Chapter 22
Willow
Seven Years Ago
“Willow, you’re taking forever to choose a gift,” Ella sighed, slouching against the jewelry shop’s wall. I’d dragged her here after school.
“I want to get something special for Reuben. Something made just for him,” I replied, my focus on the display of beautiful gold rings on the counter.
“You’re too pure, Willow,” Ella chuckled. “It’s Reuben’s twentieth birthday. Trust me, he’s a young billionaire. He doesn’t lack for anything. Just get him whatever you like. As for me, all I care about is dancing and the wine at the party,” she said dreamily.
I shook my head in amusement. Since her breakup a week ago, Ella had dove headfirst into partying, dancing, and wine. Bix often tagged along, skipping his college classes to be with her.
As I perused the rings, my attention was captivated by a stunning man’s earring. It was a small gold piece with intricate designs etched onto it. Admiring its beauty, I knew instantly that I’d found the perfect birthday gift for Reuben.
“Could you please pack this one up for me?” I asked the shopkeeper, holding up the earring.
With three years‘ worth of savings, I could finally afford a gift for Reuben at the age of eighteen–or at least, I believed I was eighteen. I did not remember my birth date, but I knew it fell somewhere in October, coincidentally the same month as Reuben’s. As the end of the month approached, I assumed I had already crossed that threshold. Unlike other she–wolves in the pack, I had yet to get my wolf. While werewolves typically shifted into their wolves in our pack at sixteen, at seventeen I was still waiting for that pivotal moment in my life.
Leaving the shop after making the payment, I walked out happily, holding the small box tightly against my chest. Reuben’s birthday party was only a few hours away, and I couldn’t wait to present this gift to him.
Evening had settled in, shortening the wait. As I stepped out of the store, I noticed Ella engaged in an intense phone conversation.
Drawing nearer, her growling voice became audible, tinged with anger.
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“Oran, where the hell are you guys? Are you boys having a party? Just now I saw one of my friend’s posts. Is Bella really with Reuben…” Ella’s voice halted abruptly as she noticed me approaching.
“What’s going on?” I asked, sensing something was amiss.
“It’s nothing, she hurriedly ended the call.
“Don’t lie, I heard you mention Reuben’s name,” I pressed, skeptical. “What post were you talking about, Ella?” I inquired further.
Ella met my gaze with a helpless expression. “Willow…”
“Ella…” I prompted, my expression serious.
Finally, with a defeated sigh Ella confessed, “It seems that Reuben’s college friends have thrown a party for him at the club.”
“So why were you acting strange earlier? Are you upset that they’re partying without you? Don’t worry, we’ll join the party tonight. Plus I’m fine with Reuben having a private party with his friends,” I chuckled, making my way towards Ella’s car.
“Actually, the issue isn’t the party, it’s this…” Ella handed me her phone. I paused before continuing to open the car door. On the screen was a post from Ella’s friend showing several pack members, boys drinking and dancing. In the background, Reuben was visible, not alone but with a tall striking woman dressed in revealing attire locked in a close hug.
My grip tightened on the phone, unsettled by their intimacy. “Who is she?” I asked Ella, my voice tense.
“That’s Bella. I’ve seen her once with Bix and Oran when they were hanging out with their college friends,” Ella explained.
“Ohh…” I nodded, forcing a smile. In truth, I was trying to rationalize the situation to case my concerns. Maybe they were old friends or close pals who hadn’t seen each other in ages, explaining the prolonged hug. “Let’s go. We need to get ready for the party, right? It’s already past six in the evening,” I diverted, attempting to shift my focus. Yet, as I tried to return Ella’s phone, another post flashed on the screen, drawing my
attention.
I couldn’t resist checking it. The new video showed Bella dragging Reuben onto the dance floor, despite his initial refusal, both were laughing. The boys cheered as a romantic song played, creating an intimate atmosphere. Bella moved provocatively
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while blushing and touching Reuben’s chest as they assumed a dance position.
I felt incredibly uncomfortable witnessing their close dance, their bodies pressed together with each movement. Seeing Reuben smile at her and reciprocate on the dance floor made my mind go blank. A mix of strange sensations, anger, and an unfamiliar emotion stirred within me. Clutching the phone tightly, I turned to Ella.
“Do you know which club this is?”
She hesitantly nodded, sharing the name. Without a moment’s delay, I hailed a taxi and went straight to the club. An hour later, I arrived. The sky mirrored the darkness that had clouded my emotions as I stepped out of the taxi, only to spot Reuben exiting the club hand in hand with Bella and surrounded by their friends. My blood boiled at the sight of it.
“Isn’t that Willow?” Oran noticed me approaching them quickly.
Reuben’s surprise was evident as he turned to look at me, before he could react I leaped toward Bella, landing a punch. “How dare you…”
“Oh, crap!” Bix and Oran exclaimed in shock.
“AHHH…” Bella cried out, clutching her injured nose.
“Willow… what are you
“Did
Reuben stood to the side bewildered and stunned.
you enjoy dancing with her?” I glared at Reuben, then delivered a hard kick to the woman as she struggled to stand.
“Damn!” Oran was taken aback as Bella staggered and fell toward him. He hesitated to assist her as he watched me charge toward her. Just as I reached out to grab her hair so that I could slam her down, an arm wrapped around my waist.
“Oran, get Bella out of here!” Reuben’s voice pierced through the chaos as he held me tightly, swiftly pulling me away.
“No! Let me go!” I screamed, struggling against his hold, but his grip remained tight. Bix and Oran managed to escort Bella away.
Once they were gone, Reuben released his hold on my waist. “Willow… what are you doing…”
Now that I was free from his grasp, I stood tall, and turned to face him. “Cheater!!” I screamed, hurling the small box at his chest.
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“Cheater?” Reuben raised a brow, observing the earring as it came tumbling out of the box to land at his feet.
“You were smiling, dancing, and even holding hands with another woman! You’re cheating on me!!” I shouted, my face flushed red with anger.
Reuben’s expression suddenly shifted. He picked the earring up from the ground and approached me. ‘If helping a friend in gaining her lover’s attention and assisting her in pretending a bit is considered cheating, then yes, I unintentionally cheated on you,” he stated calmly, stopping right in front of me.
My eyes widened at his revelation. “You… you were helping her to gain her lover’s attention?” It dawned on me that he had been dancing, holding hands, and smiling at her all as part of an act.
Reuben nodded, “Bella has unrequited feelings for her young stepfather. She deliberately dressed and behaved provocatively to catch his attention by sending him a video of us together. Her plan worked, her stepfather was on his way to take her home, but…” He paused, lifting my chin so that I would meet his gaze. “I didn’t anticipate that my performance would provoke jealousy from someone that has never once responded to my confession over the last three years,” he said, smiling.
My heart raced in my chest. I had completely misinterpreted everything, causing jealousy stir within me despite never having mustered the courage to respond to Reuben’s confession of love. Caught off guard by Reuben’s charming smile, my ears burned red. “Who was jealous?” I turned my face away in embarrassment.
Reuben softly chuckled and gently urged me to meet his gaze again. “You looked so beautiful fighting for me, Willow…” His whisper brushed against my l*ps, sending a tingling down to my heart, “You looked so beautiful fighting for
your love…”
A faint smile played on my lps as I shyly lowered my gaze. “I was afraid of losing you, Reuben,” I confessed in a whisper, lifting my gaze to meet his. “I can’t live without you, Reuben,” with that, I raised myself on my toes, pressed my lps against his, and poured out my feelings. “I love you, Reuben. I love you…” I finally admitted.
Time seemed to stand still for Reuben as he did not react for a couple of seconds. When he finally realized that he was not dreaming that this was reality, his eyes widened, shining with emotion.
“I love you too,” he pulled me into a deep passionate kss. “I love you, Willow. I fking love you more than you can ever know,” he repeated those words fervently between our ksses.
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I smiled, parting my lps to grant him full access. Our tongues danced in sync as I wrapped my arms around his neck, losing myself in the moment.
“F***!” Reuben groaned, his desire overwhelming him as he pressed his hardness. against me. “Willow, I can’t wait any longer. I want you to be mine tonight,” he declared, lifting me effortlessly and guiding us into the back seat of his car.
As he laid me down on the car seat, my heart raced wildly. He leaned in, his lps meeting mine in a series of ksses, his fingers deftly sliding my top from my shoulders. His ksses trailed down my neck, eliciting a loud moan from me. A rush of strange yet thrilling sensations pulsed through my heart and between my legs. The pleasure was intense, and I lost track of time as he removed my top, leaving me in just my bra. At that moment, my own desires overwhelmed me, I was drawn so deeply into Reuben’s passionate embrace. I yearned for him as much as he did for me.
However, when I saw him removing his shirt and positioning himself between my legs, a sudden surge of fear gripped me.
“Willow…” he touched my inner thighs, sliding his fingers between my legs. I saw his bulging cock, ready to work its way inside me.
“Reuben… wait,” I placed a trembling hand on his chest.
“Why…” he looked at me, desire clouding his eyes.
“I’m scared,” I whispered, clutching at his chest.
Reuben looked at me for a moment before asking, “Don’t you trust me?”
“I do, but…” My voice trembled as I met his gaze, a tear escaping. “What if we’re not meant to be together?”
“What do you mean?” he frowned.
My throat went dry when I said what I had never wanted to even think, “What if we are not soulmates?” I bottled up my feelings as my heart broke into a million pieces. Suddenly I felt Reuben’s warm hand cupping my cheek. I could not help but open my eyes and look at him.
“That’s it?” A faint smile tugged at his l*ps as he leaned closer to me.
“That’s it? If we do not turn out to be soulmates then we can’t be together Reuben. It will be the end for us,” a tear raced down my cheek. The mere thought of being bonded o someone other than Reuben shattered my heart. I couldn’t fathom a life without
him.
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He gently brushed away the tears at the corners of my eyes and murmured, “Look deep into my eyes…
“What?” I blinked with wet lashes.
“Do what I say,” he rubbed my lower l*p.
I followed his instructions and locked eyes with him.
“Keep looking until you see it.” he whispered.
“See what?” I asked, listening to him. At that moment, I saw a green–eyed black Alpha wolf gazing back at me through Reuben’s eyes. When our eyes met in my mind Reuben and my wolf echoed the word, “Mate….”
I gasped at the resounding words reverberating in my mind, realizing it was my wolves. emerging from within me. My wolf was acknowledging the Alpha in front of me as its mate. Reuben… was my soulmate…
“How is this…” I choked on my words.
A faint smile graced Reuben’s l*ps, “I recognized you the day our eyes first met, Willow.”
My eyes widened. “What?” My voice barely rose above a whisper. So he’d been waiting for me during the past four years, restraining himself? “Why did you do that? Why didn’t
you tell me?”
“Is there anything sweeter than earning the love of your soulmate before the revelation of a mate bond?” He gently lifted my chin and tenderly brushed his l*ps against mine. “I had to win your love, Willow. Not just through a mate bond, but a love that would bind you to me forever,” he raised my hand that held the ear ring. When he moved it closer to his ear my eyes widened sensing his intention. As I tried to take my hand back, he held my hand tightly so that I would focus on him as he pierced his ear with the earring. Thick blood dripped from his ear as he promised, “A love that will never fade… Willams