Her hands firmly tightened around the red blouse, her heart had a pang deep within. She had misunderstood him he had other women in his life, his marriage to her was for show and to think Eloisee was starting to open up to him, even though a day had passed, her barriers around her heart had started to crack after witnessing the brave ethics he possessed.
Eloisee closed her eyes and breathed in calmly, taking control of her thoughts and easing the shaking of her hands.
There was no need to behave like that.
She was nothing to Riviera except a trophy wife.
She was but a leverage between her former pack and new pack, it was credulous of her to even think she had a shot at a happy life even though her feminine wolf Instinct had gravitated toward Riviera from his protective nature, her mind remained fixed on one thing she was no one.
Eloisee opened her eyes and breathed out, she strode to Riviera and the woman, the blouse draped over her arm.
Quietly, she tapped Riviera on the back.
Riviera felt the tap and released the hug from Isabella, he turned around to see Eloisee standing behind him. And smiled albeit that smile slightly faded when he noticed the insouciant look she had in her eyes.
It took him a few minutes to realize what was going on.
"Eloisee, this is Isabella, she's a good friend of mine and Isabella this is my wife, Eloisee" Riviera spoke and Isabella looked at Eloisee.
Her eyes scanned Eloisee and then, Riviera's words clicked. This little harlot was his wife? How he had fallen, from dating the most beautiful women in the packs to settling for this… this plain, boring woman with stale features.
Isabella snorted. "You call her a wife? I leave for six months and this the news I receive? I thought you were planning to marry me, but I guess that changed huh."
Marry me? Those two words rang in Eloisee's ears.
Riviera was supposed to marry another woman before she became a factor?
Eloisee looked at Isabella and instantly she could see the dislike riveting within her eyes. She instinctively shrunk into her form, the domineering glare and pressure reminding her of her inability to fight back.
Like prey, her will crumbled and she started to allow the temptate to get to her.
Riviera's face distorted, he glared at Isabella, his eyes flashing silver and he stood between them. "You left, without explanation and now you want to waltz back into my life? That's fine to me but I won't let you belittle my wife understood?"
Everyone in the store could feel the presence, unaware that they were in the presence of creatures that mothers would scare their children with as bedtime stories.
Eloisee gasped, her eyes fixed on Riviera's broad shoulders.
He did it again, he protected her when she felt scared.
Just like with Jeremy, Riviera shielded her against the scorn and the scrutiny of Isabella but why?
Before she could figure out the nuances of her question, a large hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her forward.
Eloisee yelped at the unexpected contact, her mind having delayed response to the contact her phobia, and the next thing she knew she was standing in the middle of the electric functioning steps.
She looked at her wrist, her eyes wide.
She did not feel scared or uncomfortable with his touch, the first time that happened she thought it was just her imagination but his touch didn't make her skin crawl, it didn't make her want to scratch her hand until she bled. The negative stigma associated with being touched by someone being repulsive wasn't there.
She only felt warmth.
Eloisee reached out her hand and held onto his jacket. She stuttered a bit, her voice croaking inside her mouth. "Thank you."
Riviera turned around and looked at Eloisee. "what for?"
Eloisee bit her lower lip a bit, her hair falling into her face. "For what you've done for me… I'm a complete stranger to you but you keep protecting me even from that woman."
"Can I?" Riviera asked as he raised his hand and let it hover inches away from Eloisee's face.
Eloisee flinched a bit and instinctively drew back, but then she did something that shocked her, more than it shocked Riviera. She nodded to his request.
Riviera's palm rested on her cheek for a brief moment, his eyes softening as he gazed into the golden ones of Eloisee "I did that because you are my wife, there's no need for you to thank me."
Her lips parted as a soft gasp left her mouth, she nodded and pulled back from the touch. Her stomach flipped on itself as the warmth of his hand rested on her face.
With that, her fears were laid to rest.
A day ago she was scared, but something within her enabled her to find the courage to allow him to touch her despite her brain vehemently warning her it was a bad idea.
"About that woman, what did she mean you were going to marry her?" Eloisee blurted her thoughts and instinctively clasped her hands over her lips. Her pace eased so that she was trailing behind Riviera.
Riviera sighed, his eyes dropping. He looked crestfallen from the question. "She was someone important to me, but six months ago she just left with no explanation. That's all."
Eloisee nodded, she could tell Riviera was not telling her the truth of their relationship but she was not going to pry into his life. She had no right to that.
She and Riviera walked across the shopping center in silence, Eloisee kept fondling with the ends of her clothing, nervous to be beside Riviera. Occasionally their hands would brush together and she would scoot to the side, the spark from the contact making her fade flush pink and her heart beat faster.
Riviera stopped walking and Eloisee crashed into his back. She winced when she bumped nose-first into the wall of muscle before her.
"Ouch!" she whispered rubbing her nose.
Riviera whipped his head back and pointed at the restaurant across the street. "Want to get some lunch?"
Not trusting her voice, Eloise nodded and she was once again startled by Riviera who grabbed her hand and bolted across the street to the restaurant across them.
~~~~
Isabella was not a happy woman, she continuously tapped on her desk, one of her fingers in her mouth as she chewed the nail.
How could he move on that easily?
Was she not supposed to be his mate?
Who was that girl?
Questions gyrated in her mind, she had no answer to either of her questions, and that frustrated her even more. The so-called Eloisee was plain, aside from her eyes there was nothing that stood out.
Her chest was small.
Her body was small.
When compared to her, Eloisee was but a shadow of what a proper woman should be, and she also could smell the scent of a wolf within her. The wolf was not as present as the wolf of a Luna should be, which was a weakness.
"Damn him!" She finally snapped and tapped the desk hard enough for a fissure to run across the length of the desk.
Isabella seeing the destruction she had caused, took a deep breath and calmed her nerves down. In her eyes, enmity for Eloisee swirled around like two pools of lava, bright and potent. She looked out the window and into the town below, and Isabella made a vow, she was going to wedge herself between them.
~~~~
Riviera and Eloisee walked across the dirt path leading to the mansion, in his arms were a bunch of bags from their shopping earlier. After lunch, they went back to shopping, and much to Eloisee's relief, they did not encounter any more hindrance, and their afternoon passed without issue.
As they approached the door, Riviera looked down at the smiling Eloisee and a smile formed on his face. When she was genuine and not scared, her beauty radiated far more than it did, the calm look, golden eyes and the angle the sun was showering her with its rays crafted a magnificent portrait.
Eloisee raised her eyes and looked up at Riviera, she had felt his eyes on her for the past few minutes and dared not to look at him but curiosity killed the cat, and she ended up looking.
Their eyes met and the scenery peeled away from vision.
They took a stop and stared at one another, each being the central point of each other's vision.
No words were said, the heart was the guiding winds into their sails and Riviera took the initiative. He leaned down. His forehead touched Eloisee's and their lips were inches away from touching.
Eloisee's breath hitched in her throat, the urge to push him away was nowhere to be found, she felt warm and safe around him. His tender touches melted away the darkness that had been stagnant in its sanctuary around her and for the first… well third time in her life she did not feel disgusted by another's touch.
Their moment was interrupted by snickers.
The two turned their heads and looked away, as on the steps of the house watching them in amusement were Elizabeth, Ruid, and Mia along with their two-year-old.
"Come on kiss Already." Ruid laughed.
Mia laughed alongside him, enjoying the deer-caught-in-the-headlights expressions Eloisee and Riviera had.
Elizabeth had a smile on her face, things were looking up for Riviera which had her heart at ease. "Come on, the food is going to get cold." She looked at the sky and closed her eyes, her husband made a good choice raising Riviera and Him.