Chapter 2

Valerie's POV

I slowly peeled my eyes open, the morning sunlight filtering through the window and warming my face.

I groaned and stretched my limbs, then turned to the side to avoid the glare of the sun, pulling the sheets with me.

It took me several blinks and head scratching to realize that I was in Adam's bedroom, not mine. Wait, where was he? I sat up and looked around.

The only indication that he had been in this room were his shirt and dress pants, which were slung over the back of a nearby chair.

I looked down and realized I was utterly naked, the memory of the night before lingering in my mind.

Then I smiled in satisfaction: for as long as I could remember, I had dreamed of waking up beside him, and now that dream had finally come true.

The sheets smelled of him: that pure, aqua scent that had driven me nuts since I was thirteen years old and I'd finally discovered I had feelings for him.

As I rose from the bed, a sense of eagerness filled my heart. Today would mark a new chapter in our relationship, a confirmation of the feelings I'd been holding on to for six years now.

He was mine, and I was his, and we would be that way forever. I took another moment to gather my thoughts, then I padded into his adjoining bathroom.

I took a quick shower, ladling myself with the soap and imagining his hands on me, doing crazy-good things to my body.

My lower belly clenched with desire as I remembered how good he'd tasted; his lips on mine had felt perfect.

Heavenly. That was the only word to describe what had happened.

I could still hear his warm breath in my ear as he'd buried himself inside of me, the way he'd gripped my shoulders hard before cumming.

I could still feel his weight on me, how he'd held on to my waist as I'd ridden him to a climax.

I almost stumbled in my haste to get out of the bathroom and my sexually-driven thoughts, smiling sheepishly in the process.

Even when he wasn't physically here, Adam had a way of driving me crazy.

I picked up the shirt he'd worn in the ceremony yesterday and put it on, folding the arms to accommodate my smaller one. Then I walked out of the room in search of him. The entire house was empty, devoid of the party guests from last night.

"Adam?" I called. "I'm awake!"

A loud clatter in the kitchen answered me. I furrowed my brow in curiosity, then padded down the stairs, taking one cautious step after the other. A dull thud followed the clatter and raised a sense of panic in my chest.

The thing—beast? Human?—made a low grunt that sounded as though it was in extreme pain.

What if Adam was being attacked? As I reached the end of the staircase, I grabbed an umbrella from a nearby stand and raised it high above my head, hoping against hope that I wouldn't have to use it.

The grunt seemed to be coming from the direction of the kitchen. I reached the kitchen door and made a sharp turn, ready to hit whoever the attacker was—And faltered as I took in the sight.

There, in the kitchen, stood Adam, wrapped in the embrace of another woman. My heart plummeted, and a wave of disbelief crashed over me.

"Adam," I managed to say, my voice tremulous. The image before my eyes seemed like a harsh twist of fate, tearing apart the hope and love for him that I'd nurtured for so long.

Adam turned abruptly, his expression shifting from happy to surprised as his eyes caught mine. As he turned, the girl he'd been kissing was revealed. And it was none other than Analisse herself.

"What the heck?!" I shrieked, feeling the double blow of betrayal. Adam had not only cheated on my love for him, but he'd done it with my other best friend.

"Valerie—" He started, but I'd turned away already, storming to the front door of the house. Tears welled up in my eyes, threatening to spill down my cheeks.

There was a dull ache in my chest that felt unfamiliar yet real. It tore at my chest and left me gasping as I tried to hold back the sobs.

I stopped at the front door, my hand on the doorknob, and I heard Adam stop behind me.

"Valerie, listen to me." He murmured. I flinched as he reached out to touch my shoulder. I struggled to find my voice amidst the chaos of my thoughts.

"Listen? Why should I listen, Adam? I saw it with my own eyes, didn't I? I thought... I thought we were meant to be. You made me sleep with you, yet you were making out with my best friend the next morning"

I turned slowly to face him, my vision clouded by tears shed and unshed. Behind him, I could see Analisse hovering at the kitchen door, with a mocking smile plastered on her face.

"We didn't plan it to be this way, Val. It just... happened" She said in a scratchy whisper, though I could hear her from that distance.

The lying, slimy bitch. How I wanted to tear at her, to make her feel a part of the pain I was feeling.

"You expect me to believe it just...happened?" I muttered bitterly.

"You just wound up in his house, unexpected? After the things we talked about last night, Ana?"

"Then don't believe it Val. We planned on making the announcement later in the evening but you found out this way" Adam muttered and i bit my lips painfully.

I thought you loved me, Adam. I believed that so much that I didn't think you'd do this to me.

"Valerie, I never wanted to lose you. I still don't. But Analisse is my mate. We're meant to be" Adam replied without remorse.

"Well, friends don't lie to each other. You didn't think about that before dragging me to your room last night? Did you think about that before—"

I choked back on the words. A smirked formed itself on Adam's lips, as he faced me squarely.

"Well, to be completely honest, Val, I didn't force myself on you. You wanted me just as much as i did but everything that happened yesterday night was a fling" Adam whispered and i could feel my tears at bay, i was still trying so hard not to give in to the pain of been heartbroken.

"At least you could have stayed away from making out with my own friend, the day after you had sex with me!" I screamed hurtfully.

"Analisse is getting corronated as my Luna tomorrow" Adam spoke without batting an eyelid.

The weight of Adam's revelation settled upon me, my heart breaking even further.

I finally let out the sob I'd been holding back, knowing I had lost the one person I'd given my heart to since I was thirteen.

"Wow!" I breathed, folding my arms.

"Just...wow!"

"My dad betrothed us to each other before he died," Adam continued, his eyes full of an emotion I couldn't name.

"Preparations are underway and you should get prepared too. I won't force you to attend though" Adam muttered then turned to leave.

"And when did you plan on telling the both of us that you were sleeping with the other?" I spat venomously.

"For fuck's sake, Val!" Adam yelled in frustration, raking both hands through his hair.

"You and I, we're not even a thing. We're just friends, are we not?"

A ball of emotion formed in my throat and I turned away, unable to bear the look of contempt and frustration on Adam's face any longer.

The depth of my love made the situation all the more unbearable, but I knew I had to protect myself from further heartbreak.

Adam hadn't thought of me before making any decision. How could he claim being friends with me?

"Well, then. I wish the both of you a terrible existence!" I spat, then turned and left the house, taking my shattered heart with me...