Pecan's pov
I stood by the doorway, arms crossed, trying my best to pretend I wasn't watching them. Paul and his wife, Pate, sat by the fire, their laughter echoing in the cozy room. The sound of it rolled over me like a wave, and I felt it in my chest, tightening everything inside me. The way his deep chuckle rumbled through him, how he leaned in close to whisper something into Pate's ear, each small movement was like a dagger to my heart.
I hated it.
It should've been me.
The jealousy churned in my stomach, dark and bitter, like a poison I couldn't spit out. It felt so wrong, so painful to watch them together. I was Paul's mate. His other half. How was it that I was the one left on the outside, watching a life that should've been mine? The emotions felt like a betrayal, not just to him, but to everything I'd ever believed in. I had no right to feel this way. No right to be angry. But I couldn't help it.
The ache in my chest was like a constant throb, an ever-present reminder that I could never have him. I clenched my fists, nails biting into my skin as my wolf growled restlessly inside of me, wanting to be free, wanting to tear the walls down between us. But I couldn't let it out, not here, not now and maybe never too. The pack was watching. If they knew, if anyone found out about our bond... it would make everything so much worse.
"Control yourself, Pecan," I muttered under my breath, my voice barely audible. I didn't want to show weakness, but it was hard not to. Every time I caught a glimpse of Paul's smile, his hand brushing Pate's, I wanted to scream. I wanted to run to him and demand that he feel what I was feeling. That he understand that I was his. But I knew it wasn't that simple.
I needed to leave.
I stepped back, retreating into the shadows of the hallway, away from their cozy, perfect little world. But even as I walked away, I couldn't shake the feeling of being a ghost in my own life. My wolf growled in frustration, urging me to do something, anything, to get out of this torturous cycle.
But there was no escape.
I walked deeper into the hall, looking for any way to distract myself from the ache. The laughter and music from the main room grew faint, but the storm inside me raged on. I didn't want to think about Paul, or his perfect wife, or how my wolf howled with frustration every time I thought of them. I didn't want to feel like this.
I found my way to the drinks table, where Noah stood, chatting easily with a group of guests. His laughter rang out, and for a moment, the world seemed to quiet. Noah was my best friend, my constant in a world full of uncertainty. We had grown up together, and no matter what, he was always there. I considered walking over to him, just to hear his voice, to feel a little bit of peace again.
But then I saw Stella.
Her eyes flicked over to me, her gaze sharp and calculating. She was always watching me, always waiting for an opportunity to strike. I could feel the tension in the air, the way she narrowed her eyes whenever I was around. Noah, her boyfriend, was the one person who seemed completely unaware of the undercurrent of hostility that followed her everywhere. But I wasn't blind. I knew what Stella was capable of.
I could feel the sharp sting of her judgment before she even spoke.
"Aw, if it isn't little Miss Pecan," she drawled, her tone dripping with mockery. She stepped closer, folding her arms across her chest as if she was the queen of the world. "Taking a break from pining after someone else's man, are we?"
I froze, my wolf bristling at the venom in her words. I turned slowly, meeting her smug gaze. Her perfectly styled hair framed her face like a halo, but the sneer on her lips made it all look so wrong. She was Noah's girlfriend, my best friend's girlfriend, and she had made it her mission to make my life a living hell.
"I'm not in the mood, Stella," I said, keeping my voice as even as possible. The last thing I needed right now was to get into it with her, but I could already feel the tension building. I knew she wasn't going to let me go that easily.
"Oh, come on," she sneered. "Don't pretend you're not dying to throw yourself at Paul every chance you get. It's pathetic, really."
Wait! How did she know?
This witch!
Her words hit their mark, and I felt my face flush with a mix of anger and humiliation. The ache in my chest grew sharper, and I couldn't hold back the irritation in my voice. "What's your problem?" I shot back, trying to mask the tremble in my words.
"You are," she spat. "You think you can just hang around, acting all innocent, when everyone knows you're just waiting for an opportunity to wreck someone else's life. Newsflash, Pecan: you're not that special."
My fists clenched at my sides. This was it. This was the moment where I could either let her keep pushing me, or I could stand my ground. Stella's insecurity was her own problem, but dragging me into it? That was crossing the line. I took a step forward, my wolf roaring in the back of my mind.
"I'm not the one trying to play queen bee in someone else's pack," I said, my voice cold, calculated. "Maybe if you spent less time obsessing over me and more time being a decent person, Noah wouldn't have to constantly defend you."
Her eyes flashed with fury, and the smugness slipped from her face, replaced by raw anger. "You think you're so clever, don't you? Hiding behind Noah, acting like the poor little victim. But we all see through you, Pecan. You're just a desperate little girl chasing after a man who will never be yours."
That was the breaking point. I could feel my control slipping, the bond between Paul and me burning hotter than ever. I stepped forward, my wolf fighting to take over.
"Say that again," I growled, my voice low and dangerous.
The tension between us was palpable, and I knew the moment I stepped into her space, it was all going to explode. Her eyes gleamed with malice, and she smirked.
"Oh, did I hit a nerve?" she purred. "Face it, Pecan. You're nothing but a nuisance. No one here wants you. Not Paul, not Noah, not anyone."
That was it. The spark that ignited the fire. My wolf surged forward, and without thinking, I lunged at her.
The first shove came from her, aimed at throwing me off balance, but I was quicker. I caught her arm, twisting it sharply. The crowd of onlookers gasped, and the murmurs of surprise filled the hallway. I didn't care. All I cared about was the fight, was showing her I wasn't some fragile little pup she could toy with.
Her nails raked at my face, but I ducked just in time, my retaliation swift. I shoved her back with all the strength I had, sending her stumbling.
"You want to see a nuisance, Stella?" I growled. "Fine. Let's see how you handle it."
The fight had only just begun.