CHAPTER 1
KENDRA's POV -->
Every time my husband cheated; he gave me a bracelet. I've collected 12 bracelets in our 4 years of marriage. I've forgiven him 12 times.
He's been away on a business trip. Three days he said, well it's been over a week yet no sign of him not even a phone call.
As if right on schedule Aaron, my husband waltzes in through the front door.
"Hey" He mumbles.
He drops his briefcase on the table
"Here I got you this…" He says handing me a small jewelry box from within the briefcase.
Please tell me it's not….
Oh, but it is.
He opens the box to reveal yet another bracelet. My heart sinks in that moment. This would make this the 13th Bracelet. My 13th reason…..
He removes the bracelet from its box and clasps it on my wrist. The diamonds catch the light and gives it a brilliant shimmer. Its definitely expensive, not the most expensive he's gotten me though.
I've learned over the years, the more expensive the bracelet was, the more guilty he felt. 2 years ago, I had a miscarriage. Our child died. What did he do? Left the house for months and returned with a million-dollar bracelet I never wear. Oh, how did I even end up in this loveless marriage.
I glance over at Aaron loosening his tie and going for a glass of water.
Something about that moment made me realize…..
I need toleave this man.
I raise the glass that had been in my hand to have a sip. In few brisk steps, Aaron walks over and snatches the glass away. "You know you're not meant to take this stuff?"
I scoff. Oh, so now he's acting all concerned. He backs away a bit and puts a stoic face back on "You need to give me an heir Kendra, a healthy one….."
I hate this man so much. If only he knew I've been on the pill ever since our last baby….. a tear rolls down my cheek. I hope he didn't notice.
"We have a dinner to attend by 8PM tonight. Wear something nice" he says before walking into another room.
Of course he didn't notice, he never does.
Just as he asked, I get ready.
I put on a silk red dress I had previously bought but been too insecure to wear. It's a floor length gown with two spaghetti straps to hold the plunging cowl neckline. Its eluates my curves nicely. I've always had a nice body, at least that's what people say but something about men gawking and sexualizing me always got me uncomfortable. I'd rather just stick to baggy clothes to avoid all that.
But tonight… Oh boy, I wanted to pull a Princess Diana on him by wearing the most jaw dropping gown I owned.
Think of it as my way of rising above the situation, distracting myself from the fact my husband is sleeping with some woman and there's nothing I can do. What can I do? Aside the fact Aaron is on the Billionaires under 40 list he's also the alpha of the Crescent pack. This sham of a marriage was only put in place to bridge the gap between humans and Werewolves.
Bill Langford, my father called it a vision. He likes to stand in his glass tower downtown in Hollow city, sip his eighteen-year-old scotch and talk about how he's securing the future of humanity. The truth? Bill Langford doesn't make alliances; he makes transactions. To him, his nineteen-year-old daughter was just another asset he could sell at his convenience.
My father got a guaranteed stake in the Crescent Pack Industries and a permanent voice in the Council negotiations while Aaron got a human bride to parade in front of the elders. Proof wolves and humans could share more than just bloodshed. It was a Win-Win for everyone, everyone except me that is.
We both arrive at the venue in two vehicles, him first then me thirty minutes later.
As expected the men were gawking as I made my way to the center of the hall.
All eyes were on me but there was one pair I hadn't seen, the very pair I pulled this little stunt tonight.
I search through the endless pool of faces and eventually come to the conclusion I'm on my own in this event.
When no one is looking, I stuff my face with the shrimp appetizers being passed around. Mrs. Jenkins, CEO of JCOOKS is hosting this event and of course, her world-famous shrimp appetizers had to be present. It's the only good thing that came out of this event really.
When I'm done shoving shrimp in my face, I mingle in the crowd exchanging pleasantries with 100th person. Tired and exhausted, I go to a corner in the room to recollect myself.
I hear some voices chittering in the background. Nosey me just has to eavesdrop on the conversations
"So girls, what do you think the big announcement Mrs. Jenkins wants to make is?" The first girl says
"I heard Aaron Banks gifted her a million dollar house few days ago"
"They're obviously hooking up together" Another girl adds
"Ewwwww. Isn't Mrs. Jenkins like 60??" Another says
"I guess Mrs. Jenkins likes them young" The first girl replies
The group burst into laughter turned hushed giggles.
At this point, I think one of the girls notices me because their faces flush while trying to avoid eye contact with me. They quickly excuse themselves, and I'm left alone again.
It can't be could it?
Just then, Aaron comes into view. His arms interlocked with someone; a woman mid 20's.
I instantly recognize who she is.
That's Mrs. Jenkins daughter, Claudia.
Everything clicks, the 1 million-dollar house the girls talked about wasn't for Mrs. Jenkins but for her daughter. That's why he went on that 'business trip', that's why he left after we lost our first baby. The room starts spinning. I get sick to my stomach; I just want to...….
I pull myself together. I can't afford to cause a scene here. I've got to get through this. Now that I know the truth, I just need to plan my next move.
If I'm going to leave Aaron, I'd need one heck of a plan before I can leave the Alpha of the pack.
Unknown to me, that heck of a plan was talking about would come bursting through the windows in 5…4…3….2….
Heavily armed men hanging from ropes burst in through the windows. Everyone is in panic. Glass shards in the air, some blinding me temporarily.
"I can't see!!" I cry out.
Everyone is too much in panic to notice me. I drop to my knees hoping to get to the table I last saw before all commotion started. There's more broken glass on the floor which scrape my hands and knees as I crawl through. I persevere, Luckily I'm able to locate a table and I hide underneath. I wait for a bit. The panic seems to clear up a bit. Thank God I haven't heard a gunshot. I wonder who or why these men would do such a thing.
Suddenly my protective cover is flipped over leaving me exposed and at the mercy of whomever it is. I try to open my eyes to catch a glimpse of the guy but it hurts so much I'm unable to. I'm only able to make out a silhouette before my eye lids involuntarily close shut again. A pair of hands, I assume be different grab me from behind taking me to an unknown location. I kick and scream and try to break free but it's all in vain as I'm soon knocked out when the goon puts a chloroform filled clothe to my face. The last thing I do remember is being placed in a van.