Rejected by the Alpha in Apolo´s temple

Gerardo, a tall and muscular man, is dressed in his best suit for his ex-girlfriend's birthday party. Normally Gerardo is a proud and cautious man who tends to avoid any situation where he might expose himself to ridicule or harm. However, after having three glasses of Scotch whiskey and learning that the reason for the breakup with Beatriz was because she had been secretly dating his best friend Dan for over a month, those three drinks suddenly gave him the courage to face situations outside of his comfort zone. Gerardo is not a coward, he is also the Alpha of his Silent Mountain pack, so he would never miss Beatriz's birthday party out of cowardice.

Three months ago, he had promised Beatriz that things would be different, that he would try to make up for the time he spent attending to pack matters by spending more time with his beloved Beatriz, his human mate.

Determined to make a radical decision for his life, he savors the taste of the drink on his tongue. He walks towards the elevator and the doors open, the interior is white and luxurious, the mirror framed by golden edges reflects his image back at him, a tall, handsome man with a charming gaze. He gets lost in his own reflection as he glimpses his life through the mirror's reflection.

"This is how I find myself here, riding the elevator to the penthouse where my ex-fiancée Beatriz lives. She has been lying to me for the past few months, seeing my best friend Dan behind my back, who is no longer my friend as I have witnessed his abusive behavior, including excessive confidence and the disloyalty that led him to pursue the girl who was mine." I think to myself in silence.

I enter Beatriz's penthouse, the entire city's upper and middle class is at the party, television actresses and Grammy-nominated YouTubers, all greet me cheerfully, some with a handshake, others giving me a pat on the back.

Charlie, dressed in a tightly fitted red dress that emphasizes her dazzling hips, walks towards me. The blonde stares at me intently and smiles, welcoming me. I notice a look of disbelief in her smile.

"Gerardo, what are you doing here?" Charlie asks, then leans up to search for my tall head and I lean in to greet her with a kiss on her cheek, as soft as silk.

"I suppose my invitation got lost in the mail this morning," I reply.

"Gerardo, Ivy and I organized Beatrice's party, she has nothing to do with you not being invited. Dear, I'm sorry, we thought it was the wisest thing to do," Charlie explains guiltily, but her gaze reveals fierceness.

"Then she wanted to see me?" I ask, and instantly regret letting the question slip from my lips. It's not like me to say anything that exposes me or makes me feel vulnerable. Of course, Beatrice doesn't want to see me, or else she would have answered at least one of the 200 calls I made to her in the past few weeks.

Charlie smiles coldly and says mockingly, "Since you're here…why don't you ask her yourself?" She steps to the right, opening up a view towards the back of the room. My heart races, Beatrice, radiant like a candle, smiles peacefully with a smile that illuminates her face. She is wearing a turquoise silk dress, fitted to her perfect hips and long legs. I look at her, but she barely glances in my direction, she remains smiling, engrossed in conversation with her guests. Her brown hair is styled in an elegant bun, and her makeup makes her face look more enigmatic and seductive than usual.

I walk towards her, but Charlie places her hand on my shoulder.

"If I were you, I wouldn't do it," she warns.

I give her a defiant look and walk towards Beatriz. She looks at me, more beautiful than I ever admired her in my arms. She instantly says goodbye to her guests.

"With permission, Mr. Smith," she adds in a seductive voice and walks towards me, as if enchanted, as if an internal struggle unfolds within her with my presence.

"Gerardo," Beatriz whispers.

"Happy birthday."

"Thank you, I thought you wouldn't come."

"Perhaps because your adorable friends didn't invite me," I respond.

"Luckily, you're here now," she answers, and her voice sounds like a song.

"Actually, the doubt about a question I need to ask brought me here," I tell her.

"Well, what question is that?"

"Charlie told me about your relationship with Mr. Manuel, the producer of your new movie. How long has it been going on?"

At that moment, Charlie walks towards them, and Beatriz looks towards her friend with an angry expression and says coldly, "I knew it couldn't be you, Charlie. My father had been putting it in my head all these years that you and Ivy were a destructive force, and he was right. My friends always try to ruin my life."

"Beatriz, I did all of this for you. I planned the party to give you the best birthday," Charlie says sternly. "And I also made sure Gerardo came to ruin it," she adds sarcastically.

"You're ungrateful, Beatriz. If Gerardo came in, it's because I didn't call Security to forcefully remove him and ruin your evening. I can't control what others do or say, especially if you're a famous actress, rumors of your party spread like foam," Charlie says, storming off from Beatriz with an angry air. She sweeps her hair over the back of her red dress and grabs a glass of champagne from a passing waiter carrying a tray of Italian snacks.

Beatriz stares intensely among her guests, she turns her back to me, and I admire her beautiful figure. She still seems to feel my body when it is so close to hers. Then she turns around and looks at me, and her face softens. She looks at me with tenderness that warms my heart, with lamb-like, sweet, and soft eyes.

"Gerardo, what happened with Dan and me, I don't know how it happened," she says softly. "Maybe it started as a friendship during the hours of filming, we just grew closer and closer while you retreated into darkness and pushed me aside."

"You never told me, but I can see that you didn't need to, as you found a favorable distraction," I say dryly, looking at her. She speaks softly, but her body remains tense, emanating a wild and tumultuous air with her expression.

"Charlie didn't ruin anything, Beatriz. You did it yourself…with your lies," Gerardo says, stepping away from her. At that moment, Beatriz watches him walk away, confused, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Beatriz knew that Gerardo had a tendency to be cold, dry, austere, and reserved with everyone around him. But deep down, it was because Gerardo concealed his fearful, insecure, and cautious side by always making everyone laugh, always being the man who attracts all the attention in a good way. And he did it once again at her party, where she was portrayed as the villain and Gerardo as a good, serious, loyal, and devoted man. She looked at him with frustration as he approached Charlie and pulled her waist, while Ivy stood beside them, taking a slice of cake and conversing with her former boyfriend, who was not only her first man but also the man with whom she truly felt she could spend her entire life. In contrast, although she had feelings for Dan, she knew they could never evolve into something more significant, as she and Dan were very different.