Chapter 3 .

GINA

Stretching my neck forward and backwards did little to soothe the throbbing tension in my neck. I sat, slumped behind my desk, rotating my head slowly from side to side in an attempt to loosen the knots forming after a long, grueling day.

I had no business still being at the hospital because my shift ended hours ago but I had agreed to cover for Eric again.

Luckily for me, Dr. Laser took one look at my pale, drained face and insisted someone else handle the remainder of the shift. Perks of dating the director's son.

I hadn't realized how badly I needed saving until he intervened.

Eric had promised to make it up to me this weekend, with something quiet, romantic, just the two of us. I had been looking forward to it more than I cared to admit. We have been together for two years now. We met back in med school. Him, charming and ambitious; me, top of my class and totally focused on my future.

Somehow, despite our differences, we'd found a rhythm. He even convinced his father, the director of the most prestigious hospital in the country, to give me a position here. With my grades and accolades, it hadn't taken much convincing.

This hospital served both humans and werewolves. Although the supernatural rarely needed medical care thanks to their abilities to heal themselves. The facility remained open to both. Still, it was mostly humans walking through these halls...walking in sick and walking out healed.

I gathered my things with a sigh of relief, grateful to finally head home. But as I approached my apartment, a small frown crept across my face.

Eric's car was parked in front of the building. Strange.

Dr. Laser must have told him I was relieved early. Was he that eager to see me? My heart warmed slightly at the thought.

And Adele's car was there too, I smiled again. My best friend, we have lived together since university. Maybe we'd all hang out tonight, order takeout, watch something trashy on TV, and unwind.

But the second I stepped into the apartment, that warmth began to wither.

Eric's shoes... his shirt... his belt... tossed carelessly in the hallway. Fear gripped me, I wasn't ready to discover any funny play. My chest tightened as I saw Adele's blouse draped over the armrest. Her bra... her underwear... all scattered around the place too.

No, no, it couldn't be, this had to be a misunderstanding.

I walked on numb legs, my breath got shallow. I climbed the stairs like a ghost, dreading what I might find but unable to stop.

And then I opened her bedroom door. There she was, riding him, my boyfriend. My best friend was riding my boyfriend.

They didn't even notice me at first, too caught up in their feral rhythm, moaning and panting like animals in heat. I stood there, rooted in place, watching the man I loved grip my friend's waist like she was his salvation. He had never touched me like that, never moaned like that.

Never looked that unhinged, that hungry.

My hands trembled as I raised my phone and hit record.

I don't know how long I stood there, but eventually I cleared my throat.

They froze, Adele gasped, Eric's eyes met mine. Horror blooming across his face. They scrambled for the sheets, fumbling with and looking at their clothes that were dumped in the hallway as if modesty could erase their betrayal.

"To think..." I began, my voice hoarse, cracking, "you tricked me into covering your shift just so you could come fuck my best friend."

Eric opened his mouth, his voice a mess of stutters and regret. "Baby... I... I didn't plan this. It just happened. I'm sorry, please-"

I let out a bitter laugh, tasting iron at the back of my throat. "You made me believe you had a meeting. I stayed behind, exhausted, covering your damn shift, thinking I was doing it for love.

Meanwhile, you were here... screwing Adele."

Adele couldn't even meet my eyes. The woman I had trusted with every secret, every heartache, now stood before me wrapped in a sheet, her silence louder than any confession.

"How long?" I demanded. "How long have you two been fucking and pretending like I was the clueless idiot in the room?"

She looked down like someone who was guilty. Coward!!

That was answer enough.

"You know what?" I said, shaking my head as tears welled in my eyes. "It's over, I'm done. I hope....no, I pray that whatever pain I'm feeling right now comes back to you both a thousandfold."

Eric reached for me, but I stepped back. "Don't."

I walked out, slamming the door in his face.

Tears blurred my vision as I climbed the stairs to my room. Every part of me shook with rage, heartbreak and disgust. I wanted to scream and wanted to break things.

But most of all I wanted to never see either of their faces again.

I needed to move out, tonight, tomorrow, as soon as possible. Because if I stayed here a minute longer, I might just lose the last piece of myself I had left.

I collapsed beside my suitcase, but I couldn't even see what I was packing.

The tears were relentless and the betrayal was unbearable.