David looked at Ella with complete confidence.
“Don’t worry. No one will take our daughter away.”
They were standing too close to each other. Their closeness was open and natural… the kind that only true friends shared. At that moment, I was just an intruder in someone else’s life.
I didn’t move until they went inside. Then, slowly, I got out of the car and followed them up to the second floor.
A small group of employees had gathered at the end of the hallway, just outside an office. Even though their whispers were quiet, they cut through the silence like silver knives.
“Is that the pup that Alpha David wants to adopt? She looks just like him.”
“Of course she does. She’s his biological daughter. I heard this was all part of the plan to make her look like an orphan so she could go back to his side as the rightful heir.”
“God. Who’s the mother? It can’t be Sophia, can it?”
“No way. Sophia can’t have kids. I heard she hurt herself as a pup and can’t have kids anymore.”
“That’s not it. I heard it was because of… messy affairs when she was younger. Multiple abortions. Wrecked her chances. Why else would the Alpha go to all this trouble, pretending to adopt his own kid?”
“That’s right. Ella is David’s one true love. I knew it since we were kids. Look at them—they’re perfect together.”
Every word and careless phrase cut deep into my chest and made me bleed.
For five years, I had not been able to give David a puppy. He always made me feel better and told me it didn’t matter. That having me was enough.
Now I got it: he had already made other plans. Plans that I was never a part of.
I leaned against the wall to stay upright because my legs gave out.
Out of nowhere, the office door opened.
David stepped outside, one arm around Maya and the other holding Ella’s hand.
We looked at each other. Something in his eyes flared up—panic.
“Hello, Sophia,” Ella said cheerfully, waving with her free hand. “I haven’t seen you in a long time.”
David let go of Ella’s hand like it hurt him and ran over to me.
“Hey, Sophia! What are you doing here?”
His voice was quick and defensive. “Don’t think too much about it. Ella is a guard here and watches over all the puppies. I just happened to be here to talk about Maya’s adoption…”
He moved Maya around in his arms and held her out to me as if she could somehow change the subject.
“This is Maya. Isn’t she cute? She’s the best-behaved pup in the whole orphanage.”
I nodded and ran my hand along her cheek.
“She looks so much like you. I would have thought she was your own blood if you hadn’t said anything.”
But I could smell it. The smell of both David and Ella stuck to her—deep in her skin and in her breath. I couldn’t ignore it no matter how hard I tried.
David was about to say something when Maya suddenly started crying in his arms.
Ella suddenly appeared next to him and said, “I’ll take her.” She reached out and picked Maya up without any trouble, as if she had done it a hundred times before.
Maya snuggled into her chest and nuzzled for comfort, whispering softly-
“Mommy…”
David turned white. His breath hitched, and I could smell the fear coming off of him.
“Don’t get me wrong,” he stammered. “Ella works here, and she’s close to all the puppies. They all call her ‘Mommy.’ Once the adoption is final, I’ll teach Maya to call you something else.”
But the way he sounded desperate only made my chest hurt more.
Did he think I would get hurt? So why did you lie to me? Why did he keep me in this fake bond, acting like we were friends while he left me for another woman and her dog?
Why do you want to adopt a pup that isn’t mine and leave me to deal with the judgement of every whisper and sideways look?
“Don’t worry. I understood.” My voice was calm and soft. “Go take care of the adoption paperwork. I’ll be in the car.”
David let out a visible sigh of relief, and his smile broke free like sunlight through fog.
“Be good and wait for me, okay? I’ll be back soon.”
I turned around and walked towards the parking lot. With each step, the weight in my chest got heavier. I walked past a few members of the pack. They didn’t even try to be quiet.
