Eero's perspective
“I'm gonna meet Cohen once we're done patrolling the border.” I couldn't hide my excitement from Soleil, my best friend, as I said those words to her.
Stopping her footsteps, Soleil leaned towards my direction upon hearing this news.
“Oh yeah, it's your 10th anniversary today! I don't know how things are going on between you, but is Cohen showing some signs, hinting, or dropping clues that he would propose to you? It would be meaningful if he did it today. That would be a wonderful way to wrap up this decade of romance.”
Soleil pouted her lips as she looked at me, waiting patiently to find out more about our plans for the anniversary.
What was I supposed to tell her? Cohen hadn't said anything about this day, but who knows? There might be a surprise waiting for me at home.
“Wait! Am I picking this up right? Does your silence means that Cohen, your mate for ten years, didn't get aything special about this significant day?”
“Here you go again. You're always too quick to judge. I'm sure that Cohen has got a surprise for me. Our 10th anniversary will be special. It has to be.” I emphasized the last sentence to Soleil, and to myself.
Soleil only shook her head. She was not exactly a fan of my relationship with Cohen. She kept her lips shut most of the time because she knew how Cohen made me happy.
“You know what? I used to be jealous of you because you met your mate as early as you did. But oh girl, I don't think you're that lucky as Cohen turns to be this mate. It's like that he doesn't really care about you.”
“Soleil! You're crossing the lin...Ouch!” A sudden strike of pain attacked my chest as I was about to warn Soleil to watch her words.
"Eero!" Panicked, Soleil rushed over to hold my shoulders.
I found I could hardly maintain eye contact with Soleil as my heart felt like getting stabbed by an invisible knife. As if bleeding profusely inside, I could barely breathe.
“You okay, Eero? You are scaring me!”
I could tell the dread in Soleil's voice, but couldn't utter a single word to calm her down.
My wolf was trying to deliver a message, which sounded unclear to me at first but then scared the hell out of me.
“S-Something happened back...at the p-pack house. I-I...must go back...right now. ” I turned to Soleil despite the killing pain.
“You sure? You don't look well at all now. Shall I go with you as well?”
“N-No...you cannot. I-I need...you to patrol...a-along the border...f-fulfilling my d-duty here...t-today.” I closed my eyes as the pain grew stronger. My wolf could barely handle it.
Although reluctant to let me go drive back alone, Soleil gave in eventually.
Back at the pack house.