Tanya’s POV“I just don’t know what to do,” I mutter in defeat. “I don’t know how he would want to celebrate exactly, but I want to make it perfect for him.” There’s a hesitant silence on the other side of the sheer curtain, and I stare at my hands, fiddling anxiously with my wedding ring as I proceed. Perhaps I’ve missed something? “My husband… He’s very special, and everyone knows it. But I see more to him than high society and status. He’s the child of a surrogate, and his biological mother died when he was very young, just like me. My relationship with my stepmother was always strained, and my father never allowed me to celebrate my birthday.” My father resented that I was born on a blessed harvest moon but didn’t manifest a wolf, so he considered my birthday a waste. Unlike me, Marco is very strong and powerful. I don’t think the king hurt Marco like my father hurt me. But there are many to damage a child. “I believe my husband has a complicated relationship with his own step
Tanya’s POVHe’s here. Goddess saves me, Marco is here, and I don’t know what I’m going to do. There’s no way I have enough time to take down all the ribbons, balloons, and ornaments that I’ve used to decorate the interior of the townhouse. There’s no time. The best I can hope to do is hide the birthday cake, so I pick up the tray where I’d set the cake and gift down and whirl around to try and stash it away. But it’s too late.I turn around and freeze at the sight of Marco hovering in the doorway. He stands there staring at me, his face unreadable as his eyes scan the gathered crowd. Nobody dares cheer or yell ‘surprise!’ Everyone just stands there in deathly silence, and I wish I could disappear. I’m so ashamed I could crumple into the ground. Marco takes a step towards me. Then another. Each step echoes in the quiet hall and feels like a blow to my heart until he’s standing right in front of me. I stare at the floor, feeling like an utter fool. He doesn’t say anything for a while
Tanya’s POVAfter an early dinner, Marco invites me to go on a drive with him. He takes me out of the capital, driving for miles until we reach a glen on the outskirts of the kingdom. He tells me that we’re in the Blue Moon Pack.It’s impressive to see how expansive the Kingdom of Mador truly is, and I’m reminded of how much power his family holds to rule over all of this, even the territories inhabited by other packs.“I want to show you something.”Marco parks the car, and we walk for a short while, reaching a beautiful clearing in the glen. At the heart of the small valley is an enormous tree with hundreds of little beautiful flowers. I’d never seen it before, but I immediately recognize where we are. Even I’ve heard the wondrous stories of the Blue Moon Tree. Legend says the ancient tree was blessed by the Moon Goddess herself many centuries ago, and those beautiful flowers around the tree must be the Blue Moon Flowers.People are gathered in the open space, some walking around pe
Tanya’s POVI am walking back home with excitement clearly written all over my face. I have a bright smile on my face while I cling the application form closely to my heart.When I consider how my life has drastically changed, I am very surprised. My life has gotten much better, and I have a number of people to be grateful for. One of those people is Lady Viviane, Lily’s mother.We’ve only known each other for a couple of months, and it feels as though we’ve known each other since forever. She is slowly becoming the mother I never had.I finished early with Lady Viviane, and I want to enjoy an evening stroll before I reach home.My stroll takes me by the main gate of the palace. The main gate is truly a majestic work of art. It is adorned with gold and shines brightly under the evening sun. The gate was also peaceful. I expect to feel the same peace as I walk by but a loud noise startles me. I look towards the gate and am surprised to see the guards forcefully toss a man out of the pa
Tanya’s POVI can’t bring myself to watch anymore.Each second I spend by the window feels like a shard of glass is constantly digging into my heart.I can’t bear it anymore.The moment Lily’s silhouette intersected with Marco’s I turn my head away in pain. I don’t have the courage to continue watching. How can I stand there watching my dearly beloved husband kiss another woman? I can’t. I hastily turn away from Lily’s office and run back the way I came. The pain in my heart is almost unbearable. I’ve never felt this much pain in my entire life, and it feels like I am breaking apart with each step I take.The tears that pool in my face make my vision blurry as I run back to my office. I clasp my mouth tightly with my hands as I try to fight back the tears. Although I don’t want to believe it, it doesn’t change what happened.Lily and Marco kissed.I am struggling not to cry but it is becoming increasingly difficult. I quickly scoop my bag from the table and dash out of the office. I d
Tanya’s POVDespite the chivalrous nature of Marco’s actions and the warmth that I felt from being caught in his arms, it didn’t change how unsettled I felt. For the rest of the night, I barely spoke to him. Retreating back to being the girl I once was. As quiet as a mouse, withdrawn and doubtful that I could trust anyone.Sure, Marco didn’t have to love me. It was only a marriage contract after all. But at least up until yesterday, I was made to believe he began to care about me. I was just... just a little bit sad.Although I haven’t gotten over my sadness from yesterday, I try to hide my emotions and not bring them to work. I walk into work with a robotic disposition and set up at my workstation silently.I don’t feel like talking but despite this, one of my co-workers walks up to me. “Tanya, Lily wants to see you,” I politely nod, but a sense of dread erupts in my system. Not again… the only person I could do without seeing today. With a sigh I start off towards her office, each s
Tanya’s POVThe chilly temperature is what wakes me, and I peel back my eyelids to the cold and impersonal small room that I’m in. The soreness of my body suggests I’ve been on the ground for a while, and I try to move my hands but they’re uncomfortably restricted as tight rope bounds my ankles and wrists. The slow rhythmic pulse of my heart now escalates in a race, I begin to panic, and I no longer can find the air in my lungs to breathe.I’ve been kidnapped.And I start to fear the worst.However, before my body goes into hyperventilation, I spot another body to my right. Cathy. And realizing it’s my husband’s sister calms me enough to crawl over to her. “Cathy. Cathy wake up!”I shake her with my tethered hands till I detect movement from her and can see that she’s beginning to stir. Her eyes blink frantically before she is conscious enough to speak. “Oh god, where are we?”“Cathy, do you remember seeing who captured you?”She shakes her head. “No, all I remember was being hit with
Tanya’s POV“Quick! Take my hand Tanya!”Cathy’s urgent plea pulls my gaze away from the two fearsome men in the doorway, and despite the request for haste and her outstretched hand, I don’t take it. Something within me snaps into place as I suddenly realize the reality of our situation, and what I must do to ensure that our captors don’t win. “Go without me.”“What? No!”There is no time to hear out her protests, so I quickly interject. “Cathy the only way to escape from the third floor would be to jump. I have no wolf form. I’d be risking my life trying to jump,” even with the absence of any discernable bump, my hand instinctually places itself where it knows my baby is kept, another life I’m now sworn to protect, and I smile tenderly at the thought. “I won’t risk my baby’s life.”Of course, Cathy expectantly fumbles to find a resolution to this valid argument. But she tries, nevertheless. “I can carry you! Yes! I can carry you down!”In me, a fondness grows for Cathy. Even in the f