Sweetest Pain

Irene’s Point of View

I couldn’t help but feel a rush of anticipation as I stood beside Luna Lorraine and Alpha Dave at the entrance of the Hellfire pack. Behind us, the air was thick with hope as families waited for their loved ones, the warriors who had fought against the lycans, to return.

"I see them!" Luna Lorraine's voice cracked with emotion as she gripped my hand tightly. I glanced at her, and saw the tears in her eyes, sparkling with joy. Before I knew it, my own tears were blurring my vision. My heart pounded in my chest. I could barely contain my excitement, but there was also a knot of nerves twisting in my stomach.

I could feel Luna Lorraine’s hand in mine, steadying me, grounding me. The relief I’d felt these past months, wondering if Eugene would make it back, was finally giving way to hope. We were about to be reunited.

That’s right. I was Eugene’s destined mate, the one who had been waiting for him all this time, the center of today’s event and the next in line to be Alpha.

"I see them too, Mom," I whispered, squeezing Luna Lorraine’s hand tighter. We stood there, holding on to each other, our emotions tangled at the moment, relief, joy, and the overwhelming sense of belonging.

I had been an orphan, lost in the world before meeting her. But when Luna Lorraine told me to call her "Mom," I finally had something, someone, real. And it felt like the most perfect gift life could offer. But nothing compared to the moment I first met Eugene, the moment we both knew we were meant to be together. It was like everything had fallen into place.

"There! It’s Eugene!" I could barely keep my voice steady as I pointed toward the approaching crowd. The sun blazed behind them, casting long shadows that stretched toward us. Eugene was at the forefront, leading a thousand warriors.

I wanted to run to him. I wanted to throw myself into his arms and never let go. A year apart felt like an eternity for newly found mates, especially since Eugene had left so soon after we first met. After that, we could only communicate through letters, each one a lifeline that kept me going. It wasn’t easy, but we made it work, or at least, that’s what I thought.

But now, with Eugene so close, all I could think about was how much I had missed him, and how much I hoped we’d never have to be apart again.

I knew I couldn’t act on impulse, especially with so many eyes on me. As the future Luna of the pack, I had to be cautious about my actions, mindful of how I carried myself in front of everyone.

As the long procession drew near, Eugene dismounted his horse and went straight to his father to report that his mission was complete.

"I’m so proud of you," Alpha Dave said, pulling Eugene into a warm hug, and the crowd erupted into cheers. It was a moment of victory, and family members rushed to reunite with their loved ones.

"Mother," Eugene called, his voice breaking through the commotion, and Luna Lorraine rushed toward him, tears filling her eyes. She hugged him tightly, repeating how much she had missed him and how happy she was to finally see him again.

But for me, everything seemed to freeze. Nervousness gripped me as I stood there, watching the reunion unfold. I realized that I didn’t need to wait anymore. No more waiting for letters or long months apart, Eugene was finally here. My mate. We were about to start our life together... or so I thought.

When it was my turn, I stepped forward with open arms, ready to embrace him. But to my shock, Eugene took a step back, avoiding me, and turned his gaze away.

My heart stopped, and I froze in place, my arms dropping to my sides. His reaction was completely unexpected, and I was left standing there, stunned and speechless.

I fought hard to hold back tears. He simply nodded at me, his expression distant, as though he was doing everything to ignore me. The coldness of his demeanor cut deep, and I felt a wave of disappointment and confusion. Why was he acting this way now that we were finally reunited?

"I-I’m so happy to see you," I said softly, my voice barely audible. Embarrassment flooded me, and I quickly took a step back, moving to stand next to Luna Lorraine. I didn’t want anyone to see how upset I was. I didn’t want them to think I was making a scene just because my mate hadn’t greeted me with the embrace I’d imagined.

"I’m happy to be back," Eugene replied in a clipped tone. His words stung, but it was the way his eyes flickered to me for just a moment that made everything feel heavier. There was something in his gaze, a flicker of pain or discomfort, before he quickly turned away.

To my utter disbelief, he reached out to take the hand of the woman who had been standing behind him. She wasn’t far from us, and when I saw her, everything in me seemed to falter.

She had long, flowing red hair, and her blue eyes were striking, almost mesmerizing. She was beautiful, undeniably attractive, and it made my stomach twist with a mix of confusion and jealousy.

I hadn’t noticed her until now, my entire focus had been on Eugene. But as he stepped forward, bringing the woman with him, my gut twisted in a way I couldn’t explain. Something was wrong. My heart skipped a beat when I saw Eugene tighten his grip on the woman’s hand, their fingers intertwined.

"Father, mother, this is the woman I mentioned in the letter," Eugene said, still refusing to look my way. He did everything he could to pretend I wasn’t there, but it was obvious he was uncomfortable with my presence.

A woman? My mind raced, trying to remember if Eugene had ever mentioned a woman in any of his letters. But I couldn’t recall a single word about her.

"Who is she?" The question slipped before I even realized it, and Luna Lorraine immediately grabbed my hand, offering me a sad, knowing smile.

"Let's go back to the pack house first and talk about this later, okay? Eugene must be very tired," Luna Lorraine said softly, her voice full of that motherly warmth that had always comforted me. I had no choice but to agree, but the confusion in my chest only deepened.

Before we left, I couldn’t help but glance over my shoulder. I saw Eugene standing there with his head lowered, his face filled with shame as his father’s angry gaze bore down on him. Alpha Dave looked furious, his proud expression completely gone, replaced with something colder.

"What is going on?" I whispered, the questions piling up in my mind. My confusion grew by the second. Why was Eugene holding another woman’s hand while completely ignoring me? And why did it feel like everything had shifted in an instant?

"Mother, who is that woman?" I asked again, my voice trembling with more than just confusion.

Luna Lorraine shook her head, not answering, as she led me back to the pack house. They were planning a welcome party for the warriors who had come back from the war, but tomorrow there would be a funeral for those who had fallen.

"We will talk about this later," Luna Lorraine repeated, her voice heavy with something I couldn’t place. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was being kept from me. Something important.