CHAPTER 1

MIRIAM'S POV

It was just past dinner time. Jason and I were in the sitting room watching television cuddled up close. Jason, my dear husband happens to be the sweetest person alive and we have been married for over thirteen years now. Can you believe it? How time flies. A marriage blessed with two adorable kids. One at ten and the other seven. I have been having the best time being a married woman.

Thirteen years ago, it was really funny how I had been found by him after being abandoned by my ex boyfriend. But now, I could say that proudly I could look back in the years and acknowledge that I have had the best time in life.

Tonight, we decided to watch some good old high school romance in each other's arms while the kids were asleep upstairs. I could feel the tension between us both and our emotions rising as my husband who held me in his arms had his fingers tracing short lines over and over on my arm. His eyes were on the TV but I could swear that his thoughts were with me. We have had the best relationship so far and I loved to think about how much further we would be together. The movie suddenly ended when the couples kissed right outside in front of a lot of people that had come to watch the football match. Jason smiled and then looked at me. I smiled back at him.

"I love you Miriam. Don't ever leave me." he said

"I would never." I whispered as I looked into his eyes

"Promise?" he asked

"Let's seal it with a kiss." I proposed as he leant towards me and started to kiss me.

Suddenly there was this sound of a motorcycle right out of home but we could barely notice it as we believed it could be at the neighbors. We were so engrossed with kissing that it was gradually getting a little more than that when there was heavy knocking right on our door. We both paused and listened as it came again. As intuitively as possible, my eyes went straight for the clock and it was pretty much late at 10:49pm.

"Who could be there?" I whispered

"I have no idea. Hold on and I'll get it." my husband said as a flicker of red light crossed his eyes but dimmed again.

Oh I forgot to mention. I was actually married to an alpha. Yes my Jason was a werewolf which happens to be the sweetest. They do keep a low profile but if only the rest of the human community knew that most of their protectors and top guys were werewolves, I have no idea how they would react. We have had some quiet time all this while. And yes, I am a human but apparently I seem to have had lots of entanglements with werewolves. It would be starting with my ex boyfriend, Eli. Eli had left me with a promise that he would be back for me in a jiffy and apparently he was mated to me. He had suddenly received a phone call on my birthday and promised me that he would be back and when he would, he was going to take me forever. That was a promise of marriage and that was certainly a promise he never intended to keep because it was the last I saw or heard from him and it's been years since I saw him. I have forgotten he ever existed as I had to do away with every memory I had about him so I could move forward with my life.

"Wait. Your eyes, they flickered." I said holding his arm as he made to rise up

"Did they know? Do not worry wife, I'll be on my best behavior." he said to me as he made to rise up.

The loud knock came again and this time it was followed by a kick to the door.

"Damnit Miriam. I know you're in there!!! Come out please!!!" the voice yelled.

The moment I heard that voice, I stood up abruptly. That voice was long dead and unless I was hearing things, I needed to see for myself. I started rushing towards the door when Jason held my hand.

"Stop Miriam. I said I would get the door." he said

"That's Eli out there. Let me get it." I said and pulled away from him as I ran to the door with my heart racing. After all these years, what did he want now and why on earth was he here all of the sudden.

I quickly opened the door now as for some reason I needed to see him. I realized now that I have yet to get my closure from him. I opened the door quickly and to my greatest surprise, Eli was there outside on my porch covered in mud but still in the very same clothes he had been wearing on the day of his disappearance. The clothes were torn in several places too and his neck had a thin red line around it that seemed to be healing gradually.

"Eli?" I whispered in total shock.

He looked torn and broken as he came and hugged me tightly, mud and all. I still could not believe my eyes as tears poured out of my eyes. I stood there in shock, with my hands to my side until he let go of me. He took my hands in his own and stared me straight into the eyes.

"Miriam, I've come to take you away as promised," he said.

Seriously? After over fifteen years he had disappeared from me and now thirteen years of being married. He certainly must be crazy. What makes him think that he could come here after all these years to say that to me.

I pulled my hands away from him as I glared into his eyes.

"No Eli. I am happily married with kids now. You do not belong here so leave. You left me fifteen years ago." I said

"Happily married? Miriam, you have been married to a murderer!!! Where do you think I have been all these years?" he asked me

"How dare you speak of my husband that way?" I demanded

"Ask him then." Eli said to me.

I could not believe my ears as I slowly turned to look at my beloved husband. He stood there in shock and with anger in his now red eyes. Instantly I knew there was more to this than meets the eyes.

"Come in Eli." I said because tonight I had to find out just what happened.