I remembered that fateful night in the forest when I found Darren. He had been bleeding and unconscious, left for dead by rogue wolves. My heart had stopped when I saw him, barely breathing, his body battered and broken. I couldn’t let him die. I had rushed to his side, my hands trembling as I pulled him onto his feet, my wolf instincts kicking in.
Once I brought him back to the pack, my father had allowed him to stay, seeing potential in his strength. But Darren wasn’t like us—he came from the slave rank of another pack, a background that made others look down on him. Despite that, my father offered him a job at our company, starting as a janitor. Darren worked tirelessly, pouring everything he had into every task, no matter how small.
Months passed, and I began to notice him more. His dedication, his quiet determination—it all drew me in. One day, while I was shadowing my father at the company, Darren caught my attention when I saw him cleaning the lobby late at night. He looked up at me, startled, and I smiled at him. That was the beginning.
My father saw Darren’s hard work and decided to give him a chance. Slowly but surely, Darren climbed the ranks. I supported him quietly, watching as he grew into a man I admired. When he was finally promoted to a management position, his joy was contagious.
It wasn’t long before Darren and I grew closer. He wasn’t just hardworking—he had a warmth to him that made me feel at ease. We spent late nights talking about everything and nothing, sneaking away from the world to just be ourselves. It felt simple, effortless, and perfect.
One night, while walking home after a company event, I was cornered by a group of drunk men. Before I could even cry for help, Darren appeared, throwing himself into the fray to protect me. He got hurt, badly, but he didn’t let them lay a hand on me. That moment changed everything.
While taking care of him in the days after, I realized just how much he meant to me. I confessed my feelings, and to my relief, he felt the same. Our love story started like a fairy tale. He became my husband, my partner, my everything. I trusted him with my heart, my life, and even the family company.
But now, standing here, watching him bask in attention with Amber by his side, it all felt like a cruel joke. The man I had once saved and loved was unrecognizable.