Chapter 6: A Text message started it all.

A little inhuman and unwolflike sound of surprise left my mouth at his words. Derick waited expectantly, his steady gaze on me. He was not kneeling, but only a fool would ever expect that sort of behavior from an alpha, and I just didn't care.

Finally, I found my voice. "Yes. Yes, I will."

He was up and caught me in his arms, his mouth on mine and the steel of his body against the softness of my own. I might have been crying for joy.

My head was so wildly spinning with euphoria that I barely noticed when we left the restaurant and pulled up to a hotel. 

"I thought we could have a night completely to ourselves, away from pack and responsibilities. Just you and me," he said wickedly, revealing a small suitcase in the trunk that he must have packed before I could protest that I didn't have anything along with me.

I gave up and did what he wanted, which was easy because I wanted to. He led me into the hotel and up to our room, and the moment the door closed behind us, the bags dropped to the floor, and his hands were on me. He slipped me out of my dress before meeting my mouth with his own, and I welcomed the intrusion, pulling at his buttons with my hands between us, then running my fingers along the ridges of his muscles.

His hands found my breasts and caressed them, and then he carried me to the bed, stripping us both naked and claiming what he wanted from me and giving what I wanted in return. I reveled in my happiness with him.

Who knew where Diesel's mate was or if she was still alive? Could anyone even prove that every wolf had a mate? Some went their entire lives without finding their so-called destiny, and some fate was so cruel, leaving someone dying after a rejection like me. 

I had chosen and taken a chance, and I was not going to let the cruel whims of fate keep me from having a mate. I have to fight it if I have to. 

But that was what I thought one fateful day. Derick just arrived from his overseas business trip. He left his phone, and he went to the shower. I was unpacking his luggage when I heard a familiar ding sound from his phone. 

I looked at it and wanted to ignore it since it was probably from his business partners. But the ding sound flooded, and I was curious. I walked to the side table and took his phone.  

I don't usually touch Derick's phone since it is his private space, but something about the ding sound made me lose concentration on the work I had started. 

I tried to tap the screen of Derick's phone, and I was disappointed when the screen code met me. He never used any password on his phone, but why now? 

Another ding sound and a message flashed before my eyes, making me freeze. 

It was like any second, my head would explode. Every inch of my body trembled, just like when Jace had rejected me. My stomach flipped with nausea. I covered my mouth with my hand to stop the vomit.

When I heard the bathroom door unlock, I returned the phone to where Diesel had left it before showering.

"Are you okay, babe? What's wrong?" Derick asked. "You're trembling." His eyes widened.

"Ah... Um. I need to go to the bathroom. I think I have diarrhea." I bolted for the bathroom.

I locked the bathroom door and sat on the cold, tiled floor, leaning my trembling body against the wall. My eyes probably swelled up with tears.

I didn't know what to do. Should I confront him? Since when has this been happening? Who is she? How? Where? Why?

An intense piercing and poking sensation burned like hell in my head. My brain asked all the different questions but failed to find answers to any of them. I pressed my chest slowly and hard, hoping my hand could lessen the pain.

"Babe, are you okay? How are you feeling? Do you need medicine?"

"I'm okay. Werewolves don't need medicine. I'll be fine," I answered softly, trying to make a joke, hiding my silent cries.

"I know, but I'm worried."

"I'm telling you, I'll be alright," my voice crackled.

I burst into tears when I heard the main door shut. I shook my head multiple times, denying that Derick had cheated on her. Even though I knew it wasn't true in my heart, I hoped the message wasn't for him.

I quickly left the bathroom. Diesel's phone wasn't where I had placed it a while ago. I tapped my forehead several times.

Stupid! No cheating bastard will leave his phone behind.

My feet started pacing. I had to think of something. Confronting him could be good or bad. How would I do it? Reality hit me. My woman's instinct was activated. Were there signs? I had been so dumb, trusting, or in love.

How would I have known the signs? Werewolves don't cheat; that's what I knew. But I guess I was wrong. 

There was no manual or a guide for me to know if Diesel was cheating on me. BUT WHEN DID IT START? WHO WAS THE ONE MESSAGING HIM?

"I really hope to see you again. I enjoyed the moment that you were with me. I love you." 

It was the message that I read. Who sent it? What was her connection with Derick?

Maybe Derick is so good at hiding, I thought to herself. I started going back to the past days, weeks, and months. Then, on cue, my tears fell again. The same heaviness and poking in my chest intensified. But I had to brave the pains to find answers. Someone other than Derick might know.

Who else knows?

Self-pity struck me. Did members of the pack know? Was I the last one to know? These were just a few of the questions that popped into my mind. The unexplainable pain sucked all the strength in me. 

I wanted to confront him but was afraid I might be wrong. I felt the urge to call and ask, especially those in his business circle. But I doubted they would tell me. If pack members or our common friends who knew about it wanted me to know, at least someone should have mentioned it to me already unless Derick commanded them not to.