Wolf under an oak tree.

I know I shouldn't be doubting him, but my past has left me vulnerable and taught me that true love never really exists in this world, but my heart is saying otherwise. Once I passed the guards who let me enter through the gate, I drove past the pack house till I was in front of Jace’s house, which was secluded among all the trees. After parking the car, I quickly went towards the house and knocked on the door, waiting for him to open it.

The breeze that blew past me was chilly, making me shudder in my coat, so I hugged myself and started rubbing my arms to create some heat while I waited for the door to open. It was nearly ten minutes, and no one came, I tried knocking on the door a little louder this time, and when I tried to open the door, it surprisingly opened, making me suspicious.

Nevertheless, I quickly went inside the warm house, and I made my way into the kitchen to see that it was empty, next I went to Jace’s office, which was locked, and I tried knocking on the door a few times but no one answered, so I bend down till my eye was on the keyhole, and I peeped inside to see that the room was dark which means he is not in his office.

Where are you, Jace?

The last place that he might be is in the bedroom, so that is where I went. Once I reached the landing, I walked toward where Jace’s room was located, and before knocking on the door, I checked through the keyhole, but since the room was dark, I was not able to see a thing, so against my better judgment I opened the door and stepped inside.

“Jace?” I whispered and slowly moved toward his bed, when reached it, I turned on the bedside lamp, which illuminated his face, which was serene, but something felt wrong. I gently shook his shoulder which made him stir in his sleep, but he still didn't wake up.

“Jace? Wake up.” I whispered in his ear, and after a couple of minutes, he opened his eyelids, and the dim light reflected on his red eyes.

What happened to him?

“Iris? What are you doing here?” he got up from bed and rubbed his eyes to clear the blurry vision. “Are you alright?”

“I...I am fine, Jace. But what happened to you? Why do you look so tired, and your eyes are red.” I commented while I took a seat next to him on the bed.

“I don't remember,” he said and scratched his chin, trying to think about what happened. “I was in my office since I had a lot of paperwork to complete, and I tried calling you several times, but you didn't pick up after that everything was just hazy,” Jace said in confusion, and I had my own mind running in thoughts too.

If he did call me, then why didn't I have a missed call at all?

But I didn't question him since he was also in a state of confusion. “That’s alright, Jace, maybe I might have missed your call. But I tried calling you several times too, and since you didn't pick up, I came to see what happened.” I said, and I can still see that he was looking extremely tired, so I didn't want to bother him with any more questions, so I gently pushed him back down on the bed and pulled the covers over him.

“You should get some sleep. I will see you in the morning.” I told him, but he shook his head and got up from the bed again.

“I can't let you go home alone. I will drop you off,” he said, he was already getting up from the bed, but then he started to sway, and he quickly held the wall for support. I grew very worried about him.

“You should take some rest, Jace. Moreover, it's only a ten-minute drive to my place, I will be fine,” it assured him, but he didn't look convinced. “Drink some water first,” I said and quickly made him sit, and poured a glass of water from the jug that was on the bedside table. He reluctantly accepted the glass from me and took slow gulps of the water and then handed the glass back to me.

“Come on, Iris, let's go,” Jace mumbled, and he couldn't even get up from the bed, so I firmly pushed him back and tucked him in.

“I will be fine, Jace, you don't look so good, so take some rest, alright,” I said, but Jace was already sound asleep by now, which made a small smile appear on my lips, he must have been extremely exhausted with today. I lightly placed a kiss on his forehead before I left the room, closing the door behind me. My heart felt lighter knowing that what Alan said was untrue. Jace would never do such a thing to me.

When I was going to head down, I noticed that the potted plant on my right was placed a bit crookedly, so I went over and moved it back to its right place to find a pair of pink heels and a brown mini skirt.

Whose things are these?

I took the heels and examined them when I realized something.

These were the skirt and heels that woman who came into the house this morning was wearing. But what are her clothes doing in here?

I had a lot of thoughts running in my head, but I forced myself to stop doubting Jace, so I placed the items back on the ground and left the place. When I entered my car, I placed my handbag in the passenger seat, and that is when I saw the envelope. And immediately I knew that this must be from Alan. So I quickly tore the envelope and took out a bundle of papers, but went I turned it around I noticed that these were pictures. And these were not random pictures, these pictures were of Jace and that woman that I saw in the morning.

It looked like they were in Jace’s office, and through the window, I can see that it was dark outside. There were various pictures of them from different angles, and there were pictures of them Kissing, and every picture that I saw just got worst. Tears rolled down my chin and stained the photos, my heart was beating rapidly, and I can feel it burning, and my throat was constricted.

I wanted to scream, to tear all these pictures so that they do not exist anymore, but I know that the reality can not be changed. My phone kept ringing in the background, and I picked it up without glancing at the caller ID.

“Didn't I tell you, Iris, no one will love you, you are just not that worth it.” Alan mocked while I sat there, tears continuously flowing. “Now, I guess you don't have to waste your time running behind someone who already has a girlfriend, right?”

“Anyway, sweet dreams, princess,” he said in a sinister voice before the line went dead. And I blankly stared at the pictures that were mocking me, taunting me, accusing me, and trying to tell me something that was instilled in my brain by Alan.

No one will ever truly love me. They were all using me for their own gains. And every time I fell for their charms. A foolish girl yearning for love that never truly exist.