Do you remember the party?" I asked, my voice laced with bitterness.
"Hmm! Yes," Veronica nodded slowly.
"It all started from that night," I said, my jaw clenched tightly as I thought back to the events that had brought me to this point.
**Two weeks ago**
I buried myself deeper under the warm blankets, unwilling to face the cold morning. Suddenly, a gentle and heavenly voice spoke.
"Niya, wake up."
I groaned and mumbled, "Hmm, five more minutes."
"Okay," the voice replied.
Wait!! Okay? Who is this person? I slowly opened one eye to look at the angel who had granted me some extra time to sleep.
"Ohh!! You're awake, here drink this." A cup was held in front of my face, and I kept blinking to clear my vision. I'm guessing I have an eye problem or am dreaming.
Yeah!! It's just a dream, this can't be true. I hesitantly took the cup and sniffed it. It smelled like chamomile tea, but I couldn't be sure.
"You look cute," a small chuckle from the person in front of me brought me out of my reverie.
"Are you alright?" I sat up straight and placed my hand on the person's forehead.
"Yes, I'm fine, but please drink your tea here," why is this person giggling again? I've never seen him in such a good mood before.
"You appear pale; are you okay?" he asked, his smile never leaving his face.
"Yes, I'm fine," I cleared my throat, "I'll go and get fresh first."
"Alright!! I'll wait for you so we can eat breakfast together, and I'll drive you to work," he clapped his hands, smiled, and exited the room.
What was he doing smiling at me? Why is he acting so strangely? Is he on his period or what? I can smell something fishy.
I sat on the couch after getting ready and drank a sip of cold tea, which does not taste good when cold. As I stared at my reflection in the mirror, I wondered what today held for me. Something was definitely off, but I couldn't put my finger on it.
I took a sip and halted, "Wait!!! Did he put something in my tea?" My eyes widened, and I spit the tea back into the cup.
"I can't possibly be that stupid to die after drinking tea."
*****
Cedric sauntered over to the table, his arms loaded with a colorful array of fruit. "Here, eat this; it's tasty and healthy," he said, his voice almost too cheerful for the morning. He arranged the fruit on my plate, adding a glass of freshly squeezed juice with a flourish.
Glancing around the table, I could see that everyone was staring at us with a mixture of confusion and disbelief. I felt my cheeks heat up under their scrutiny, wondering what was going on with Cedric.
For weeks now, he had been nothing but grumpy, barely acknowledging my presence in the morning rush to get out the door. And yet here he was, fussing over me like a mother hen.
"Bro! Did you get hit on the head or something?" Blake teased, a smile playing at the corners of his lips.
Cedric shrugged, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "Nope! I'm fine and normal," he said, adding a handful of dried fruit to my plate.
"But this is not normal," Cassie muttered, her brows furrowed in confusion.
Ignoring her, Cedric gestured towards the plate. "Hey! Why aren't you eating? Here, take this," he said, dropping a piece of bread onto my plate.
I stared at the food in front of me, feeling overwhelmed and unsure of how to respond. "I'm stuffed! I'll go first," I said, standing up and pushing my chair back.
"But you didn't eat anything," Cedric grumbled, a hint of irritation creeping into his voice.
I could feel everyone's eyes on me as I tried to think of a response. "I ate so many things! All of this is extra that you put on my plate," I said, crossing my arms and nodding towards the food.
Cedric scratched his head, looking sheepish. "Oh, I see," he said, standing up and pushing his chair back. "Let's go then," he added, taking my hand and leading me towards the door.
I turned to look back at the table, seeing a range of reactions. Some people looked stunned, while others were grinning or laughing. My sister and Blake were both doubled over with laughter, and I couldn't resist flipping them the bird before following Cedric out the door.
**After 6 days**
As we stepped out of the elevator and walked towards Cedric's cabin, he asked, "Do you require anything? Like a drink or some snacks?"
I turned around to face him, a baffled expression on my face. "Hmm?"
"I wondered if you required anything," he repeated, flashing a dazzling smile that I had never seen before. It was as if the sun had come out from behind the clouds, casting a warm glow on everything around me.
His smile was contagious, and I couldn't help but grin back at him. "No, I'm fine. Do you need anything?"
"No, I don't need anything. You can rest for a while. I'll let you know if I need anything," he said, his smile growing even wider, his eyes sparkling.
"You should smile more often. It suits you," I said, unable to resist complimenting him.
"Is it true?" he asked, sounding surprised.
I nodded, "You do have a bright smile. It's like illuminating the environment."
He smiled even more brightly and said, "Then I'll do it every day just for you."
I felt my cheeks flush with a mixture of embarrassment and excitement. I couldn't believe I was having this kind of conversation with my boss.
"I should get to work. Let me know if you need anything, sir," I said, bowing slightly and hurrying to my cabin.
As I opened my laptop and started checking my emails, I couldn't help but feel a flutter in my chest. The events of the past few minutes had left me feeling giddy and light-headed.
"What on earth is going on?" I murmured to myself, glancing out the door to see that Cedric had already entered his office.
Taking a deep breath to calm my racing heart, I focused on my work, determined not to let my teenage girl fantasies get the best of me.
I walked around the desk to my chair. I opened my laptop and began scrolling through emails to distract myself from the strange events that have occurred since the party.
~~knock knock~~
"Come in," I said without looking up from my laptop screen, my fingers swiftly typing away as I responded to some urgent emails.
As the door opened, a familiar voice cleared their throat. "You appear to be busy," he said.
I looked up to see Cedric standing in front of me, dressed in a sharp black suit with his hair styled perfectly as always.
"Just responding to some important emails," I replied, trying to keep my cool as he walked closer to me, his cologne filling the air around me.
"You have a meeting with Mr. Ray at four o'clock," I added, hoping to divert his attention away from me.
"I see," he said, his eyes scanning the room before resting back on me.
"Hmm, do you need anything?" I asked, hoping to wrap up our conversation and get back to work.
"Yes," he said, his voice low and husky.
I gulped as he removed his hands from his pockets and walked around the desk to stand next to my chair. Then he leaned forward, one hand on the desk, the other on the arm of my chair.
"What is it?" I asked, feeling a knot forming in my stomach as he leaned in closer, his hands now resting on my desk.
"You," he whispered in my ear, and all I could do was blink like an idiot who had never imagined myself in this situation, but I regained consciousness when I felt something wet on my cheek.
He actually pecked me!!
"What are you doing?" I pushed him away and got on my feet while holding my hands over my chest. My eyes were filled with fury, but a flush was visible on my cheek.
He laughed, his hand reaching out to caress my cheek. "What's the deal with your pink cheeks? Are you blushing or are you furious?"
"The latter," I said, swatting his hand away as I stood up, my heart racing.
"I came here just to take you out for lunch," he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"I'm pressed for time; I have work to do," I said, hoping he would take the hint and leave me alone.
"You can do that later; you need to eat first," he said, his hand reaching out to close my laptop.
"Thanks to you, I can stay without having lunch," I said, my fingers pounding away at the keyboard as I tried to show him that I was too busy to go anywhere with him.
"I apologize," he said, his eyes softening as he leaned in closer to me. "Let's go."
Before I could even respond, he had grabbed my hand and was pulling me towards the door. "Cedric, wait," I said, wincing as I hit my hip on the edge of the desk.
"Oh, sorry," he said, his hand rubbing my hip as he looked at me with concern.
"Are you insane? Isn't it obvious that there's a desk between us?" I scolded him, feeling embarrassed and annoyed all at once.
"Oh goodness, let's leave," he said, grabbing his jacket and rushing towards the door.
I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself as I grabbed my purse and followed him towards the elevator, my heart still racing with a mix of emotions.
****
As we ate lunch, Cedric's joviality and conversational skills were on full display. It was as if I was sitting across from a completely different person.
His stories about embarrassing encounters with Blake and his college hobbies made me chuckle, and I found myself enjoying his company more than I had anticipated.
But then, his expression turned somber as he mentioned a name, and I couldn't help but wonder who this Emily was and why Cedric seemed so affected by her.
But then he changed the subject and turned the focus onto me, asking about my interests and hobbies. I appreciated the gesture and was glad to avoid any personal questions.
We made it back to the office in time for his meeting, and I couldn't help but replay the events of the day over and over in my head.
As I sat in my office pondering about Cedric and his sudden change in behavior, my mind raced with a thousand questions. Was he being genuine, or was he just trying to get close to me for some ulterior motive?
Who was Emily, and why did she affect him so much? Was he hiding something from me? I couldn't help but feel like I was walking on eggshells around him.
My inner turmoil only grew as I sat at my desk, trying to focus on work but unable to shake the thoughts swirling in my head.
"Agrhhh" I rubbed my temples, willing the headache to subside, and yanked at my hair in frustration.
"Stop it, Niya, stop thinking about this." I closed my eyes, took a deep breath
But then, a voice broke through my haze.
"Niya."
I jerked upright, blinking rapidly as I tried to refocus on reality.
"Wake up, Niya." he said softly.
My eyes groggy, wondering how long I had been dozing off. "What?" I grumbled.
"I was trying to wake you up,"
I rubbed my eyes and looked up to see Cedric's face mere inches from my own, causing my heart to race and my mind to spin even faster.
"What is it that puts your face so close to mine?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I was attempting to wake you up," he replied calmly.
"Ohh!! What time is it now?" I scrambled to check the clock, my heart racing as I saw that it was already 9 p.m.
"9 p.m.!! I merely blinked," I groaned, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over me.
Cedric chuckled again. "Hey, hey, relax. Don't worry, I'm taking you home," he said reassuringly.
I couldn't help but feel frustrated with him. "You? Seriously, what's the matter with you?" I asked, throwing my hands up in the air. But Cedric's calm demeanor and reassuring words helped to ease my anxiety.
"There's nothing wrong, let's go," Cedric smiled, taking her bag in one hand and holding her hand with the other leading me out of the office and to the elevator.
He even offered to drive me home, and despite my frustration with him, I couldn't deny the relief that flooded through me at the thought of not having to navigate the streets alone at night.
"Get in" he opened the car door for me and gently placed my purse in the backseat and shut the back door. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of gratitude mixed with confusion.
As I looked up, his figure seemed to tower over me, and his scent wafted over me, causing my heart to beat faster.
I noticed his gaze was fixed on me, making me feel vulnerable and exposed. My cheeks flushed under his gaze, and I looked away, not knowing what to say.
What was going on with Cedric, and why was he being so kind to me? Only time would tell. I couldn't help but feel like there was more to his sudden attentiveness towards me than what met the eye.
He walked around the car, his steps echoing in the silence, and slid into his seat. The car roared to life as he turned on the engine, and I couldn't help but steal a glance at him. He looked different somehow, not at all like the man I had come to know.
"Did anyone ever teach you that staring at someone is impolite?" he asked softly, breaking the silence, and let out a small chuckle.
"I'm not staring," I replied defensively, my eyes fixed on the passing scenery outside the window.
"But even if you were, I wouldn't mind," he murmured, and I jerked my head in his direction, startled by his words.
I couldn't take it anymore. "Enough already," I said, my voice filled with frustration. "What exactly is wrong with you? Why are you torturing me like this? One day you look at me with disgust, and the next you're this nice person. What do you expect from me?"
He let out a deep sigh. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice low and sincere.
"What?" I asked incredulously. This was the second time he had apologized to me today.
"I'm sorry," he repeated. "I shouldn't have done all those things to you, and I genuinely apologize."
His words took me aback, and I looked at him in surprise. Was he actually apologizing to me?
"Why?" I asked, confused.
"I'll tell you everything," he said, his eyes reflecting his sincerity and honesty. "But I need time to figure out what I need to do and what I don't. I need to correct everything."
"But why now? Why are you apologizing now?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly.
"I realize what I did to you was wrong," he said, his tone regretful. "The way I treated you, the things I said. I won't ask you to forgive me just because I'm asking for it. Instead, I want you to forgive me when you see that I've changed. When my actions demonstrate how honest I am about my sentiments and how much I regret what I did to you."
"I'm very sorry," he continued, his voice cracking slightly. "And I know I don't deserve to ask you to forgive me so quickly without first proving myself. But I want you to have faith in me. Please, give me one more chance."
I avoided looking at him since my eyes were glistening with unshed tears. I can't let him see me in this state. But I'll never be able to put my trust in him.
"I understand it will be difficult for you," he said softly, his voice filled with regret. "But I want to earn your trust. Please, just give me one more chance."
"Cedric, I forgive you, but just keep in mind that I will never forget what you did or said to me. And, in terms of the trust, you must first show why I should trust you in the first place."
Forgiveness is never easy, but I have learned to forgive quickly, yet trust again? That's a different story altogether.
"Niya, I-"
I cut Cedric off, "Cedric, it's easy to hurt someone and apologize, but it's much more difficult to be hurt and then forgive and trust that person."
"Please!! Niya I just need this one chance to make this work."
I scoffed, "Why? Is it because we have a blood link that binds us together in this marriage?"
"No!!! It has nothing to do with the bond. But I've discovered something that has altered both my heart and my thinking," he closed his eyes and his grip on the wheel tightened.
"Should I believe you just because you've miraculously changed your thoughts and heart? What can possibly change you, Cedric?"
"I've realized I like you."
My body reacted before my brain could catch up, and I gasped as a knot formed in my throat, my pulse racing, my feet chilly, and my hands shivering. I couldn't comprehend how I felt.
Why would he like me, and how could he possibly have feelings for me? I had so many questions and wanted to laugh at his ridiculous realization. But, like an idiot, I asked him something else that should not have been my problem.
"And Amanda?"
"Let's not talk about her right now," he clenched his teeth and held the steering wheel fiercely.
I could tell that his territorial behavior was starting to take over, and I didn't want him to shift in the middle of the road.
"Cedric."
He grunted in response.
"Could you please drop me off at Matt's pack?"
"What?" He growled as he applied the brakes and turned to face me with his yellow eyes.
Ohh, God!! I can't let him shift in the middle of the road just because of his territorial behavior.
"Please relax!! You're familiar with Veronica, right? His mate," I asked, and he nodded. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly opened them.
"She's my friend."
"How is she your friend?" He arched his brows and cocked his head.
"It's a complicated story, but for the time being, I'd want to spend some time with her. I need to think about everything."
"All right," he muttered.
"If that's what you want, I'm good," he said as he started the car, and we were on our way.
~~~Present~~~
Betty's solemn expression betrayed her concern as she posed the question, "Are you going to give him a chance?"
"I'm not sure, and I don't want to, but I have this inexplicable sensation inside me that I can't quite put into words," I replied, a troubled look crossing my face.
"Perhaps it has something to do with the marriage bond thing?" Betty speculated, her eyebrows furrowing in thought.
"It could be, but I'm terrified, Betty, and you know exactly why," I admitted, my heart heavy with fear.
"Do you still have feelings for him?" Betty asked gently, her voice soft with understanding.
I shook my head, and as she swallowed, I knew she understood the complexity of my situation. "I used to wonder about him, but after I married Cedric, all those sentiments vanished."
"You need to think about this carefully, Niya; you can't allow this bond thing to keep you from having the happiness you deserve," Betty advised, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder.
"I'll never do that, and this bond thing will never have an effect on me. I'll need time to think about it, but I'll never fully trust or believe him," I resolved, determination clear in my voice.
"I know you can pull it off," Betty said with a supportive smile, and I embraced her fiercely, grateful for her unwavering support.
Suddenly, Matt burst into the room with a small girl, his face twisted with urgency. "Sorry to disrupt your little Huggies, but there is this huge terrible wolf searching for you, Niya," he blurted out.
"Babe!! Where are your manners? You should always knock before entering anyone's room," Betty reprimanded him, her eyes flashing.
"But this is my house," he protested, a playful grin tugging at the corners of his lips.
"However, we have a guest in this room, and you must respect her privacy," Betty reminded him sternly.
"I wouldn't have barged in if my darling wasn't inside," he said with a charming smile, making me roll my eyes in mock disgust.
"Gross!! Get a room, you two," I teased, earning a chuckle from Betty.
"Please don't say that, Aunty Niya. Uncle Matt is taking me to the park," the adorable little girl piped up, making me smile.
"Ellie!! You're not going out, or I'll tell your mother that you've been eating ice cream for two days in a row," Betty scolded her gently.
"Sisters are monsters," Ellie muttered under her breath, but Betty caught her and shot her a stern look.
"What exactly did you say?" Betty shook her head, exasperated but amused by Ellie's antics.
Ellie was Betty's niece, and they had a special bond that was evident in their interactions. Elli had chosen to live with Betty rather than her mother, and it was clear to anyone who knew them why that was the case.
"Betty, let it go," I pleaded with my friend as we stood in the hallway.
"Why are you both here?" I asked Matt and Veronica, curious about their unexpected visit.
"As I mentioned in my entry, your spouse is waiting for you downstairs," Matt explained, and I exchanged a worried glance with Veronica.
Taking a deep breath, I descended the stairs, bracing myself for whatever confrontation was waiting for me.
Cedric was seated on the couch, engaged in a serious conversation with Matt's father, but his mood shifted from solemn to joyful as he caught sight of me.
Veronica and Matt followed behind me, and I could sense the tension in the air.
"Come back home?" Cedric asked awkwardly, and I heard Matt giggle in the background, causing Veronica to elbow him.
"All right, let's go. I'm missing everyone over there," I said with a forced smile, trying to keep things civil.
"Missed everyone? Including me?" Cedric's hopeful tone made me want to roll my eyes.
"I didn't miss you at all; there's nothing worth missing about you anyhow," I replied, earning a sneer from Betty.
Cedric licked his lips and grinned, displaying his pearly whites. "Then I hope things will change in the future," he said, making me want to cringe.
"You may fantasize about it," I retorted, not hiding my distaste.
"Shall we go?" I asked Cedric, eager to leave.
"OK," he agreed, and I turned to say goodbye to everyone.
"Thank you for having me here, and I apologize for causing problems for everyone," I bowed and apologized.
"Oh my gosh!! We loved having you here; please return often," Matt's mother enveloped me in a hug.
"Yes!! We were delighted to have you with us," Matt nodded in agreement.
Betty hugged me and kissed my cheek, promising to see me soon.
As I made my way towards the door, Cedric suddenly snatched my hand and sniffed, causing me to pull away in shock.
"What the hell?" I shouted, ready to confront him, but then I noticed the fear in his eyes.
"Take her to your safe spot," Cedric gently pushed me towards Betty, who nodded.
"What's going on?" I asked, confused by his sudden change in behavior.
But terror crept in when I heard the growls and saw everyone in the house start to shift into their wolf form. Betty pulled me along as we followed Matt's mother and the other she-wolves towards safety.
"We're being attacked," Betty said, her voice filled with urgency.
Great, just what I needed. Cedric alone was enough of a problem, and now I was stuck in the middle of a wolf war.
___________________
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Author's Note:-
Dear readers,
I just wanted to let you know that this chapter has been edited since its original posting.
I hope the changes have improved your reading experience and made the story more enjoyable.
As always, thank you for your support and for taking the time to read my work
If any mistakes please let me know
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