"Would you stop that?" Talisa snapped, pressing a firm hand on Inaaya's bouncing knee.

Biting the tip of her tongue, Inaaya turned to her friend and shrugged lightly. "Sorry!"

Talisa rolled her eyes, pulled her hand back then turned to the TV, ignoring Inaaya like she had been trying to do for the past hour.

Inaaya breathed in deeply, stared ahead at the TV too and rested her hands on her knees to keep them from bouncing. She knew Talisa was one interruption away from lashing out.

It was Talisa's off day, meaning there were no bloodthirsty vampires to meet with, and all she had wanted to do was to laze around and watch a good action thriller or two. However, that plan went awry the moment an excited and nervous and impatient Inaaya joined her in her bedroom.

Inaaya was going to see Axel after one month, one week and two days, not counting the brief glimpses she got of him before the panic blurred her vision. The last time she had caught sight of him was when he was speeding away from her. Later that day, she found that he had left the city indefinitely for some pack business.

Since then, a lot had changed. Inaaya was training with the hunters. She had gotten Talisa to help alter the graphic memory of the violence. It had taken Talisa four attempts but finally, Inaaya wasn't having nightmares about it anymore. She was sure she wouldn't have a panic attack now upon seeing Axel. Or hopeful, at the least.

Eventually, the news of Axel's return came to her today. He was coming home and Inaaya couldn't wait to see him, hug him, kiss him. It had been long overdue.

With a sudden jump, Inaaya turned to Talisa on the couch. "I can't! I'm sorry, I just can't sit still!"

With nostrils flaring and eyes narrowed, Talisa looked at Inaaya then brought her hands near her neck as if to choke her. "Argh! What? What is it now?"

Inaaya flexed her jaw downwards then scrunched her nose slightly as if to apologise. Grasping Talisa's hands that were threateningly close, she gently rested them in the vampire's lap. Then, sighing Inaaya let her eyes meet Talisa's again as a small smile began curving at her lips. "Axel! I can't wait to see him." A laugh bubbled in her throat and escaped her lips in a soft giggle.

Talisa's eyes softened and slowly, she too let a smile spread on her maroon-coloured lips. Gently squeezing Inaaya's hand, she watched her friend unable to contain her happiness. "It's been so long since I've seen you smile like that. I may not have supported your decision before but this smile convinced me that modifying the memory was the right thing to do."

Inaaya smiled wider and leaned forward for a quick hug, which Talisa returned. "Thank you," she said earnestly, squeezing Talisa's hand with both of hers.

"You're welcome," Talisa replied then dismissively, pulled her hand out of Inaaya's hold and turned back to the TV. "Now let me watch those abs in peace."

A chuckle escaped Inaaya's throat but before she could respond, more like irritate Talisa some more, the doors to Talisa's room opened. In walked Silas, with his pupils dilated, lips curved in a seductive smile and shirt unbuttoned to display an eight-pack.

He came to an abrupt halt at the sight of Inaaya then quickly covered the front of his pants with his hands. "Uh... hey, Inaaya..."

Inaaya pressed her knuckles to her quivering lips as slow tremors coursed through her body. "Oh, hey, Silas! I see travelling has been real hard on you..." she trailed off, bursting out laughing just as Talisa slapped a hand on her knee, breaking into a laughter as well.

"Alright, alright! Enough now, come on!" Silas' pleas fell on deaf ears as both the women laughed heartily, ignoring the butt of their joke who was reddening by the second. "Hey, Inaaya, shouldn't you be on your way to Beta Axel now?"

Inaaya smirked at him, sobering up a little. "Wouldn't you like that!" Then, the meaning of Silas' words dawned on her and she stood up quickly. "Oh, god! He's here!" With brisk steps, she walked closer to the door. "Where is he?"

"Look who's excited now. Hmm, I wonder what it is I'm smelling in the air suddenly..." Inaaya smacked at his shoulder and Silas quickly shut up. "I saw him walking towards the East Wing."

Inaaya smiled and nodded, then winking at him, she let her words hang in the air as she rushed out the door. "Thanks, and oh, that's Talisa you're smelling!" Until she turned a corner, she could hear Silas' snickers and Talisa's words 'He wishes!' echoing behind her.

Inaaya kept her speed even as her heart palpitated in her chest and her breathing turned into huffing. Hall after hall, Inaaya speed walked towards the East Wing and when she reached it, her eagerness took the best of her and she broke out into a run. Without stopping, she watched as passersby laughed and simply pointed her in the right direction. It was supposed to be a surprise for Axel, hopefully a pleasant one, and the rest of the pack was in on it. They knew what this reunion would mean for her and for Axel.

Inaaya slowed down only when she heard the timbres of his deep, resonant voice. With slow steps and a wide smile, Inaaya walked in the direction of his voice. Her heart beat rapidly, her fingers flexed by her sides and her lips exhaled and inhaled of their own accord. It was an odd, bubbly feeling. Inaaya had thought the concept childish before but now, she could only define the weird tingling sensations in her stomach as butterflies.

As she neared the corner, her mind created a live image of how Axel would still upon seeing her. How she would walk slowly in his direction while smiling at his shocked face. How she would fling herself in his arms, kiss him deeply and whisper against his lips, 'Welcome back!' Then, everything will go back to how it was supposed to be.

Only, the reality was much farther to what Inaaya's mind had conjured.

Her foot stilled mid-air and slowly retracted behind the corner again. Blinking rapidly, Inaaya hid against the wall, not wanting to be seen or to see what was transpiring. It was a cruel joke, to see what it could be like in her head only to have it be wrecked in reality.

Axel's hand entangled into deep red curls was all she saw upon closing her eyes. Her heart was thudding, entirely because of a different reason now. She didn't know who's betrayal hurt more, his or hers.

It couldn't be. Surely, it couldn't. Not her. Not her! 

Every tick of the clock felt like an earthquake shaking her entire world. Her heart commanded for her to turn and run away while her mind wanted to sear that image into it. Of their own will, her eyes peeked at the man she had fallen for. Half his face was hidden behind the red tresses of the woman he was kissing.

With an arm around her waist, Axel pulled the woman closer. Her breath hitched and so did Inaaya's. As much as she wanted to, Inaaya couldn't turn away. Moments passed. While their world seemed to be getting hastier, hers was slowing down. Just when Inaaya was ready to turn away, mesmerising grey eyes met her chestnut brown ones.

Axel's shock was clear as he pushed the woman away and whispered Inaaya's name. However, Inaaya's attention was drawn away from him and towards the woman. She was a stranger. She was a stranger and not a friend Inaaya suspected her to be. For a moment, Inaaya felt silly for having thought that. Dielle wouldn't do that. A breath of relief escaped her lips, despite the hurt. God knew Inaaya wouldn't have had the strength to keep standing had it been twice the betrayal.

"Inaaya?" Axel called, drawing her attention back to him. He had taken a step closer with his hands reaching out for her. "Inaaya, I... it's..." Axel scampered for the right words till a short, shocked laugh interrupted his search. He blinked then smiled in incredulity. Shaking his head, he reached out for her again. "You're here. You're really here and not running away from me."

Inaaya stepped backwards, away from his outstretched hand. "Might as well have."

The words left a lump in her throat and she struggled to push the emotions down. A wrenching thought pulled at her heartstrings, creating a passage for an overwhelming guilt. Was he kissing another woman because she hadn't been there? Because she had pushed him away? Was she the one responsible for his cheating? A slow ache was beginning to develop in her head as she stepped further backwards, ready to turn away.

"Who is this, Axel?" the woman asked, pressing her palm onto Axel's arm to draw his attention. She also drew Inaaya's, causing her to halt and stare at that perfectly manicured hand resting on his bicep.

"His mate," the words escaped Inaaya's mouth in a mere whisper before she could catch them. The effect was immediate. The woman dropped her hand as if Axel had burned her.

The woman turned to Inaaya but her culpable green eyes couldn't hold her gaze for much longer. Inaaya watched as her eyes travelled to Axel's stiff form then to everything mundane in their surroundings before finally meeting hers again.

"I... I am sorry. This... this is so wrong, I... we shouldn't have... Sorry. "

Throughout her stammering, Inaaya stared at her, as if trying to piece a puzzle together. The only piece she could place correctly was the woman's identity. Fiona Kelley, an old member of the pack who was returning after the death of her mate.

Jermaine had mentioned her several times, expressing deep sorrow over her loss. In her state of separation from Axel, Inaaya had empathised. Even though the nature of loss differed, Inaaya imagined the feelings of absence would have been somewhat the same.

Though, now looking at her with her lips red and swollen from Axel's kisses, Inaaya could hardly empathise. "You're Coline. I've heard of you. I'm very sorry for your loss, I am. And welcome back to the pack, I hope you find some peace here. However, I- I do think you're punishing the wrong person. I had no hand in taking away your mate so why did you take mine?" Inaaya's voice was thick with emotions and just as a tear slid down her cheek, she turned and ran away.

"Inaaya, wait!"

Inaaya barely heard Axel's yells over the sobs wracking her body. She ran faster, not wanting him to see her crumbling down. Not wanting him to catch up with her. Though that was hardly a possibility with her mortal frailty and his werewolf strength. 

A/N:

Oh la la! Drama! 

Hey guys! I'm sorry this chapter was a bit shorter than what you've been used to. I'm glad I could keep the update schedule this time though. :)

That aside, how did you like it? So much drama, am I right? 

Did you too, like Inaaya, suspect it to be Dielle at first? And what are your thoughts on Axel kissing another woman? Do you think it's justified since Inaaya had been so detached for longer than a month? Do let me know!

A shoutout to kindred-souls for the banner on the top. Thanks so much for creating this banner, I absolutely love it! If you're a Wattpad author like me and would like to get such nice graphics for your own book, you can find the link to kindred-souls' graphics thread on their profile! :D

Please don't forget to vote & comment if you enjoyed reading this chapter. <3