THE PRESENT:
I lost my title on a Tuesday.
My dignity followed by Thursday.
And by Friday, half the pack had seen the video Zeus posted online of me, vulnerable, exposed in the worst possible way.
Today… well, today, Anto insisted it was time I get my sorry ass out of bed and move on with my life.
I'm a shattered woman on the floor of my shitty apartment, nursing a bottle of cheap vodka, wondering if I'd ever be more than just Zeus's discarded Luna when Anto comes to speak some sense into me.
"Everyone makes mistakes, Melissa," he says, eyeing me as I try to hide my face from the world. "You're not the first, and you definitely won't be the last."
"You don't get it," I snap, going on the defensive. "It's with another man…"
"Who he PAID to record you! C'mon, how on earth are you taking the blame for this?"
I roll my eyes because, yeah, Anto's right. Zeus had set the whole thing up. Hired the guy, manipulated the scene, twisted the whole story. Still, I feel dirty.
Anto walks closer, puts his hands around my shoulders, and whispers in my ear, "It's not your fault. Remember that."
I slowly pull his hand away and walk toward the car. Yes I've had terrible experiences in the past, but that doesn't excuse my addiction to sex.
I love Anto for a lot of reasons—well, maybe not just one—but this part of him I love most. He knows when to speak, and when to shut up. He simply puts the groceries in the back seat and opens the front door for me. I climb in, and we ride in silence. Midway through, I burst into tears, overwhelmed by everything.
Anto says nothing. He just hands me a paper towel, his eyes on the road.
I think about everything—how my mom hated my union with Zeus, and how, even though everyone keeps saying it's not my fault, she had a heart attack during an argument with me. That led to a stroke, and a few months later, she died. I didn't even mourn her enough. Didn't visit her grave often or buy her flowers because Zeus insisted I move in with him so I could "move on quickly."
And a year later, on the same date I lost my mom, Zeus announces his engagement to Mattie. Spicy Boobs, as Anto calls her. She's Italian and has red acne spots on her big boobs. We know this because she's always exposing her cleavage.
As disappointed as I am, I have to admit she's super sexy and cute. Next to her, I feel plain. While she's got a perfect pear-shaped body, mine's more rectangular with peanut boobs and a pizza butt. And this isn't me throwing jabs at myself. It's just the truth. I know because Zeus never ceases to remind me.
"You have a boring body shape, babe, but I love you regardless," he'd say, caressing one of my peanuts. I know it sounds like a red flag, but I didn't see it that way when we were together. I saw it as him being truthful, sincere. I love truthful, sincere men. Or at least I used to.
"Two wolves are fighting. We need to park," Anto says, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I turn to have a glimpse as Anto parks by the side. Two wolves were actually fighting at the other end of the road. Thankfully, our world has a glamour that hides us from the mundane world. A lot of wolves would've been wearing orange overalls and posing for mugshots every day.
Anto parks safely, and I sigh loudly as we both get out. As we walk towards the crowd, I spot two wolves fighting—one with familiar white fur.
Zeus.
By the time we get closer, the brown-furred wolf is already on the floor, whimpering weakly. I feel a bit satisfied. Zeus may have lost his sense of reasoning, but at least his strength is still intact.
Slowly, they both turn, Zeus first, then the brown wolf. I can see the pride in his face as he looks around with his torn clothes and bloodied chest. The brown wolf is some guy I barely recognize. He is still on the ground, gasping for breath as blood bubbles from a gash on his chest.
Anto is already past the little crowd that's gathering and pretty close to the fighters. Considering my current stigma, I figure it's best to walk back to the car and wait for him to bring me the tea.
Just when I'm about to turn away, my eyes meet his. I look away immediately and walk toward the car, my legs getting heavier with each step. By the time I'm in the safety of Anto's tinted car, and I try to look again, Zeus is no longer there. I shake my head and pinch myself. Why would I want a man who put me through so much to be "staring at me"?
"We always love it when an ex just can't move on," I hear Anto's voice.
I turn to look at him. The dummy is poking his head through the front window and smiling at me like an idiot.
I try to act oblivious. "What?"
"I saw him looking at you, so I thought…" He pauses and then shakes his head. "Never mind."
"What happened?" I ask, trying to change the subject.
"The other wolf kissed Spicy Boobs," Anto says, then laughs when he sees my reaction. "Yeah, that was my reaction too. Apparently, Zeus caught the guy kissing Mattie and challenged him to a duel."
"A duel? As in to the death?"
"Yup. Today was just a warm-up. The real fight's tomorrow. Full moon."
I'm still trying to process that as Anto starts the car and pulls away.
"The same Zeus who kicked me out for cheating is willing to die… for a woman who cheated on him?" I ask, disbelief creeping into my voice.