10/05/2025
Daniella’s Point of View
Liam is my mate. But I wasn’t his.
The thought had carved itself into my mind like a wound that refused to heal, raw and stinging no matter how many years passed. Ten years. Ten years of loving him in silence, enduring his indifference and callousness. Ten years of my heart beating for a man who would never truly be mine, of chasing shadows, holding onto fleeting moments, and pretending it didn't hurt every time I saw him smile at someone else.
After a stroke of faith, I got a job as Liam's secretary, and for seven years, I became a shadow at his side, his ever-loyal secretary, his secret lover when he felt like it.
**************
The morning air was crisp as I stepped into the Garvalle Holdings towering headquarters, my heels clicking against the polished marble floor. The receptionist gave me a quick, pitying glance—an expression I had grown used to. They all knew. Everyone in this building had seen how Liam treated me.
I tugged at the hem of my blouse and pressed the elevator button. The familiar burn of my mate mark pulsed faintly beneath my skin, a cruel reminder of what was and might never be.
The doors opened, and there stood Jessica Garvalle, Liam's sister. Her gaze raked over me like I was dirt on her designer shoes.
“Still here, Daniella?” she sneered, stepping into the elevator beside me. Her expensive perfume filled the confined space, suffocating and sharp. “I’d have thought by now even you would’ve realized you’re wasting your time.”
I bit the inside of my cheek. “Good morning, Jessica.”
She ignored me, leaning against the mirrored wall. “You know Matilda’s coming back, right? She’s the perfect match for my brother. Beautiful, accomplished, and from a real pack. Not some… half-blood without a wolf.”
Her words hit their mark, but I didn’t flinch. Years of enduring this treatment had taught me how to hide the cracks.
“I’m sure Alpha Liam’s decisions are his own,” I said quietly.
She laughed, a harsh, mocking sound. “Oh, Daniella. Sweet, naive Daniella. You’ve only lasted this long because you’re convenient. But now that Matilda’s back, your little fantasy is over.”
The elevator dinged, and she swept out like a queen descending her throne. I followed, keeping my head down.
**************
The door to Liam’s office was slightly ajar. His deep voice rumbled from within, low and commanding, and then came a soft, feminine laugh.
I pushed the door open cautiously.
Liam sat behind his massive desk, his broad shoulders tense beneath the tailored suit that only emphasized the raw power he carried so effortlessly. His dark hair was slicked back, his piercing gray eyes lifting briefly to meet mine before returning to the papers in front of him.
“You’re late, Daniella,” he said without looking up.
“I’m sorry, Alpha,” I murmured, setting the reports down. He hated it when I called him that in private, but I couldn’t stop myself. Calling him by his name felt too intimate, too presumptuous.
“You’re always sorry,” he muttered, almost to himself.
I bit my lip, swallowing the retort that bubbled up. I’d learned long ago that talking back only made things worse.
Matilda’s smile widened. “Oh, is this your secretary? I’ve heard so much about you.” Her voice was syrupy sweet, but her gaze was sharp, predatory.
“Yes, this is Daniella,” Liam said, already dismissing me with a wave of his hand. “She’s competent enough.”
Competent enough.
I clenched my fists at my sides, swallowing the bitter lump rising in my throat. This was the man I loved. The man I had sacrificed everything for. And yet, here he was, effortlessly crushing me with his words.
For a brief moment, my gaze drifted to the scar along his jawline, a faint reminder of the night that changed everything—or nothing, depending on how you looked at it. Three years after I got a job as his secretary, he’d been injured during a rogue attack, and I’d stayed by his side. Someone had switched his painkillers with something stronger, something that dulled his sharp mind and lowered his defenses.
That was the first time Liam touched me like I was more than just his secretary. He reached for me, his touch burning against my skin, and I foolishly, selfishly let him. His lips had crashed against mine, a desperate, frenzied kiss that left me breathless. For the first time, I felt the mate bond sear through me, an undeniable resonance that confirmed what I had always suspected.
He was mine.
But when he woke up, it was as though the night had never happened. “What are you doing here?” he had demanded, his voice cold, his eyes devoid of any recognition of what we’d shared.
“I was—”
“Leave,” he interrupted, his tone sharp enough to cut. “And whatever might have happened, best believe it would never repeat itself, Understood?”
I nodded, my heart breaking even as I clung to the memory of his lips on mine, his hands tangled in my hair, the way my soul had burned when our bodies connected. It wasn’t just physical—it was a resonance, a soul-deep recognition.
It was the moment I realized he was my mate.
I’d asked him then, trembling and desperate, "Do you feel it? The bond?"
His answer was a dagger to my soul. "I feel nothing."
The cruel truth was clearer than ever. Liam was my mate. But I wasn’t his.
I shook my head bringing myself back to the present. I forced a polite smile, even as my heart fluttered. “If there is nothing else, Alpha, I’ll return to my duties,” I said to avoid further humiliation from him
Liam didn’t even look at me. “Go.”
I turned on my heel and left, the sound of Matilda’s laughter following me down the hall.
**************
By the time I reached the quiet sanctuary of my small office, the tears were already threatening to spill. I sank into my chair, clutching my abdomen where a faint life stirred within me.
My child.
Liam’s child.
I had hoped, foolishly, that this might change things. That maybe, just maybe, he would see me as more than an afterthought.
I’d known for weeks now, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell him. What difference would it make? He wasn’t my mate. Not really.
I placed a protective hand over my stomach, tears blurring my vision. "Maybe you’ll be enough," I whispered to the life growing inside me. "Maybe he’ll stay for you."
As if I had not suffered enough, the intercom buzzed. Liam's deep voice resonated through the speaker. "Daniella, coffee. Now."
I sighed, brushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear. I took a deep breath, steadying my hands as I prepared the tray. My heart raced—not with excitement anymore, but with a dull, familiar ache.
Balancing the tray with two steaming cups, I nudged the door to his office open. Liam didn’t look up, engrossed in his call, his hand waving absently in acknowledgment of the coffee.
Matilda leaned closer, filling the space between us. "I just thought you should know," she whispered, her tone dripping with mock sympathy. "I’m Liams' true mate."
Chapter 2
Daniella’s POV
I stood frozen for what seemed like a lifetime before Matilda's syrupy voice filled the air.
“Ah, the coffee,” she purred. “How thoughtful.” her gaze never left me, her eyes glinted with something venomous beneath the veil of a practiced smile
I ignored her tone and placed the tray on the table beside her. My hand had barely left the cup when Matilda suddenly stood, her chair screeching backward. Her foot wobbled theatrically, and the next moment, her shriek pierced the air.
The tray tilted, spilling its contents. Most of the hot coffee splashed onto my leg, the searing pain making my breath catch.
But Matilda clutched her arm “Oh!” she yelped, stumbling into me, blinking rapidly as if on the verge of tears. “I know you don’t like me, but this is too much. Bullying me like this?” her eyes wide with feigned innocence.
My lips parted, words of protest bubbling up, but Liam’s head snapped up from his phone. His eyes zeroed in on Matilda’s reddened hand, and his face darkened.
“What the hell happened?” he demanded, standing swiftly.
“It… it was an accident,” Matilda said, her voice trembling just enough to seem sincere. “I… I think Daniella was upset and… well, it’s fine. I’m sure she didn’t mean to.”
“What the hell, Daniella?” he barked, striding over.
“That’s not what happened!” I protested, the pain in my leg sharp enough to bring tears to my eyes. “She stood up and—”
“Enough!” he snapped, silencing me. He turned his back to me, his focus entirely on Matilda. “Let me see,” he said, gently taking her hand.
I stood there, frozen, as he grabbed a handful of ice cubes from the tray and wrapped them in a napkin, pressing it to Matilda’s arm.
“Look at her arm!” he snapped, gesturing to Matilda’s barely reddened skin. “How could you be so careless?”
I swallowed hard, feeling the burn on my own leg throb. “It was an accident. She—”
“Does it hurt?” he asked her, his tone gentle in a way he’d never used with me.
“A little,” she murmured, casting me a sidelong glance. “But I’ll be fine. Just… please, don’t be too hard on her. I’m sure it wasn’t intentional.”
“I disagree with you,” Liam said grimly, his thumb grazing her wrist in what looked like an intimate gesture. He finally turned to me, his eyes blazing. “How could you be so careless? Is this how you conduct yourself in a professional setting?”
The words struck harder than they should have. “I wasn’t careless,” I said, my voice trembling with suppressed anger and humiliation. “She—”
“Apologize,” he said, cutting me off.
The room spun for a moment, the pain in my leg nearly eclipsed by the ache in my chest. I opened my mouth to argue, to explain, but the look on his face—impatient, dismissive—silenced me.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, though my voice cracked on the words.
“Louder,” he demanded.
“I’m sorry,” I repeated, my voice breaking.
Matilda smiled triumphantly. She brushed her hand against Liam’s arm, a touch so casual it was intimate.
“It’s alright,” she said, magnanimous in her victory. “Thank you, Liam,” she said softly. “You always know how to make things better.”
‘I could never let any harm come to you,’ Liam smiled at her, making me nauseous in the process
‘I have to go now, my nail appointment is in thirty minutes, she stood and kissed Liam on his cheeks and waved at me in obvious triumph.
As soon as she left, and the door clicked shut behind her, for a moment, the room was filled with nothing but the sound of my uneven breathing.
“Why won’t you believe me?” The words spilled out before I could stop them.
Liam looked up, his expression hard.
“She tripped on purpose. She’s playing you, Liam.” I muttered
His brows furrowed, irritation flashing across his face. “Playing me? You think I’m blind?”
“I think you’re cruel,” I shot back, my voice breaking. “Cruel to me.”
He sighed, exasperated, and leaned back against his desk. “Daniella, don’t make this bigger than it is. You spilled the coffee. You apologized. End of story.”
“What am I to you?” The question came out in a whisper, but it hung heavy in the air. “For these past years… what have I been to you?
For a moment, I thought I saw something flicker there—remorse, regret, anything. But then his jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing as if he found the question absurd. And then he spoke, his voice cold and clipped, like a knife slicing through the fragile hope I’d been clinging to for so long.
“You’re just my pleasure in bed, Daniella. A pass time, Nothing more.” he sneered
The words struck like a physical blow, the air knocked from my lungs. My hands clenched at my sides, the pain in my leg now dull compared to the ache that spread through my chest.
“That’s all I’ve ever been to you?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
He shrugged, turning back to his papers as if dismissing me entirely.
“I see,” I said finally, my voice shaking but steady enough to carry the shards of my dignity. I turned and walked out, each step a battle against the tears threatening to spill.
When I finally left his office, the tears came, hot and unchecked.
3
Daniella’s Point of View
The morning rain only dampened my spirit and made me want to stay in bed and nurse my wounds. My stomach churned, a deep, uneasy ache that hadn’t left me for days. I sat on the edge of the bed, debating whether to call in sick. I could barely stand the thought of facing Liam today—or his sister, Jessica, who always seemed to be lurking nearby.
But calling out wasn’t an option. Liam wouldn’t understand. He’d see it as a weakness, an inconvenience. The idea of his disapproval made my stomach twist even more. I couldn’t risk it. Not now. Not when I had so much to lose. It was at times like this that I yearned for a family, being an orphan and alone in this world had never been so gut-wrenching as it was lately, I feel lost, alone, and afraid.
When I arrived at the office, the air felt off, heavier than usual. Conversations stopped abruptly as I walked past, eyes darting away too quickly, as though they were caught red-handed. My instincts were alarmed, but I forced myself to brush it off.
By mid-morning, the tension had become unbearable. Whispers seemed to follow me everywhere, their undertone harsh and malicious. I could hear my name in their loud whispering, accompanied by quiet laughter or raised eyebrows. It was suffocating.
I found Anna, the intern I had trained, now elevated to an assistant and Jessica’s handpicked favorite in the break room, leaning against the counter with a smirk that made me uncomfortable. She was surrounded by a small group of colleagues, their faces alight with cruel curiosity.
“I mean, it’s no surprise, really,” Anna was saying, her voice loud enough for anyone passing by to hear. “She’s been obsessed with him since college. It’s pathetic throwing herself at him, pretending to be all professional just to get into his bed.”
The words hit me like a slap, leaving me rooted to the spot. My breath caught, and for a moment, I couldn’t move. The group noticed me then, their laughter faltering as I stepped forward.
“Anna,” I said, my voice sharper than I’d intended. “What are you talking about?”
She didn’t flinch. In fact, her smirk deepened, as though she’d been waiting for this moment. “Oh, Daniella. Didn’t think you’d overhear. But since you’re here—don’t you think it’s time to come clean? Everyone knows you only got this position because of Liam.”
The room fell silent. All eyes were on me, waiting for my response, their expressions ranging from curiosity to outright glee.
“That’s a lie,” I said, my voice trembling but strong. “I’ve worked hard for everything I’ve earned. I didn’t
“Spare us the speech,” Anna interrupted, her tone dripping with venom. “You’ve been riding his coattails since college, and now you’re using him to climb higher. It’s embarrassing, really.”
I clenched my fists, willing myself not to let the tears in my eyes fall. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Anna’s laugh was sharp and cold. “Oh, but I do. Liam’s sister was kind enough to fill in the gaps. It all makes sense now—why he keeps you around despite your… obvious lack of talent.”
"That’s a lie,” I whispered, though my voice lacked conviction.
Anna raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow. “Is it? Funny how the truth can sound so much like a lie when it’s inconvenient, isn’t it?” She smirked and turned away, leaving me standing there, trembling with humiliation.
Jessica had outdone herself this time. She’d always been cold toward me, but this orchestrated attack was cruel even by her standards. She’d weaponized the office gossip mill, and it was working.
I retreated to the restroom, gripping the sink as I stared at my reflection. Each word had struck a nerve, and my mind was desperately trying to make sense of this attack on my integrity. I hadn’t approached Liam in college. I hadn’t plotted or schemed. I had been hired fairly, worked hard, and had only ever been guilty of loving a man who didn’t love me back.
My hands trembled, my chest rising and falling in shallow breaths. I had to stay strong—for myself, for the baby. But how could I fight back when the man I loved was at the center of it all?
The afternoon dragged on, and each hour that passed became more dreadful, my stomach twisted in knots, a sharp ache radiating through me. By mid-afternoon, I couldn’t ignore it anymore. The pain wasn’t just emotional—it was physical, insistent, and worrying. I grabbed my bag and left for the hospital, ignoring the prying eyes of my colleagues.
**************
The doctor’s office smelled sterile, the faint tang of antiseptic stinging my nose. I sat on the examination table, clutching the fabric of my skirt as the doctor entered.
“Miss Thornhill,” he began, glancing at my chart. “You’re under a lot of stress, aren’t you?”
I nodded, unable to speak past the lump in my throat.
“You need to prioritize rest and keep your emotions stable. Stress can be harmful, especially in your condition. I strongly advise against letting things escalate emotionally. Your health—and your baby’s health—depends on it, Stability is crucial right now.
Stability. The word felt like a cruel joke. How could I find stability when my entire existence revolved around a man who didn’t care about me? A man who saw me as nothing more than a convenience, a fleeting indulgence in the dead of night?
I thanked the doctor clutched the prescription papers and made my way toward the exit, as I stepped into the corridor, I froze. There, not ten feet away, was Liam. He stood tall, his broad shoulders tense as he leaned down toward Matilda. She clung to his arm, her laughter light and melodic. My breath hitched as I watched them, my heart breaking all over again.
Her hand brushed his chest, lingering longer than necessary, and he didn’t pull away. Instead, he leaned closer, whispering something that made her laugh again. My legs felt like lead, but I forced myself to stay hidden, clutching the wall for support.
The pain in my stomach intensified, but I couldn’t move. All I could do was watch as the man I loved showered another woman with the tenderness he’d never given me all because of a coffee burn. That’s why they were here. A trivial injury that he treated like a matter of life and death, all while ignoring the inferno raging within me.
Tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them away, refusing to let them fall. Not here. Not now. I thought of the life growing inside me, the fragile connection that had become my only life line.
For the first time in years, I found the courage to take a step toward the truth.
I couldn’t keep living like this—silently enduring the pain, pretending everything was fine. I had to tell him. About the baby, about everything, maybe just maybe things would become right between us.
I pulled out my phone and typed the words with trembling fingers
Liam, I’m pregnant. We need to talk.
I stared at the screen for what felt like an eternity before pressing send. The message was delivered, but there was no reply. I quickly went to the private ward specially reserved for the Alpha and his family and waited in hope.
The minutes dragged on, and the sound of the door opening snapped me out of my thoughts. Relief surged through me, only to be replaced by a cold wave of dread as I saw who stepped inside.
Matilda.
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